Contents of This Page Thyroid Hormone Replacement Therapy Thyroid Hormone Replacement Therapy If your thyroid was removed surgically, you will receive thyroid hormone replacement therapy (levothyroxine) for the rest of your life. In intermediate-risk patients, the initial TSH goal is 0.1 to 0.5 mU/L. This goal may change to a level within the normal range if you have an excellent response to treatment. For high-risk patients, the dose will be high enough to suppress the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) below the range that is normal for someone not diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The goal is to prevent the growth of cancer cells while providing essential thyroid hormone to the body. At first, your TSH will probably be suppressed to below 0.1 mU/L. The level may later change to 0.1 to 0.5, depending on your body’s response to the treatment. Return to top of page During the first year after your treatment, your physician may order blood tests several times to make sure you are on the right dosage of thyroid hormone replacement. Blood testing also helps monitor for persistent or recurrent cancer. After the first year, your doctor may order blood tests less often. Among events that may affect your dosage of thyroid hormone replacement are weight gain or loss, pregnancy, and menopause. However, you will generally be on the same dosage for long periods of time. Papillary and Follicular Thyroid Cancer and their Variants There are three main blood tests:
In addition to these tests described above, some doctors will also recommend the measurement of Free T4. If so, discuss this with your doctor. Return to top of page If You Have Hypoparathyroidism If you experienced parathyroid loss or damage during your thyroid surgery, maintaining proper calcium levels will be an ongoing concern. You will have your blood calcium levels monitored, and will receive further instructions. Return to top of page For More Information, go to:
Last updated: May 21, 2013 What should my TSH levels be after thyroid removal?Current ATA guidelines recommend maintaining TSH levels below 0.1 mU/L in patients with persistent disease indefinitely in the absence of specific contraindications.
How fast does TSH rise after thyroidectomy?Previous studies have shown that there is an exponential rise of TSH after thyroidectomy or thyroid hormone withdrawal and TSH rise occurred much earlier than 4 weeks. [5,6,7] In this case one might able to expedite the131 I-WBS scan and therapy in these patients and minimize their morbidity related to hypothyroidism.
How long does it take for TSH levels to stabilize?Because of the very long half-life of the hormone, it will take a least three to four weeks for the blood levels of thyroid hormone to stabilize. Then you'll probably have a TSH test every four to eight weeks, and the readings from those tests will be used to determine your precise hypothyroidism treatment.
How long does it take for TSH to go up after stopping Synthroid?It takes 4-6 weeks of stopping thyroid hormone medication for the TSH to go up to the levels required for successful radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation and/or diagnostic testing.
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