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Hi!
Sure, I’m about 120 lbs. (5′ 4″) give or take a pound or 2 depending on the time of day!
Hi!
Just wanted to cheer you on during these healing days. It’s not easy, but it will get better and you will be feeling better.Swallowing will get easier as you heal. The headaches… well, I’ll be honest, I had tension headaches for months after my surgery. I think it had to do with recuperating from surgery, recuperating from hyperthyroidism, recuperating from child birth, and my body trying to find its way without a thyroid and processing Synthroid. I also had to have a dose increase of Synthroid 6 weeks post surgery. Once I was upped and on that dose for 2 weeks, I started to feel better and 2 months after, I really started to feel normal again! So, it took about 4 months, but I’ve been stable on that dose since then (I’m 8 months post TT).
Drink lots of water, rest, and do things that make you happy to brighten your day. Hang in there.
Hi!
As far as the parathyroids, you can take Tums (calcium) as a supplement post surgery. My surgeon had me take 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. He told me that the parathyroids (even though not damaged) are inflamed post surgery so the Tums is like a precaution for a few weeks. I took the Tums- it wasn’t a big deal- and had no issues with my parathyroids. It’s probably better to do that than to wait for calcium issues to happen. But, check with your doctor (since I’m not one- hee hee!).
My surgeon was a general surgeon. I have no regrets about having my surgery. I’m healthy and well now.
Congratulations!!!
The one thing I can tell you is that your body is going to need time (and a good amount of it) to fully recuperate. I didn’t have migraines, but I did have tension headaches (almost daily) for a good 3 months or so. So worried about it I was that I had a CAT Scan done to rule out a brain tumor! My doctor assured me it was my body adjusting to life without a thryoid and the Synthroid and trying to recuperate. She also tried to tell me I had been through A LOT in the last year- child birth, Graves diagnosis (hyperthyroidism), methimazole and my liver taking a beating from it, getting off the methimazole, surgery, Synthroid etc etc… the point being, our bodies go through a lot in the Graves journey, so it takes time to be and feel well. Our bodies manifest their reactions to it all in different ways; I don’t doubt that the migraines might be the way your body is trying to tell you it needs rest and time to get better. So, listen up to that body!
I think my headaches were my body saying rest and also it trying to get well. Once my Synthroid dose was correct and I was on it for 2 months or so, the headaches went away. And, everything started to normalize in my body again- sleep, energy, no headaches. From post surgery to that point was about 4 months or so.Also, I would wait on conceiving until your Synthroid dose is correct and you’re stable for a few months. My endo. told me that, if I got pregnant, I would have to have my Synthroid increased right away. So, once you know you’re pregnant, make sure you contact your endo. immediately. Don’t wait until the 8 week appointment to be checked.
Keep us posted on how you do.
Yay! So happy to hear that Diane!
Let us know how the Tirosint goes for you. I’m curious.Congratulations! Great news! 😎
Glad to hear everything went well. Tell her to rest and take it easy- especially for the first week. After that, I’m sure she’ll be getting back to her old self again. 
Drink lots of water to get all the drugs out of the system (anesthesia and all that).
Is she going to have labs done in 6 weeks to see where her thyroid levels are at?
Hi Diane,
Free T3 is the hormone that is available for your body to use (for energy and metabolism). Total T3 includes the bound hormone (bound up to proteins) that your body cannot use along with the free hormone.
I think I read that you’re having anxiety problems on Synthroid? Do your labs say that your “normal”? Did you say you were on generic? Give the brand name a try. I’m on brand name Synthroid and haven’t had any big issues with it. Maybe the fillers in your generic are problematic for you or if you’ve refilled, maybe they came from different manufacturers? Just throwing out ideas. It took me a good 4 months to feel better. I was on 100 mcg for 6 weeks, upped to 112 and then 2 months on that, I started to feel better. It really sucks how long and difficult the road is, but it does get better. I can’t say it’s perfect, but it is better and I can function and enjoy my life again.
I’d say give Synthroid brand a shot, get labs done, get the dose right and stay on it for at least 2 months and then go from there.Hi!
I had my surgery 8 months ago and it was the best decision for me. I’m glad that I did it.
How long is the recovery? Well, the first 48 hours are rough, but even for those 2 days, I only took Advil for pain relief. I slept upright for 3 nights to help with drainage and was able to go home 4 hours after surgery. Some surgeons will keep the patient 24 hours at the hospital- depends on the doctor. The first drink of water is a doozy; so, tell your wife to think before she drinks and coordinate the swallowing. I almost choked on the 1st sip! Whoops! I ate soft foods the first few days, but otherwise was fine after that. She will feel weird sensations in her throat as she heals, but they will go away as the days pass. I was able to eat, swallow, breathe, drink, and talk after surgery. My voice was weak and got tired easily for about 3 weeks and I tended to talk from a higher tone, but all was normal after a month or so.
I started taking small walks around the block after a week or so. I was able to shower 24 hours after surgery. I didn’t use any cream or anything on the incision. I had a subcuticular stitch so the incision isn’t very obvious at all.
Her parathyroids will be inflamed so it’s important to take Tums (Calcium Carbonate) 1000 mg 4 times a day the 1st week, 3 times a day the 2nd week, and twice a day the 3rd week as the parathyroids regulate calcium levels. If her levels go low, she’ll have muscle cramps and tingly feelings in her arms and legs. You want to avoid that- so, do ask your surgeon about the Tums. Great thing about Tums is pretty much anyone can take them and they’ll make sure her calcium levels are okay.
I started Synthroid on day 2 after surgery- 100 mcg. Labs done 6 weeks later and upped to 112 mcg and I’ve been on that since. I take the brand name for consistency (instead of generics which could come from different manufacturers). My labs have been stable since 2 months post surgery. I take the Synthroid first thing in the AM on an empty stomach with a full bottle of water and wait an hour or so to eat. Don’t take supplements (especially iron and calicum) until 4 hours after taking Synthroid.
Good luck & let us know how it all goes.
