Thyroid scan?

[Rose_georgina]

Hi, I've been sent for a scan on my parathyroid, can anyone enlighten me on this and what it is, my previous scan found a nodule, so 6 months on I'm being sent for another scan. Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Are you sure it's not a scan of your thyroid

Parathyroid glands are within the thyroid - but cause something entirely different from hypothyroidism

Explains parathyroid here

parathyroid.com

See from your other posts you have hypothyroidism. Most common cause is autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's. Thyroid nodules are common with Hashimoto's

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies so diagnosis can be by ultrasound

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Are you still only on 50mcg Levothyroxine?

That's only a starter dose.

When on inadequate dose of Levothyroxine you remain hypothyroid

Heavy periods are classic sign of being hypothyroid and also can obviously cause Anaemia

List of hypothyroid symptoms

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

When were thyroid levels last tested?

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

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)

Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

Is this how you do your tests?

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

The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 in top third of range and FT3 at least half way in range

All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels

NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

Also what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)

[Rose_georgina in reply to SlowDragon]

The scan is for both thyroid and a parathyroid that's why I was confused, apparently all my blood were within range, yes I do have auto immune disease, I don't really feel anyone takes what I've got serious, it took 5 months to get my thyroid scan results, telling me about the nodule and my thyroid didnt look healthy as probably result of auto immune disease, I take 75mg levothyroxine now. Thanks

[bantam12 in reply to Rose_georgina]

An ultrasound scan is unlikely to show parathyroids, the scan for paras is a sestamibi which would only be done if hyperparathyroidism was indicated.