Hashimoto post Thyroidectomy help please

[Meheg3]

Hi all

I had a partial Thyroidectomy in 1998 due to Hashimoto goitre. I have since taken varying doses of levothyroxine. Currently 125mcg/150 alternate days.

My concern after all this time that I’ve only just come to realise is that I could still have the Hashimoto

I’m exhausted all the time, feel generally meh and have aching joints and get fatter every year.

I’ve a nurse Practitioner apt next week. Are there any particular blood tests/referrals I can ask for? I’m fed up of feeling like this. Any advice of anyone else please?

[Nanaedake]

The point of taking levothyroxine is that when optimally treated you should be symptom free. If you post your latest thyroid blood test results we'll be able to help you make sense of them and check that you are optimally treated. The essential tests you need are:

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPO (Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies),

TgAb (Thyroglobulin Antibodies)

Vitamin D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

All of these need to be optimal for levothyroxine to work well and for us to feel well. NHS labs do not always check FT3 so check with nurse. You always have the option of using an online lab to check thyroid levels if you can afford it. Medichecks or Blue Horizon are used by people on this forum.

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum and I am sorry you had a partial thyroidectomy. You need to request a new blood test and it should consist of:

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. B12, Vit D,iron, ferritin and folate.

NHS may not do all of the thyroid hormones as it is assumed TSH and T4 gives them the information but it doesn't when we don't feel well and I'll also give you a couple of links.

First, you have to have blood tests for thyroid hormones at the very earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24hours between last dose of levo and the test and take it afterwards. This is beneficial for us to get the results.

TSH is from the pituitary gland and it rises to try to flag up thyroid hormones.

If NHS wont do all of the ones for thyroid gland you can get them from a private lab. They should do all of the vits/minerals.

Always get a print-out of your results with the ranges for your own records and you can post if you have a query.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

The last one you can read about FT4 and FT3.

[Meheg3]

Thank you both very much for your help. I’ll go armed at my appointment with these tests and see what she says.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

If you can't get full thyroid and vitamin testing from GP

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw or

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH and most consistent results