At the very beginning of my journey with Thyroid Cancer I was asked several times if I was feeling any of the physical effects of having a wonky thyroid, most notably weight gain and fatigue, commonly associated with an under active thyroid. I replied No because really, other then fluctuating between 5 lbs during the course of a day, and my usual laziness, I really wasn’t feeling anything out of the ordinary. I compared myself to my Mom who had suffered from an under active thyroid and did gain weight and experience fatigue on a daily basis before it was all fixed. My ‘sympthoms’ where nothing in comparison to hers so in my head I was not suffering from anything.
As time went on and I learned more about my situation and what was going to happen to me I was told that after the removal of the second half of my Thyroid I would have to go on medication for life because having no Thyroid is much like having one that doesn’t work, one that is under active. I figured that after my second surgery I would begin to feel the effects of Hypothyroidism and then would have to monitor my body until I got the right dose of medicine.
Last night however, I realized I was already starting to feel the effects.
Yesterday was a typical day, nothing out of the ordinary. I got home at a normal time, prepared dinner which was fairly easy, did the dishes, had a shower, and then had to have a nap. I had to have a nap at 8:30 at night. My body was so physically drained JUST from taking a shower that I could no longer stand. My muscles began to ache and I had to lay down on the bed. I was planning to iron some of Chads work shirts that I had washed the day before and the thought of standing to do it was agonizing.
I began to realize that this feeling of extreme fatigue after simply having a shower, or doing the dishes, had been felt before but I never really gave it any thought, I just worked through it and took breaks if I really needed to. Normally my mind takes over the ‘pain’ and I make sure to finish my goals for the evening before sitting in front of the TV. Yesterday, I just could not. I only managed to iron 4 out of the 15 pieces I was planning to do. Even sitting in bed reading made me tired. Waking up this morning I felt much the same.
What made me realize that this was more serious then just an isolated day of being tired was all the other times I could think of that I felt this tired, and had occurred since my first surgery.
Last Friday I accompanied Claudia to the Fashion Exchange building to look through some samples. We were there for about 3 hours, and the work was by no means physically laborious, but when we returned to the office, I sat in front of my computer screen and just stared at it. I could barely lift my arms to do any work. My exhaustion was to the extreme. I never felt like this before. I was so tired I even became physically ill.
There have been countless afternoons where I have had to spend some time in the warehouse organizing things or setting things up, and I come back to my desk and literally have to rest my head on my desk for a few minutes. Things like this should not happen. I mean this weekend is a perfect example, I could barely stay awake Saturday night and then just having to get up early on Sunday screwed up my body for the whole day. I am beginning to see that the way I am feeling is not normal.
Ever since the first surgery simple task require a break or time out once I am done. Yearning to go to sleep at 10pm or earlier is a daily occurrence, and having the energy to finish several productive things in a day is none existent. Even small things that are more mental then physical, like typing out a blog post, leaves me drained.
I have tried to not let the fatigue get to me and stop me from doing what I know I should be physically and mentally able to do but as time goes on I can feel it getting more difficult.
Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do right now. I will have to wait for my second surgery and then for the medication. I am hoping that everything will be figured out fairly quickly. I am tired of being tired. But I guess at the same time, I’d rather be tired then gain 50 lbs. At least I think I’ve figured out why I feel this way and can now work towards feeling better.
on April 28th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
The hardest part of it would probably be a RAI treatment and low iodine diet before it [which means no Syntroid too].
on April 28th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Hopefully in the next few months when you’re finally able to start on the hormone replacement you’ll notice a dramatic change and feel a million times better <3 You tough it out like no other
on April 28th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
I am sorry to hear you feel crappy as this unpleasant journey continues. While my thyroid disease is in remission (spontaneous they say) I will never forget (despite my bad memory of the time)
how rotten I felt before the symptoms were controlled. Iknow we’ve never met up but I am alwys happy to talk if you need to vent. Feel free to email me!
on April 28th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Im sure you already know…but Im a woman too and I know how much we pack into our to do list….but at this time, you should prioritize the do to list and plan in lots of rest…your body needs it….take care….
on April 28th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
That really is awful, I get tired sometimes but not to the point of exhaustion. Your all natural Italian blood pushes your past your body’s limits too. So tough! Don’t feel guilty about taking your time to rest, just do it it’s probably the only thing you can do besides your doctor visits and follow ups. And Chad, iron your own shirts, c’mon!! ;)
on April 30th, 2009 at 9:56 am
You’ll make it work. We women always manage to pull of miracles. Just be sure to make sure you take care of you, and rest when you need to. :)
on June 16th, 2009 at 8:57 am
My thyroid always tested on the low end of normal so no additonal treatment was ever needed. 2 weeks after my first surgery to take out what appeared to be a 4.3 cm benign tumor, I was told that addtional pathology was done at Stanford and the cancer cells were found. Took out the 2nd side of my thyroid and right after surgery, I went on Cytomel and felt better and better each day. Still I would hit the wall about 2 or 3 in the afternoon and need a nap to continue the day. When I asked my doctor about that, she told me that I was only being given 1/2 a dose of daily thyroid before the test.
Then I was told about the RAI test and put on the diet… They also stopped my Cytomel. After almost a week, I am feeling the exhaustion you describe. I’m good in the mornings, although stiff, achy and puffy, but by 2 or so in the afternoon I hit the wall. Guess it’s got to get worse before it gets better. But, after feeling so good with the thyroid hormone, I really look forward to feeling “normal” when I am on it again.