Goiter

[dianef2303]

I had a very unsatisfactory consultation with an ENT consultant a couple of weeks ago, he basically felt my neck said yes you have a lump in the left side of thyroid gland, does anyone in the family have thyroid problems, (No was the answer), I will send you for a scan. Had scan and yesterday received a letter to say it was benign and I did not have to see him again. I am confused as I had so many questions and now do not have the chance to ask them. What should I do for the best? I am consideringing going back to my gp and ask to see a different consultant would this be acceptable? PS I was also told my bloods were okay but have not yet managed to be given a copy of them from the drs.

[Hidden]

Hello diane,

Sorry to hear you have been left with unanswered questions but good news that your lump is benign.

If this was me I would ring or write to the ENT consultants secretary listing my queries.

He has released you back to your GP's care now so if you still feel unwell you need to approach him. I doubt him he will re-refer you because your lump has been investigated but you may require a thyroid hormone replacement prescription.

If you post your results once you get them, complete with ranges (numbers in brackets) members will comment.

Flower

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Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

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[dianef2303 in reply to Hidden]

I wrote to the consultant with a list of questions and a symptom sheet and he has said that as my thyroid function is normal my symptoms are not related to an over/under functioning thyroid. I have received my blood results and they only tested TSH - which was 1.37 mu/L (range 0.35 to 4.5). The consultant has stated that as this is normal T3 and T4 levels are not tested. Can I ask my GP to test T3 and T4 levels?

[Hidden in reply to dianef2303]

diane,

If your consultant has stated your thyroid gland function is fine, it is unlikely your GP will perform any further testing. .

The Hypothalamus, Pituitary and Thyroid glands make up what is called a Feedback Loop.

The Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) test alone is not a reliable or sensitive marker of an individual’s true thyroid status because the TSH is a marker of only pituitary levels. The release of TSH is based on whether your blood levels have too little thyroid hormones to meet the demands of your body.

There is also controversy over the high levels of TSH required for doctors to diagnose hypothyroidism.

A patient can have a so-called “normal” TSH lab result, yet hypothyroid symptoms that only worsen over time.

Primary hypothyroidism is usually diagnosed by a High TSH and low T4 level. There are different types of hypothyroidism and different causes.

Physiological or emotional stress, depression, insulin resistance & diabetes, aging, dieting, inflammation, CFS, fibromyalgia and obesity all effect the cellular and tissue levels of thyroid hormones, the conversion of T4 -T3 and //or the pituitary function.

In order to receive the correct treatment, ideally it would be good to have the following tested.

* TSH – to check for possible pituitary issues (Low iron will also suppress TSH even with low thyroid levels as will low cortisol)

* Free T4 (FT4) – the stored thyroid hormone

* Free T3 (FT3) – the active thyroid hormone

* TPO anti-bodies (thyroid peroxidase) – to check for Hashimoto's

* TgAb (thyroglobulin antibodies)

Also get Vit B12, Vit D, folate and ferritin tested as deficiencies are common in people with low thyroid hormones and may indirectly cause absorption and conversion problems.

If your doctor does prove uncooperative in view of your consultants diagnosis, there is a link below for private testing which many members use.

Flower

Getting a diagnosis

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/diagno...

Further explanations on hypothyroid symptoms with “normal” TSH.

chriskresser.com/5-thyroid-...

hypothyroidmom.com/top-5-re...

Private labs testing

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

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Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

[dianef2303 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply Flower007, I am looking into a private blood test as I feel sure that my long list of symptoms is related to my thyroid.

[Hidden in reply to dianef2303]

diane,

Once you have results, post for members to comment as a doctors "normal" is not the same as how members would interpret.

Flower