Levo after hemithyroidectomy.

[HarryE]

A friend of mine had half her thyroid removed because of nodules about 8 years ago. She has been on 50mcg Levo ever since. She hasn't been feeling great and after learning about my disastrous thyroid experience, she has got her latest blood results. TSH only, needless to say, but it was 3.5 (0.3-5). Worse than mine was when first tested!! Her ferritin and b12 are good, but her folate is over range and cholesterol is too high. Does anyone else know what sort of dose people may be on after a hemithyroidectomy? I know she needs more meds, but she's not very confident about challenging the docs.

[Clutter]

Harry, dose is individual but looking at your friend's TSH I would agree she is very undermedicated. Most people on medication are more comfortable with TSH just above or just below 1.0 although some need it lower to feel well. Your friend's TSH is way too high and responding to her body's demand for more FT4 and FT3.

[HarryE in reply to Clutter]

Oh yes, she definitely is, I was just hoping for some examples to give her to boost her confidence in asking for an increase. I was sort of guessing half a full replacement dose would be more like 125 or something.

[Clutter in reply to HarryE]

Harry, incremental increases/decreases are 25mcg. 75mcg would bring her TSH down and increase her FT4 a little but a further increase to 100mcg will likely be required.

Starter replacement dose for adults <60 without heart disease is 75mcg/100mcg.

[shaws Administrator]

Doctors wrongly believe that once we are on levo and TSH is 'in range' that 'job's done'. They ignore (have no knowledge) that a low dose can cause problems and any other complaint we have is 'due to something other than the thyroid gland and prescribed medication for the 'complaint' rather than a proper dose of thyroid gland medication. They have no knowledge of clinical symptoms.

Go to the date June 8, 2001 on this link to read the answer:-

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

[HarryE in reply to shaws]

Thanks. I know this, but I am trying to give her the confidence to challenge it too. The damn doctor has given her prozac!! Luckily she hasn't taken it. I've sent her home with copies of all the evidence that she needs a higher dose.

[shaws Administrator in reply to HarryE]

I do hope she gets a higher dose. How many people's lives have been ruined by mistakenly being diagnosed with anything other than a thyroid gland problem. They just give you anything to shut you up and we do know people who have been sectioned because their thyroid gland wasn't working but unfortunately their TSH was 'in range'.