Feeling awful

[duxbean]

Post TT December for pappillary cancer on levothyroxine have felt fatigue lightheaded dizzy short of breath

Any thoughts if related to TSH level of 0.5 level which md is ok

[Nanaedake]

I'm sorry you got thyroid cancer and needed TT. I think it's unlikely to be due to TSH level. Have you got all your thyroid test results? If not, get a copy and you might want to post them here for more advice. Did you lose parathyroid glands or were they injured? Have you had calcium levels checked?

Also ask for vit D, B12, folate and iron to be tested. If any of these are low, even if in range you could have symptoms.

Which Levothyroxine are you taking? Always stick to one formulation and find one that suits you.

Your body is making a huge adjustment but all the more reason to check out basic vitamin levels.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Essential to test FT3 and FT4 plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

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

Research into fasting or non fasting tests

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l.

Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor

 please email Dionne at

[e-mail]

Professor Toft recent article saying, T3 may be necessary for many. Note especially his comments on current inadequate treatment following thyroidectomy or RAI

rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...

[Littlebowpeep]

Dear Duxbean, hi, I know how you feel, its been just 7 months since my TT for pappillary thyroid cancer. Am taking levothyroxine like you. At first it wasent enough, and I felt weak, dizzy and VERY fatigue, then, they changed the dose, and it was too much, my heart was beating so hard it kept me up at night, now, they are trying a new dose, and I seem to feel much better, no more heart palpitations and beating hard. I was also having tremors in my hands, but that has gotten better. I definitely feel that as long as you listen to the very wise advice that you will get from the ladies on this forum, and report to your Dr. all the symptoms you are having, that things will settel down. I think our lives will be so much better without that cancer, for SURE, even if we have to work through the symptoms of finding the correct dosage of medication, many blessings to you dear, Littlebowpeep

[Hidden]

You have quite a way to go now for optimal wellness. I had my TT in October 2015 it does take time and patience to get the medication correct. You do need all of your blood test results TSH, T4, FT3, Vitamins D, folate, ferritin, B12 also antibodies. Many things could cause your symptoms. Too much calcium if you are taking that.

[thyr01d]

Those symptoms, I just found out, can be a consequence of anaemia, B12 (perhaps as a result of pernicious anaemia) and/or folate deficiency. Here's a link:

nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-...