Thyroid supression and my recent blood results.

Heya KKRP,

First off, thank you for the chuckle! I'm going to have to reuse thyroid goblins somewhere, if not regularly! If you're bothered for the future, it's thyroglobulin, but I definitely prefer thyroid goblins as it very much describes what I think they're up to inside of me! lol

So, short answer is you're right. Those results are fine for your 'normal' folks, but not for someone who is supposed to be suppressed. You don't mention how long ago you had your total thyroidectomy, or what level of risk you're at, so I can't say for certain where you're supposed to be - but it's def not there.

Usually, for at least the first year after your TT, they aim to have your TSH suppressed to 0.1, which in turn pushes your T4 up to the high teens on average, or sometimes into the early 20's. After the first year, if you're a low risk patient and they're happy with how the first year has gone, then they will sometimes allow the suppression to lift slightly. However usually, the max they like the TSH to reach is 2.

Do you have a specialist nurse you can call? If so, I'd be giving them a ring just now to let them know your levels. If not, then I'd be calling one of your specialist's secretaries, or both of them, to let them know what's going on with your levels. If your oncologist only works once a week and it's not a Friday, then I'd probably call the endocrinologist to let them know. That way you'll hopefully get a call back tomorrow telling you to increase your medication, and then a letter in the post to the GP to tell them to increase your prescription.

When you were first diagnosed, were you given a booklet that explained thyroid cancer and thyroid suppression to you? I was, and I was told to take it with me to the GPs so they could read it if they tried to reduce my meds or didn't increase them when I needed. Luckily, I did have a really good relationship with my GP - still do with the receptionists, but the GP has left - so if I told them I needed a new med, or something increased, they believed me and then waited for the letter to come through. If you can, it would be well worth a proper chat with your regular GP to explain thyroid cancer suppression to them if you think you understand it enough to explain it to them. Alternatively, you could ask one of your specialists if they'd write a letter to your GP explaining it to them, so that the GP knows where you should be and will know if something is wrong and then contact them for advice, save you doing it.

Any other questions, please do shout and we'll help where we can!

Good luck calling folks!

Lass

xx

Hi 

I have recently had 2 of my blood results back, just waiting on the thyroglobulin, which always takes longer.

My T4 was 14.4 target <20

TSH 1.14 target < 0.4

My consultant has increased my thyroxine slightly. I told him I was feeling very tired and getting breathless and my resting heart rate was down to 47/48. 

Try and speak or email someone who understands thyroid cancer. My contact is a nuclear medicine consultant.  I am fortunate I can do it all by email.