I have got to have a lump removed from my wrist, and have got to have a general anesthetic, and had my pre op checks at the hospital. My last TSH level in December was 0.09. It had been 0.17. I am on 150mcg of levothyroxine and have Hashi's. I have been told that my TSH levels are far too low for an op, and the anesthetist will not do it past 0.05. I had to have another blood test to check it again, and the hospital are going to contact me. Has anyone else had this happen to them?
TSH levels and general anesthetic: I have got to... - Thyroid UK
TSH levels and general anesthetic
![Rocky profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/829daa6d2f6939e199d52d3291a74dca_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
![Rocky profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/829daa6d2f6939e199d52d3291a74dca_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
![helvella profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/066aa25587d765675b1ad0bd4442ad5e_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
Just to be clear, is a general anaesthetic mandatory (i.e. they will not operate without) or your choice? Or is a local anaesthetic (or regional or whatever) a possibility?
That is, is there any mileage in discussing a local in order to sidestep this issue?
Rod
I can't have a local, because it is on my wrist. I managed to have a local last time, when I had a lump removed from my index finger of the same arm. That turned out to be a giant cell tumour. I was told that time that anything further up the arm would have to be a general anaesthetic. I still don't know what the lump is yet, even after an MRI scan, which is why it needs removed
Also, why is a general a problem if you're hypothyroid? I had an op this time last year and I was undiagnosed hypothyroid at the time. Can't be that dangerous then, can it.....
Unless things have changed dramatically since I was an orthopaedic theatre nurse some 30 years ago, nerve blocks were often given for hand wrist operations?
Here's alink that I found very useful regarding thyroid meds and having a general anesthetic - I think the general rule is take meds as normal but make sure the anesthetist knows your thryoid problems.
books.google.co.uk/books?id...
Moggie x
I have had six ops under GA with a TSH of 0.01 and the medics are not bothered!
I had an anesthetic last week and have struggled terribly since. I'm concerned the desparate feeling of exhaustion I can't shake off has been caused by this.😟