6 weeks post thyroidectomy + feeling awful

[Emmabai1ey]

Hi All,

Just a little update on my post op goings on. As you can all see scar wise things are great. I'm healing really well.

Excuse my big jumper but I'm absolutely freezing cold all of the time! Luckily my dear grandma got me ugg boots for Christmas to keep my feet warm.

As well as feeling cold I am just so tired and lacking any sort of motivation to do anything. I am aware this is a normal symptom after having a thyroidectomy as my levels are clearly not yet correct. I was put on 125 mg Levo daily. I have not yet been told to have another blood test and have also not received any letter with an appointment to see my endo. This is a bit disappointing but I assume now we are in the new year I will get an appointment soon. I have a 3 year old son so getting everything sorted, cleaned and washed is proving very difficult.

After surgery I was kept in hospital for 8 days due to my calcium level dropping dangerously low. This has since rectified itself and I have had no symptoms of the low calcium level since. This was the only issue after surgery I had no other problems.

Does anyone have any advice on what I should do next?

Thanks all

Emma

[Clutter]

Emmabai1ey,

Ideally thyroid levels will be checked 6-8 weeks after starting Levothyroxine and after any dose adjustment. If you haven't heard from endocrinology in the next week or two I would ask your GP to do a thyroid function test. Arrange the blood draw early in the morning when TSH is highest and fast (water only) as TSH drops after eating and drinking.

[shaws Administrator]

When blood test is due I'd ask if GP could do a Free T3 blood test due to the fact that you've had a TT. Just to see if your FT3 is at a good level when converting levothyroxine (T4) into T3. If you are converting T4 properly your FT3 should be high in its range.

[Hidden]

You need a blood test asap to find out what is happening. You should not feel that bad under those circumstances. You may need a different medication.

[LAHs]

For what this is worth, directly after my TT I was on T3 only for about a month (could have been 6 weeks) and I felt great. After that I moved to 125mcg Levo and was allowed to fiddle with the dose until my FT3 was optimal. I had many, many blood tests (on demand) until I felt good and my weight dropped.

(Of course, after a great 5 years they stopped making that brand of Levo and my wonderful helpful GP retired - so I had to start all over again. But anyway, that was my post TT experience)

[Nickinoo1]

Not wanting to put you off but patience is the name of the game as you need to find your levels. I had a busy life and wanted to feel better immediately but it doesn't work that way. This took me a year or so to feel really well and some battles with GP but stick with it - you will get there.

Bloods to see what's going on is the first place to start as the wise peeps above have advised.

I had hemithyroidectomy but half left is the bit that doesn't work.

Xx