Thyroiditis

[Tamarabell]

Been back to the doctors today as my thyroid gland is still swollen and sore, doctor thinks I have a condition called Thyroiditis and I am having an urgent scan next Wednesday. Does anyone have any experience of this? Thanks

[shaws Administrator]

This is a link which will give you some info:-

nhs.uk/conditions/thyroidit...

[Tamarabell in reply to shaws]

Thanks I have already read through this, but wondered if anyone actually had experience of this condition and what the treatment would be x

[shaws Administrator in reply to Tamarabell]

I am sure someone who has had it will respond.

[Clutter]

Thyroiditis means 'illness of the thyroid' in general, but also covers Hashimoto's thyroiditis which is an autoimmune disease diagnosed if you have elevated antibodies above a defined range.

The scan will determine whether you have an enlarged nodule &/or multinodules, their size and location and will help determine whether further investigation is required and a treatment plan. The scan is entirely painless and isnt invasive but can be minorly uncomfortable as your head is tipped back to expose and thrust up your throat.

Have you had blood taken for thyroid function tests? If so, can you post them with the lab reference ranges if you have them?

[Tamarabell in reply to Clutter]

Hi and thanks for responding.

I had bloods done last week but think the TSH was the only test that relates to thyroid. It was 1.79 (range 0.3-5)

[Clutter in reply to Tamarabell]

Hashimoto's is a fluctuating condition and TSH can present entirely 'normal' unless caught during an 'attack'.

Thyroid Peroxidase and Thyroglobulin antibodies are the only way to confirm autoimmune disease.

[Hidden]

I had/have subacute thyroiditis which can start with a really sore thyroid/throat. Normal phases are overactive (my tsh was pretty much undetectable), then underactive (tsh swang to 22) followed by a supposed return to normal months/years later. Not sure if this would be what you have but hopefully the scan and more bloods will pin it down. Good luck! x

[Tamarabell in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the reply mmu83, what treatment have you received for this?

[Hidden in reply to Tamarabell]

Levothyroxine 50mcg. betablockers and carbimazole briefly when I was overactive

[Hidden]

Hi the scan will show if you have thyroiditus or hashimos as some Endos call it. They will be looking for an enlarged thyroid and the thyroid will look like giraffe hide as one Endo explained to me. Mine did look like that and I have hashimos. They will then test for the antibodies if they have not done that already. They will also look for nodules or growths.

[Tamarabell in reply to Hidden]

Thanks chickens12. Haven't been tested for antibodies as far as I am aware, had routine bloods done last week and have the results here but they are all just letters and numbers and not sure what they all mean to be honest. There is defiantly swelling in the thyroid area and the doctor confirmed it has grown over the last week.

[Hidden in reply to Tamarabell]

Its difficult to take it all in. My Endo showed me the pictures she had taken afterwards. She explained everything. The good thing is that they tell you there and then. You are not hanging around waiting weeks for results.

[Tamarabell in reply to Hidden]

That's really good to hear, just want answers now. Have had the worse nights sleep and I am in agony even on the strongest co codemol tablets - but hey ho off to work I go!