Thyroid giving problems after being stable for some years

[PaulB]

Hi

After 5 years of being pretty stable, have Ord’s ie hypo with no goitre, I have seen my TSH results climb and fall quite dramatically over recent tests.

Currently have the usual gang of thyroid symptoms back, and have had to take time off work.

Have an enlarged right lobe of my thyroid which has just developed, warm to touch and sore, great new GP saw me and agreed something has changed, so it’s off for an ultrasound, previously my thyroid was hard to find as it had atrophied, so to find one lobe swollen, hot, and sore probably explains the swinging test results.

Watch this space…

Paul

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Hi PaulB, can you share your most recent thyroid blood tests (with ranges in brackets), so members can advise. What dose of thyroid medication are you taking?

[RedApple Administrator]

PaulB, I would say welcome back, but obviously you'd rather not be here.It's very interesting to hear your thyroid has gone from atrophied to having a swollen lobe. Have you ever had positive thyroid antibody tests (i.e. confirming autpimmune)? Do keep us updated!

[pennyannie]

Hello PaulB :

Having just read through your back story did you ever try Natural Desiccated Thyroid hormone replacement which was the original very successful treatment for hypothyroidism and used for over 100 years prior to Big Pharma launching their own T3 and T4 on the back of it.

NDT contains all the same known hormones as that of the human gland and derived from pig thyroid, and on analysis contains trace elements of T1. T2 and calcitonin, plus a measure of T3 and a measure of T4 in each grain/tablet.

Once on any form of thyroid hormone replacement the TSH is the least important number to track as we should all be monitored and dosed on our Free T3 and Free T4 results as it is low T3 that causes all the symptoms of hypothyroidism.

The TSH was originally introduced as a diagnostic tool to help identify a patient suffering with hypothyroidism and was never intended to be used once the patient was on any form of thyroid hormone replacement, though I am only too aware that in primary care a TSH is considered ' enough ' :

I'm now self medicating with NDT as I have had RAI thyroid ablation for Graves Disease and now without a thyroid and am much improved and have my life back better than being left on T4 only by the NHS.

[shaws Administrator]

I believe NDTs were withdrawn in the UK. It makes you wonder what kind of training the 'experts' who make these decisions had as they fail to consider the patients symptoms. The fact, too, that NDTs were first introduced in 1892 and from then on many lives were saved as it was the first replacement.

A few months ago "they" decided to withdraw NDTs in UK altogether and caused panic amongst members whose symptoms may have returned.