Supplementation after total thyroidectomy

[julia35]

Hi all, a friend of mine had her whole thryoid removed over 3 months ago. She has not been started on any replacement hormone, she says she is aching all over and struggles to get out of bed or stay awake. What shocked me is that she recently saw her GP who ran some blood tests and told her her levels are all normal. She instead put my friend on stronger pain killers. Is there any where where I can refer my friend for more information on the danger that her GP is putting her in. I have advised her to request an appointment with her endo surgeons too but I don't know if she understands the danger her GP is putting her in. Thanks all for your help.

[dang]

Do you know what hormones she's taking, if it's levo alone it won't be of great help to her, she may also need the addition of t3. With TT it's quite important for the patient to also receive t3, however many doctors tend to prescribe levothyroxine alone.

[julia35 in reply to dang]

She's not taking any hormone, hence her not feeling well. Will encourage her to learn about the treatment options.

[Clutter]

Julia35,

I think it is unlikely your friend had a total thyroidectomy. There is no way she could have 'normal' thyroid levels 3 months after a total thyroidectomy and without replacement for 3 months she would probably be ill in hospital. I was given thyroid replacement the morning after surgery and given sufficient thyroid hormone to last a month until I could get a repeat prescription at the dose recommended by the surgeon from my GP.

Ask your friend to get a copy of her thyroid results and ranges from her GP and post them in a new question for comment.

[julia35 in reply to Clutter]

Thanks you Clutter, I will encourage her to sign up here.

[julia35]

I thought so too, I will keep encouraging her to get help.