For poetKelly

You have done a lot of study on body chemistry, so perhaps you might have an idea that I have not been able to get answered by my surgeon, pharmacist, nutritionist, lab, nurse, etc.

I was scheduled for RnY on 1/4.  At pre-op on 12/26, surgery was canceled due to incredibly low thyroid levels.  I have a old, blind, deaf dog who has me sleep deprived and has made a mess of my many meds.  As I know thyroid has to be taken 1st thing am with nothing else for an hour, I let mine slide.  I am aware that it takes awhile to build up in the blood and is really quick to drop off.

I am only concerned with TSH levels, for which normal is considered 0.34-5.60.  Mine is 73.96 (this is not a typo).  I am supposed to take levothyroxine 250 mcgs daily in order to maintain a normal level.  Since 12/26, I have faithfully taken 275 mcgs daily (I figured this would not hurt).  I have a Rx for a TSH test and am looking for a guesstimate of when to have it done.  The surgeon says that they will do it when I show "under 20.00", which is still not great, but still okay for surgery.  I do not want to have it tested too soon, where the number would still be above 20.00, but I do not want to wait any longer than necessary, as I am due to have a rather large surgery done as soon as I am healed well enough from the RnY. (I need a revision to a total hip replacement done almost 2 years ago and I have a loose rod in my femur and it hurts.)

In my mind, I am thinking that if I was a new thyroid patient and they were trying to adjust my level, they would check it every 6 weeks, so in my mind, as I do not have to get to the optimum level and am taking 25mcgs extra, that I should get a good reading at 4 weeks out that should show below 20.00. 

What do you think?

I don't know much at all about thyroid meds and thyroid levels.  Your doctor can't answer it for you?  The only other idea I have is to post asking other people on thyroid meds.  They might have a better idea for you.

If you have a specific question for a specific person, you know you can send them a private message, right?   Hover over her picture and 4 buttons appear - one of which says send message ...

I am also increasingly concerned that medical questions are being asked of (and sometimes answered) by people who have no health or medical training, no idea of your medical history, and really have no place giving medical information that they have only learned about on the internet.

This is a very slippery slope for OH!

Thank you!

I disagree.  I learn so much from integrating the docs advice with my nut, with people on this forum,many of whom I trust as much as my doc and nut.  It is kind of like a system of checks and balances.  In health care today, we need to be our own best and educated advocate.  I bring many things I learn medically from this forum to my doc and nut and visa versa. Allison