Normal sized ‘polynodular’ thyroid gland

[Elsa1509]

Hi Everyone

I have Hashimotos but not ‘bad enough’ to be prescribed any meds. Recent results from Medichecks early am and fasting:

TSH 1.24 (0.27 - 4.20)

FT4 16 (12.0 -22.0)

FT3 3.94 (3.10 - 6.80)

I have terrible symptoms of brain fog, joint and muscle pain which is particularly bad in my shoulders. Exhausted most of the time!

After referral to an ENT for hoarseness I was found to have 5 nodules on my thyroid (colloid nodules and one cyst, largest nodule 1.4cm). Gland was normal size! I have terrible stabbing pains in my throat especially on the side that most of my nodules are located (coincidence?). The ENT said the pain was from my vocal chords and referred me to Speech & Language.

Ironically the ‘lump’ that my GP also referred me urgently for in my neck turned out to be my carotid artery!! My faith in medics is diminishing .....

ENT my thyroid is struggling but it will take about a decade to fail ?!

My question is why do I feel so rough with such normal results (Vit levels are good as I know all about Vit D and Vit B12 and have been tested). Also how can the ENT be so sure that my “polynodular gland” as it was termed (!) won’t let me down sooner? Also no follow up ultrasounds suggested.......

Flailing around in the dark as always......

Many thanks for any thoughts from members!

[shaws]

If you have thyroid antibodies, you are warrented a prescriiption for levothyroxine. Doctors are poorly trained.

If thyroid antibodies are present - regardless of your TSH, and T4 results you should be prescribed levothyroxine.

email [e-mail] and ask for a copy of Dr Toft's Pulse Online Article. Highlight the part that says if antibodies are present we should be prescribed levothyroxine.

Dr Toft, who wrote the article was the President of the British Thyroid Association.

[Elsa1509 in reply to shaws]

Thanks Shaws! My Tg antibodies are over 1,000 and my TPO are 248. I also have raised ANA. I seem to have all the symptoms of hypo including increasing stomach problems despite having been GF for a long time. My endo nearly prescribed Levo last year but then changed his mind! I will try pushing for it. I did purchase some Levo (25mg) when I went to Europe in the Summer ( over the counter!) but don’t dare take it in case it sets my heart off! Maybe I should be bold and go for it.

Thanks !

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Have you tested Ferritin and folate too?

Vitamin D should be around 100nmol

B12 towards top of range

Good B complex too

Selenium supplements can help

Also consider magnesium alongside vitamin D

Vitamin C, A and zinc too

[Elsa1509 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon. My folate is at the very top of the range and B12 is 450 and I use the spray every day. But D was 77mmol and I supplement with 2000 iu every day with my high fat breakfast and take K2. My ferritin has been dire in the past (hovered between 3 and 11 for years). I’ve got it up to 25 recently! I’m not sure why I am permanently exhausted with extreme muscle fatigue, heavy legs and significant fibromyalgia type pain (worse around my upper back and arms). I also take top of the range Magnesium 150mg daily! The worrying thing is my eyes are deteriorating and prone to double vision now and swelling and terrible gritty sensation. I’m booked into the optician to see what’s going on. I hate Hashimotos!!

Thanks so much for your input!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Elsa1509]

Your ferritin is much low. If you like liver then eating once a week should help. But you may need iron supplements.

See SeasideSusie detailed vitamin advice in many of her replies

Increasing vitamin D, especially through winter. Lots with Hashimoto's need high dose just to stay level (I need 5000iu! Plus sunshine)

B12, if you are supplementing then it's suggested on here to also take good B complex.

Your B12 is quite low considering you are supplementing

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Vitamin A or some of the special "eye supplements" might help. Ask optician. Hypromellose eye drops for dry & gritty eyes.

Your FT3 is very low

Improving vitamins might actually push TSH higher so that you can get diagnosed

Selenium supplements can help too

[Elsa1509 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon. My ferritin is still that low on daily Ferrous Fumerate & Vit C. I made up my mind to start eating liver after reading someone else’s post earlier today and how much it had helped them. I do use Hycosan eye drops which really help but my eyes are a real problem. I know my B12 could be higher.

As with all of us it is a real battle to help resolve our myriad of symptoms combined with one tracked ‘uneducated’ medics! Thank goodness for this amazing forum ! Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Elsa1509]

Liver has plenty of vitamin A, so this might help your eyes too

I have to use hypromellose eye drops every night, have done for 23 years!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Elsa1509]

Do you take just one ferrous fumerate daily or three?

[Elsa1509 in reply to SlowDragon]

That’s the good thing about liver it also contains all the good Vit A Which I don’t want to supplement with as too strong. I’m not looking forward to the liver but it seems the most natural way to boost iron which I find so difficult to absorb. I cut down to one FF tablet a day (220mg) months ago as I can’t stomach it. My periods have got heavier so it is an ongoing battle with iron deficient anaemia. I just can’t absorb it!! After one period I look so horribly pale and feel so weak like it effects me immediately. The doctors keep testing me for celiac which is pointless when I’m GF!

Thank you and purchasing some liver tomorrow!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Elsa1509]

You really need to start Levothyroxine

Heavy periods are classic sign of being hypothyroid

Print this list of symptoms off, tick all that apply and take to GP

thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...

[Elsa1509 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you ! I have so many of these symptoms it’s a joke plus my poor husband has to put up with me falling asleep on the sofa every evening so something has to change! What an amazing comprehensive list of symptoms. Thanks for all your input SlowDragon!

[Clutter]

Elsa1509,

Your ENT can't be sure how long it will take your thyroid gland to fail, s/he has estimated progression to hypothyroidism, so you should have annual thyroid function tests to keep an eye on levels.

I also had euthyroid Hashimoto's and was told symptoms were non-thyroidal because I wasn't hypothyroid. This isn't true. Patients can be very symptomatic with Hashimoto's but it isn't due to low thyroid levels so there is no treatment.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/resear...

medscape.com/viewarticle/76...

There is no cure for autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto's which causes 90% of hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine treatment is for the low thyroid levels it eventually causes. Many people have found that 100% gluten-free diet is helpful in reducing Hashi flares, symptoms and eventually antibodies. Supplementing 100-200mcg selenium daily will also help support your thyroid.

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

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

[Elsa1509]

Thank you so much Clutter for these very helpful links. It is so comforting to know that you had many symptoms even though your hormones were in range and you were euthyroid . I am basically a very happy positive person which my GP knows but he just insists I take a beta blocker every day for my palpitations and mild panic attacks. He has even suggested anti depressants which I so don’t need! I know my problems are physical and my TSH went into 3 figures after my daughter was born! I will continue to have regular checks on my thyroid.

Thank you and i’ll have a really good look at those links.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Elsa1509]

Which betablocker are you prescribed?

If it's propranolol that lowers TSH, and slows conversion of T4 to T3

[Elsa1509 in reply to SlowDragon]

It’s Bisoprolol which i’ve got down to the lowest dose of 1.25mg from 2.5mg. I have Supraventicular Taxhycardia and really bad ectopics and missed beats etc. I haven’t taken it in weeks as I have such bad Raynauds and it makes it way worse. I was down for an ablation but I wasn’t considered bad enough 2 years ago! I’m a complete mess really but my hypo has defo got worse recently and as a result i’m so down and quite emotional ! I feel like my brain power is diminishing and i’m sick of constant exhaustion, palpitations and pain. I also have a stressful job which doesn’t help. I’m fed up with all medics and they never seem to help or have answers. They don’t have a wholistic nomen in their bodies ! At the end of the day we have to help ourselves.

Thank you!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Elsa1509]

Palpitations are common when hypo

Panic attacks are linked too, due to adrenals having to over-compensate for low thyroid

Raynauds can also be caused by hypothyroidism. I had that terribly when under medicated, never get it now.

Ectopic beats can be gluten or magnesium related. Have they improved since GF or starting magnesium?

[Elsa1509 in reply to SlowDragon]

I’ve been on Magnesium for some months now but I would say my palpitations are getting worse. I think it could be related to the cold as well, but recently they have been on and off the whole time which is really disconcerting. My fingers are dark purple a lot of the time and this year my feet have been cold and almost numb which i’ve not had before. I haven had quite bad IBS as well. . I’m getting mild transient feelings of panic and feeling a bit emotional and sad (and angry !). I don’t want to tell the dr this as he knows my past stress and trauma and puts everything on to that! He is kind but I wish he could see that there may well be a physical cause as well ! I hopefully have moved on from my past but who knows. All I know is that I have about 80% of those thyroid symptoms on the link you sent me! I have been offered a referral back to cardio by my GP so am thinking about it!

Thank you!

[Elsa1509]

sorry that meant to say wholistic bones in their bodies! Forgot to say that my limbs feel really wooden a lot of the time and like they don’t work properly. I told my GP this and he was rendered speechless! Not sure he’d ever heard that symptom before!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Elsa1509]

If you email Thyroid UK for list of thyroid specialists

Not all are private

[Elsa1509 in reply to SlowDragon]

I will definitively do that! I have private health care through my job so could do that route of GP agrees to refer. Thank you!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Elsa1509]

Before you go to private appointment get full private thyroid and vitamins retest. Try to get blood done as early as possible in morning and fasting

If taking B complex or any supplements with biotin in stop these a week before as can falsely affect test results

[Elsa1509]

Thanks SlowDragon. I don’t take a B complex as such, as it caused me to flush but will cease everything for a few days before and do a fasting test etc. I do need to update my vitamin testing as I was off B12 for months until very recently and as I have been deficient in my youth, I think I got low again recently. You have been so helpful and I am truly grateful. Thank you!