In 2017 I had half of my thyroid removed due to a cyst in it. I have had blood tests since then and have not needed to be put on any medication. However after a contraception checkup with my nurse yesterday she has said I have put on nearly 2 stone in this time, I also have many other symptoms relating to an under active thyroid such as irregular periods, tingling in my hands sometimes I also feel very low all the time crying for no reason etc( I have suffered with this before I had the operation as this prompted me to go to the doctors) I have been prescribed with B12 too as I suffer with low levels of this too. I was wondering if anybody else suffered with these symptoms and what you did about it, I have been to the doctors multiple times and explained this however they have only ever but it down to a B12 problem and nothing else.
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hazejj
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Have you not had any follow up thyroid function tests since part of your thyroid was removed? I take it you're not prescribed Levothyroxine?
You need your current results for
TSH
FT4
FT3
Ask your surgery to do these tests, but you may not get FT3 done. Post results, including reference ranges, when you have them for interpretation and suggestions.
When booking thyroid tests, we advise:
* Book the first appointment of the morning. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. If we are looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, or looking for an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction then we need TSH to be as high as possible.
* Fast overnight - have your evening meal/supper as normal the night before but delay breakfast on the day of the test and drink water only until after the blood draw. Eating may lower TSH, caffeine containing drinks affect TSH.
* Leave off Levo for 24 hours before blood draw, if taking NDT or T3 then leave that off for 8-12 hours. Take after the blood draw. Taking your dose too close to the blood draw will give false high results, leaving any longer gap will give false low results.
These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with doctors or phlebotomists.
Always ask for a print out of the results of any blood tests you have (ask at reception desk). This helps you to monitor things yourself and can bring up any discrepancies in results with your GP.
Ask for your latest results and post on here for comment (please include reference range as well as result). The symptoms you mention do suggest you are hypothyroid and probably need Levo.
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. . This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.
Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten.
So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
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