New hypothyroidism

Hello to all members. Have been reading lots on here. Everyone has useful advice and facts which sadly GPs and consultants don't give or don't care. After 11 years of reactive lymph node in neck without any diagnosis of underlying conditions or reason why. The last 2 years symptoms worse of ongoing sore throat swollen tongue jaw ear ache hot gland itchy hot under chin neck area. Low temp 34 -35.9 insomnia. Many more symptoms. Mother has hashimoto. GP agreed to blood test in May and guess what...I have hypothyroidism. Scan shows multi goitre nodules. GP phoned to say I may need operation put me on levothyroxine 50mcg. Referral to endocrinologist.

So now what ? Why did GP give brief telephone conversation no proper talk about the scan report. Is 2 years of seeing Gps and ENT in Feb without anyone of them investigating thyroid or any other immune problem acceptable. You can see swelling under chin and right gland jaw they have felt my face neck. Told to go away by ENT lymph gland not cancer didn't do biopsy or scan only camera up nose. I wonder if the swollen lymph gland is blocked if its related to the swollen multi nodule goitre. Any ideas please ?

[Clutter]

Lisajay,

Levothyroxine may help reduce the goitre. Endocrinologist may be able to advise whether there is any connection between the swollen lymph gland and the goitre.

The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. For most patients that will be when TSH is 0.4 - 1.0 with FT4 in the upper range. FT4 needs to be in the upper range in order that sufficient T3 is converted. Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... Email [e-mail] if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP.

For maximum absorption Levothyroxine should be taken with water 1 hour before, or 2 hours after, food and drink, 2 hours away from other medication and supplements, and 4 hours away from calcium, iron, vitamin D supplements, magnesium and oestrogen.

It takes 7-10 days for Levothyroxine to be absorbed before it starts working and it will take up to six weeks to feel the full impact of the dose. Symptoms may lag behind good biochemistry by several months.

You should have a follow up thyroid test 6-8 weeks after starting Levothyroxine. Arrange an early morning and fasting (water only) blood draw when TSH is highest, and take Levothyroxine after your blood draw.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[Hidden in reply to Clutter]

Hi sorry i don't know your real name but thanks for your time replying.

Well seen GP about the aching body and to ask if gland is related. She said unlikely its a small reactive lymph node. And now put me on amitrypline diagnosis fibro myalgia. I've complained for years about this gland and my muscles joints aching. And put off using meds. Just suffered a lot. Started taking codliver calcium vit d glusosamine a year ago. Recently taking selenium magnesium to help what i thought could be TMJ. Jaw ache across to ear the sore throat swollen tongue jaw cheek chin symptoms. Bought probiotic and zinc and multi vits last friday.

Hypothyroidism did enter my mind as mom has hashimoto. Seen lots of GPS nurses over 2 years since changing surgery. All of them didn't diagnose me. My bloods are abnormal crp egr fbc but they mark off as normal. I was too worried about saying about weight and hairloss as i am sure they all thought and think i am hypochondriac. Keep going about sore throat swollen tongue and jaw/cheek/chin and body aches. I asked a locum to test for thyroid literally 4 weeks ago after suffering badly since November and being fobbed off. Wish i had said back in November. Can't believe even ENT didn't pick up on the swollen areas didn't investigate.

So GP said we need to move on take the meds. Pay for massages. Wait for referral. She even pushed my health towards depression. I snapped cried said obviously i am depressed dragging myself into work undiagnosed nobody listened to me.

Do you think i should do written complaints ?

Oh also i don't hold hope with the QE birmingham as my moms condition isn't normal after years. Her TSH is 6.7 or something and free T4 is 13 or 14 and they say results are normal euthyroid. Years ago before diagnosed her TSH was between 12 and 13 i found her hospital letters out the other day.

My TSH is 6.83 maybe and free T4 is 11.

So your saying the TSH needs to 1 yes ?

And T4 say between 15 and 20 for us to feel better?

Would we need a small mg of T3 liothyronine and/or a higher dose of the levo ?

I have been on levo for a week taking at night because of the drug interference with breakfast and vitamins.

I got a blood test form for vit DCk2 ferratin FES FBC. Do i need to push GP for antibody test for hashimoto or wait til my QE hos appointment in Sept/oct maybe ???

I feel like GP and hospital don't listen to symptoms. My mom is constantly ill. I now have been cursed with this diagnosis. Now have to go through the nhs loophole of endocrinologist who treat results as normal. Wish me luck

Hopefully you get my long rant and reply

Thanks lisa

[Clutter in reply to Hidden]

Lisajay76,

You need to wait 6-8 weeks and retest to see what your thyroid levels are on 50mcg to see whether dose needs increasing. Impossible to tell whether or not T3 will be helpful until you are optimally dosed on Levothyroxine. It's unlikely you will get T3 prescribed without an endo recommendation. Symptoms can also lag a couple of months behind good blood levels.

You can ask your GP to test thyroid peroxidase antibodies if it hasn't already been checked.

Your mother should be prescribed Levothyroxine if she is positive for Hashimoto's with TSH >6.

[Hidden in reply to Clutter]

Hi

Ok when i retest in 6 weeks i will ask to discuss results with gp ask for TPA test.

Yes my mom is on levo since 2010 or before. Has yearly app at hos. She has a allergic reaction to something in the tablets. Finally got put on levo solution has less ingrediant bindings or something. Think she got diagnosed via TPA when she had allergies and stopped taking her levo tabs. I will go with her to duscuss latest blood results this month see if any improvement. Get levo solution increased.

I tried helping mom go with her to hos apps. They say not to increase dose fast due to mom saying she has allergies. But she seems allergy free on it so to get TSH and T4 normal its down to higher dose.

I think i understand things its just getting hos to sort my mom out and i need to just wait. And now i know i have the curse i can get to feel better soon hopefully lose the stone i piled on since November. Have private chiropractor app next week. And just keep reading to understand make info sink in. Will be in touch with results. Thanks for info once again