Thyroid function test

[Troubledbunny_96]

Good afternoon everyone I’m new here.

I had the left part of my thyroid removed 8 weeks ago and I’m due to have my thyroid function test on Friday morning at half 9 as there were no other appointments earlier.

I was told this is to see if I need to go on medication.

I’m not sure if I have an over active thyroid or under active thyroid. I just remember that when I had my test done before I was told I didn’t need to go in medication because my level were normal.

Since surgery I have been suffering with severe tiredness, I’m finding it difficult to sleep at night without waking and staying up for hours and coughing lots at night. I’m constantly sweating at night and feeling overheated and I’m feeling anxious all the time but that may be due to the fact my scar has gone dark and it’s affecting me tremendously. I have all the other symptoms before my surgery.

I wanted to know are there additional tests I should be asking my GP to take.

I would appreciate any advice. Sorry for waffling on. I suffer with a mental health illness and my mood has dropped tremendously.

[GlowCoach Administrator]

Welcome to the group. If you could complete your profile it helps members understand your thyroid journey. Click on your image icon to start.

Mental health issues are very common with thyroid patients unfortunately but may well be helped if you can get onto treatment.

You sound like you've gone underactive or more than you were.

I would recommend asking your GP to test Ferritin, folate, B12 & D3 levels. When hypo we get low stomach acid and cannot absorb vitamins well from our food.

When you have your results do post them here on a new post.

You are legally entitled to a printed copy of your results, ask at GP reception. In England you can get the NHS app and ask for permission to see your blood results on that by asking at GP’s reception..

[Troubledbunny_96 in reply to GlowCoach]

Thank you GlowCoach i will complete my profile. Thank you so much for your advice and will post my results as soon as I get them🙂

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Welcome to forum

Why did you need partial thyroidectomy? 

Do you know what is being tested on next test? Often doctors go by TSH only - and it not complete enough information.   Just before 09.00 is ideal but 09.30 shouldn’t be a very significant difference.  

Do you have record of results prior to surgery? For example was full thyroid function, thyroid antibodies & key nutrients all tested?

If not look at private test for a complete picture including.

TSH, FT4 & FT3

TPO & TG antibodies 

Folate, ferritin, B12 & Vitamin D 

Medichecks thyroid advanced includes what you need.

See list of companies offering different options, some packages include thyroid function, key nutrients and thyroid Antibodies.  Others basic function only.  some also have discount codes available.

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

You order test online the kits arrives via post sample taken by finger prick (extra fee for private venous draw). Post back and results available online quite quickly.  

When having a thyroid blood test - Always check what’s being tested & collect test results with reference range. cease 3 biotin days before draw to avoid possible test interference Fast overnight.  This can have a slight impact on TSH.  Drink lots of water

[Troubledbunny_96 in reply to PurpleNails]

@PurpleNails thank you for welcoming me. I had a partial thyroidectomy as I had a large goiter which was obstructed my windpipe and I was constantly choking and coughing. I was just told I need to have a thyroid function test 6-8 weeks after my surgery which would tell them if I need to go on medication.

Thank you for the links and for the advice 🙂

Previous tests

[PurpleNails Administrator in reply to Troubledbunny_96]

It’s good you have results to compare to post surgery levels.

your FT4 looks ok. The range on FT3 is missing but by most ranges it looks very low.

Likely thyroid antibodies were not tested as levels in range but it might be a good idea to have them tested.

Nodules & swelling do occur without autoimmune - I have a large hyper nodule which has no autoimmune involvement. But often nodules are more common with autoimmune.

[Troubledbunny_96 in reply to Troubledbunny_96]

@PurpleNails thank you. I’m so sorry I thought I had sent the range for the T3 I will add that in. Thank you once again 🙂

Test

[PurpleNails Administrator in reply to Troubledbunny_96]

so FT3 rock bottom of range, FT3 is the active powerful hormone. I expect when that test was taken you had hypothyroid symptoms.

Were you ill / unwell in other ways because low FT3 when TSH & FT4 are “normal” is unusual…FT3 is usually preserved & last to drop.

Antibodies tested there are not thyroid antibodies.

These are called:

TPOab (Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies) 

TGab (Thyroglobulin antibodies)

[Troubledbunny_96 in reply to PurpleNails]

@PurpleNails I was feeling very tired and had no energy. I was in and out of sleep. That’s all 🙂

[PurpleNails Administrator in reply to Troubledbunny_96]

may have been due to low FT3. Import to test folate, ferritin, B12 & vitamin D, these are often low when thyroid abnormal, and after a surgery.

Low nutrients lowers TSH masking is appear “normal” and in range when it should be high & reflect low levels.

[Troubledbunny_96 in reply to PurpleNails]

@PurpleNails thank you I will be sure to ask to have these tested and thank you for explaining to me as I’m completely clueless to these things

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Troubledbunny_96]

So your Ft3 was extremely low

Ft4 is storage form of thyroid hormone

Ft3 is the active thyroid hormone

To convert Ft4 to Ft3 we need GOOD vitamin levels

With such low Ft3 it’s extremely likely you have very low vitamin D, folate, ferritin B12 levels

Have these been tested over last year

Insist they are tested at next test

Plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies for autoimmune thyroid disease

[Troubledbunny_96 in reply to SlowDragon]

@SlowDragon thank you for your response. I can’t ever recall being tested for these but now I know I will definitely be asking. Thank you 🙂

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Troubledbunny_96]

See what you can get tested via GP

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 both TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes both antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 and includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies -£29 

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

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 £31 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

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...

[Troubledbunny_96 in reply to SlowDragon]

@SlowDragon thank you very much. 🙂