Yearly Ultrasound

[Peachy22]

Hi all,

I don’t have a endo so my GP sends me for yearly bloods, ultrasound, visit to a dietician and anything else he feels I need after seeing my bloods (all within normal range but as he said not optimal) I have hashimotos and hypothyroidism

Anyway he has increased my Levo a few months ago (200mcg Monday Wednesday and Saturday, 150mcg on the other days)

My ultrasound showed that on the right side of my neck, my thyroid is completely damaged and non functioning and on the left side, it has reduced by 15% since the last ultrasound, so it’s clearly not working.. my question is, should I ask for it to be removed?

My GP has asked a endo for advice as he was unsure but I thought I’d ask here aswell

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Although the thyroid isn’t functioning sufficiently to produce hormone the gland does not pose a risk to your health so surgery isn’t necessary.

All surgery, even routine, straightforward procedures carry risk. The anaesthetic itself and the complications which can occur during surgery. For example damage to vocal area, parathyroids which control calcium are potential issues.

Surgery is considered when the thyroid is either growing & causing physical compression (eg affecting breathing) uncontrollably over-producing or has malignancy.

In other words when the risk of surgery outweighs the risk to health of leaving the gland.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Anyway he has increased my Levo a few months ago (200mcg Monday Wednesday and Saturday, 150mcg on the other days)

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

You might be better taking more similar dose everyday

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

When were vitamin levels last tested

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis) usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Presumably you have autoimmune thyroid disease?

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally before 9am last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

[SlowDragon Administrator]

150mcg x 5 = 750mcg plus 2 x 200mcg = 1150mcg per week

1150mcg divided by 7 = 164mcg per day approx

150mcg plus 12.5mcg (half a 25mcg tablet) = 162.5mcg