Is it possible that a thyroid can be enlarged and absolutely nothing is wrong. I’m really struggling to get a hold on my health which has been dropped in the last year, particularly the last 4 months. I was certain I had thyroid issues but I’ve been told very bluntly by thyroid surgeon that I do not have a goitre and my symptoms are not from my thyroid gland which is apparently completely normal. I stopped thinking about thyroid to investigate other possibilities but I always come back to the thyroid gland.
Blood all within normal range except iron deficiency, vit D low, B12 low. I’m taking supplements for these myself. Also parathormone above range and white blood counts below range.
Ultrasound said thyroid prominent, lung function and barium swallow fine.
Constantly feel there is something in my neck, heart palpitations, swollen and tingling hands and feel. Low energy and mood. Dry itchy skin, aches and pains throughout body. Poor brain function
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LouiseM46
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Highly likely you have only had TSH and FT4 tested?
Add any results you have got
Low vitamin levels are common with thyroid issues
Low vitamins could be causing symptoms in own right, or could be affecting thyroid, or thyroid can be cause of low vitamins
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised
Getting vitamins optimal is important first step
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.
Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
You are describing hypothyroidism. Medicine has a long and proud tradition of ignoring hypothyroidism symptoms, particularly in women, who make up the great majority of sufferers. The tests only look for a few common things, and if you happen to be genetically predisposed to produce the screaming markers of disease that they do not test for, then your cries for help will be ignored.
Sometimes I think the standard-of-care test protocol was cunningly designed to give as many people with thyroid disease a clean bill of thyroid health in order to let a profusion of other treatments be applied to the cascade of thyroid disease effects. Those treatments, of course, do not produce a cure, but do produce a heartwarming revenue stream for pharmaceutical companies.
You will find a lot of help here from people who have learned enough to care for themselves, when necessary, outside of the usual constraints of letting a doctor be in complete control.
B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast
Recommended brands on here are Igennus Super B complex. (Often only need one tablet per day, not two). Or Jarrow B-right
If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
Plus likely strictly gluten free diet may help too, especially if Thyroid antibodies are high
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first
Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse
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My latest test results, dont understand what is going on :(
Thyroid results
No thyroid gland TSH level too low, T3, T4 ok
Thyroid blood results
Hypothyroid and T2 diabetes risk
