Four weeks post thyroidectomy

[libmum]

Hi there, I had a graves disease diagnosis over a year ago and spent a year going from carbimazole to ptu with lots of health problems.  Eventually decided to have a total thyroidectomy four weeks ago.  I am on 100 mg levothyroxine and am having hypo symptoms.  My doc says my levels are still showing as hyper.  Is this normal to have hyper levels and if so how long has anyone been this way.  The fluid retention is annoying me-any suggestions would be great.

[libmum]

Thank you gimel, I had problems with calcium after tt and I ended up hypocalcemic with normal calcium levels.  The consultant was baffled and decided it was to do with having no thyroid hormone so started me on thyroxine early.  I had the test done  last week.  Just woke up and I am zonked lol!

[gimel]

So you were started on the 100 mcg of Levo right after the TT it appears.  That may account for the high Free T4 level.  The T4 in your body at the time of the TT does not disappear, it is diminished over the next 4-6 weeks.  So, by starting on the med right away, your likely high level of T4 at that time would have been further raised by the med.  When were the tests for Free T4 and TSH done relative to the TT?

Extreme exhaustion can be a symptom of hyper as well as hypo.  From your Free T4 result I would be more suspicious of hyper.  Although more frequently found with hypothyroidism, fluid retention can also occur with hyperthyroidism.  So, I think I would agree with your doctor and consider stopping the med long enough to reduce your thyroid hormone levels to optimal.  

You should also make sure they always test you for both Free T4 and Free T3 each time you test.  Free T3 correlates best with hypo symptoms.  Also, since Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin are so important for thyroid patients, I would suggest testing those as well.  If you want, when you have new test results, please post them, along with reference ranges shown on the lab report and we will be glad to help interpret and advise further.  

[libmum]

Hi gimel, my Serum free T4 level is 34.5 and serum tsh level is 0.02.  I have been having a lot of fluid retention and extreme exhaustion.  Due back to work next week and panicking.  I have been on the levothyroxine nearly 4 weeks now.

[Totie]

It took me up to a year to get the correct dosage that was right for me.

So be patient and make sure your blood work is done every 6 weeks to adjust dosage.

In that year I had the hyper/hypo symptoms never knew which one was which....but eventually I started to level out ...

It has been 21yrs since I had my surgery and all is good. I do have a suppressed TSH, but I feel good at this level.

[gimel]

In order for members to better assess your status, please tell us about those hypo symptoms, and also post your latest thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report.  When did you start on the 100 mcg of Levo?