Widespread Vitamin D Deficiency in Thyroidectomy Patients

[shambles]

DETROIT – A new study from researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit finds widespread vitamin D deficiency among patients who undergo a thyroidectomy, potentially putting them at greater risk for developing dangerously low blood calcium levels after surgery.

henryford.com/body.cfm?id=4...

January this year I was crippled with joint pain and when to the doctor who told me that it was probably my age, 54. After good advice from here I tested my vitamin D and it came back 14 nmol, severe deficiency, took that to my GP who said, well there's a lot of talk about vitamin D and that was that, following week asked my endo about it and he said, 'tell your GP'. So the next time you have an appointment and neither will test, give them a copy of this.

[Marz]

Low VitD features in many serious and chronic illnesses as indicated on the website...

vitamindcouncil.org and click onto Health Conditions...

gov.uk/government/uploads/s...

The above link is to a letter that was sent out to ALL Health Practitioners - somehow it seems to have been missed

Glad you are sorted ! A cheap and cheerful cure for so much....

[shambles in reply to Marz]

Actually it was your kind advice that led me to my vitamin d deficiency.

I know you are well versed on your vitamin d and always read with envy that even sunshine is not enough! I find it on my lists of hard to accept or believe that neither my GP or endo are prepared to embrace any responsibility for severe deficiency and look at me as though I am a trying to invent the wheel.

Point being for me is that I had not been on this site or had your help I would have remained in a state. Low vitamin d makes you feel old/hypo/depressed and so much more. I believe I may have been low even before my thyroid was removed, for me it should automatically tested when someone has thyroid issues.

Thanks again Marz

[Clutter in reply to shambles]

Shambles, it was thanks to advice here that I was tested and found deficient <10, 18 months after thyroidectomy. Sis had RAI and after nagging from me was tested <40.

Both of us have resolved bone and joint pain since supplementing.

[shambles in reply to Clutter]

Glad you resolved your joint pain too. But it's such a shame that we have to ask for the test or in my case pay for it. It should be a 'go to' test after thyroid removal and perhaps include calcium and magnesium. The surgeon said he clipped my parathyroid due to my thyroid being swollen and said I might want to take some calcium. He might as well have tried to explain the Higgs boson theory!

[Clutter in reply to shambles]

Shambles, the article was advocating testing vitD and correcting deficiencies prior to surgery.

My calcium was tested and was low immediately after my throidectomy. I was supposed to collect a prescription but didn't feel up to the 3 hour round journey so didn't bother. They tested a week later and it had self corrected.

Calcium often drops post thyroidectomy especially if the parathyroids are bruised or damaged but if it hasn't self corrected calcium should be prescribed not vaguely suggested as a bit of an idea.

[Marz in reply to shambles]

Thank you shambles - good to have such a positive feedback I too have learnt so much from this forum and still we keep on learning....

[Pepekins]

I had my thyroid removed 13 years ago as it was found (accidentally) I had papilliary cancer. Nobody mentioned anything much about calcium and possible effect to bones. Consequently 10 years down the line it was found I had lost a lot of bone in my hips which led me to a hip replacement. Even after this all I was offered was Adcal which after a bit of research I found was really bad for you due to deposits going all over the body. I take 2 teaspoons of Icelandic cod liver oil per day but don't really know if that is enough for someone without a thyroid gland. It really is up to the individual to find out (sometimes the hard way) about knock on effects from TT as nobody in the medical profession gives you the info. However I would always welcome advice from other people who are in the same situation as myself, or people who are in the know! Many thanks for this great forum. p.s. I am having a vit B12 test done soon as I read on this forum that people without a thyroid don't take up the vit from food.

[shambles in reply to Pepekins]

Pepekins, it still sad that so many of us are not being offered the correct treatment or given advice. I always think that I won't be deficient in anything, I think all of this happens to other people and not me! I so want to believe every word the specialists and GP's say but the fact of the matter is they are simply not up to speed and offer a basic solution to a very complicated disease.

I had TT because I was told I needed it and had and have severe thyroid eye disease. If I had seen this site first I would never of had my thyroid removed.

Test, test and test again is the answer. If you can get your GP or endo to do it great, if not privately. I've had an active B12 test which is the test you need as it measures cell level B12. Unfortunately most GP will not pay for it. You can get it through Blue Horizon or Genova on Thyroid UK main page. You must be stop taking your B's supplements for 4 weeks or longer prior to the test.