Q: I am a hypothyroid patient. I have been taking eltroxin 100 mg everyday for the last 10 years. As per doctor's advice I discontinued the medicine. After one month I got a blood check up done and found that things are normal. So I discontinued the medicine for another one year. The body weight is constant. Is it possible that the gland has started functioning normally?

A:It is possible for the thyroid gland to start functioning normally again, and for you to not need the thyroxin again. However, you need to take the following precautions: 1. One month may not be sufficient time for thyroid function tests to become abnormal. You should repeat T4 and TSH again after 1-2 months, to make sure. 2. It is a good idea to get thyroid function tested every year. You can get T4 and TSH tested, or even just TSH alone. Till the time the tests stay normal, you do not need to start thyroxin.