Hi. Me again.

I didn't quite feel myself either after surgery, but now that I'm on a T4 and T3 combination, I feel much better. I don't think it's a matter of finding a doctor who will prescribe it because it's not like it does any harm. Mine didn't have a problem with it when I asked for it after I still had trouble focusing with Synthroid alone.

Rather than starting on the combination, you could try out just the Sythroid first. If your TSH level is where the doctor wants it and you still don't feel right, ask for an adjustment with Cytomel (T3). This may take some time because it takes 2-3 months for the new dosage to level out so the TSH is accurate. If you decide to do the RAI, your doctor may put you just on Cytomel until after that because withdrawal takes a lot less time, so you won't be hypothyroid for as long.

I haven't tried Armour, but some people have had success with it, I've heard. Some doctors may be less open to that option because they say it can give spikes of T3 shortly after taking the pill, which can cause problems long-term, such as heart problems and bone loss.

I also think that most people do just fine on Sythroid after thyroid surgery, it's just that people don't post online when they are feeling great. It's only people who have a problem who say anything.

As for whether you need an Endocrinologist or not, if you like your ENT and he has experience treating thyroid issues beyond cancer, you can stick with him. If you don't really like him or something, then you can find an Endo. It's up to you. Just make sure you do your cancer follow-up with a doctor experienced in treating thyroid cancer.