Missing Thyroid

[Milliemoo2]

Help! I had a thyroid scan yesterday (TSH 80 and family history of Cancer!!) but apparently there is only a tiny amount of tissue?! Is this likely to be due to antibodies?? They are around 104.4. Or would I be born this way? Tia.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

It could well be due to autoimmune attack.

Most people born without a thyroid fail to develop properly unless given thyroid hormone. However, just once in a while, there is thyroid tissue in a different location in the body. A classic being when it is in the "thyroglossal duct" - e.g. a lingual thyroid. That is when the original thyroid cluster of cells fails to descend to its usual position at the front of the neck.

Also, also very rarely, there can be tissue elsewhere in the body that can produce thyroid hormone.

You most certainly should also have had a Free T4 test and, I'd hope, Free T3.

[Milliemoo2]

Wow! Thank you for your reply. I’m so shocked and still not got my head around this! I had those bloods done recently but don’t understand the results...waiting for follow up appointment with specialist hopefully very soon to understand more!! No wonder I have been “ on the floor” lately! Thank you.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Milliemoo2]

Always get blood tests for thyroid hormones at the earliest possible. Many GPs only take notice of the TSH and adjust according to the it rather than relieving clinical symptoms of patient.

It should also be a fasting test (you can drink water) and if taking levothyroxine allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take afterwards.

Food reduces the TSH as does coffee and as many doctors only look at it, that's why a fasting test is best and also the earliest as TSH is highest then and drops throughout the day.

verywellhealth.com/coffee-a...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Previous post says you have had Hashimoto's 18 years

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

What brand of Levothyroxine are you now on?

You need full Thyroid and vitamin testing asap

Ask for coeliac blood test too if still eating gluten

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. When on Levothyroxine, take last dose 24 hours prior to test, and take next dose straight after test. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

Ord's Thyroiditis is autoimmune ( very similar to Hashimoto's) but causes thyroid to shrivel and shrink

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ord...

Rest of the world calls this Hashimoto's too