Potential diagnosis?

[CodaDal95]

Hello!

I'm new here, but I am concerned as of late. So if there is anyone who could provide me with some advice I would be grateful.

I have a lump under my adams apple which I could feel. I was concerned so the GP conducted a TSH test which came back as normal. But I was still unsure since I have many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism.

So I went privately and got a finger-prick test with Medichecks back in April. This tested for:

- TSH = 2.46 , Range = (0.27 - 4.2)

- Free T3 = 6.3, Range = (3.1 - 6.8)

- Free Thyroxine = 14.5, Range = (12 - 22)

- Thyroglobulin antibodies = <10, Range = (0 - 115)

- Thyroid peroxidase antibodies = <9, Range = (0 - 34)

All of which indicates a normal range.

However, I recently went for an ultrasound scan on my neck which I was referred for in April.

The radiologist who did the scan indicated that I do in fact have a slightly enlarged thyroid. But says it's not indicative of thyroid disease. But I should be tested every 5 years because there will come a time in which my thyroid WILL give up.

So my blood results show I do not have a problem, but the scan indicates there is definitely an enlargement and I have symptoms... so should I be fighting for more tests from the GP to get a diagnosis because clearly, an enlarged thyroid is still not normal!

Not sure what to do!

P.S the results of my scan hasn't reached the GP as of yet.

[shaws Administrator]

Do you have the ranges for your results? The reason being that labs differ in their machines and ranges may also be different. Ranges allow members to respond.

If you have the ranges click on the down arrow next to More and select edit and you can insert the ranges.

[CodaDal95 in reply to shaws]

Thank you for the tip!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Also important to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually

Any family links to autoimmune disease?

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 all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

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

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...

[greygoose]

Assuming that your did this test early morning, and fasting, your TSH shows that your thyroid is struggling. It needs more than average amount of TSH in order to produce the amount of thyroid hormone that it does. Also, your FT3 is a lot higher than your FT4 which can, possibly, indicated that the thyroid is struggling. Or, it could indicate that you are iodine deficient. So, I would suggest that you get iodine tested as your next step. if that is good, then do as the technician suggested, and keep an eye on it. But, do blood tests more often than every five years! A lot can happen in five years. Perhaps do a blood test every six months?

[CodaDal95 in reply to greygoose]

That's interesting, I assumed due to the results indicating it was in range that it was fine. Obviously the symptoms are still apparent regardless.

Since I last had it checked in April, I'll have another one done and compare!

Thank you for this. I'll definitely get my iodine tested too!

Appreciate it!

[greygoose in reply to CodaDal95]

I'm afraid that just being in-range does not autmatically mean that everything is fine. You have to know how to translate the results. Unfortunately doctors don't know how. For them, everything is either black or white, no shades of grey, so to speak.

[Insomania]

Hi, I’m in a similar situation to you with a goitre and blood tests within normal range.

I now say I am “pre-clinical autoimmune thyroid disease.”

Your blood tests are less normal than mine though. I believe TSH ideally should be under 1 (mine still is).

My iron folate, ferritin and vitD were also very low.

Get the nhs app so you can see your full test results. Eye opening!

I saw a Dr of haematology recently and he said I should have the goitre scanned yearly.

Are you getting many symptoms?

[tattybogle in reply to Insomania]

"I believe TSH ideally should be under 1"

Not exactly.. it is most common for healthy people without thyroid disease to have it around 1 (slightly under/ slightly over ) but plenty of healthy people will have their usual TSH level at 2 .... it becomes much less common to have a healthy person with TSH of more than 3 .

This graph is useful.. it shows the % of healthy people with each level.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

The 'ideally under1' statement is relevant to some people once they are taking thyroid hormone replacement .... because in some people you find that the dose of hormone they need to feel well again , gives them a TSH quite a bit below 1.

[CodaDal95]

Hi,

Thanks for replying! I'm quite surprised to hear that it's actually abnormal, guess it goes to show that I need to try and fight for some sort of diagnosis!

I haven't had them all checked for a while either so I will definitely get on that, including vitamins and minerals.

I didn't realise you could see full results?! I have the app but all it shows me is my previous medication history.

I have really bad fatigue, I can sleep for 8-10 hours and still wake up feeling like I haven't slept. Hard for me to lose weight and especially the memory aspect, I honestly couldn't tell you what I did last week unless I looked at my calendar lol