Should your thyroid be scanned?

[mummytosix]

Just a quick question. I’ve been hypothyroid for 18 months now and I’ve never had a scan done. I see people posting about nodules on their thyroid etc and it was diagnosed by a scan so I was just wondering if the doctors are supposed to send you for a scan or whether only certain cases need it. Thanks.

[PurpleNails Administrator]

My understanding is if there is a swelling or lump which might impact on breathing, swallowing or your voice then a scan is arranged, usually ultrasound. I have also had a radio iodine uptake scan which is something different.

Having a anomalous thyroid levels doesn’t seem to prompt a referral for scan, and probably won’t give you any more information than you already know from blood tests.

[mummytosix in reply to PurpleNails]

Thankyou 🙂

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You already know that you have Hashimoto’s, diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

So unless you have noticeable goitre, pain or breathlessness it’s probably unlikely

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

When were thyroid levels last tested?

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

When were vitamin levels last tested

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking over previous posts your last thyroid test 9 months ago suggests very under medicated

Did you get 25mcg dose increase in levothyroxine then?

Low vitamins also suggest under medicated and gut issues...frequently With Hashimoto’s we are gluten intolerant

As you have Hashimoto’s Are you on strictly gluten free diet?

Had coeliac blood test?

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.

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

While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet

(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)

Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Non Coeliac Gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and autoimmune disease

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/296...

The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/300...

The obtained results suggest that the gluten-free diet may bring clinical benefits to women with autoimmune thyroid disease

nuclmed.gr/wp/wp-content/up...

In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.

Why gluten intolerance can upset cortisol levels

kalishinstitute.com/blog/gl...

[mummytosix]

Thanks for replying to me. 🙂 No the doctors still won’t increase my levo, I’m still on 75mg. I have been tested for coeliac and it was negative. I haven’t tried a gluten free diet but I’ll have a look at the info you’ve sent me it sounds like it’s definitely worth doing. The only tests I’ve had done in the last few months are my tsh and iron levels, my ferritin is low but within range, my tsh was 2.9. I’m still waiting for my cortisol tests to be done (short synacthen test) which has been on hold due to covid. I’ve been speaking to the doctor every couple of weeks but because my tsh is in range he is adamant that none of my symptoms are now thyroid related he wants to diagnose chronic fatigue 🤦‍♀️

[Gingernut44 in reply to mummytosix]

That’s a favourite diagnosis for GPS who know nothing about thyroid hormones, you need to get your FT3 and FT4 tested at the same time as TSH to see exactly where your levels are. Don’t let your GP label you with CFS. I’ve just had the same battle with my GP. He reluctantly referred me back to NHS Endo with a very “loaded” referral form but the Endo saw straight through him and has sided with me 😊 you have to be very pro-active and assertive otherwise your GP will keep you sick