Does anyone know where I can get a thyroid scan privately?

I'm having difficulty swallowing food, and choke a lot. There is a lump, quite large to the left if my thyroid. Would like to get this checked out. So important to have someone who can interpret the results.

I live in Shropshire, but willing to travel if necessary.

[Spareribs]

Hi Helcaster

Won't your GP refer you? I had an ultrasound in Oswestry and Fine needle aspiration in Shrewsbury, followed by surgery there but I think the ENT dept moved to Telford now. There's the Nuffield but I have no experience of it, they're the same doctors 'tho!

J

[Hidden in reply to Spareribs]

Hi Sparerib, I have no confidence in my GP, she even forgot to do a referral to an endo after I gave her all the details. She thinks the lump is a cyst. I have noticed more and more how food is collecting in my throat, often when I have water because I'm choking, I can feel a big lump of food go down and it's very uncomfortable. I would rather do this independently.

Everything at my surgery is around money. My partner who hadn't been to a GP in 9 years asked for a thyroid test as he has low temps, dry skin, overweight and all the male doctor said this test costs £20 and if you multiply that by thousands it's a serious amount of money. I think I would have punched him. I had a run in with this doctor over seeing Dr Skinner, he threatened to stop Levothyroxine and blood tests, because I was seeing a "quack" No I don't want anything to do with them. My partner pays an enormous sum in NI every month, and I was furious about his treatment.

[crimple]

I used a company called thisismy based mainly in the north but also in Coventry and London. They do everything, mainly baby scans, but also parts of the body and the radiographer gave me on the spot feedback and a report and photos followed within the week. Cost £120. I did this after feeling general swelling in my neck and discomfort. I was diagnosed with Hashi's when shown positive for TPO. The scan showed my thyroid was severely atrophied. Once you have your pics you can google for pics of a healthy thyroid for comparison!

[Hidden in reply to crimple]

Hi Crimple, thanks for this info, I will definitely follow this up. As long as there is a good report I can stick under my GP's nose I will do it. The fee isn't too bad, and a drop in the ocean with what I've spent on everything to date!

So kind of you to reply.

[puffyface in reply to Hidden]

I've just had a scan at the London Clinic and they were very kind. I saw an endo there and had all my bloods there too and it was all incredibly efficient. My husbands private health covered it so not sure of the price, but you could call them. There is a scanning department.

I hope you find somewhere. X

[Hidden in reply to puffyface]

Hi puffyface, London isn't my patch, and I don't have access to private health care, unfortunately my partner refused it so we have a bit more money coming in. Years ago I was in BUPA but they never cover anything with existing illnesses.

Really hope the scan was helpful to you!

Thanks for replying.

[BeansMummy]

I'm so glad you asked this question, Helcaster - getting a thyroid scan done privately is something I've been thinking about. I've had them done by the NHS in the past as I've got nodules which they assured me would be regularly checked (ha ha) and an internal goitre (according to my notes).

I wouldn't normally push for another scan but I've had so much more pain in recent months but, apparently, there is "no need" to check anymore. I suspect someone has looked at my file and decided I don't merit another one as I have clearly used up my lifetime NHS scan allowance now

[Hidden in reply to BeansMummy]

Hi BeansMummy, I contacted this is my, who Crimple suggested and they do do thyroid scans, but not in the Midlands where I live. I think I would have to travel to Manchester which is no big deal for me.

I've never had my thyroid scanned, I saw an ENT with lumps in my neck, quite a few years back. The funny thing was my neck never got scanned but a lump was found in my nasopharynx, which looked dodgy and had to be removed. Then I saw another ENT for many years, again I never got my neck scanned, which was ridiculous. By this time I was losing my hearing in my left ear, and he just monitored it. What a waste of time!

If you Google thyroid scans this is me, I think something pops up. Anyway they were very quick in replying, but I will check the cost before I book anything.

[BeansMummy in reply to Hidden]

I still can't get my head around them not scanning you for "lumps", I would have thought that was a bog standard test.

Thanks for your reply, I shall have to get Googling at some point.