Thyroidectomy waiting list

[Marfalarfa]

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has recently had or is awaiting thyroid removal surgery? I’ve been on the waiting list for over a year and have a large goitre.. so accepted I’d need an Op although equally terrified. Out of the blue today I had a call asking me to come in for surgery on April 4th, it totally threw me (also having major brain fog/exhaustion today).. I had to give a decision there n then and decided to carry on waiting as not only do I feel entirely unprepared itd also mean missing an important funeral.

I’m now really anxious that I’ll be penalised for turning down a date after waiting this long, will I have a mark against my name?!

I suppose I’m just looking for some reassurance, not sure anyone can relate or identify with this situ?

Many thanks for reading 🙏

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Reading your profile your now on standard STARTER dose levothyroxine

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each increase

You’re likely ready for next dose increase to 75mcg

Absolutely ESSENTIAL to test and maintain OPTIMAL vitamin levels

With Crohn’s disease and Hashimoto’s low vitamin levels highly likely

When were these last tested

What vitamin supplements are you taking

Being on correct dose levothyroxine MIGHT reduce goitre over time

Request GP test vitamin levels as well as thyroid

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

Test vitamin D twice year when supplementing

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before 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

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

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

[Marfalarfa in reply to SlowDragon]

Many thanks for your helpful reply! I had some private tests done in October of last year as my GP only testing TSH.. I will make a new post when my brain less foggy with results (intend to get all retested soon too). You are very right that likely i have vitamin deficiencies, iron is an ongoing issue. I have a GP app on 10th April where I will request Levo dose increase, I'm not sure how they'll respond as my latest TSH was down to 1.44 however I am still symptomatic, if anything a bit worse! Will post again soon. Thanks again

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Marfalarfa]

If vitamin levels are low this tends to lower TSH

We need GOOD vitamin levels for good conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone)

Poor vitamin levels results in high Ft4 and low Ft3

High Ft4 results in low TSH

Low Ft3 results in vitamin levels dropping further