First blood work results following Thyroidectomy six weeks ago

[crenhov]

Six weeks ago yesterday my thyroid was removed. I had blood work done Tuesday. Any suggestions as to questions I should ask my surgeon when I see him next week?

[SilverAvocado]

Fellow thyroid cancer patient here

I don't know too much about vitamins, but it looks like several of yours are on the low side, ferritin, B12, vitamin D, and possibly other B vitamins that I can't work out which ones they are in English. One may be folate. A rough rule of thumb is that these should be halfway up their ranges, but some are better at the higher end. Low vitamin levels are common when we've been ill for a while.

Good news is that calcium looks okay, and this is a danger with thyroidectomies because the parathyroids can be damaged. Are you supplementing calcium at the moment? I was given tablets for several months after my operations.

For thyroid results, these look a bit low, and like you will need an increase. Particularly freeT3, which is the more important figure, as T3 is the active hormone. Your freeT3 is right on the floor, but most people need it in the tip third of the range to feel well.

It looks like you've been prescribed T4-only tablets as you're freeT4 is quite a bit higher in range than the freeT3. You're not converting it very well. If your doctor can possibly prescribe T3 this is the time to try and get it, as you will probably be seeing a consultant rather then your GP.

Those of us with no thyroid at all miss out on some of the regulatory functions of the thyroid that are only just being discovered, so it's hard to cope without a bit of added T3 treatment.

In summary, low vitamins need to be treated. It's possible your doctor won't consider these low enough to prescribe, and you'll have to get your own over the counter supplements. Look out for SeasideSusie's great advice about this. Your thyroid replacement needs an increase, which hopefully your doctor will be expecting (best practice is to test every 6 weeks and adjust the dose). Ask for the increase in the form of T3 if you can get it. Hopefully you will be lucky and it will be offered, otherwise you may have a longer term fight to get it.

You don't mention symptoms. How are you getting on? Are you up And about returning to your life? Is it more difficult than it was? Blood tests are not really as important as symptoms.

After 6 weeks I was very unwell still, but I was one of the very unlucky ones and thyroid replacement barely worked for me.

[crenhov in reply to SilverAvocado]

I had a parathyroid removed as well so I am taking Calcium and Vitamin D supplements - at higher levels than the ones I usually take for my Osteoporosis.

[SilverAvocado]

Hi Crenhov, apologies! I assumed you had had thyroid cancer, but just seen your post from a few days ago and that that wasn't the reason for your TT.

I was believing the tags on your post, but these are automatically generated and are often not good