Total thyroidectomy

[Josie2]

Hi everyone.

I had a total thyroidectomy 5 weeks ago today and was wondering if anyone else has had the same operation that I can ask questions about.

I felt fine after surgery for around 2 weeks but then hit a brick wall, I was tachycardic, sweating, shaking, palpitations, felt woozy etc and I think it was because of my thyroxine dose being too high. I was on 125mg but I reduced it to 100mg & feel a bit better. I know I’m not supposed to reduce it myself but I couldn’t continue the way I was until my blood test.

I would also like to find out if it’s normal to still have a lumpy throat after 5 weeks. My scar has healed really well but my throat & chin feel swelled up still.

I also have RA but off my medication until tomorrow.

Many thanks

[Josie2]

Sorry I meant to add that my thyroid was full of nodules and that is why it was removed, non cancerous.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

welcome to the thyroid forum

Do you have any thyroid and vitamin test results and ranges from BEFORE thyroidectomy

RA is autoimmune, so it’s likely your thyroid disease also autoimmune

What vitamin supplements are you taking

Which brand of levothyroxine are you taking

[Josie2 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon

I’m not very clued up on the correct terms but my latest blood tests were:

Serum free triiodothyronine level - 6.3

Serum tsh - 0.12

Serum free T4 - 10.9

I don’t have any vitamin levels and only take a multivitamin. Is there specific vitamins I should be taking?

The Levothyroxine is Accord.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Josie2]

Was test early morning and last dose Levo 24 hours before test

Please add ranges on test results

Different labs have different ranges

Was this test BEFORE thyroidectomy

Retest after minimum 6-8 weeks on unchanged dose and brand Levo

Multivitamins not recommended on here

Most contain iodine not recommended when on levothyroxine

And don’t supplement iron unless tested and found deficient

Stop all supplements 5-7 days before any blood test as will contain biotin - there will be biotin in multivitamins

[Josie2 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes this test was before my thyroidectomy and I haven’t had my bloods tested whilst on levothyroxine. I will be getting a blood test done next week.

Serum free triiodothyronine - 6.3 (3.8 - 6.2)

Serum tsh - 0.12 (0.38 - 5.35)

Serum free T4 - 10.9 (7.9 - 14.4)

Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Josie2]

Did you ever have thyroid antibodies tested

TSI and/or Trab antibodies for Graves’ disease - autoimmune hyperthyroidism

TPO and TG antibodies for Hashimoto’s autoimmune hypothyroid …..hashimoto’s frequently starts with temporary hyperthyroid results before becoming increasingly hypothyroid

[Josie2 in reply to SlowDragon]

No I’ve never had thyroid antibodies tested as far as I know. There’s nothing on my records.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Josie2]

how odd

[Redforme]

Hi, I had TT in March 2024. I was not given Levothyroxine for 6 weeks. Dr started me on 25mcg, then 50mcg now 75mcg and I still feel rubbish. Throat wise all was good but in the last 6 weeks I feel like I have a lump in my throat. I can swallow food etc but it’s driving me mad. My GP referred me back to ENT surgeon. He put camera down my throat via my nose and said my throat muscles are extremely tight. I’m having physio but not helping.

[Josie2 in reply to Redforme]

Yes I think I should have started off slowly on levothyroxine instead of 125. I was ok for first 2 weeks then crashed with symptoms of too much of it. My throat was ok until I crashed & now feels worse but I’ve had the camera up my nose & down my throat but everything was ok. I had no swelling until I crashed and then under my chin & throat swelled up.

Thank you for replying & I hope you start feeling better soon.

[Redforme in reply to Josie2]

You too Josie2, it’s major surgery so guess it takes time for swelling to go down. My ENT has requested an mri if I am not better by Sept. I’m just hoping I will be. Also I’m taking Accord Levo too and another person on here said it gives her a feeling of a lump in her throat but that’s the only Levo my pharmacy have apart from Teva but that gave me an awful upset stomach. Hope you feel better soon

[Josie2 in reply to Redforme]

Oh I didn’t know that about the Accord Levo, thank you for that. I’ll see if I can get a different type.

[Josie2 in reply to Josie2]

I’ve just noticed that my 100mg are Accord but my 25mg are Wockhardt. I might switch over & take 4 x 25mg of Wockhardt.