Synthroid Stomach Area, Total Thyroidectomy, Hair Thinning, Bloated, Brittle
Posted over a year ago
Had total thyroidectomy 9 months ago and started taking Synthroid immediately thereafter. For the last 4 months I have noticed significant hair thinning. I have always had very thick, healthly looking hair but now it's just dry and brittle all of the ... more »
Had total thyroidectomy 9 months ago and started taking Synthroid immediately thereafter. For the last 4 months I have noticed significant hair thinning. I have always had very thick, healthly looking hair but now it's just dry and brittle all of the time. I always feel tired and bloated around my stomach area in particular. I have always been a size 4-6 but have inexplicably gained 6 pounds in the last month. Is there an alternative to snythroid without these side effects?
Laura7362 - Good luck. I had a thyroidectomy almost 2 years ago, and have been on synthroid since then. My hair still falls out, my weight is stable, but too high. I had cancer. Each year I go off the drug for almost 3 months in order to get my blood levels ready to have a full body scan to see if the cancer has occurred. I have to do this for 5 years. I have 4 more. This year, I lost 6 months of my life....the side effects of withdrawing from the drug, the side effects of being without the drug, the side effects of my body getting used to the drug again (cancer free, year one, thank God), the side effects of it not being absorbed effectively, then having another one added to "jump start" me again. All in all, pure hell. Fatigue, constant diarahea for almost 3 years now. I don't mean to sound smart, but if you are just losing hair, (I still am too, and mine was like yours), don't sweat it. A few pounds gained......well, I see the top endocrinologist in FL and he says that the South Beach diet is one you can follow for life, it works, I lost 20 pounds. It is also very forgiving....you can go off a little if you like and it does not set you back. Sorry to ramble. I wish the best for you. Laura B. in the Florida Panhandle
Nicole35 - Hi,
I started synthroid about 6 months ago and started losing my thick hair. I have also gained about 5 lbs despite running 30 miles a week and watching every bite and my stomache is always bloated. Have you found any alternative since your posting? I am considering quitting the meds since the side effects are worse than my orginal symptoms.
Rudlea - I had a thyroidectomy in 01/2007 and started on synthroid right away. Before my surgery my hair fell out and I was bald in places. My hair started coming in about 3 months later, but my weight started growing. I felt tired, bloated, and tried to act as I had before my surgery. I ended pushing myself and fainted twice and that made me more afraid. My hair was coming in now but it was thin and brittle! warning signs went up and I spoke to my internist about it. He was not willing to change from synthroid which wasn't the problem. Two years later my hair is the same and I have gained over 100 pounds!!! My dosage of synthroid was raised to 175 and I ended up with a thyroid storm and was taken back down to 100. my bloating is worse around the middle and my digestion is very slow. I eat one whole meal a day and very small ones when hungry. There is no Endo where I live so my internist is it. I walk approx 4 blocks a day to keep me from diabetes or so I believe. When I exercise more I do not sleep and my heartrate goes haywire. I don't know how to go about changing from synthroid.
Tanner2centrahealth - I just had a total thyroidectomy on December 1 and everything I eat goes straight through me but I also don't have my gallbladder either. I have lost ten pounds and still don't have any energy. I am only working eight hours a day and going home and sleeping. Hope it gets better. Any of you like this. Susan Tanner in Gladys, Virginia.
Crystalfresh56 - I have been told by my endocrinologist to have my right thyroid removed since 2001. At that time the size was 3.2 cm. My latest ultrasound showed the size has grown to 5.5 cm. My TSH and T4 are normal, though. I'm hypo and has been taking Synthroid 25mcg. I'm reluctant of getting my thyroid removed. Any advice is appreciated.
Grandmaof7 - Crystal, If I had it to do over again, I would not have had my thyroid removed.My biopsy came back bad,hurthel cell. It was not cancer yet. I didn't feel bad before my surgery, didn't know anything was going on with my thyroid, now life is just crappy
Margay - I've been on an anti-thyroid drug for about 10 years (tapazole, very small dose of 5 mg). However, I'm tired of having a low white blood cell count which seems to lead to sinus or bronchial infections every other month, plus it seems to have caused very wispy hair, and makes me slightly bloated. I'm curious if others feel that a TT may be worth the obvious risks that all of your posts present. My docs tell me that they're ready to do a TT if I want it. (Fyi, my TSH varies from around 0.9-2.0).
Modernwoman - I had my thyroid removed last year, at first I felt fine but then it all went downhill. I have frequent BAD headaches, loss of hair, I want to sleep ALL the time, feel like crap all the time. I take .175 levothyroxine a day. I am a Vegan I only eat salads but still manage to gain weight. I am told by my doc that I shouldn't gain weight my levels are fine, guess i am just crazy then huh? what else can I do? cut eating out completely? I walk everywhere don't even have a car so what else is there for me? I am tired of being told nothing is wrong with me when I know everything is wrong. I cry all the time, extremely unstable emotionally, please help any one with any problems like mine please help me. I am posting my email address also if you have any advise for me I would greatly appreciate it.
Kelly
jandkturner@gmail.com
Drphyllis - Hi Kelly, I too got my thyroid removed Aug 2010 and have many bad side effects....crying, nite sweats and very low energy. I have gained 12 lbs and I am very discouraged. I am on 100mcg Levoxil and recently she put me on Cytomel 10 mcg and I feel so much better wtih my energy level and mood. My weight is going down very slowly since she started me on the Cytomel. I hope this helps you.
Drphyllis - Yes, I have had alot of your same symptoms. I decided to stop going to my Ednocrinologist because he said I was doing great and that my blood results were in range, I decided to have my Internst follow me instead and she has been working with me every 3-4 weeks to dial me in. She has started me on Cytomel along with my Synthriod. The Cytomel has made me feel more like myself, I have not cried in 4 weeks, my energy level has increased and my fog has cleared as well.
Kdsntow4 - I will have to look into the Cytomel also. I had a total thyroidectomy in nov 2010 and I feel horrible. I feeltired all the time and have to drag myself out of bed. All I can think abouut all day at work is getting home and going to bed. I have gained about 18 lbs and my hair is more brittle than before. I have also started getting tingly in my extremeties and my head along with feeling foggy. My appetite has increased and i hate it. My mood is mostly stable because I am on Cylexa but still get depressed because I feel under the weather all the time. I had my blood drawn this week so hopefully they will change my levels soon.
Kdsntow4 - I also know someone who was on synthroid and it was not working so they switched to Armour Thyroid which is a natural medication made from pig thyroid. It does have cornstarch in it alsoso those who are allergic should look forother brands without cornstarch. If I decide to try it out I will let you know how it works after a Total Tyroidectomy.
Mautene - Hi folks. Had my TT. Nov 2010. My blood tests last week were really good, but had to increase the calcium supplements as still a little low and still getting the tingling and cramps in the fingers and toes.Still got probs with breathing and need a sppech therapist for the voice which is just a whisper and I believe it will also help the breathing problem. Camera showed both nerves had been paralysed during the op but as I am now managing some sound that is a good sign that things are improving albeit slowly. The eyes are still giving trouble in fact I have an ulkcer in one at present, but again they are now being treated so things are looking up on that front. I am a little concerned about the interactions of all teh drugs I currently need and because of that have booked to see my G.P. I am under 3 different specialsts and not sure of they consider the medication that teh other specialist has given me when they prescribe theirs. Feeling stronger though so I am hanging in there. Hope you all are doing the same. Currently on 125 Thyroxine, Rocaltral .25mg and 5 Calcium Forte, plus an anti-histamine, a tranquilizer, Spiriva for the breathing and a "rescue" inhalor, diclofenic eye drops, and an antibiotic eye drop plus the artificial tears. Add a couple of others to the mix as well, but getting boring now. Seriusly I can atleast laugh a little and do feel stronger about it all. If you are at my stage 1 months ago, please be gentle with yourself, and hang in there. Make your G.P. your friend as mine has been a life saver. Mautene x
Cluneybeans - I had a complete thyroidectomy about a year and a half ago. The only problem I had was my calcium levels, other than that I'm doing great and feeling great!
Ljk122 - I had a TT in April 2010 for a multinodular goiter. They incedentally found papillary thryoid cancer. Since thenI have been on synthroid (a new dose every 6 weeks as I am still not to my goal of a TSH of 0.3-0.6). I initially gained weight, then was able to maintain, now in the last 4 weeks I have lost almost 20lbs. My diet has been extactly the same for YEARS. Now, even though my dose was lowered again my TSH went from 0.04 to 0.015. I feel like crap all the time but my doc says there is nothing wrong. I wish I never had the TT.
Mautene - Sorry pressed send by accident What I was trying to say was Hang in there. I still have really itchy eyes and my taste buds are not back to normal so I am not eating well, BUT I do feel better in myself. Still an invalid rather than my usual fit and active self but definitely getting there. It is now 3 months since my op 17th Nov 2010. Go back to your Doc and do not leave til he has lstened to you. You KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. so do not let him dictate your health. I know this is the hardest bit because when you feel like crap you do not have the energy to stick up for youself. Take care
Jen2011 - Wow - I have so much of a similar story to you all. Nodules diagnosed in 2001, TT Sept. 07. Terrible problems with my medication..synthroid..finally found a doctor that didn't think I was crazy and let me try Armor Thyroid. I will never take anything else ever again. It was the best thing I ever did. I still watch my levels every 6 months keeping them as close or just below 1. Anyone out there having glucose problems. I had gestational with both pregnancies and had to take insulin on the send pregnancy. I've heard hypothyroidism makes diabetes more probable on top of the gestational.
Julie23 - I feel for all of you, I , too, had a TT April 1st, 2011. Multi-Nodular goiter, with many nodules 2.7cm, toxic adenomas, no cancer( thank god) hyperthyroid, and feeling
very poorly. The surgery was ok, one parathyroid damaged, (which was sectioned and placed back into the left side neck muscle), which did end up keeping my calcium levels in check..I was started on levothyroxine 100mcg, side effects were immediate, throat felt swollen, accelerated heart rate, changed to 88mcg of Synthroid,
had alot of gastro problems,depression, fog, fatigue, and anxiety, weight loss due to nausea and diarrhea. TSH came back high, so upped Synthroid again to 100mcg, still not high enough, upped now to 125mcg. The stomach problems are so bad, acid, ulcer, and nausea are debilitating. I was started on Carafate 100g, which helps, but, can slow the absorption of Synthroid, however, the only way I can tolerate the Synthroid without extreme side effects, hair thinning, lots of post nasal drainage, allergy symptoms, itchy eyes, sneezing...I am back on xanax to control the crying and anxiety. Hard to work or enjoy life. I hope and pray this gets easier, my thoughts and prayers are with you all..You're not alone, hang in there..
Julie
Bahamasuzan - I understand! OMG, it's like I'm reading my life! I had a TT Jan 2009. At first I felt fine, managed to go a year doing ok, but now... it's a living hell!!! I cry all the time, i just want to sleep all day, Im depressed, emotional, dry skin despite the gallons of lotion I cover myself in, hair is falling out, life just pretty much sucks right now. I'm on .175 synthroid... and it's not doing anything. From the information I've gathered, t3 is what helps with all these symptoms... problem is, nobody will help me. I've called 37 doctors and endocrinologists... no help. I went to a walk in clinic being that I am across the US with my husband and his job. My regular PCP is a crock. The first dr at the walk in cilnic tried to call 911 on me saying I was suicidal, crying uncontrollable and hysterical... the nurse got upset with her, called the main dr in on his day off. He came in and listened to me but still has a hard time believing something is wrong because my levels are NORMAL???? BUT like the research I've done, I told him thyroid levels are NOT a one size fits all fix. People feel better at different levels and I am far from my level. I begged him to listen and he did. he ordered a free T3 and free T4 blood test as well as the TSH test that LIES! haha. My TSH was .71 last week (so perfect I must be dillusional said the first doctor) but this second dr listened and is wiling to put me on cytomel IF T3 levels are messed up (and I know it sounds bad, but I pray they are so I can get help). I can't live like this forever! My thyroid was removed due to a huge goiter called by dozens of tumors covering my thyroid. Wish I just had lived with the goiter. I felt fine, just had an odd looking adams apple. HAHA.
Mcmdkkke - I am 1 month post thyroidectomy and this all sounds so familiar-the depression, anxiety, and fatigue are insane-I wish I had not had the surgery done but had 3 nodules 4cm and multiple smaller nodules and it was beginning to affect my breathing. Was already on generic synthroid for hashimotos and to try and suppress goiter growth and was told no big deal will just increase what I already took-my doctors also not helping me-I am not myself and very unhappy-I am also hypocalcemic-glad to know I am not alone but cannot believe, especially in this day and age, that the medical field does not have a better handle on this and patients do not seem to be warned of the side affects-I will definitely let others know what could happen to them if they have this surgery-in fact-my 19-year old has hashimotos and is bothered by an uncomfortable thyroid and I am glad she will be informed-she has talked about having it done-something I hope she can avoid
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