HAD THYROID REMOVED IN 2014

[mrs44mac]

HAVE JUST FOUND OUT THAT ALL THESE HORRID PROBLEMS I AM HAVING ARE A RESULT OF TAKING LEVOTHYROXINE

WHAT INFORMATION DO I NEED TO GET FROM MY DOCTOR TO FIND OUT IF I AM ON THE CORRECT DOZE?

[rosetrees]

You need to get into the habit of always asking for a printout of your test results, with ranges. Then you can see which tests have been done, which haven't and learn to make your own interpretations.

As you don't have a thyroid, you'll need to have your FT4 and FT3 levels measured to ensure you are adequately medicated. That doesn't mean bottom of the range, it means well in range.

You also need to have your Vit B12, Vit D, iron, folate and ferritin levels measured to ensure they are well in range so that your meds work effectively.

Never take a doctor's word for results being "normal". There is no such thing. The ranges are correctly termed "reference" ranges. You need to find out what is optimal for you.

[galathea]

Well, what problems are you having? Often problems are not a result of being on levothyroxine, but by not being on enough of it.

You need enough to make your Tsh low and your free t3 and free t4 need to be at the top end of their ranges.

Has your doctor doe regular tests... Every couple of months and then raised your dose?

Have you kept a copy of test results? If not, request them, post them on here and we can take a took....

A full replacement dose is often somewhere between 150 and 200 mg in my experience.

Xx. G

[mrs44mac in reply to galathea]

Thank you

I have no idea what my test results are, I have only realised that I should have requested this.

What else should I request from my doctor?

XX C

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome mrs44mac

The first two responses to your question are excellent. We might find it strange at first to ask for a print-out of our blood tests but you do get used to it. Some receptionists are reluctant but we are entitled, by law, to have a copy and just say for your own records. Make sure the ranges are are also there as labs differ in their ranges. Some surgeries might charge a nominal sum for paper/ink.

If you can put a short history on your profile (you can click on my name for an idea) as it helps members not to ask you repeat questions.

How many months is it since your op as it does take a while till your get onto an optimum dose. Many do get well on levo but it has to be at an optimum dose, others don't such as myself.

When you get a blood test for your thyroid hormones leave around 24 hours between taking levo and the blood test which should be as early as possible. Take levo afterwards and if you've eaten leave at least 2 hours either side so that food doesn't interfere with the uptake. When you pick up your levo prescription make sure it's from the same pharmaceutical company as sometimes fillers/binders can affect us. If after a few months on the same make ask pharmacist for an alternative. You should take levo with one glass of water first thing on an empty stomach and leave about an hour before breakfast. Some people prefer to take levo at bedtime, therefore, you should last eat two hours before.

Also ask GP for a Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as we are usually deficient and that can cause problems.

We have to read and learn, unfortunately, if we aren't doing as well as we expected but we can but it does take a while and we all need different doses.

[SilverAvocado]

Hi mrs44mac! I'm in the same boat. Had my thyroid removed almost exactly 2 years ago. While I was going thru radioactive iodine for a year, no one had any interest in getting me medicated and back on my feet again. Is only now that I've managed to get ferritin, folate, B12,etc, tested. Months ago I got 'vitamin and mineral' tests, and was told over the phone they were 'normal'. Took months to get a copy and find out they didn't include the stuff most people say are important!

Blah blah blah.. it's a long road, and I've found my consultants cared a lot more about obliterating my thyroid than they do about me well again

[mrs44mac]

I couldn't agree more before I had it removed it seemed that every other week I was seeing some doctor or other now that they have removed it I seem to be an uninteresting specimen and more or less left to my GP to sort out. Thanks to places like this I am finding out the reasons why I am feeling so bad and the information needed to help me on the road to recovery (or at least feel a little better).

Hope it helps you to. x

[SilverAvocado in reply to mrs44mac]

Thanks mrs44mac! I'm moving slowly forward, I think. Have now got a few answers and things to try, just waiting for new doses and things to pan out