Post total Thyroidectomy

[Ladymadonn1]

Hi, needing advice, I'm on Levothyroxine post surgery which was end September 2018, started on 125mg, December increased to 150mg, had bloods yesterday, phone call today have to increase to 200mg as the doctor says my tsh is high. Will being on 200mg increase my weight even more? What does this mean? I don't know the results but I am going to ask for them to print off.

I spoke to my surgeon about natural thyroid meds and he was happy to discuss it and send a letter to my gp. I am in Scotland, had anyone been successful getting these meds on nhs on a named patient prescription?

I want to change to natural meds and want to do it the right way, have that choice.

I feel as if I'm falling apart, 110/170 blood pressure, bloods also show I'm going into menopause I'm 46. I'm rattling with pills and GPS answer is pills, not really addressing what's going on with my body.

Appreciate if anyone is going through the same or any advice.

[Nanaedake]

200mcgs levo is quite a lot even for someone with TT. Increasing levo to reduce TSH is unlikely to increase weight gain, usually it's the other way around. However, it sounds like something is blocking your absorption of levo and this needs to be investigated.

What was the reason for thyroidectomy as this might make a difference to what you need to do to get well again?

What additional meds are you taking? Do you ensure you take levo on an empty stomach and leave at least an hour until eating or drinking anything except for water? Do you leave at least 2 hours after taking levo before taking any other meds or supplements and 4 hours until taking iron supplements?

Have you had your vitamin levels tested, vitamin D, ferritin, folate, B12 and calcium?

Are you making sure your nutrition is tip-top?

[Hidden]

I just know that after my TT in Oct 2015 I was put on Levo for the first time, after different doses and 8 months of feeling ill and in pain I luckily joined this site. I started on NDT which I sourced myself. I have a blood test once every year through Medichecks and post the results with the ranges on here for answers. I feel well now and no pain. I am increasing my Vitamin levels as per information on this site, everyone is so helpful, if you follow their good advice.

[Hidden]

You should take a thyroid blood test which gives the following information. TSH, T4, FT3,

Both Antibodies. B12, Folate, Ferritin, and Vitamin D.

If your levels are all optimal something else is going on.

Take the test first thing, fasting, leaving off Levo for 24 hours prior to the test.

[SilverAvocado]

Ladymadonn1, September is in some ways a very short since your TT, it takes a long time to recover from.

Increasing to 200mcg sounds like good news, at the moment you will be feeling rubbish mainly because your thyroid replacement is too low. With Levothyroxine it's important to be on exactly the right dose for you, and everyone is different so you need to get it adjusted every 6 weeks or so until it works for you.

I've also had a TT. Mine was in 2013 and I'm still ill, but now self medicating to try and get better. I think it's best to stick with the NHS treatment to start with, jumpy through the first set of hoops to get your Levothyroxine fully tuned up, as the vast majority of people will eventually feel well on it.

NDT is almost impossible to get on the NHS, over the years on the forum I've only heard of a small handful of people with a prescription. If you spoke to someone at the hospital who is willing to prescribe it that is absolute gold dust, and you may need to get referred back to them to try and get them to prescribe. Unfortunately some doctors talk a nice story, but aren't necessarily willing to prescribe it.