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Suggest Treatment For Weight Gain, Fatigue And Dry Skin After Complete Thyroidectomy
Question: I had a complete thyroidectomy two years ago, I am on 137 mg of levothyroxine since my surgery I have gained 30 pounds my hair is thinning, my nails are brittle, my skin is extremely dry and I am very fatigued all day long. I get my blood tested every six weeks my doctor says my levels are fine and won't change my medication. He is put me in phentermine for one month to try and help me lose weight but all I did was gained 3 pounds, I eat extremely healthy hardly ever junk food and I exercise regularly. Now I'm seeing an acupuncturist to see if there's anything they can do to help me speed up my metabolism him get my energy back and loose some weight. Could I possibly have adrenal fatigue I have been trying to self diagnose for the past two years I have tried everything I've seen specialist I've seen doctors and no one can help me any suggestions
Brief Answer:
Weight gain
Detailed Answer:
Sorry to learn about your bothersome symptoms.
There are few uncommon causes of weight gain such as Acromegaly and Cushings disease. A simple blood test called IGF1 can help screen for the former while there are several types of test for the latter. One of them is a midnight saliva cortisol measurement.
Adrenal fatigue is a myth. If it remotely suggests adrenal insufficiency, then I would like to highlight that this problem leads to weight loss and not gain.
When I see someone like you in my practice, I typically order the following blood tests in addition to a detailed physical examination:
CBC (Complete Blood Count, also known as Hemogram; includes Hemoglobin, WBC and Platelet counts)
Electrolytes (Sodium and Potassium in particular)
HbA1c (Glycosylated Hemoglobin = your last 3 months' glucose average). Also known by other names such as GlycoHemoglobin or Glycated Hemoglobin or A1c
Liver function tests (SGOT , SGPT, Albumin, Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase)
Kidney function tests (BUN, Creatinine)
25 hydroxy Vitamin D levels (ideal range 40 to 60 ng/ml = 100 to 150 nmol/liter)
IGF1
Midnight Salivary Cortisol
None of the blood tests require any fasting and can be done at any time of the day
Weight gain
Detailed Answer:
Sorry to learn about your bothersome symptoms.
There are few uncommon causes of weight gain such as Acromegaly and Cushings disease. A simple blood test called IGF1 can help screen for the former while there are several types of test for the latter. One of them is a midnight saliva cortisol measurement.
Adrenal fatigue is a myth. If it remotely suggests adrenal insufficiency, then I would like to highlight that this problem leads to weight loss and not gain.
When I see someone like you in my practice, I typically order the following blood tests in addition to a detailed physical examination:
CBC (Complete Blood Count, also known as Hemogram; includes Hemoglobin, WBC and Platelet counts)
Electrolytes (Sodium and Potassium in particular)
HbA1c (Glycosylated Hemoglobin = your last 3 months' glucose average). Also known by other names such as GlycoHemoglobin or Glycated Hemoglobin or A1c
Liver function tests (SGOT , SGPT, Albumin, Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase)
Kidney function tests (BUN, Creatinine)
25 hydroxy Vitamin D levels (ideal range 40 to 60 ng/ml = 100 to 150 nmol/liter)
IGF1
Midnight Salivary Cortisol
None of the blood tests require any fasting and can be done at any time of the day
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
The BUN,Creatinine, SGOT, SGPT are indirectly important in order to make sure results of other tests are reliable, because sometimes when the kidneys and liver are not functioning properly other test results get altered.
IGF1 is a good screening test for a condition of growth hormone excess called Acromegaly which can cause weight gain.
Cushing's disease is caused by excess of Cortisol which also leads to weight gain. The midnight saliva test is one way to screen for this possibility. .
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
The BUN,Creatinine, SGOT, SGPT are indirectly important in order to make sure results of other tests are reliable, because sometimes when the kidneys and liver are not functioning properly other test results get altered.
IGF1 is a good screening test for a condition of growth hormone excess called Acromegaly which can cause weight gain.
Cushing's disease is caused by excess of Cortisol which also leads to weight gain. The midnight saliva test is one way to screen for this possibility. .
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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