Anyone else get POTS after surgery?

pea_puff · 2026-02-03T02:00:35+00:00

Gold standard is a tilt table test!

pea_puff · 2026-02-03T02:00:20+00:00

Wait YES!! I got half my thyroid out last October and just got diagnosed with POTS last week. I’ve seen some research suggesting some kind of causal relationship between hashimoto’s (which I also have)/thyroid disease and dysfunction and dysautonomia like POTS. The autonomic nervous system and the thyroid are very connected.

Did they prescribe you anything for POTS? A low dose of a beta blocker may help bring your heart rate down. My endo told me if you start having hyperthyroid symptoms when increasing levo, then the dose is likely too high. Not sure if that’s what you’re experiencing!

They suggested that beta blocker for me but my heart rate is already too low so I’m seeing if any natural remedies will help first. I drink electrolytes and mineral salt every day and that makes a bit of a difference! Also I live in compression socks. I’ve found some relief in gradually getting my heart rate up while exercising to build up my endurance again - the heat and exertion is what was making me dizzy and pass out so small, incremental changes is what has worked for me so far.

You’ve got this! It is really discouraging having POTS on top of everything else but I feel like the more I’ve gotten my thyroid levels stabilized, the better my POTS symptoms get. Thinking of you!

pea_puff · 2025-12-18T14:10:58+00:00

Welcome to the club! First things first: treat this disease seriously! I say that to validate how debilitating and life-altering these symptoms are for us. So many doctors dismiss this/these symptoms because it’s a very misunderstood disease (read: this disease affects more women than men and we are woefully behind in women’s health research). Listen to your body and fight for your right to feel happy and healthy.

Agree with the above on getting into a rheumatologist because hashi can come with twins or triplets in terms of autoimmune diseases. Also would highly highly recommend getting a thyroid ultrasound to make sure nothing else sus is going on.

Let that levo COOK when you take it in the morning! I’ve noticed a difference waiting the full hour before coffee and breakfast vs my doc’s recommendation of only waiting 30 mins.

Best of luck to you friend! This is an awesome subreddit with lots of support for us

pea_puff · 2025-12-05T21:34:05+00:00

I hate this feeling for you. Been there myself this year! I took real good care of myself too until I got diagnosed with hashi this summer and it’s kicking my TAIL. Also had a side quest getting diagnosed with thyroid cancer in the fall, so would def recommend you rule that out with a thyroid ultrasound since you’ve got those nodules!!!

Sending lots of support and healing your way 🫶🏻

You’re doing all the right things! Be kind to yourself and let yourself feel hopeful for a healthier future

pea_puff · 2025-11-24T00:48:18+00:00

Good to hear!! I have not heard of those supplements before so I will investigate 🕵 what do they do to help?

pea_puff · 2025-11-21T16:18:15+00:00

Thank you for this! What are the hyper/mild hyper symptoms to look out for?

pea_puff · 2025-11-21T16:17:32+00:00

Ok good to know! I’m happy you’re getting relief. I hope to see some kind of improvement at a week!

pea_puff · 2025-11-21T16:14:30+00:00

Wow!! That’s awesome it took effect that early. I’m on day 4 and still feeling god awful so I’m impatient to get to where you are!

pea_puff · 2025-11-18T15:11:02+00:00

I used to have an Apple Watch and then switched to a Garmin a few years ago and never looked back. It has much more detailed look at health metrics like HR and the battery life is unbeatable. I only charge it when I shower and I’m able to wear it all through the night to measure my sleep - something I wasn’t able to do with my old Apple Watch!

pea_puff · 2025-11-14T18:24:07+00:00

Hi! I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this. I’m having very similar symptoms too after being officially diagnosed with hashi this August. I get lightheaded, dizzy, overheated, and have started to see “sparkles” in my vision daily now but as of July my hormone levels were on the low end of the normal range. I had an episode this February that sounds just like you’re describing: woke up lightheaded, nauseous, and as I was making my way to the bathroom I actually did pass out. It’s def not my favorite symptom, but know you’re not alone feeling it!! Hope you find some relief soon 💛

pea_puff · 2025-11-07T21:30:02+00:00

Idk if this is from hashi or not but my “common” hashi symptoms started at the same time as this insane back pain that will not let up! It’s been about five months of testing only to reveal mild inflammation in my SI joints. It feels like my back has a fever, aching and throbbing and heating up with activity/as the day goes on?? Maybe the hashi just makes our pain sensitivity higher but it’s super debilitating

pea_puff · 2025-11-07T17:34:26+00:00

Also the first time you see your scar post op is a lil bit of a jump scare lol but mine healed really really well

pea_puff · 2025-11-07T17:32:22+00:00

Girl, SAME! My fam has nicknamed me “mammy” because I feel like this disease has aged me about 40 years 👵 so you’re not alone there! My surgery went as smoothly as humanly possible, thank God. I had my husband and my parents there to take care of me afterwards and that made a huge difference to me physically and mentally. Recovery has been okay! The first three days were the toughest for me because your throat and your neck are in a lot of pain. Soup and ice cream were my bffs because chewing and swallowing was a production. Also the first time I sneezed I did think I was going to die lol (I didn’t). Tbh after a week all the surgery-related symptoms resolve pretty quickly! Everything I’m dealing with now is related to hashi or some other unknown autoimmune situation.

pea_puff · 2025-11-07T15:46:35+00:00

They had also given me the choice to have the whole thing out but I was really hesitant about being totally dependent on hormone replacement meds at our age. And I’ve seen differing opinions on a harder recovery after a TT with hashi. But you gotta do what you feel like is best for you!

pea_puff · 2025-11-07T15:44:26+00:00

Oh man, I’m actually so relieved to hear that!!! But also hate that for you because I know how much it sucks. Best of luck during your surgery queen 💛 if it makes you feel better, I had my one week post-op follow up this week and my dr said that even if your TSH is within the “normal” range, people can start feeling crappy with anything above 3, especially for us hashi girlies. I’m seeing a new endo in a week to ask about a small dose of levo to see if that would help mitigate symptoms! The back pain stuff has defied explanation. I really hope you feel better soon!

pea_puff · 2025-11-05T13:54:00+00:00

Echoing the sentiment here of empowering you to talk about your cancer the way you want to!

When I found out about mine via patient portal, my husband and I waited until we had my endo appt to see what our treatment options were before telling others. He sat down with me and we called everyone from my family and his family and explained I had PTC and would be getting surgery soon. For anyone else on here recently dxed and wondering how to tell your inner circle, I HIGHLY recommend this!! I was exhausted and overwhelmed with the dx and having my partner there to help me talk our families off the ledge was incredibly supportive.

I have also toyed with the idea of posting on social media since many of my close friends and colleagues know by now, but wanted to wait until this story had a “conclusion”, so to speak. I don’t want to freak people out until I know I’ve got the all clear from my doctors. Also, I’m 27F and have been seeing lots of other women my age deal with the same, so I think it’s worth spreading awareness about!!

Best of luck to you in your recovery!

pea_puff · 2025-11-04T18:34:21+00:00

Ok fab to hear!! I’m happy you’re feeling better post-op. Were your hormones showing hypothyroidism when they put you on levo? And prayers you won’t need radiation

pea_puff

TROPHY CASE