T3 and hospitalization

[Tigreg]

I have often wondered what would happen if someone on T3 had to be hospitalized unexpectedly. Usually the TSH is suppressed. Assuming they would check bloods upon arrival, how would they react? Would they insist on stopping T3 medication? Would they go ahead with an operation? Must be a very worrying situation......

[Clutter]

Tigreg,

What makes you think an operation wouldn't go ahead because a patient has suppressed TSH?

[Tigreg in reply to Clutter]

I don't know, clutter, I was asking a question. I do know that all doctors are terrified of a suppressed TSH. It seems to me that we have heard enough stories of doctors refusing to prescribe T3 for that very reason.....

[Clutter in reply to Tigreg]

Tigreg,

Some doctors want their patients' TSH suppressed. Mine has been kept suppressed to reduce the chance of thyCa recurrence. I can't see why that would prevent me having general anaesthetic or surgery.

[radd]

Yeh, things get really complicated if the patient is self medicating ! ..

[juliat in reply to radd]

yes one of the reasons to fight to get it through NHS you have to think the long term implicatiions through. not just the cost.

[Barrister]

I had surgery on my shoulder about 10 days ago. Two days before, the anaesthetist decided to check my TSH and FT4 (no FT3!) I told him that as I take T3 there would be an issue with the results ( I'm a woman in Saudi Arabia - you can guess how it went down with him, my trying to educate him!!!!) Anyway he insisted I see an Endo before he would sign me as fit for the anaesthetic. So I saw the Endo, an absolutely lovely calm lady ( I was far from calm by that stage) and she said everything was fine, my results were as expected on T3 only, she did a FT3 test but signed me as fit for surgery even before the result. Oh and she says she would even continue to prescribe T3 for me here. Clemmie

[Tigreg in reply to Barrister]

Thanks for that Barrister. That's sort of what I was trying to find out.

[t3rr]

I am due a parathyroidectomy next week, asked surgeon if I should take my t3and t4 , he said take it as usual right up to and on the day of the op.

[Tigreg]

Thanks for that t3rr, very useful information. Good luck with your operation...!

[Glynisrose]

No-one can force you to do anything or take any medicine or stop your meds. I kept my NDT in my handbag and resisted all efforts to lock it up!

[Tigreg in reply to Glynisrose]

Glynisrose, but surely a pre-op anesthetist who doesn't know any better could refuse to pass you as "fit" for the operation.....?

[Glynisrose in reply to Tigreg]

Never came up. One of my doctors did mention the TSH was low but I immediately jumped in and said the NDT was doing its job right then!

[greygoose]

I live in France, but I guess things are that different here when it comes to thyroid.

When I was hospitalised unexpectedly, on the fifth day, the endo came flying into my room telling me I had a pituitary tumour! lol I asked her how she knew. She said because my TSH was zero and my T4 was zero. I said, didn't you test the FT3? She looked surprised and said no. I said, well, if you had done that, you would have found that it was rather high, because I Don't have a thyroid and I'm on T3 only. Oh, she said, hadn't thought about that. All she did was advise me to cut down a bit because my TSH should be 'no lower than 0.25'. Yeah, right. lol I'm going to dose my T3 by the TSH! But I never saw her again, so that was OK.

[Tigreg in reply to greygoose]

GG, good story! Of course you meant to write "Didn't you test the T3"? I also live in France and happy to be here!

[greygoose in reply to Tigreg]

Yes, it should! Thank you for pointing that out. Rather spoils the story. lol

Have you been in hospital in France? I've been so many times. Our local one I've watched go rapidly down-hill. So, last time, I refused to go there, I went to one further away. It was much better, but far from perfect. And the food!!! I told them they should be ashamed serving up such muck when France had a reputation for good food. lol

[Tigreg in reply to greygoose]

GG, yes I have been to several hospitals in France. Montpellier,Marseille, Carpentras, Cavaillon, Montelimar and Avignon. The last one was for my thyroidectomy which went well, but the endocrinology dept was a farce. They put me on 150 mcg Levo to start with. This was far to heavy a starting dose at my age....had lots of problems after that and I am still searching for the right balance of T3/T4.....

Apart from that I thank my lucky stars for the healthcare here in France where you can choose your doctors, have easy access to specialists and surgeons whom you can also choose, not to mention having a free choice of which hospital you want to be operated in and by whom! Free prescriptions and access to Cynomel if prescribed. Hello NHS?

I agree about the poor food but then again hospitals are not hotels!

Cheers.

[greygoose in reply to Tigreg]

Yes, that's what they told me when I complained about the food! lol But, even so, it's a waste of good food what they do with it, and I can't bear waste. However, despite my saying I couldn't eat either, every day they gave me boiled fish and green beans! Ugh!!!

But I do agree with you that the freedom of choice is wonderful. Plus, you Don't have to wait as long for operations and such, as you do on the NHS.

[faith63]

i have thought of this often and it keeps me up nights. What if i am unable to take my t3 and go into a coma? Especially since i self treat, no one will give it to me in the hospital. Infact, my TSH is very suppressed.

[HASHISmom34 in reply to faith63]

why would you go into a coma without T3??

[Greengrass21]

I’m on T3 and had to have a total hysterectomy, they checked my levels in pre-op and they where a bit high and TSH was none existent and all my consultant said post op was to see my GP. Took my meds in with me and self administered.