Palpation thyroiditis : Can anyone help me with... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

137,936 members161,765 posts

Palpation thyroiditis

Badmintonteresas profile image

Can anyone help me with this problem. I had no problem with thyroid before my parathyroidectomy surgery 8 months ago. Six days after surgery I developed hyperthyroidism thyroid didn’t like being handled. This was resolved by beta blocker. However by September I was having some niggly symptoms. Bloods were taken TSH 3.48 (.27-4.2 t4 13.4 ( 10 - 21 ) t3 4.2 ( 3.5 - 6.5. ) My many symptoms have got worse with muscle/ joint pain , poor sleep, weight gain for no reason , dry skin nails and hair etc and generally feeling very unwell.

Recent bloods 11th January showed TSH now 2.70 and t3 4.5 for some reason t4 wasn’t reported. I am at a loss as all my bloods are normal but I am far from that . What should be my way forward any advise is welcome

I am trying some acupuncture this week. .

Written by
Badmintonteresas profile image
Badmintonteresas
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
12 Replies
greygoose profile image
greygoose

No, your bloods aren't 'normal', your results are within the so-called 'normal' range, but that doesn't make them normal for you. Did they test your thyroid before the op to give them a baseline?

Your TSH is too high - within range, but too high because you are hypo when it reaches 3. A truly 'normal' (euthyroid) TSH is around 1.

Your FT4 is too low - euthyroid would be about 50% through the range - yours is only 30.91%.

FT3 would be just slightly lower than the FT4 level. Yours is only 23.33%, which is much too low. And it's low T3 that causes symptoms.

Handy calculator for percentages:

thyroid.dopiaza.org/

Interesting article about ranges and why they're not much use:

pmj.bmj.com/content/94/1117...

Badmintonteresas profile image
Badmintonteresas in reply to greygoose

Thank you grey goose zMy TSH in March was 1.68 other thyroids ere not measured. What do you think I should be doing going forward. Thanks

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Badmintonteresas

Keep testing. Full thyroid testing, as SlowDragon explains. Your thyroid might recover from its ordeal, or it might get worse. But, despite your symptoms, I'm afraid the sad fact is that no doctor is going to diagnose you as hypothyroid until your TSH goes at least over-range.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Important to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

When thyroid is misbehaving we frequently develop low stomach acid this leads to poor nutrient absorption and low vitamin levels

Low stomach acid is also increasingly common as we get older

Are you currently taking any vitamin supplements

If yes….what exactly

Having had parathyroid surgery presumably you are having calcium and vitamin D measured regularly

all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning

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...

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 down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Badmintonteresas profile image
Badmintonteresas in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you SlowDragon I take magnesium boron and calcium citrate but also natural calcium Greek yogurt skimmed milk etc I also eat a couple of Brazil nuts a day along with d3 and K2 My last vitamin D3 not long ago was 70 + I know my ferritin is borderline but haemoglobin is very good B12 500 but I do supplement . I am eating chicken liver pate and consuming fillet steak every week to increase my ferritin . What can I do further …. I also drink filtered lemon water and take an apple cider tablet a day .

I am at a loss as to how to help myself more ….. I do walk 7000 steps a day to stay active.

More bloods to be taken on 21st February calcium PTH and thyroid panel being done.

My recent antibody TPA was negative.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Badmintonteresas

Come back with new post once you get thyroid, vitamin PTH results

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Badmintonteresas

How low is ferritin

When was it last tested

Also folate level?

Badmintonteresas profile image
Badmintonteresas in reply to SlowDragon

Ferritin was 19.6 January 22 folate not really tested as separate just says reflects daily intake November 21 when B12 was 580 ( 180 to 2000)

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Badmintonteresas

So your ferritin is extremely low

GP probably should be prescribing iron supplements

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

Links about iron and ferritin

An article that explains why Low ferritin and low thyroid levels are often linked

preventmiscarriage.com/iron...

irondisorders.org/too-littl...

davidg170.sg-host.com/wp-co...

Great in-depth article on low ferritin

oatext.com/iron-deficiency-...

drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...

This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.

Badmintonteresas profile image
Badmintonteresas in reply to SlowDragon

I am eating chicken liver pate and fillet steak every week Also my other iron bloods were very good Also still recovering from parathyroidectomy and have to make sure I take calcium and magnesium etc

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Six days after surgery I developed hyperthyroidism thyroid didn’t like being handled. This was resolved by beta blocker.

Are you still taking beta blocker or have you stopped

What beta blocker was/is it

Badmintonteresas profile image
Badmintonteresas in reply to SlowDragon

I have been eating chicken liver pate and fillet steak every week My other iron tests were very good when tested I am also still recovering from parathyroidectomy

You may also like...

Thyroid palpation for dummies (for me I mean)

feel that no doctor does it properly according to some information I can find from online, but it...

Omezaprol and Palpatations

however I assumed it must have been my fluctuating thyroid hormones. Any comments and suggestions...

A&E ,palpatations and tight chest, high bp. Could thyroid be under treated and have these symptoms?

for referral. I had my bloods rechecked on 7th jan but for some weird reason they still aren't...

Palpatations and anxiety

started experiencing my old symptoms of non stop pounding heart ( for no reason) and feelings of...

Levo & palpatations

new to taking thyroid meds is this right ? I’m feeling down and worried would love some advice many...