Half of my thyroid removed

[Rocksonfire]

I had half my thyroid removed two years ago so I am functioning on half with no meds recently I have been feeling so tired and cant shake it off also I have put lots of weight on and I'm finding it so hard to lose I have had bloods done at my doctor's which seem fine I have also been getting numbness and pins and needles could this be related to me only having half a thyroid and is there anything I can do it's getting me really down

[jrbarnes]

Two years after having half mine removed I started to feel fatigued. My TSH tested at 5 so I was put on Levothyroxine.

[Rocksonfire in reply to jrbarnes]

Thanks for your reply maybe I should go back to my GP and pursue this problem it's driving me nuts ,so you feel better now you are on meds ?

[Hedgeree]

Hi Rocksonfire,

Welcome to the forum 😊

Feeling extremely tired was one of the symptoms I had after having a partial thyroidectomy. As it was only a few weeks after surgery the endo nurse prescribed hormones for me.

Do you have your current thyroid blood results? If yes post them here for others to comment and make suggestions for you.

If you have online access to your patient record you will find test results there. Though you may need to ask reception for 'enhanced Access' to view them. Otherwise you can ask them to print a copy of any results for you.

Best wishes.

[Rocksonfire in reply to Hedgeree]

thank you so much for your reply my THS level in January 2023 was 3.16 I’m not really sure if that is ok or not or what it should be

[Hedgeree in reply to Rocksonfire]

If you have any other blood results and their ranges (usually in brackets) post them here and other forum members and admin will be able to make suggestions for you.

[pennyannie]

Hello Rocksonfire and welcome to the forum :

I think it logical that you will need some form of thyroid hormone replacement.

You have been trying to function at 100% on just half a fully functioning thyroid - so this can't be maintained long term = can it,

Imagine a car running on a half empty full tank and a dodgy gear box long term ?

In some countries a TSH over 3 is deemed as high enough to commence treatment with thyroid hormone replacement.

No thyroid hormone replacement works well if your core strength vitamins and minerals are not up and maintained at optimal levels so suggest you also ask for your ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D to be run and we can advise where these need to be in order to support your T4 conversion into T3 - which is the active hormone that runs all your bodily functions.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once

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

Request GP retest thyroid and include vitamin testing (plus thyroid antibodies if not been tested previously)

You presumably have had at least one ultrasound as you had large goitre

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test

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.

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...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

[Brightness14]

In the UK they often remove only half a thyroid, here in France they always removed it totally. It saves going back for another surgery. You should have a full thyroid, vitamin and mineral test first and then post the results on here for answers.

[jillyana]

I had the exact symptoms as you after having half my thyroid removed in 2006. My Ferritin went down to 8, but my GP was useless & wouldn't give me levo even thought my TSH was over 5 & T4 was only just within the lowest range set by NHS. I became very ill & exhausted & put on 3 stone in weight. My hair fell out & I had exhausting night cramps & terrible pins/needles. I was eventually prescribed 50mcg of Levo by an endo. which wasn't enough, so took 1 grain of NDT with it, this suppressed my TSH, so GP stopped my Levo completely. I now just buy my own NDT & really could not live without it. Good luck & I hope you get some help from a GP soon.

P.S. I was 48 when I had my operation, which I think was same as you.