Anyone had thier Thyroid removed?

I have not had mine removed but I have hypothyroidism and can tell you that I go through the same thing. (my mom had hers removed) It is a matter of your tsh levels being where they should be. When is the last time you had your tsh checked? Are you taking it without food and waiting for at least half hour before eating?

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"The poster above is incorrect - it is NOT about getting appropriate TSH levels. TSH is a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid one."

I differ with you on that comment, it is on OCCASIONTALLY used to check your pituitary gland,

The TSH test is often the test of choice for evaluating thyroid function and/or symptoms of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. It is frequently ordered along with or preceding a T4 test. Other thyroid tests that may be ordered include a T3 test and thyroid antibodies (if autoimmune-related thyroid disease is suspected).

TSH testing is used to:

Diagnose a thyroid disorder in a person with symptoms
Screen newborns for an underactive thyroid
Monitor thyroid replacement therapy in people with hypothyroidism
Diagnose and monitor female infertility problems
Help evaluate the function of the pituitary gland (occasionally)
Screen adults for thyroid disorders, although expert opinions vary on who can benefit from screening and at what age to begin

"The poster above is incorrect - it is NOT about getting appropriate TSH levels. TSH is a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid one."

I differ with you on that comment, it is on OCCASIONTALLY used to check your pituitary gland,

TSH is a pituitary hormone, therefore it does not directly test your thyroid - it only tests what your pituitary thinks your thyroid is doing.

Ergo, you cannot directly test the thyroid by testing TSH. You can differ all you want - but the facts are the facts. I wasn't saying it was used to test for pituitary disorders, I'm saying that ALL it tests is the pituitary and NOT the thyroid.

The TSH test is often the test of choice for evaluating thyroid function and/or symptoms of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. It is frequently ordered along with or preceding a T4 test. Other thyroid tests that may be ordered include a T3 test and thyroid antibodies (if autoimmune-related thyroid disease is suspected).

TSH testing is used to:

Diagnose a thyroid disorder in a person with symptoms
Screen newborns for an underactive thyroid
Monitor thyroid replacement therapy in people with hypothyroidism
Diagnose and monitor female infertility problems
Help evaluate the function of the pituitary gland (occasionally)
Screen adults for thyroid disorders, although expert opinions vary on who can benefit from screening and at what age to begin

It's great that you can quote a website, but as someone who has dealt with thyroid issues for 20 years and has done more research than most doctors (including listening to the patient experience), I can tell you that TSH is NOT the be-all-end-all test that some medical people purport it to be:

1. TSH responds differently to exogenous thyroxine (synthetic T4) than it does to the body's own thyroxine. Therefore for someone already on thyroid meds it becomes a poor stand-alone diagnostic tool.

2. Testing just TSH, or TSH plus free T4, also doesn't capture any issues with converting T4 into T3 (a common issue for those on T4-only meds).

3. The "normal range" for TSH is hotly debated and controversial, and testing just TSH doesn't allow for any variances in different individuals or for analysis of the entire pituitary-thyroid axis. People are often told their thyroid is "normal" with a TSH of 4.0, when it fact it is not at all optimal for that person.

4. The TSH test is sensitive to the conditions under which the blood is kept. If it is left for too long the TSH test can be greatly affected and incorrect.

5. The TSH test might be the "test of choice" for many uneducated doctors, but that is largely because until just over a decade ago it was the ONLY choice. Now there are direct, affordable, reliable free T3 and free T4 tests that give a much better picture.


So again, thanks for copying and pasting something from a website, but you need to think critically and research before advising people.

I had my thyroid over 10 years ago, I have lost weight, gained it back but this time I am really having a hard time, it is not coming off, plus going thru menopause ...When I had my last physical the Dr. said I was a bit hyper but did not want to increase the dose which could be the reason for the difficulty losing it this time. I dont know what to do..it gets to be very aggravating after awhile.

Thanks for that advice! Since I felt better I didn't even think to have them still test the T-3 I usually take it before I go to bed at least 3 hours after dinner - Should I be takingmy pill in the morning instead?

There's actually evidence of better absorption when taken at night, so keep doing what you're doing!

I think he did just test the TSHand I am on Levothyroxine, I go back to him in May I will ask him about it. thanks

Hi, sending you a friend request, too. I had thyroid removed for cancer a little over 3 years ago. I've not been successful in losing the 25-30 lbs I've gained in the years since then...but I know now is no time to stop trying. Some are doing quite well, and it motivates me. But damn, it's true: no cheating at all allowed anymore. I never worried about weight before this, but c'est la vie.

that's awesome. I need T3 testing in my life, sigh.

I have been on Armour for about a year and I feel a thousand times better - I was on T-4 then started taking T-3 but I didn't feel good still. The Armour seems to make me feel better but I seem to have to work twice as hard to get ANY weight off. Do any of you have the same problem?
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Have you tried splitting the dose, part in am and smaller dose in the pm. Also strength training is very important. My Dr recommended it over walking. I try to do both.