Thyroid nodules?????: Hello all, I was just... - Thyroid UK

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Thyroid nodules?????

DanteNXS profile image
24 Replies

Hello all,

I was just wondering if anyone else has encountered this issue.

I was recently given an ultrasound of my thyroid and it showed 3 nodules. 2mm, 3mm, and 7.5mm. The larger one had a blood spot on it. My conventional doctors say not to worry, but I don't trust them. They will not check them for cancer unless they're 1cm or larger.

I also have low iodine levels, just below the normal range.

I am thinking that by increasing my iodine, this might have an impact on the nodules.

Any ideas from the group would be most appreciated.

Thanks,

DanteNXS

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24 Replies
joyce59 profile image
joyce59

I have nodules too my biggest being 2.5x1.2x2mm the dr who did the scan seemed concerned (not just about the nodules but overall state of thyroid) yet like you say the gps just arnt interested. Iam at present awaiting a second opinion as the endo I saw last week was about as useless as a chocolate teapot.

DanteNXS profile image
DanteNXS in reply tojoyce59

Have you had a second opinion yet? How are you feeling?

joyce59 profile image
joyce59 in reply toDanteNXS

Not yet DantelNXS as ive been advised to write to the gps surgery as need to get a covering letter. I ve started taking vit B12 and its helping a bit but iam concerned about the neck pains iam getting. I planned to get another private scan done at some point if Iam unable to get another opinion.

Josiesmum profile image
Josiesmum

It's important that your selenium status is good before and during any iodine supplementation:

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

LAHs profile image
LAHs

Do you have any symptoms? I had nodules on my thyroid and I felt SOoo tired. that's what took me to the docs. I forget what the sizes were but my doc let me have a fine needle analysis (know as FNA) which diagnosed papiloma (sp?) cancer. I think certain antibody tests can tell if you have a serious problem (as opposed to benign tumors). Get a full thyroid panel through Blue Horizons, a private lab., I think that would put you back in control. Some of these labs have free consultations after your results come back. Also, read up as much as you can on this subject, you have made the right first step by joining this forum, now read up as much as you can from scientific papers via the Internet, plus the books "Stop the Thyroid Madness" and "Tired Thyroid" - to name just a couple.

DanteNXS profile image
DanteNXS in reply toLAHs

You never said what was done about the cancer they found. Did you have surgery, or RAI?

LAHs profile image
LAHs in reply toDanteNXS

Yes, I had a total thyroidectomy. No radioactive "treatment" was necessary - although one normally gets a scan with R.A. iodine to show if any thyroid cells are still present (none was detected in my case). They use iodine because it is only thyroid cells which will absorb the iodine and they use the radioactive type because they will "light up" in a scan. Thus locating any unwanted thyroid cells.

DanteNXS profile image
DanteNXS in reply toLAHs

So are you hypo now?

That is my fear.

LAHs profile image
LAHs in reply toDanteNXS

Just a little bit, yes. but I am on Armour NDT and I get a few hypo symptoms because I am slightly under medicated. I cannot lose the weight I put on when very under medicated with Levothyroxine, I get a bit tired in the afternoon, my basal body temp is a full degree below normal and I have some weakness in my thigh muscles. However, when I was under medicated on Levo I felt as if I was going to die soon, I could only go shopping in large supermarkets where I could lean against a shopping cart because I could barely walk, so what I suffer now is minute by comparison. Oh and by contrast I am now riding my bike again and hiking.

DanteNXS profile image
DanteNXS in reply toLAHs

I have read a lot of stuff about people going hypo after RAI and surgery. It's so confusing, going from one extreme to another.

I am hoping for the best, but fear the rest.

LAHs profile image
LAHs in reply toDanteNXS

You are bound to go hypo after surgery for the removal of the gland or it's destruction via RAI. The gland is there to deliver T4. If the gland isn't there you will not generate T4 (nor T3) - you will then be in the state of hypothyroidism. You must then take in T4 from some external source, via pills. People who are still hypo even though they are taking T4 pills - are simply not taking a high enough dose or they do not have the vitamins and minerals inside them to convert the T4 to T3 (the active hormone). And again they will experience hypothyroidism.

DanteNXS profile image
DanteNXS in reply toLAHs

I am basically in a lose lose situation then?

Story of my life.

LAHs profile image
LAHs in reply toDanteNXS

Well, I wouldn't call it lose lose. We had cancer and we are alive! My situation is, do I want to live to 100 with the pain of hypothyroidism and miserable or do I want to live to about 85 feeling good? That is not lose lose, it's just, well, we had pretty good lives compared to many, and looking at today's statistics, to live beyond 80 after a good life is, well, I would say, OK. But then, having said all that, maybe heart attacks and osteoporosis is not inevitable. But, I don't know how old you are, but please don't think about any of this until you are about 75.

DanteNXS profile image
DanteNXS in reply toLAHs

My quality of life is nowhere near what it should be, which is quite depressing. I have not been diagnosed with cancer, and hopefully won't be, but I understand your meaning. I just wish all of our lives could be much better.

Have you seen this site?

thyroidlovingcare.com/jen-w...

DanteNXS

radd profile image
radd

Dante,

Multiple thyroid nodules are common and usually do not need an operation unless you have problems with swallowing and/or breathing. It is rare to find cancer in multiple nodules but if you are worried you could ask for a FNA.

Iodine deficiency is a cause of thyroid nodules and should be treated. Supplementing iodine needs to be accompanied by selenium.

Iodine & selenium

chriskresser.com/iodine-for...

DanteNXS profile image
DanteNXS

I started taking iodine, but it seems to be making hyper. I am only taking a small amount (3mg). I've read that if a person has a hyper-functioning "HOT" nodule this can happen.

Perhaps I need to get the FNA done, but in America they will not perform this unless the nodule is 1cm or larger.

Any suggestions?

DanteNXS

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toDanteNXS

THREE MILLIGRAMS is not a small amount.

The official daily requirement for an adult is usually claimed to be about 150 micrograms. 3 milligrams is twenty times that.

Whatever claims anyone makes, I don't see how that can be regarded as anything but quite a large dose when contrasted with the usually accepted levels.

DanteNXS profile image
DanteNXS in reply tohelvella

From all the research I have done, 150mcg is way too low and that is actually the minimum daily requirement.

Dr. David Brownstein, M.D., is an author and iodine expert who has treated thousands of patients in his clinic. He states, “As I started to use larger amounts of iodine (12.5-50 mg/day) to achieve whole body sufficiency, I began to see positive results in my patients. Goiters and nodules of the thyroid shrank, cysts on the ovaries became smaller and began to disappear, patients reported increased energy, and metabolism was increased as evidenced by my patients having new success in losing weight. Libido improved in both men and women. People suffering from brain fog reported a clearing of the fogginess. Patients reported having vivid dreams and sleeping better. Most importantly, those with chronic illnesses that were having a difficult time improving began to notice many of their symptoms resolving.”

Of course, our minimum daily requirement is still set far too low – only 150 micrograms (mcg) per day. Typically, we in the United States consume 240 mcg per day – just enough to prevent goiter, but not enough for truly beneficial health effects. And there’s nothing scary about getting more iodine in your system. After all, people in Japan consume more than 12 mg – 12,000 mcg – of iodine per day. That’s 50 times more than the average American, and it hasn’t hurt a bit.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toDanteNXS

I tried to avoid arguing about the amount and simply point out that 3 milligrams is not a small dose.

There is plenty of evidence that typical intake in Japan, whilst higher than in many other countries, is not usually more than 12 milligrams.

thyroidresearchjournal.biom...

Whether there is sufficient to take it as absolute proof is another matter.

DanteNXS profile image
DanteNXS in reply tohelvella

I was not trying argue the point my friend, just wanted you to see what I am seeing. My functional doctor is the one who wants me to build up to 25mgs.

Here is another reference:

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

I am still under the assumption that I may have a HOT nodule, due to my reaction to the iodine.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toDanteNXS

Where Mercola says:

So, these findings suggest it might not be wise to get more than about 800 mcg of iodine per day, and supplementing with as much as 12-13 mg (12,000-13,000 mcg's) could potentially have some adverse health effects.

DanteNXS profile image
DanteNXS in reply tohelvella

So now you see why I am so confused...

DanteNXS profile image
DanteNXS

I have received a few of my test results back.

TPO= 2 IU/mL (<9 IU/mL)

TSI= 36% (<140% baseline)

Selenium= 214 (63-160)

Just waiting on the TgAb/TAA, but so far these levels are good. I have the Iodine Uptake scan tomorrow.

LAHs profile image
LAHs

You may want to look into Selenium poisoning. Se is one of those minerals you do not want in excess. I have not read up on all of the details lately but Se does have toxicity and it is a mineral which I measure once a year and I keep within range via 2 Brazil nuts per day - not three, just two because three can overdose you - it's that good.

Oh, and you probably know this but Se is crucial as the catalyst which facilitates the conversion of T4 to T3 - which if you are not doing you will have hypo symptoms. However with that Se level, conversion is not your problem

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