[adenure]

in reply to: Cyclist post-TT #1179462

Hi Sue,

Thought I’d chime in too- I didn’t have nausea after the surgery, and I was able to swallow pills that day. I only took Advil for pain relief. I was worried about swallowing them initially so I tried to cut them and grind them up (NASTY!) So, I decided swallowing them was easier than dealing with the taste!

As far as food, I kept it fairly mushy the first 24 hours, but after that, I ate normal food.

[adenure]

in reply to: A Cyclist’s Two Days until TT #1179316

Yay! Congratulations! Glad to hear all went well. Have a wonderful weekend!

[adenure]

in reply to: Post-surgery pain questions #1179389

Hi Boomer,

Here are my answers:

1. Pain immediately after (like during the 3 hours they keep you in the 1st post op. area with the nurse)- probably a 7. I think they give you a narcotic intraveniously (sp?). I think I had one dose. Then I was moved to a different area of observation for another hour or so- no narcotics or IV or anything. Then, I went home! I didn’t stay 24 hours at the hospital. Pain a week later- none at all really. Little twinges at the incision but nothing really. A month later? Not even a thought.

2. No narcotics (except for that initial IV dose immediately post surgery). I was prescribed Vicadin, but I never took any. Just took Advil. 600 mg. every 6 hours for the 1st week then the 2nd week I tapered off.

3. Yes, only Advil used. Hardly any pain at all with just Advil.

4. No- didn’t need to.

[adenure]

in reply to: Diagnosed @ 49 y/o #1179156

Hey Boomer,

Everything you feel is normal. Yippee, right? I couldn’t eat any food for 2 weeks. The smell, taste, texture- it all made me gag. I lived on Ensure drinks for 2 weeks. It’s all I could handle. I couldn’t handle stairs either- heart rate would go up. Insomnia??? Oh man, I could write a novel on that one. Probably the worst thing of all in my opinion. All I can say is that, yes, at some point, you will get better and feel better. Being so early on in your treatment, it’s hard to say whether the methimazole will be what gets you there or whether it’s choosing RAI or surgery in the future. Everyone is different. Give the methimazole time; get your labs done in 6 weeks and then get your meds. tweaked until you level out and see how your symptoms are at that point. Once your hormone levels are normal for a month or 2, you’ll be able to really look at how things are and be able to decide what the best path is for treatment. Methimazole (I was on 5 mg daily) did good things for my levels, but caused issues with my liver (enzymes went up 8 times the normal amount) so, I had to choose between RAI and surgery fairly quickly. That was almost a year ago. I chose surgery and am glad that I did. I am well again and pretty darn close to normal. It’s not perfect, but it’s good! So, as crappy as it is- you have to ride out the dosing stuff with the meds. for awhile. Same thing on the other side of surgery with the Synthroid. It took me 8 weeks to get to the right dose (1 increase from the initial dose) and 2 months on that dose to feel well again. But, it does happen. Hang in there!

[adenure]

in reply to: A Cyclist’s Two Days until TT #1179310

Hello!

I had my thyroidectomy almost 1 year ago and I am healthy & well again! Woo hoo! The anxiety and fear is completely normal. I cried right before the surgery (and many nights leading up to it). I was worried about all the “what if’s” out there and read way too many horror stories on line. I had to choose RAI or surgery bc methimazole caused me liver issues (which resolved once I stopped the meds.).

I don’t cycle, but I do spinning (indoor cycling). I will be honest and say that I can’t do as much as I used to do, but I am able to spin about 30-40 min. of hard cardio and feel great doing it. I could probably do more, but I keep it at that for now. Once I start to feel tired, I stop. I used to do 60-90 min. at a time, but for me, at this point, it’s about being healthy and taking care of myself, not spinning like a nut. Hee hee! Seriously though, having my thyroid out was the right answer for me. I started on 100 mcg Synthroid (brand) on day 2 after surgery and was increased to 112 mcg 6 weeks later after being slightly hypo with my labs. 2 weeks after the increase my numbers were normal and 2 months after, I felt much better! So, all in all, about 4 months after surgery until I started to feel really good again. So, it will take time, but you will get better and be well again. I have my muscle tone back (which I did lose when I was hyperthyroid) and I am a healthy weight- no weight gain issues.

Hang in there! Your journey to wellness is right around the corner. Just watch out for that 1st drink of water- take it slowly and coordinate it a bit. As an aside, I took 1000 mg of Tums 4 times a day the 1st week, 3 times a day the 2nd week, and twice a day the 3rd week as a precaution with calcium levels. Parathyroids get inflamed from surgery, so the Tums will help them during the 1st few weeks. Mine were not damaged and I had no complications from surgery. I also slept somewhat upright for the 1st 3 nights.

[adenure]

in reply to: Exercise “Post” Graves #1179345

Hi!

I had a thyroidectomy about a year ago. I started with just walking around the block (I was very fit before I got sick). 7 weeks post surgery, I swam laps, but it probably wasn’t my brightest idea. I really wasn’t ready for that type of cardio. Maybe 4 months post surgery, I slowly started up on the spin bikes- about 20-30 min 3 times a week. Now, I do 30-40 min. of spinning/ cardio or swim laps. I try to do that about 5 days a week. I used to do weight, pull ups, and dips. Honestly though, when I tried to do it, it made me light headed right away. Kind of freaked me out, so I haven’t returned to any of that. I’ll do push ups or something a little less strenuous when it comes to strength conditioning.

[adenure]

in reply to: Drop in energy like a sugar drop, normal GD symptom? #1179349

You know, I had that! The drop in energy, feeling sort of light headed and “off” like a sugar drop. I always had some sort of snack around (usually a sports bar like Lara Bars) to help me through it. Even though I’m almost 1 year post my thyroidectomy, I still have those moments I guess. Not as bad as before, but I do have to keep an even flow of calories coming in snack wise.

[adenure]

in reply to: What if we never do RAI or TT? #1179102

Hi Sue,

My initial thought after I was diagnosed was to try for remission, but methimazole elevated my liver enzymes quite a lot (8 times the normal amount), so I had to stop taking it right away (7 weeks into treatment). PTU wasn’t recommended, so I had to choose between surgery & RAI and quickly since I couldn’t stay on methimazole. I opted for surgery and I am really glad that I did. I am glad that I don’t have to worry about suffering from hyperthyroidism again. I also look at the fact that surgery (and perhaps RAI- I don’t know) would be harder on the body as I got older. So, in a way, I think my push into a definitive treatment was a blessing in an odd sort of way. It’s not perfect by any stretch and I sure wish I had a healthy thyroid, but I was dealt the hand I got, and that’s okay. It could’ve been worse, there are worse things to deal with. So, my 2 cents is that RAI and surgery can give you your health back and do away with the possibility and worry of returning hyperthyroidism. I’ve read that returning bouts of hyperthyroidism tend to be worse, but I don’t know if that’s scientific fact or not.

[adenure]

in reply to: Does TT cure Graves? #1178979

Hi!

I had my TT 10 months ago. From what I understand, a TT doesn’t “cure” Graves in the sense that you don’t have it anymore. Graves is an autoimmune disorder and antibodies can’t be removed from your blood. I think that antibodies do fluctuate and that they can go down or maybe even not be there. But, I think stress can aggravate antibody fluctuations and make them worse. I haven’t had any Graves issues since my TT. I have a little bit of dry eye, but it’s not that bad. I take OTC tears/ drops (Systane) when I need them, but otherwise, I’m fine there. I take Synthroid 112 six days a week and 100 one day a week. I’ve been pretty stable on that since my 2nd month post TT.

I say go for the surgery if you’re confident in your surgeon and your doctor supports you. It really has given me my health and my life back again. I am very grateful for that.

[adenure]

in reply to: Question on Cytomel dose added to levo #1178868

Hi

It sounds like 100 mcg. wasn’t enough, but 125 was too much. There is a dose right in the middle: 112 mcg. I would ask your doctor to prescribe the 112 mcg. and see how that does for you. Increasing your 100 to 125 may not seem like a lot, but very little goes a long way with thyroid replacement hormones. I was on 100 mcg. and then increased to 112 mcg. when I was slightly hypo (TSH 6.35). After 2 weeks on 112 mcg. I dropped to 0.79. So, it worked quickly & well! I can see why you might have gone hyper in symptoms after your increase. You do have to wait 6-8 weeks to see the full effect of a dose change, but I would ask to see if she could prescribe 112 and scale it back some.

As far as Cytomel… yeah, I tried it. I took 1/4 of a 5 mcg. pill and had hyper symptoms (anxiety, diarrhea, shakiness) so, I stopped it- wasn’t worth it. I read all the hype and thought maybe it would help the little bothersome symptoms, but it made things worse. The hyper symptoms didn’t start until after being on it a week, but it was NOT worth it. 25 mcg?? I wouldn’t go there. But, I’m not a doctor and certainly can’t tell you what to do. I’m sure there are people on that dose, but I wouldn’t want to start with that dose. From what I understand, if you do add T3, a doctor is supposed to lower your Synthroid as well.

I really would just try the 112 mcg. and stay away from the Cytomel. I didn’t try Cytomel until a good 8 months after I had been on just Synthroid. And, truly, I didn’t feel good until I had the right dose of Synthroid and had been on it for a good 2 months. So, for me, it took 4 months until after my surgery until I started to feel better. You have to be patient & give it time. Not easy, but it will get better. Give the Synthroid a chance. I do take brand name instead of generic as I wanted to be 100% sure it was coming from the same manufacturer with no added fillers or wiggle room on the dosing.

[adenure]

in reply to: A troubling study for our docs and ourselves to know about #1178745

I haven’t looked at the article, but what if your TSH is low, but your resting heart rate is the lower end of normal, your blood pressure is good & all other heart health indicators are good (like cholesterol). Is the increase for heart failure still present just based on TSH even when everything else is normal? I ask bc my TSH slipped from 1.6 on the 112 Synthroid to 0.29 in 4 months without a dose change. So, I’m taking 112 six days a week & 100 one day a week. My T3 is low normal & my free T4 is high normal. My resting heart rate is 63 or so.

[adenure]

in reply to: Synthroid Dosing – Uh oh! #1178605

Hi!

It’s funny that you mention this because when I was on 100 mcg I thought I had too much! I didn’t have a racing heart or tremors, but I had “anxiety breathing”, was anxious/ nervous, insomnia, still under weight. Yet, my TSH was 6.35 (even thought my free T4 was in the upper end of normal). So, I was bumped to 112. At about 2 weeks into the dose, I started to feel better. My labs reflected my TSH at .79 I think and my free T4 about the same as when I was on the 100. 2 months later it went down to .68 and now 8 months later, my TSH is 0.29 even though my Free T4 has remained in the upper end of normal and my T3 in the lower end of normal. It’s all weird. Anyway… since you’ve been on the new dose for 3 weeks, I think you will see a reflection in your labs. It might now be 100% accurate, but just after 2 weeks when I was bumped from 100 to 112, my TSH went from 6.35 (or so) to .79. So, you might have dropped quite a bit as well. If your labs are normal, maybe your body just needs a little time to adjust.

I did feel a little anxiety (very little), some “anxiety breathing”/ air hunger sort of thing on the 112 seven days a week, so I asked my dr. if I could take 112 six days a week and a 100 one day a week. It’s actually helped! I met a lady who takes a dose 5 days a week and then skips 2 days. So, you can tweak a dose by skipping a day or by maybe doing what I’m doing and take 112 some of the days or the majority of them and the 100’s on 1 or 2 days. It might help. So, I would ask for labs to see what’s going on and then ask (depending on what your numbers are and how you feel) if you can alternate the 112 and 100 maybe or something like that. Let us know how it goes.

[adenure]

in reply to: Think I might “forget” to take my Synthroid… #1178574

Hi,

I agree with Kimberly, whatever you do, you have to inform your doctor so that the labs will reflect what you’re doing. The really hard thing is that it does take 2 months for the dose to fully reflect what is going on.

Also, Synthroid has a 1/2 life of 5-7 days, so that stored up 100 mcg. over 5 weeks time will take time to come down to the new dose (I think that’s why labs are optimally done at 2 months after a dose change). So, it’s possible the 88 is right for you, but you need time for the 100 mcg to par down some and let the labs reflect the 88 mcg accurately. It’s also possible the 88 will be too much and you will end up taking 88 for 5 days a week and nothing twice a week. It’s just hard to know at this point.

I started on 100 mcg and my TSH was 6 or so. I was upped to 112 and in 2 weeks dropped to .79. It’s now at .29 (on the 112). I felt very slight hyper symptoms, so I’m taking 112 six days a week and 100 mcg. 1 day a week. I’m feeling better. Seems like a small adjustment, but small adjustments can do a lot with thyroid hormone.

I would be up front with your doctor about what you want to do and then stick to it for 2 months and get labs. It’s hard, but it’s the best way to know what’s going on.

[adenure]

in reply to: Started my RAI today. #1178495

Hide out, watch TV & hang with us! Good luck with RAI; I hope you don’t have too much of a thyroid dump, and it goes as smoothly as possible. Just remember that you’re on the path to being well again, and that is a really good thing! Hang in there!

[adenure]

in reply to: Thyroid Regeneration #1178370

Thank you Kimberly & Shirley for the info. I’m guessing it’s nothing to worry about, but as my husband says, “You just need something to worry about.” Haha! True to an extent!

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