Ultrasound or not?

[HKAnne]

Hi All,

Please may I ask your advice.

My Endo. said that I do not need an Ultrasound (no lumps or nodules), I have Hypothyroidism Hashimotos diagnosed last October (TgAB and TPO antibodies). I may be wrong, so please feel free to correct me, I understand that the auto immune disease Hashimotos eats away at the thyroid gland and I am assuming that an ultrasound would show how much of the gland is still left?

As I would be funding the Ultrasound myself, if it really is not necessary, then I won't have it.

Many thanks.

Anne

[greygoose]

Well, I'm not an expert, and have no opinion either way, really. But, I'm wondering how it will help you to know that. What will you do differently if you know that there's very little left, or if your thyroid is still alive and kicking. As I see it, an ultrasound is part of the tool kit for diagnosis - either of Hashi's, if necessary, or to know more about nodules, etc. I did have one when I was first diagnosed, but I think I might have refused it if I'd had to pay for it myself!

[HKAnne in reply to greygoose]

Hi greygoose,

Many thanks for your reply. I have had an underactive thyroid gland for over 20 years with no treatment until last Autumn. I just really want to have as much information as possible and thanks to this Forum, I am learning something new each day. I guess I am curious to see how much of my gland is left.

[greygoose in reply to HKAnne]

OK. But, sometimes curiosity comes at a high price!

[Angel_of_the_North]

How do you and your Gp know that you have no nodules if you haven't had an utlrasound? Some might be in areas that can't be palpated or be small.

[HKAnne in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Hi Angel_of_the_North

Many thanks for your reply. That is a very good point.