I had a thyroid ultrasound a couple of weeks ago which showed a "completely atrophied thyroid gland" according to the radiologist´s report. I was diagnosed with Hashimotos in 1999 based on very high anti-TPO and anti-thyroglobulin levels, but both have been in range for the last couple of years which is why my current doctor ordered the ultrasound...he thought maybe I had been misdiagnosed to begin with....! Unfortunately, I no longer have the lab results from 1999, I just remember they were high, but an ultrasound in Dec´99 showed a normal-sized thyroid gland with "grey spots" showing damage to the hormone-producing cells (quoting from memory).
When I look at the radiologist´s report from Nov´27 2020, I can see the volume of the right thyroid globe is 1.2 cm3 and the volume of the left globe is 0.9 cm3...the report says the normal volume should be 10-28 cm3. The conclusion is: "atrophied thyroid gland consistent with Hashimoto´s thyroiditis".
Tonight, the doctor called me to tell me that he had bad news...based on this report, there is no hope of my thyroid ever coming back to life....not that I was hoping it would since I was told 21 years ago I would be on thyroid hormone replacement for the rest of my life.
Now, the doctor wants me on iodine (Lugol´s) since I no longer have a thyroid...but I cannot help but wonder what good that would do...?! The doctor said all patients without a thyroid gland should be on iodine replacement, but I really don´t see the point...?! The doctor said that since the radiologist´s report shows I have no thyroid left, I should be compared to someone having had a total thyroidectomy, and the latter category needs life-long iodine replacement.
i would really appreciate input from others as I am not willing to take any supplement that I am not sure of needing...if I no longer have a (working) thyroid gland, why would I need iodine...?!
Written by
Annacat69
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I suspect your doctor is getting a little confused, here. lol I cannot imagine why he would think that. My thyroid is now completely atrophied from Hashi's, but you won't get me taking iodine, I can assure you!
Is this the same doctor who made you have that hugely expensive allergies test recently? The Belgian so-called “Hertoghe” specialist
Honestly, I’d run. Put some considerable distance between you and him (or her). I really don’t think he / she has a clue what they’re talking about, just wants to make a fortune from you. An atrophied thyroid won’t be able to make much use of iodine.
Yes, that´s the one! I have to admit that this doctor not really seems to know what he´s doing...for instance, he seems to be mixing hypoT and hyperT up. He told me that low FT3 levels are indicative of hyperthyroidism because the body converts excessive amounts of T4 to reverse T3 in hyperthyroidism...that´s the first time I´ve ever heard that. Plus, you would need to test rT3 levels to diagnose rT3 dominance...plus, it would seem rT3 does not block the action of FT3 as was once believed. Also, according to the theory that rT3 dominance IS a problem, that would result in HYPO symptoms, not hyper...so I really don´t feel this doctor can be trusted.
At a TPA UK conference a couple of years ago there was a presentation on iodine and breast cancer; Dr Peatfield some years ago gave a presentation on iodine a much misunderstood element. Why not go back to your doctor and ask for your iodine levels to be checked first? Dr Brownstein has written a book: Iodine why you need it and why you can't live without it.
Annacat69 has had a urine iodine test recently. It didn’t show a deficiency. (24 h urine): 152 ug/g (125-264).
For what it’s worth Annacat69, having just read your earlier post in full, I don’t agree that you were over converting T4 to T3. I’m not a Hertoghe doctor but your thyroid results looked pretty good to me.
I agree! Plus, I have never heard of the body over converting T4 to FT3...in case of excessive T4 intake, the body would get rid of the excess T4 by converting it to reverse T3, not free T3...as far as I know. I don´t think you can have out-of-range FT3 levels on levo only, just out-of-range FT4 levels...or did I misunderstand this? More and more, I am thinking the Hertoghe doctors are no better than other doctors; they just charge more for their services as they call themselves "hormone experts" or "anti-aging experts". People pay a fortune because they want NDT, but in the process you get a lot you never asked for...!
I have noticed one interesting thing since my anti-TPO levels ended up in range (they were +6000 at the time of diagnosis and ended up in range for the first time in late 2018). It seems I need LESS thyroid hormone now that that my thyroid is gone. At the same time, my CRP levels ended up in range for the first time in years. Could it be that the inflammation messed with T4 to T3 conversion, and now that it´s gone I am able to convert better, especially since correcting vitamin and mineral levels with the help of this forum (I used to have several deficiencies diagnosed by private labs as doctors just dismissed me)?
Even if I have no thyroid left, my body seems to prefer T4 only to a T3+T4 combo. My new doctor claims a person with no working thyroid needs T3 as well as T4, but that does not seem to apply to me...at the same time, my body is not giving me the tiny amounts of T3 normally produced by a healthy thyroid gland. But, I know many people without a thyroid gland are doing just fine on levo only, it´s cheap and any doctor can prescribe it without charging a fortune. If I´m one of them, I should just forget about T3.
I think you’re right. The thing I’ve observed about thyroid issues is that many do have long periods of stability, where the dose of Levo they’re on works just fine, their livers and other organs are perfectly capable of creating T3 from T4 and all can remain well for years. Until something changes, and of course, for a woman, those changes are periods, childbirth and menopause. But then you deal with that when it happens (as far as you can—menopause has been great fun for me, not ) but once you’re through that you’re back to stability again.
I think possibly the saying “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” might be applicable here...
If you’re having to see this doctor just to get NDT, you could just get the NDT and ignore the rest of the advice, perhaps?
When I was on T4 200mcg 20 years ago, I was tested for iodine and it was found to be low. I have been on T3 only 50 mcg for 8 years. I was tested for iodine in February and result was 40ug/L range 100-199 ug/L even when using Celtic Sea salt so, I was put on a supplement then advised by Functional Dr to use seaweed so am mixing flaked seaweeds including kelp into Celtic Sea salt. I only eat fresh prepared food, no gluten, minimal dairy (which as iodine was used in past to clean cows udders was a source of iodine). Yes, it is in range but not even 50% - the low end, so is it optimal?
I hear you—but when you take thyroid hormone replacement you’re taking a medication with iodide in it. So to add additional iodine seems completely unnecessary and possibly counter-productive.
I guess we’re all different and everyone needs differing amounts of meds and nutrients, depending on where they’re at. I can see that you were clearly deficient in iodine, although I have an inkling that many on T3 only might need more than 50mcg daily and that’s perhaps why your iodine levels were depleted. But I don’t know and shouldn’t be speculating cos I don’t know your situation or your blood test results and you sound like you’re on top of things.
None of this is an exact science and because the scientists mainly think thyroid issues are easy to fix (with a few notable exceptions), we often don’t get the answers we need...
I monitor my heart rate, body temperature and regularly check my blood pressure at the doc. Go over 50 mcg and my heart rate goes up and I over heat, drop to 40/50 on alternate days or 40 daily and my heart rate drops to about 53-55, which my body can't deal with. It has been a long time to find the right balance whilst the endo constantly tries to drop my dosage and me saying NO! Optimum nutrition is what I have worked on for years, but that is not easy either if you have gut issues. It is a constant balancing act, which at times one can't deal with, then one pick's up again and tries again...but being optimal is what I strive for.
No, Belgium. Most doctors there don´t work like this, but the Hertoghe doctors are all in private practice and since what they are doing is legal they can carry on...most doctors in Belgium don´t prescribe NDT, human growth hormone, DHEA, pregnenolone or prednisolone for adrenal fatigue either...not sure this is what I want, to be honest...it feels like I am supposed to give my body a lot of hormones it may not even need. It´s like everyone past 30 needs hormone replacement in their opinion, but I am not interested in anti-aging therapy...I just want to manage my Hashimoto´s.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
) but once you’re through that you’re back to stability again.
Hashimoto thyroiditis
Should I supplement iodine?
Hashimotos. Lichen S and now possibly Rheumatoid arthritis?..
