Post Partial Thyroidectomy Symptoms

[NiaJayne]

Hi all!

I had a partial thyroidectomy back in July as I had a benign cyst on the left side and I’ve been feeling worse and worse as of late. Terrible brain fog, tiredness, losing my hair, gaining weight, mood swings, awful skin problems, puffiness in my hands, fingers and eyes and horrific lower back pain when I walk. Are these normal symptoms?

Also, I’m getting a blood test on Wednesday to check my levels so is there anything I need to ask about specifically?

Thanks everyone 😊

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Was your funtion fully tested & monitored prior to surgery & regularly since.

Are you currently on any form of replacement or are doctors waiting to see if remaining thyroid can compensate? 

For fully thyroid you need TSH, FT4 & FT3.  TSH alone will not be sufficient test to see if thyroid hormones are low or not. 

Also important to test folate, ferritin, vit D & B12.  Have these been tested? 

Obtain the results by online access or printout as you need to know what been tested the results & lab range (ranges vary so needed in each test.

 Being in range is not same as optimal. 

Recommend for consistency blood draws for thyroid tests should be booked for early morning, fast overnight.  Delay replacement until after draw.    Cease any biotin containing supplements 3 days before draw.  Biotin can skew results.  

[NiaJayne in reply to PurpleNails]

thank you so much for your response!

It was tested a few times before surgery but I was always just told everything was fine.

No I’m not on anything at the moment. They did a blood test about a month after my surgery and said I was fine and wouldn’t need anything but I asked for this to test again as I started feeling worse.

I’ve had low folic acid and vitamin b12 in the past and my dr said to just take regular supplements for it so I take them daily. My ferritin and vitamin d haven’t been tested.

Thanks so much again for the advice 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator]

welcome to the forum

Important to book blood test for 9am latest

Just drink water before test

Are you currently taking any vitamin supplements

Request full iron panel test for anaemia including ferritin

Have you had thyroid antibodies tested for autoimmune thyroid disease, if not request these are tested too

If GP won’t test everything…

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...

Just Thyroid includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies -£49

randoxhealth.com/at-home/Th...

If you can get GP to test vitamins then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65 

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies) 

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

10% off code here 

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

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

Watch out for postal strikes

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism 

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

[NiaJayne in reply to SlowDragon]

Brilliant, thank you so much for the advice! I’ve always been told my function is normal without much more detail.

I take iron, folic acid and vitamin b12 as I’ve been low of these in the past and the gp advised I take them.

Thanks so much for all those helpful links 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to NiaJayne]

No I’m not on anything at the moment. They did a blood test about a month after my surgery and said I was fine 

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

Link re access

patients-association.org.uk...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet

You need thyroid antibodies tested too as well as TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 and all four vitamins

Low vitamin levels directly linked to low thyroid levels

High cholesterol also linked to being hypothyroid

come back with new post once you get results