Just had my thyroid removed two days ago. Had very sudden growth of nodules (over 5cm) and had large nodules on both sides. So only option was complete removal. Not sure what to expect now. Started on calcium and Euthyrox (100ug) (Levothyroxine). Feel OK, a bit buzzy and lightheaded but I guess that could also be a reaction to the 3 hour recent surgery.
Any advice at the beginning of this journey?
Welcome to the forum
Did you get TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 tested before thyroidectomy
Or vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels
Have you ever had thyroid antibodies tested
Suggest you get vitamin levels tested now if not been tested in last 6 months
Are you based in U.K.
Euthyrox is not a standard U.K. brand of levothyroxine
Always take levothyroxine on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after
No vitamin supplements or other medication within 2 hours
Some like calcium, magnesium, iron not within 4 hours of levothyroxine
Retest thyroid levels 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
ALWAYS test early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Most important results always Ft3 followed by Ft4
Thank you - yes I had all the blood tests re-done a day before surgery. I will see the Dr early next week for those results and a follow-up but I am low in Vit D (which is normal for UAE residents). I am based in UAE currently but moving back to UK end of this summer. Thanks for the advice on the timing, etc. - I will report here on progress.
presumably now taking vitamin D supplements?
Yes correct. Once a week dosage. I have a question on coffee. How does this impact the treatment. I don’t drink a lot but do like my morning cup.
Coffee at least an hour away from taking levothyroxine
Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime
verywellhealth.com/best-tim...
markvanderpump.co.uk/blog/p...
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
Hello there, I had a total thyroidectomy due to graves disease last June.I have documented my journey from diagnosis and kept it up to date.If you would care to take a look just press on the picture at the side of my name and my profile is there.Of course it is my experience but there may be some things you can also relate to.I do not regret my surgery and my top tip would be to realise it is a major operation and to give yourself and your body plenty of care and time to recover.You can't rush things.Sending you best wishes for your recovery.
Thank you - I will read your story with interest.
My thyroidectomy was 15 mos. ago. T4 only (synthroid) did not work & endo wasn't listening. Remained hypo, gaining weight, depressed, fatigue, joint pain, hair fall, nails splitting, high bp....so 11 mos. later I changed physicians to a DO & was put on Armour. Best move ever! I am finally feeling like my old self Armour contains T4,3,2 & 1. Yes, it is a bit costly, but well worth getting your life back.
Labs may be in a normal range, but what you want is optimal range. Just listen to your body. Some people do not convert T4 to free T3 & free T3 is what makes you feel good, lose weight & have energy. If you have too much reverse T3 your symptoms will remain hypo & your med needs adjusting.
not sure what Armour is. Is this an over the counter product. I’ll look it up. Perhaps a bit too soon for me to be making any assumptions on my treatment. But I’ll take a look. Thanks.
Hello Dirhams and welcome to the forum ;
It is very early days for you and it sounds like it was a long operation so let's just go one step at a time.
In a nutshell :-
A fully functioning working thyroid would be supporting you on a daily basis with trace elements of T1. T2 and calcitonin + a measure of T3 at around 10 mcg + a measure of T4 at around 100 mcg. - with T3 said to be around 4 times more powerful than T4.
Some people can get by on T4 - Levothyroxine / Euthyrox only :
Some people find the T4 seems to not fully restore their health and well being and add back in a little bit a T3 - Liothyronine - to more replicate the hormones naturally produced when they had their thyroid :
Others can't tolerate T4 an need to take T3 only :
Whilst others find their health and well being restored better taking Natural Desiccated Thyroid which is derived from pig thyroids which are dried and ground down into tablets referred to as grains.
Currently in the UK, routinely on the NHS, you are only prescribed the cheapest option and that is T4 - Levothyroxine, and it seems it does work well for some people.
T4 is a storage hormone and basically inert as your body needs to be able to convert T4 into T3 which is the active hormone that runs the body and said to be around 4 times more powerful than T4.
We generally feel at our best when on T4 monotherapy when T4 is built up into the top quadrant of its range and converting to a good levels of T3 at around a 1/4 ratio - T3/T4.
No thyroid hormone replacement works well until your core strength vitamins and minerals - those of ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D are up and maintained at optimal levels.
The thyroid is a major gland responsible for the full synchronisation of all your body parts, including your physical, mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual well being, your inner central heating system and your metabolism.
Thank you. Good to meet you and glad such a forum exists. ok. So from what I’m seeing is this will need a total review of key minerals and vitamins quite regularly?
Yes. Test vitamin D twice year and folate, B12 and ferritin at least annually
For good conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone) we need OPTIMAL Vitamin levels
Get folate, ferritin and B12 tested now
Retest vitamin D 2-3 months after starting on supplements
No, not necessarily :
Basically the thyroid is the body's engine and controller of one's metabolism and your natural metabolism now ' lost ' - and replaced by medication and once your medication is right for you, with levels of T3 and T4 in a ratio that suits you, your metabolism will kick back in again.
When metabolism is running too slow as in hypothyroidism or too fast as in hyperthyroid the body has trouble extracting key nutrients through food no matter how well and clean you eat and your own stores of key strength vitamins and minerals tend to nose dive leaving you with minimal levels to function on.
The other common problem is we tend to have low stomach acid when hypothyroid, and we need a degree of stomach acid to start the whole process of breaking down the food we eat and extracting the key nutrients.
I have been self medicating Natural Desiccated Thyroid for around the past 5 years, and just run a yearly full thyroid panel for myself to include the vitamins and minerals as I find I still need to supplement same though my thyroid levels are optimal for me and I'm much improved.
I don't think this excessive in the overall scheme of things - and just like a yearly MOT.
I had RAI thyroid ablation for Graves Disease - details on my profile - just press the icon alongside my name - and fell into this forum researching ' low ferritin ' which was the only diagnosis I was given for my state of health - it took me around 18 months / 2 years to build back my core strength vitamins and minerals in order for me then, to start looking at other treatment options.
hi. I had thyroidectomy 4 months ago. Levothyroxine monotheraphy did not work for me. I am on natural desiccated thyroid. Within 5 weeks starting NDT I am almost back to my old self. I too do not regret surgery. Getting vitamins up is essential too. It’s a rough surgery. I spent 5 days in hospital. Feel free to reach out and ask more questions. More than happy to help you. This forum has been a lifesaver for so many of us. XO
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