Too soon to go back to work???

[froggy0936]

Hi all. I need some advice! I've posted before, but in short summary..I had TT 12/17/09 and am now hypo with last bloodwork few weeks ago showing TSH of 66.060. Endo says it's because he wanted to start me on Synthroid slowly (50mcg) ...which he did after the surgery and on Feb 13th he raised me to 75mcg and said to get bloodwork in 4wks and he'll see about raising again. My question is how do I know if I'm able to return to work? We all know how sometimes we have horrible hypo days and I'm afraid that if I go back to work that I won't have the stamina to work full time again. The positive is that I know the job and it's with the same company that I worked with prior to TT. The reason I got released from the position is that I was missing quite a bit of work due to anxiety and the company was downsizing anyway. That was July 09. Due to anxiety not really being controlled by meds, I went to Endo for the 1st time and that's when he found I had Hashis and nodule, etc and it all went downhill from there. Im hoping that I won't be hypo forever and things get balanced out. My benefits run out end of May, so I have that to consider, also. I don't know how much brand name Synthroid is without a prescription. I know if I pass this up (if it's offered to me) I won't have another chance. It's not a strenuous job...I just hope that I'm ready and I can do it. Don't want to be falling asleep at my desk! Any advice would be appreciated!          

[froggy0936]

Thank you to both replies! If the job is offered to me..it will be @ beginning of April. The bad thing is my boss is not flexible at all. The good thing is the job is in a hospital so if I fall over..i'm already there! Lol. Thank you for your entailed responses. I need all the help I can get! ........Blessings to you both!  Lynda xo.

[mrsomes]

Everybody is different.  I had a TT in June and was feeling horrible.   My doctor felt it was really important for me to get back to work as soon as I could.  After 3 weeks he suggested I return to work even if I could only work part of the day.    I thought he was insane but I went anyway.   First week I only made it until noon.   Second week I made it until 3:00.   By the third week I was working full time; exhausted when I got home but I was working.   In retrospect I thank my Dr for giving me this advise.   He forced me to get back to some degree of normalcy.  I absolutely believe that in the long run it helped me to feel better sooner.  I had a meeting with my boss when I came back letting him know what going on.  I was lucky that he was very flexible.  Also, keep the lines of communication with your doctor open.   It's critical that he knows how you are feeling.   TSH (and other levels) are indicators of what is happening but people feel differently within the ranges.  My Dr thought my levels were great on 75 mg of synthroid and didn't want to change anything but I was feeling "off".   Upped it to 88 mg and life is good!    Good luck...you will feel better.

[Smilerdeb]

Thyroid issues is a slow process......something that cant be rushed no matter how hard you try  or how hard you want it.
I think many of us have found that out.
If you feel 'up to it' then go back to work but I know I had brain fog while I was hypo...even to the stage I stopped driving as I just couldnt think straight.
But everyone is different.

Ive had my levels pretty stable for the last 12 months.....had my TSH go up with stress but havent suffered from it to the stage that I couldnt work, although some days I did ache.
I worked from the October 2008 until the May 2009 when my contract ended with an Aged Care facility.(I had RAI in June 2008 and was hypo 5 weeks later).
But my Doc never let me go over the 10.0 mark with the TSH so I was lucky.

Some work while hypo...some dont....it all depends on the person.

Your meds will be changed pretty often in the first 6 months.
'Tweaking' comes when your levels are stable and you then 'fine tune' the meds.

If you feel up to work, then go back.
Hope that helps.

[froggy0936]

Appreciate your response but it seems just from reading other posts that getting to the point where you're stable for a couple of months could take a VERY long time.
It doesn't seem to me that anyone is really "stable" and if they are...then their numbers change again! Sometimes I think that by not forcing myself to be active only gives me more time to think about how i'm feeling and it makes it worse. Anyone know approximately how long it takes for levels to be stabilized? I can't afford to be off work much longer. Do other people go to work even though they are hypothyroid? I know people who have gone back after TT and had their med adjusted 3 times already...so are we ever really stable?? Seems like if i were to wait on that..i could be waiting forever. HELP!  

[Smilerdeb]

Levels can change from day to day & week to week.
I would personally wait until your levels have been stable for at least 2 months.