[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Change in taste? #1180613

Hi Barbra.
I didn’t have RAI so maybe I’m not the most qualified to answer, but I did notice and have commented to my husband several times that I think my taste buds have changed since my TT. Everything I eat tastes so much better! I don’t know if there is any medical or scientific reason for it but since our thyroids affect SO many systems in our bodies, it wouldn’t surprise me if there is some connection.

Interesting question – thanks for asking it. I hope you get more responses.
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Sue’s TT – July 16, 2013 #1180385

amosmcd wrote:

Hi, Sue–that’s GREAT news! I’m glad it was short-lived and you went on to get things accomplished. Woo-hoo!!

My calcium was never an issue, either. Glad you’re almost done with the calcium supplements.

I hope you don’t have a crash. Maybe we all don’t have to have them. But forewarned is forearmed I guess!

I may end up taking more time off work to get more rest. I can apply for intermittent leave, rather than a bunch or time in a row. It would be nice to give in to the fatigue now and like you said, rather than slog through it.

I hope the rest of your time off goes well!

Amy

Intermittent leave? Don’t think I’ve ever heard of that but it sounds like a perfect solution, especially for people with thyroid issues. We most definitely have “intermittent” good days and bad days and it would take so much pressure off of you to know that on the bad days you can just give in and stay home.

That’s pretty much my biggest fear about returning to work. Once everyone sees that you’re back they assume you’re “cured” and back to normal. I may follow your lead and start announcing to my co-workers that I may very well be taking “intermittent” days off as we try to get my levels right. It would be a good reminder to those around us (as well as ourselves) that our bodies have undergone a major disruption and it’s not resolved in any set period of time.

Thanks for continuing to post….. it’s so helpful!
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Hello again, and another post-TT update #1180503

Damn, I was battling with mixed emotions as I cautiously read your update …. kinda wanted them to find something wrong but of course didn’t want them to find something wrong!

I know you recently raised your Synthroid but have you and your endo discussed adding some T3 to the mix?

By the way, you do NOT have to suck it up and put on your big girl pants… You can darned well sit down and have a good cry if you want. You have on those pants enough …. take them off and give yourself permission to feel sorry for yourself once in a while. This has not been an easy battle and no one could blame you for feeling discouraged and depressed.

That being said, I KNOW you are going to find the answer and feel better soon so try to remember that you will look back on this someday soon and be so relieved it’s over.

Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Sue’s TT – July 16, 2013 #1180383

Hi Amy and all.
Yes, the anxiety was short-lived, thank GOD! I can handle almost any other symptom except that one. Yesterday I was functional for a few hours and then took an afternoon nap… it was delightful to get some sleep. Today I woke up after having gotten probably a solid 7 hours… heaven. I took it easy for the first half of the day and then got motivated to work on one of my hobbies and was at it for a straight 3 hours without even thinking about how I felt — that was GREAT! When my husband came in and commented about what a whirlwind I was being I reminded myself that maybe I should cool it and not set myself back so now I’m back on the couch relaxing.

I’m thrilled to have all next week off from work… it’s comforting to know that if I’m feeling lousy I can give into it, but I’m hoping that I will be pleasantly doing things I enjoy during my last week off.

I’m supposed to wean off of the Tums this week.. surgeon said the calcium levels were great in the hospital so she probably didn’t need to put me on them at all but said it’s a routine she does with all her patients, just in case.

No serious crash yet….. but won’t be devastated if and when it happens because you’ve all properly prepared me for it.
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Safe to take Beta Blocker & Tranq after TT? #1180584

Talley wrote:

late response, but I asked my doc about taking the bb and sleeping pills and was told it was OK so I am assuming it was also fine for you…

Nope, not a late response. Today I left 6 hours between the mild tranq and the low dose BB. If I’m feeling the same way tomorrow I may want to take them both at the same time.

Thank you for letting me know….. I need to stop worrying so much and take the pills I’ve been given to help me through this. I’ve been white-knuckling for a lifetime… maybe it’s time to cut myself a break.
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Safe to take Beta Blocker & Tranq after TT? #1180582

Thanks, Ladies…. as usual…. just what I needed to hear. I did break down and take one (10 mg Propranolol) at 8:30 pm and started feeling a lot better shortly thereafter. I just get nervous taking them because often when my heart rate is fast my BP is LOW and I am afraid to lower it even more. But I’m still conscious so it’s all good.

Thanks for the replies. (and Raspberry – you’re welcome. Being able to read other’s journals has saved my sanity so I’m just trying to return the favor).
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Sue’s TT – July 16, 2013 #1180381

Gabe wrote:

I’ll play doctor for you tonight. Miss Sue, this is normal. Your body has just been thru a major surgery. You have stored hormone and artificial hormone colliding. It will work its way out with time and patience. So relax. Stop over analyzing. Watch a good movie or read a book or do a project. This too shall pass! Signed… Your fake “Dr.” Karen.

I love you, Man! Exactly what I needed to hear, and even if you were only saying it to make me feel better, it worked.

Just took a beta blocker because my BP was getting high……. then maybe a shower and a good movie.

Thanks, as always, for being here.
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Sue’s TT – July 16, 2013 #1180379

Gabe wrote:

Hi Sue. I didn’t/dont have that kind of anxiety. Just some days of feeling a little unsettled and anxious. But I know you’ve battled that all your life so I don’t want to minimize how real it is for you. A disruption in your sleep pattern along with the bad dream probably don’t help. Hope your day got better and if not maybe tomorrow will be better….happy dreams tonight!

Karen

Thanks so much for replying, Karen. As usual your response was comforting even if you didn’t experience this. Of course I’m trying to figure out WHY this happened when I should probably just give up and say to myself “Hey Stupid – your entire system is out of whack due to losing a thyroid, why shouldn’t you feel some old anxiety?!” But I also have a fast resting heart rate today so there is definitely something hyper going on for whatever reason.

I see the surgeon tomorrow morning… hopefully she’ll be able to explain why I’m having some hyper symptoms. Or maybe that’s normal at only 2 weeks TT? Too much natural and artificial hormone colliding?

Ugh, wish I didn’t try to analyze everything and could just “accept” but even yanking out my thyroid hasn’t changed that part of me!
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Post TT, Levothyroxine question #1180577

Wish I could help with an opinion but I’m very new to this…just had my TT July 16th. I’ll be following along with interest since this could be a question I will have in the near future.

Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Hello again, and another post-TT update #1180501

Glad that at least the increased dosage isn’t increasing your anxiety…. I probably would have brought some on just by worrying about it getting worse. You know how anxiety is once it takes hold… it spirals out of control and we keep feeding it so it a trap that’s hard to get out of.

Please keep us posted with updates…. they are SO HELPFUL to all of us other TT’ers.

Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Sue’s TT – July 16, 2013 #1180376

Yuck….. anxiety.

Today is Day 15 post TT and the prevalent feeling is anxiety. My alarm woke me up at 6:30 a.m. to take my Levothyroxine and I was wide awake at that point….. tossed and turned fretfully. Finally dozed back off about 8:00 a.m. and then my phone woke me up about 10:00. I was in a total state of agitation and anxiety and fear. I think I may have been in the middle of a bad dream when the phone woke me but then the negative and scary thoughts kept pouring in and driving me nuts. I really felt like I was losing it so rather than keep trying to go back to sleep I got up. It’s a little better now, but I am definitely not in a happy place. I’m contemplating taking a tranquilizer rather than white-knuckling this but …. how stupid is this…. I’m saving it as a last resort and don’t want to try one yet for fear it won’t work and THEN what will I do?

Yup, the anxiety is in high gear today. I have always had an anxiety issue so I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that it’s part of this process but I sure hope it’s short-lived!

Can anyone relate or offer reassurance that this is a normal part of adjusting to life without a thyroid?
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Sue’s TT – July 16, 2013 #1180375

Ahhhhh, there’s my weird buddy – was wondering about you just a few hours ago!

You are correct…. I did NOT get to say “I win!” as they wheeled me into the OR because they didn’t wheel me….. I was surrounded by a medical team as we WALKED a long distance from pre-op to OR and they were all talking the entire trip. Then they had me hop on the table and before I could even say a quick prayer there was a mask on my face.

If it makes you feel any better, on my second day home when I got out of bed and felt great, I was doing a little happy dance around the house and then looked towards the sky and pronounced “Ha ha – I win!” Why did I look towards the sky? Dunno – guess I just assumed all thyroids go to Heaven.

Yesterday and today were weary days…. mentally and physically. I did a lot on Saturday so maybe that’s my punishment. Bum stomach tonight, too, but don’t know if it’s a bug, the thyroid, or my colitis. Just glad I don’t have to get up and go to work or be functional. It’s wonderful to know you don’t have to go anywhere when you don’t feel good. Quite the luxury considering most of us have been struggling for years to carry on in spite of feeling badly.

Had a couple of “uh oh”, panic-attacky kind of incidents today but none severe and none that didn’t pass quickly. Whoohoo! Let this be the beginning of the end of anxiety!
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: TT 8/8 #1180555

Congrats on the upcoming surgery and on getting so much done these days! I can totally relate….. I felt the best I’ve felt in decades for the two weeks before my TT. I don’t know if it was an emotional relief or if it’s because my hormone levels were finally at a good place but I remember thinking that if TT could cause me to feel that way all the time I would be a very happy camper.

I, too, was a busy bee getting things organized and done both at home and at the office so that I could go into surgery with a clean conscious. I think it was probably nerves that kept me buzzing around productively but whatever it was, it was very accomplishing.

Good luck on the upcoming surgery and please keep us posted.
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Shingles now, what’s next… #1180544

Glad you got diagnosed and started meds quickly….. hopefully relief will start as soon as tomorrow.

I know what you mean about the additional worries that come along with this. Once you start reading about the virus and all the warnings and things to watch out for you can worry yourself into another outbreak. Google can be our best friend and our worst enemy. I worried about it spreading to my eyes and brain and still to this day panic if I see a red spot or pimple on the center of my nose. LOL I don’t even remember exactly what that’s a symptom of but I think it was something I obsessed over when I was worrying about that damned virus running through my system.

There. Now you have something else to worry about just in case you run out. Rest assured the anti-viral meds are a God-send and will prevent this from spreading any further…. you will be fine. Rest and focus on growing that tail… at least you could become rich and famous if that happened!
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: TT scheduled for mid-August… #1180551

Hi JCC. Glad you’re here, but sorry you’re here (you know what I mean).

I had a somewhat similar experience in that I have felt overall “lousy” for many years but couldn’t really pin down why. My PC doc started noticing a goiter during my yearly physical about 30 years ago, but when he’d send me for lab work and uptake scans, everything was in normal range. But consistently every year he’d palpate my throat and say “Nice goiter! That thing is going to go kaplooey on you one of these days!” I have had lots of years of health issues and I can’t help but wonder how many were related to my enlarged thyroid but that was then and this is now.

In 2006 I went suddenly hyper and they got me on Methimazole and a beta blocker ASAP. We were able to get it under control and after a few years on meds I actually had a remission for about a year or two. But in February my thyroid went hyper again and this time we had a hard time controlling it…. we were continually raising the Methimazole dosage until I waved the white flag and said “send me to a surgeon – I want this thing out of here.”

Surgery was July 16th and I’m still home from work recovering and not knowing what to expect… I’m ready for anything (thanks to this forum).

I would suggest that you focus your time and energy on consulting with surgeons to find one that you feel very comfortable with. I believe one of the biggest factors (possibly the biggest) in how successful the surgery and recovery is lies in the hands of the surgeon. I am fortunate to live near Yale so I had a wonderful surgeon who performs 9 TT’s a week and really seems to know all about what the patient experiences before, during and after. I went into the surgery with total confidence in her and that helped alleviate almost all of my concerns.

I, like you, can only hope that after a TTI my health will finally be what we had always hoped for but I’m too soon out to tell you that for sure.

Keep reading, keep posting, and good luck!
Sue

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