Thyroid scan

[Spotydave]

Hi all.what warrants having a scan?? Who decides the gp the endo or both and why?? Do you need certain symptoms??? Cheers all

[Spotydave]

Cheers janey... I just wwsnt sure. Probably a silly question ...but ive often wondered if the gp should automatically check when its shown you have a thyroid problem... 😀

[MissGrace in reply to Spotydave]

I know what you mean. I’d like a scan. But my GP won’t even refer hypos to an endo as it’s ‘easily treated’ (you just get people into the normal ranges right?) let alone for a scan. I have some difficulty swallowing (I have hashis) and feel like I’m being strangled and gag at times. My GP said it isn’t thyroid related. (He thinks I’m mad.) My private endo who is a thyroid specialist felt my neck and said it was and to contact him if it got any worse! 🤸🏿‍♀️

[Spotydave in reply to MissGrace]

Thats unbelievable... Poxy gps... Mine d

Said i didnt have any antibodies due to no symtoms so he wernt testing it...i got medicheck and have hi antibodies.so now looking a bit silly he said hes sending me.to and endo to sort it out.. it really makes you wonder wuat the hell they do at med school apart from drinking and partying

[Marz in reply to Spotydave]

Come to cash strapped Greece where you can walk into many a Clinic off the street for an Ultra-sound/scan/x-ray - around 25 euro AND you walk out with the results.

In a nearby village/small town we have a GP Clinic ( no appointments required ) - Cardio Clinic - Haematology Clinic - Scanning etc Clinic - and if that's not enough there's a Vet. 😊 4 Butchers - 4/5 Fruit and Veg - Fish - 2 Bakeries and so on ! Clinics are private but affordable.

Am at a loss as to why it is not done in the UK to take the pressure off the NHS. All those GP referral letters - changed appointments - letters back to GP - another GP appointment - and so on. Could be a way of filling those empty shop units as the space required is small.

[Spotydave in reply to Marz]

Thats unreal.. i never new that. And yesi think it would be interesting... But the trouble with the uk is we are greedy... would be nice though to be able to go down the road and have what test you needee

[MissGrace in reply to Marz]

And of course the escalating costs. All of those tests would cost £100s here. 🤸🏿‍♀️

[Spotydave in reply to MissGrace]

Ohhhh yesss

[Marz in reply to MissGrace]

The tests are reasonably priced - and deals can be done ! I have been known to go to the GP and he signs off the tests I am allowed under the NHS and I take the same form up the road to Haematology and add the ones I want - job done

It's the way the system works I like ! We keep all our own medical records and can go anywhere with them. No-one is offended - I have always had the very best of treatment here from great Docs - some NHS and some Private - it really doesn't matter. We make our own appointments with Consultants who have been known to answer the phone ! They also work evenings ! Appointments are also very quick.

We also have Diagnostic Clinics - just that - scanners/MRI etc. Again it can be part NHS and part Private for the same test. In our village we have a NHS 24 Hour Clinic - where you can just walk in clutching your B12 jab and have it done - no-one questions you. I now do my own. Always excellent treatment - I was badly bitten by a big local dog that had broken free - very early on a Sunday morning. Hubby rushed me to the Clinic and within minutes a Doc was masked and gowned and I was in the mini theatre being dealt with. Daily dressing visits followed for weeks. No payment required - we just made a donation to the Childrens' Section.

Of course some do have their horror stories to tell - but I have always fared well.

I appreciate it is not possible for many to pay in the UK - but those that can would take the pressure away from the NHS. Or these Clinics I visualise could be an off-shoot of the NHS - just giving more flexibilty into a system that is in some ways a little out of date. The more there are then they will be more competitive price-wise. I believe there are walk-in Clinics in London set up by Polish Docs and doing well ... We also pay a small amount for Out Patient appointments ...

[Spotydave in reply to Marz]

Wow. That does sound very interesting..

[Hidden in reply to MissGrace]

"My GP said it isn’t thyroid related. (He thinks I’m mad.)"

It seems he's the one who is mad!!!!

You don't even have to be a medic, just possess some common sense, to work out that if the thyroid is in the neck and you have difficulty swallowing or other neck problems it could be the thyroid!

[Spotydave in reply to Hidden]

Lolol politicians wnd doctors dont seem to have commonsense

[Hidden in reply to Spotydave]

Except that doctors ae usually much less dishonest (though that's not saying much!)

[Spotydave in reply to Hidden]

Lolol

[Sybilla14]

I was referred for a scan by the endo that I insisted to be referred to and saw privately, whilst my GPs insisted I was not hypo. I have a small goitre, an enlargement on one side of my throI’d, not that obvious to see even. It confirmed my thyroid was consistent with hypothyroidism with reduced blood supply, etc.

[Spotydave in reply to Sybilla14]

Good for you . How have you gotin sinse then?? Did the endo help?

[Sybilla14 in reply to Spotydave]

Yes the endo diagnosed me in his letter to the GP and even told them to keep my tsh down to 1, which has been of immense help in increasing doses. I’ve been on Levo nearly 2.5 years and added self sourced lio for 1 and still not quite in the right place but much better. My goitre has not changed and in my opinion having a scan can be an unequivocal proof that the thyroid is under an autoimmune attack and getting destroyed, if there is a detectable damage already.

[Spotydave in reply to Sybilla14]

Thats great so it worked out well for you . Its nice to hearsome good stories about endos.... Im getting a lot t of nausea at present and a bloody dull ear ache which is getting on my nerves and the odd weird feling from the thyroid area.. im on 75mcg so it might have to go up a bit more..

[Sybilla14 in reply to Spotydave]

As part of the self medicating with lio I have also been doing fingerpick tests with medichecks so I can see my ft4 and ft3 to guide where to move with my doses. Do you know your levels right now?

I certainly now see the variety of hypo symptoms I’ve had over the years as they go and come back with dose changes. Never would have thought they were related to thyroid hormones.... Earache and neck sensations could possibly be on the list!

[Spotydave in reply to Sybilla14]

Im due to have more bloods in about 3weeks i thinks so i only have my last results from being on 50mcg on levo actavis

[Hidden]

I had an ultrasound in the UK referred by my GP in 2014. My thyroid was working well but a nodule had moved my trachea.

Then an FNA was done in the UK then nothing, although they knew I couldn't breathe.

I moved to France in 2015 the GP sent me for an ultrasound and within a couple of months I had my thyroid removed and my trachea repaired.

[Spotydave in reply to Hidden]

Wow it just shows you how bad our system is.... How are you now?

[Hidden]

I am OK now thanks and back living in the UK. Since moving to France our NHS has gotten a lot worse I never visit the GP just self medicate and take a private blood test once a year.

[Spotydave in reply to Hidden]

Atleast it sounds like you have it under control ..😁😁

[Hidden in reply to Spotydave]

Exactly although I look for logical answers they often don't happen to pan out regarding thyroid problems.

[Spotydave in reply to Hidden]

I think i better keep that in mind lol

[Spotydave]

Hi janey... Thats alwaysthe hardest ..get someone who genuinely knows whwt they are doing... I dont have any visible lumps i dont think.. i often get a feeling off tightness in my throught and aching which comes and goes..