Is this normal?

[hyperthyroidchantee]

Hi all this is my first post on here.

10 days ago I had a total thyroidectomy as the radioactive iodine did not work. The surgery went fine I was told. I already feel lots better than I did before the surgery. The only thing is I keep on getting is pins and needles in my fingers and toes. They have been there for the past 2 days.

The ward told me I could get in touch with them if I have any problems but I don't really want to bother them seeing as it is nearly Christmas.

Thank you if someone could give me advice.

[cjrsquared]

Sounds like you might have low calcium, I would ring the ward you may need an urgent blood test.

[hyperthyroidchantee in reply to cjrsquared]

Thank you I will do that

[SlowDragon Administrator]

It could be low vitamins.

Ask GP to test B12, folate, ferritin and vitamin D. Also calcium. But it's most likely B12

Especially as you recently had general anaesthetic

b12-vitamin.com/anesthesia/

Low B12 is common with thyroid issues anyway

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Fibromyalgia can often be Thyroid not correctly treated

Getting thyroid hormones tested essential and you may need starting on Levothyroxine

Get TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results

[hyperthyroidchantee in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi

They started me on Levothyroxine the day after my surgery.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to hyperthyroidchantee]

How much Levothyroxine are you taking? What brand?

Get retested at 6 weeks. Earlier if symptoms are dire

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, lowest FT4 and most consistent results

Definitely get vitamins tested next week

Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. Many take on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime

verywell.com/should-i-take-...

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable. Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

[hyperthyroidchantee in reply to SlowDragon]

100MCG Mercury pharma the brand is. My hospital consultant told me to stay on the same brand.

I rang the hospital ward and they told me to go in for a blood test for calcium.

My mum and dad have both had their thyroids removed and said they didn't have anything like this with pins and needles.

[cjrsquared in reply to hyperthyroidchantee]

It is a relatively common side effect post TT. The parathyroids are very close to the thyroid and can be damaged or ‘stunned’ by the surgery and that is why you cannot go home post TT until they have checked calcium levels. If it is caught early then oral replacement works otherwise it is a hospital admission and a calcium infusion. Symptoms rapid onset, over a 24 hour period, pins and needles in hands and or feet, fatigue, mental confusion.

[shaws Administrator in reply to hyperthyroidchantee]

You take levothyroxine with one full glass of water and wait an hour before being eating. Food interferes with the uptake of thyroid hormones.

Also when blood test is due, it has to be the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take afterwards.

Always get a print-out of your results with the ranges. Ranges are important to enable members to comment upon them.

[SilverAvocado]

Yes, it is urgent to deal with these pins and needles. This is a life threatening condition and you can't wait till after Christmas as you will be deathly ill by then.

It's possibly for the parathyroids to be damaged during surgery, which means you will need to supplement calcium, either temporarily while they recover, or for life.