OT: Thyroid removed fatigue resolved !!

[Spirit]

Hello friends, I was alway's susipicous my thyroid was causing my fatigue, cutting off my airway. My apnea only continued to get worse as my thyroid swelled. Well, now it's been confirmed, I had a thyroidectomy done on Wendsday. After surgery, surgeon came in to tell me, my thyroid was massive, largest he's ever seen, wrapping around my trachea, nearly squeezing my trachea shut, and displaced my trachea out of position, he said your lucky, soon you would have stopped breathing. I have a sore throat at the moment from breathing tube, but wow !! what a difference !!! I no longer have this massive softball in my throat. I have an appt with sleep doc/surgeon, same day next month, in two weeks. Possibly a new sleep study, now I no longer have a thyroid. I forgot to ask, if I should continue to use my cpap.

I slept hrs upon on hrs at the hospital for 2 day's, I probably slept 45 out of 48 hrs, catching up on sleep deprivation, today I felt like I could run a 50 mile marathon. Amazing, how horrible sleep deprivation can make a person feel.

I haven't slept that deeply in a very long time, and best of all, no cpap. So wonderful to be able to get air smoothly to my lungs again.

So, those of you with enlarged thyroids and continued fatigue, should have thyroid deeply examined, my thyroid compressed my trachea enough to prevent air flow. I was alway's breathing shallow and now after surgery breathing deeply my lungs expand. Guess, I was used to the way I was breathing. That explain's occassional wake up gasping for air, using cpap. Thought it was reflux ! Nope ! My thyroid. It was a very difficult decision for me to lose my thyroid forever (normal labs), but now I'm super happy I did.

So hopefully my journey the past 4 yrs can help someone else with enlarged thyroid, fatigue and no answers. Sleep well.
Spirit

[squid13]

I had the fatigue from my thyroid not putting out enough but the medication takes care of that. I started thyroid medication about a month before I started CPAP so I two problems going at once.

[Spirit]

Cool avatar

Most have fatigue from thyroid disorder, which is treatable by medication. I'm one of the rare cases, fatigue was caused by restricted airway. Wishing you well on your journey.

[Pugsy]

You can't see me but I am doing a happy dance for you.

I am so happy this surgery has yielded such positive results for you. Sounds like you are already a new man. WTG.

[BlackSpinner]

Congratulations on finally getting the cause discovered and dealt with. You sound so much chipper.
We will be interested to know the result of your sleep study.

[Spirit]

You can't see me but I am doing a happy dance for you. I am so happy this surgery has yielded such positive results for you. Sounds like you are already a new man. WTG.

Thanks dear friend, it's been a journey, thanks for all your support through it all. Never imaged my thyroid closing up my windpipe. Wishing you well.

[Spirit]

Congratulations on finally getting the cause discovered and dealt with. You sound so much chipper.
We will be interested to know the result of your sleep study.

Thanks so much friend, I do feel like a new person Fatigue is gone !! Will definetly keep members up to date on progress. Wishing you well.

[Spirit]

Last night, I used my cpap for the first time since surgery, and all I can say is Wow !!! I actually felt air bypassing my throat. Definetly will need a pressure adjustment. I never had sleep apnea till my thyroid began to swell a few yrs ago, anyway's I'm super happy, I haven't felt this good in a few yrs !!!! I'm running around the house doing all type's of activities, forgetting I just had surgery. Just feels so freakin good to be alive again !!! Sleep depriviation made me lifeless. No matter how much I slept, how many hrs on the cpap, each day I woke up feeling like I slept 30 min - 1 hr. As my throat heals from surgery, my AHI should flat line in the future. Wishing everyone well on thier journey.

[ameriken]

Congratulations. Good to know about this, I wonder how many of us may be experiencing similar fatigue. Good luck!

[Pugsy]

I haven't felt this good in a few yrs !!!! I'm running around the house doing all type's of activities, forgetting I just had surgery

WTG...it's about ....ing time. New man already. How sweet. Another happy dance headed your way.

[bemused]

Interesting post!

I also had a Total Thyroidectomy 2 years ago, large (5cm) benign goiter impacting windpipe. I was only diagnosed with sleep apnea recently after continued daytime tiredness and memory loss and a year spent chasing the right daily thyroid dose (fatigue symptoms are similar, we just assumed it was hypothyroid). I don't know if my apnea was improved by throat surgery (I can certainly breathe better!) but such a large restructuring must have a considerable effect.

Good to hear you are getting positive results so soon. Keep us posted!

[Spirit]

I haven't felt this good in a few yrs !!!! I'm running around the house doing all type's of activities, forgetting I just had surgery

WTG...it's about ....ing time. New man already. How sweet. Another happy dance headed your way.

Hello sweet friend, thanks for celebrating with me Hope your sleep journey is treating you well. Really sux'd to have multiple health disorders no one could relate to, but alway's very supportive, after yrs of research, I finally nailed it

It feels so freakin good to breathe again. Cpap relieved alot of my symptoms, just not fatigue. I fell asleep on the couch the other night with no cpap, family member said I slept without snoring. Well, I developed a new issue last night, hopefully can get resolved soon, like not needing a cpap anymore.

[Spirit]

Interesting post!

I also had a Total Thyroidectomy 2 years ago, large (5cm) benign goiter impacting windpipe. I was only diagnosed with sleep apnea recently after continued daytime tiredness and memory loss and a year spent chasing the right daily thyroid dose (fatigue symptoms are similar, we just assumed it was hypothyroid). I don't know if my apnea was improved by throat surgery (I can certainly breathe better!) but such a large restructuring must have a considerable effect. Good to hear you are getting positive results so soon. Keep us posted!

HI friend, wishing you well on hormone/apnea journey. Hypo can make a person feel lifeless, till meds are tweaked for balance. I read a research article that removing a swollen thyroid, can decrease apnea 30% - 40%, depending on size/condition, Etc.... I felt many improvements on cpap, with fluctuating fatigue, from mild to severe. Now I wake up refreshed, ready to go every morning, after a cup of coffee.