Thyroidectomy one week ago and feel awful

[Pow1977]

Hi I had a Total thyroidectomy last Thursday and put on 125mg Levo - I feel exhausted and have constant headaches.

Was given no advice whatsoever and not going back for another five weeks.

Can anyone give advice on how to feel better?

Thank you

Btw I had it removed due to multi modular goitre.

❤️

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Welcome to forum

It’s very early days, it will take a little time to recover and find correct levo level.

125mg is a fair replacement dose. It’s said a replacement dose is 1.6mcg x your weight in KG.

EG if you weigh 75KG X by 1.6 is 120 rounded up would be 125mcg per day.

Do you think you need more?

I would see if you can have an earlier blood test.

For full thyroid function you need

TSH

FT4

FT3

You must have FT4 & FT3 evaluated TSH alone very unreliable especially if you have been hyper prior to surgery. You also need to know of you convert your levo to the active FT3.

Also important to test

Folate

Ferritin

B12

Vitamin D

If these aren’t optimal levo will not work well. In range does not mean optimal. GPs are satisfied if in range.

Do you have access to your blood test results?

If you feel up to it do share your history with us.

How were you diagnosed & were you given antithyroid prior to surgery. Put in your profile so your background can be read with your queries in mind.

[bantam12]

It's only been a week, it takes that long just to get over the anaesthetic, your body needs time to adjust to all the changes.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Do you have any blood test results from BEFORE thyroidectomy

GP/endocrinologist should have tested TSH, FT4 and FT3 before thyroidectomy

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 too

Were you taking any vitamin supplements before operation?

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

Many people find different brands are not interchangeable

Teva brand upsets many people

Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.

Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, or vitamin D should be four hours away

(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

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 .

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal