3 weeks after part thyroidectomy follow up appointment

[Bibisbibi]

Hello you lovely people .I had my right part of my thyroid removed 3 weeks ago due to a suspected nodule. Today I had my follow up appointment wich they told me that the nodule was carcinoma but there was no other evidence of cancer on the remaining thyroid or the other nodules so they don't take any action. They also said they will not do any follow up ultrasounds unless I find something is at my throat,wich I then need to go to my gp to ask them to be referred..Do you think it's the right approach?I also want to ask you,how soon can I have a blood test to check my levels?is 4 weeks very soon or should I wait for 6 weeks?I also have hashimoto's. Many thanks for reading and sorry for the long post

[Hay2016]

Hi. If the nodule was discrete and removed completely then I suppose it is, if there are no other modules present in remaining half then great. It should still though go to a discussion panel for them all to come to that conclusion.

4 weeks may be a bit too soon, are you on levo anyway?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Best to wait until 6 weeks

Important to test vitamin levels too

GP could do these vitamin tests now. Or get all tested together in couple of weeks

As you have hashimoto’s presumably you have results from before operation to compare

Are you already on levothyroxine?

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

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

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

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

For thyroid including antibodies and 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

[Bibisbibi in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you both for the replys.i am not on any medication and yes I have tested before surgery but through medichecks cause my gp wouldn't claiming that my tsh is normal so no need to do any checks.i have several nodules at my remaining thyroid but the only suspicious was at my right part wich is removed.

[Nanaedake]

It's probably the way your hospital is organised as if it's a regional hospital there will be no thyroid cancer unit or specialism. Papillary thyroid cancer is generally indolent and it sounds like the team are confident you have been cured. I presume the decision was made by the multidisciplinary team which does include specialists?

Basically your care now will be no different from any hypothyroid patient so you're passed back to primary care.

[Bibisbibi in reply to Nanaedake]

Thanks for your reply.the consultant has told me that there was a team meeting after my results were ready to decide what would be the next step. My nodules were accidentally found while I was for a check up at my home origin. As I have more nodules I am surprised the consultant hasn't suggested they will do unual ultrasounds to keep an eye.only this is my primary concern.

[Zahrazori in reply to Bibisbibi]

I would just try and get them done privately as your health is important