Thyroid Cancer twice..!

[Kipper1]

Had hashi then thyroid cancer 10 years ago. 3 years it came back after having RAI and lateral neck dissection! My TSH levels are suppressed 0.02 which is good however my T4 has been abnormally high for over a year. My consultant reduced my Levi from 175 to 150 6 months ago but its still really high. Has anyone else experienced this?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus tested. Also important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

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)

Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

Is this how you do your tests?

If you take Levothyroxine BEFORE test....all the test shows is high FT4 because you recently took your Levothyroxine

Low vitamin levels are extremely common and often need supplementing to improve

[Kipper1 in reply to SlowDragon]

I have always had bloods done first thing usually before i go to work for the last 13 years and usually taken my meds prior too But this last 18mths my T4 been creeping up even after reduction of levi! May suggest vitamin tablets to my consultant. Thanks for your reply x

[Howard39]

It depends upon the specialist.

I know one who insists on a suppressed tsh but t4 within range and another who has just altered their stance on a suppressed tsh!!

Thankfully mine is consistent and does not care re tsh but Ive many friends who are constantly reducing meds and feel ill.

I’d check everything else first

Diet

Vitamins

Absorption

Then thyroid and adrenals.

Monitoring your temp with a basal thermometer is something I find useful. I do 3/4 readings per day. Then take the average.( circa 36.50 is the aim). Sometimes in v hot weather people need a tad less.

Good luck.

[Kipper1]

My consultant wants my TSH suppressed and feels the results are good. In the past my raised TSH has been indicator that there is Thyroid tissue and due to recurring thyroid cancer its not a good sign for me. I see him every 6 mths and due to see him next week. We’ll discuss my T4 results then. It could well be oestrogen levels? Thanks for your reply

[Batty1]

No, I had thyroidectomy for cancer 3 yrs ago and no matter what dose I'm on all my numbers are low and the Endo keeps reducing my meds. Sorry to hear about your recurrence!