Total thyroidectomy patients routinely require calcium supplementation regardless of the presence or absence of calcium deficiency. This is because there is a “shock period” in the parathyroid glands during surgery, when they are unable to produce parathyroid hormone for a period of time, resulting in hypocalcemia. Long-term oral thyroid hormone administration after surgery may lead to calcium loss, and appropriate calcium supplementation is also needed. By the time blood calcium is normal and there are no more symptoms of calcium deficiency, no more supplementation is needed.
If intraoperative damage to the parathyroid glands has affected parathyroid function, long-term calcium supplementation may be needed, and in this case, PTH (parathyroid hormone) levels should be checked for normalcy. As for whether to take long-term oral calcium supplements, you need to see an endocrinologist. There are categories of calcium supplements on the market, and you need to consult your doctor on how to choose.
Principle of calcium supplementation: gradually reduce the dosage until symptoms disappear. For example, if 6 tablets are gradually reduced to 2 tablets and no symptoms of calcium deficiency appear, and then reduced to 1 tablet and symptoms of calcium deficiency appear again, you need to go back to 2 tablets and maintain this dose; if no symptoms of calcium deficiency appear after reducing to 1 tablet, and no symptoms of calcium deficiency appear after not taking the medication, it means that normal thyroid function can complete the maintenance of the body’s needs, so you can stop supplementing.