Thyroiditis diagnosis … help with some blood results please

[Lala1972]

Hi, recently diagnosed with thyroiditis, plus nodules and been given the option of rescans every 3 months or partial thyroidectomy. Not been prescribed medication yet but have received copies of some blood work results which were done early April.

Serum free T4. is 12.0 pmol/L [11.0 - 26.0]

Serum TSH level is 8.38 mU/L [0.27 - 4.2]

Serum Thyroid peroxidase antibody is 506 IU/mL [<34.0]

Those two say for normality ‘above range’ and then ‘outside reference range’

TSH was tested in February and was 7.21 mIU/L [0.38 - 5.5]

Can anyone help with what this actually means. Thanks

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Serum free T4. is 12.0 pmol/L [11.0 - 26.0]. One of the thyroid hormones. Very low in range. FT3 is the most powerful thyroid hormone if this was also low. You would feel very hypothyroid. Serum TSH level is 8.38 mU/L [0.27 - 4.2]. This is the pituitary hormone which signals thyroid to make new hormone (thyroid stimulating hormone). It’s high showing how the thyroid is struggling.

Serum Thyroid peroxidase antibody is 506 IU/mL [<34.0]. This above level for an autoimmune antibody. Positive levels show your thyroid is being attacked by your immune system. This means the under active levels are expected to continue.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Previous post here

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

With TSH over 5 on two separate tests, and high thyroid antibodies….and symptoms? …..you should be started on levothyroxine

Looking at previous post there’s question mark as to wether you have further investigation

[Jazzw]

It means you have hypothyroidism caused by autoimmune disease (I can tell that by the raised antibodies. We tend to refer to it here as Hashimoto’s Disease).

I’m assuming they’ve offered a partial thyroidectomy because of the nodules—not sure why because that doesn’t always follow. And just to explain in case they haven’t—a partial thyroidectomy would definitely leave you even more hypothyroid and you’d definitely need to take thyroid hormone replacement.

But given your results, I think you should already have been started on thyroid hormone treatment, nodules or no nodules. I don’t really understand what your doctor is waiting for. You’ve had 2 results where your TSH is elevated.

[jgelliss]

Have they tested your nodules? If it's not cancerous why would they suggest a partial TT? It can be very nicely managed with thyroid meds and you can still keep your G-D given thyroids. It took a very long time for Dr's to believe me that I had an ailing thyroids. Since on lab results I was fine. But in reality I was very not fine with all sorts of symptoms. Once I was diagnosed with having nodules and tested to have cancer on one side only. I was recommended that I have both sides of my thyroids removed. If you don't have cancer hold on to your thyroids . Thyroid meds are very important and Dr's should keep an eye on your nodules . They will probably want sonograms of your thyroids yearly to make sure that it's in control didn't get larger in size.

Best wishes.