post surgery blood tests results

[MrsStacCole08]

hi all

I had my surgery to remove my left lobe and the toxic nodule as well as my middle section on September 29th

I have my right love only now

I have just had my post surgery blood test results back

And this is what they are saying below

I’m a bit concerned that my TSH has risen, previous to surgery TSH was normal it was my T3 that was low which put me in at Hyper

Not sure what they will do next as it’s only been just over the 2 week mark since surgery

I’m hoping the right side will kick in and start working normally and I won’t be hypo and require Levo

why’s everyone’s thoughts on this ??

Thanks

Stacey x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid,

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am

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

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery 

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism 

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

[MrsStacCole08 in reply to SlowDragon]

hi Tgat blood test was taken at 0850am

So nice and early

This is the tests that came back abnormal

Glomerular filtration rate - 60 (normal 60-150)

serum calcium 2.28 (normal rate 2.20-2.60)

serum alt level 8 ( normal rate 10-31)

TSH 7.21 ( normal rate 0.35-5.00)

T4 9.7 ( normal rate 9.00-20.00)

Serum c reactive inflammation level 30 ( normal rate 0-5)

T3 3.7 (normal rate 2.5 - 5.7)

Everything else has come back normal and I have a full blood count & Liver & kidneys full thyroid function too

So I’m just waiting in my endo and surgery to get in touch

Thanks ☺️

Stacey x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to MrsStacCole08]

low GFR is strongly linked to being hypothyroid and reversible as your thyroid levels improve

GP may be unaware that kidney function is impaired by being hypothyroid

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

The GFR is reversibly reduced (by about 40%) in more than 55% of adults with hypothyroidism[40] due to several reasons

if your own thyroid starts compensating….GFR should improve too

similarly high cholesterol levels linked to being hypothyroid and should drop as thyroid levels improve

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Remaining Thyroid is struggling,  TSH above range & FT4 only just within range - FT3 also lower side.

Do you feel hypothyroid symptoms? 

Was your FT3 low before surgery? If hyper you’d expect to see it over range and TSH low.

Have doctors suggested starting replacement levo or scheduled a repeat test?

[MrsStacCole08 in reply to PurpleNails]

my levels where before surgery 2nd September

As follows

TPO Antibodies 44.2

TSH 0.78

T4 9

T3 3.7

So everything else was normal and that with being in Carbimozole for 4 weeks

[PurpleNails Administrator in reply to MrsStacCole08]

Carbimazole would have brought FT4 & FT3 down into range.  

TSH takes time to respond so likely rising at this stage.  

Usually 2 abnormally high TSH reading are used before commencing replacement levo, but I don’t know if the advice is different is you have had partial thyroidectomy.    

It is a few short weeks after surgery it might improve - but I’d point out your hypo symptoms.  Sometimes doctors say it’s still borderline and imply it better to wait.  I say accept replacement now if suggested.

[MrsStacCole08 in reply to PurpleNails]

yes I would agree

I don’t want to get out of hand and have a battle on my hands trying to get my levels normal so let’s get the support in now

As I’ve had a year from hell and just need some normality back and my health

I’m tired of feeling so rubbish and not my self

I will say that the racing heart and palpitations where the worst part of being hyper

Scared the hell out of me

So I’m super pleased they have gone

Don’t ever want them back

[MrsStacCole08]

I do feel so what colder than normal as I’ve always felt boiling hot all year around

Just thought it was my age (I’m 40) and just me

I’m recovering from major surgery so the whole feeling tired and sleeping loads lack of energy is what I’d expect in the first few weeks

Apart from that I’ve put a little weight on

I’ve gone from 58kg to 62kg

But I’ve been resting and not my normal active self

I’ve started to walk longer distances now and I’m hoping I can get back in to the gym soon once I’ve healed

My diet is still very healthy and I could not eat solids of a weeks I was mainly on soups and mash potatoes and juice and water

I’ve now gone to normal eating

So I’m hoping I’ll start to loose weight now I’m becoming more active

I knew this operation was going to be painful but wow it’s so much more painful then I realised

Howber I’ve come off the strong pain killers for about 5 days now and only take paracetamol when it’s really needed

That’s it no other symptoms to report

[Hedgeree]

Hi MrsStacCole08,

After I had surgery for a suspicious nodule and had my right lobe removed my TSH jumped to 5.8 when it was in range previously. My FT4 stayed below range so am now prescribed Levothyroxine.

The ENT surgeon had hoped my remaining half would take over but it didn't happen.

How do you feel?

[MrsStacCole08 in reply to Hedgeree]

I feel really good actually

I have a lot more movement in my neck and hardly any pain it’s more discomfort if I do certain things or if I sleep at the wrong angle

My ENT surgeon was the same, he hoped the right lobe would kick in and take over

But it’s looking like that’s not happened for me either

And it’s looking like I may have to be put on Levo to support me

However I’ve not heard anything yet but the results only came in yesterday afternoon

I have chased both my surgeon and my endo so should hear from them soon

I am due a follow up with my surgeon next week and my endo is booked in for the 31st October

Still waiting on the cystology report from what they removed hopefully that all comes back good and no other issues found or cancer

Just the toxic nodule as found by the NM scan

Still early days though it’s only been 18 days

Thanks x

[Hedgeree in reply to MrsStacCole08]

That sounds like you're doing fairly well. I was quite lucky as I didn't need any painkillers after I left hospital but I know what you mean about finding the right position to sleep in. I used one of those travelling neck foam things (sorry forgot what they're called?) that was really useful and helped keep my neck in a more comfortable position for sitting and sleeping. I also slept quite upright.

Hope all's good with the report and your further recovery.

[humanbean]

previous to surgery TSH was normal it was my T3 that was low which put me in at Hyper

With a low Free T3 you couldn't have been hyperthyroid, so I'm puzzled by this statement.

Were you diagnosed hyperthyroid solely on the basis of a very low TSH? If you were that was very poor medicine. There is much more to a hyperthyroidism diagnosis than a very low TSH.

[MrsStacCole08]

my official diagnosis was Thyrotoxicosis hyperthyroidism caused by a left lobe toxic nodule

My nuclear medicine scan shower up my nodule was hot and up taking the whole medicine

I’ve attached my bloods from before any other treatment was started and before my biopsies (I had 2 ) and before my NM scan

First blood test

[MrsStacCole08]

Still very swollen and just been for a walk and it’s feeling a little tight and tender

18 days post surgery incision site