Just got back from the doctors!

[GeekyMummy]

Hi everyone,

I posted a couple of days ago,

I gave my doctor the private blood results and she was extremely apologetic because I'd been brushed off so many times the last 6 months with so many symptoms.

She's concerned because the last test she ran on me was at the end of February this year and my TSH was 0.1mUI... as of the 1st September it's now 32mUI and both sets of Anti bodies are very high. She said my Thyroid is very swollen with a lump (not painful). She diagnosed Hashimoto's disease and wants me to have an emergency scan. I'm only 28, 29 this month.

She's started me off on Levothyroxine 50mg. And I had another set of bloods done via the doctors so it's on their file.

Should I be worried about the scan?

Thanks,

Stace

[Clutter]

GeekyMummy,

Nice that your GP acknowledged that your symptoms were real, most do not.

No need to be worried about the ultrasound scan which is non-invasive. A gel will be smeared over your throat and neck and a hand held monitor will record the size and condition of your thyroid gland and the size of any nodules which is what the lump is likely to be. 95% of thyroid nodules are benign but any over 1.5cm with suspicious features or nodules over 2cm are investigated further.

Thyroid is probably swollen because TSH 32 has been flogging it to produce more hormone.

In the early days Hashimoto's can cause transient hyperthyroidism which is what happened in Feb for you to have TSH 0.1. The lymphocyte infiltration will have destroyed thyroid cells which dumped hormone in to the blood causing the hyperthyroidism. Destruction of cells atrophies the thyroid gland which is then unable to produce sufficient hormone.

There is no cure for Hashimoto's which causes 90% of hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine treatment is for the low thyroid levels it causes. Many people have found that 100% gluten-free diet is helpful in reducing Hashi flares, symptoms and eventually antibodies.

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

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

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_...

[GeekyMummy in reply to Clutter]

Thanks @Clutter... makes sense because I'd read TSH results can look like Hyper rather than Hypo with Hashi's at first.

Can pregnancy advance the speed of Hashi's turning it in to Huperthyroidism before it's time? Or was I just going to get it at this age anyway. I gave birth at the end of November then my TSH levels dropped to the 0.1 then 6 months later there at 32.

Also this condition runs through all 5 maternal women in my family including my Mum. But they were all diagnosed after the age of 40.

Thanks again.

[Clutter in reply to GeekyMummy]

GeekyMummy,

Pregnancy can trigger hypothyroidism in the prescence of Hashimoto's antibodies but it doesn't cause the hyperthyroid phase of Hashimoto's as far as I'm aware.

[greygoose]

Good result! That GP is a keeper!

[GeekyMummy in reply to greygoose]

Thanks @greygoose

As I said above the doctor is our family doctor so knows the family history and it runs through all 5 maternal women in my family. They were all diagnosed after the age of 40 though. Also I got private testing so the docs couldn't ignore the symptoms really based on High TSH, low FT4 and T4 and high peroxidase/thyroglobulin anti bodies.