Thyroid removal and problems

Question
Hello..after having my thyroid gland surgically removed{2006 and now we are in 2009)..I have never felt right. I felt miserable before, now I feel like hell..all the time.I feel like I have a permanent disconnect in my brain, my bathroom habits never returned to normal and I have lost my sex drive/desires.My skin hurts and have constant various pains such as bone and muscle aches.I have little to no energy still and am unable to lose weight despite gymX2 a day and low calorie intake.Most of this did not happen gradually, it happened within approx 8 weeks after removal. I am on naturethroid 130 in the am and 32.5 in the afternoon. Was on Armour prior to switching to nature but Armour had supply problems.put on Synthroid initially and wouldn't touch my lab levels so the doctor reluctantly switched me to the Armour and the initial switch did curb the hair loss, headaches..etc..but still feel like I lost a huge part of many other functions. What happened and what can I do or ask my doctor to do to help correct this.This has been going on three years now. They keep telling my labs are within normal range and I shouldn't be experiencing this..however..I AM! I am so desperate to feel better/normal.


Answer
Hi Rhonda,

I am not familiar with Naturethroid. It is not a product available here in Canada. In general though, you have lost the ability to make your own thyroid hormone so you need replacement. The common commercial product is T4. Most people can convert T4 to T3 which is the active form of the hormone. Some people do not convert efficiently and require T3. Armour is a mixture of T3 and T4. Since there is a supply problem with Armour the other option is to use T3 by itself which is marketed under the brand name Cytomel. Talk to your doctor about it.

Thank you for using Allexperts

Sincerely,

Eric Brandt, B.Sc. Pharm