Having operation on 26 November

[Bashu2]

Hi everyone

My right side thyroid is going to be removed,after along argument I got excess for my blood results online I am attaching it please read and guide me

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Recommend you get FULL thyroid testing privately before operation

Just test TSH is inadequate as you already have hypothyroid symptoms

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

No vitamin D, folate, B12 or ferritin results here

You need TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 plus both Tpo and TG thyroid antibodies tested

After hemi thyroidectomy you may need levothyroxine prescribed

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after operation

Getting vitamins tested and if low, improving to optimal levels will help improve symptoms now and especially if you need to be prescribed levothyroxine

[Bashu2 in reply to SlowDragon]

Dr told me she has done all the test

[cjrsquared]

Ok, have read your previous posts. I believe that you have multinodular goitre with 2 nodules showing mildly suspicious for possible cancer from fine needle aspiration. Your thyroid function according to TSH has been normal and you have never been on thyroid replacement hormones. The hospital has followed you up and recommended a hemithyroidectomy to remove the suspicious half of your thyroid and explained the possible risks, as written in your letter. The letter also states that you have no symptoms of difficulty swallowing or speaking and no other swollen glands in your neck. Is this an accurate summary?

What advice are you seeking? The standard blood results suggest you are not anaemic and don’t have raised inflammatory markers. Kidney and liver function in normal range, just over range re risk of type 2 diabetes. As SlowDragon says you have not had full thyroid testing done because your TSH has been in range and therefore it is not routine to test antibodies or vitamins in patients who appear not to have symptoms. It would however be helpful in the future if you had that information now. This is a failure in the nhs. If you can I would have a private blood test.

If you are concerned as to whether you should have surgery you need to go back to your doctors to discuss it further. If you do this write down your questions and send them to the consultant in advance asking for a written reply. This may help at the appointment, also take someone else with you as it can be difficult to remember all that is said. Good luck.

[Bashu2 in reply to cjrsquared]

Thanks, also going to do private blood test, finding the best one.I am about the operation, is it necessary when I asked dr he said it is best to do it, in furtherance nodules might Go cancerous I am how would about the outcome of operation,life be after the operation.I also had total hysterectomy in 2016 due to endometriosis.

[cjrsquared in reply to Bashu2]

I don’t know the relative risks for the development of cancer or how many people who have a hemithyroidectomy require thyroid replacement therapy afterwards. Did they give you percentages or numbers? Very difficult to make an informed decision, you need all the information.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bashu2]

Thanks, also going to do private blood test, finding the best one.

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

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus vitamins including folate (private blood draw required - so difficult at moment )

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

[Angel_of_the_North]

There's nothing to suggest either under or over active thyroid there. But you could be on the way to type 2 diabetes, as ideal hba1c is nearer 31-32 and yours is creeping up to pre-diabetes. Perhaps time for a low carb diet. Do you have thyroid cancer?

[Bashu2]

At the moment no but once the operation is done will find out what it is, when they did the biopsy according to the report I have attached in my previous post my right side thyroid looks suspicious so the drs made the suggestion to take the right side thyroid out.

[DoUno]

I was in a similar situation 30 years ago except I was on a low dose of levothyroxine. I had two nodules and suspicious thyroid cells with a needle aspiration biopsy. I had surgery - a partial thyroidectomy and the cell biopsy showed my thyroid was not cancerous. It is my understanding that to remove a portion of the thyroid after suspicious cells with a needle aspiration biopsy is no longer standard care. My thyroid blood levels were much more difficult to stabilize after the surgery. I would highly recommend getting a second opinion (or third).

[Bashu2 in reply to DoUno]

Thanks I will ask for seconds opinions

[humanbean]

I don't know how you feel at the moment - I haven't read your earlier posts. But if you feel reasonably well you must get these tests done if you possibly can - privately if necessary :

TSH

Free T4

Free T3

TPO Ab

Tg Ab

Vitamin D

Vitamin B12

Folate

Ferritin

+ if you can afford it get an iron panel done as well.

The reason for getting all these done is so that you have a baseline you can compare future results to, after your surgery.

For example, if your current (pre-surgery) Free T3 shows a result of 5.8 with a range of 3.1 - 6.8, then you have your surgery and your Free T3 reduces to 3.5 with a range of 3.1 - 6.8 you know that your Free T3 has dropped dramatically even if it is still in range. The drop in your Free T3 will be ammunition that you can use to point out to a medical professional that there are reasons for you feeling unwell and you want the appropriate hormones to be prescribed to get you back to feeling the way you did before surgery.

If doctors dismiss that logic (as I suspect they will) at least you have a target to aim for if you need to treat yourself. Many people don't have that information and it makes it very hard to find your "sweet spot" if you have no clue what to aim for.

[Bashu2 in reply to humanbean]

Thanks I will do the blood test the thing is can’t find cheaper one