Ultrasound

[Mrsb1988]

I recently found a lump on my neck my go refered me for a ultrasound, I had the ultrasound this morning he was very quick he come in said my name scanned me and said nothing to worry about and walked out, the assistant said I will get results in 2 days off my GP but Im like what does he mean nothing to worry about? Is there nothing there? Feel like I'm making it up in my head that there is even a lump there and it's just my neck, I'm really happy he said nothing to worry about but I suffer anxiety to walk out like that and not explain has got me worrying

Sorry long post xx

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Have you had thyroid and vitamin testing done before ultrasound?

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once

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

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies 

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.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Pins and needles is frequently linked to low B vitamins, especially B12

What’s your diet like

Are you vegetarian or vegan, gluten free or dairy free?

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis 

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

Are you diagnosed as hypothyroid and on levothyroxine?

Or trying to get a diagnosis?

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

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 and money off codes

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

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins 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

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery 

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism 

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

[Mrsb1988 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi I am 34 😊

I am on 100 levothyroxine, I had B12 injections a couple of months back they said the bloods come back ok for B12 but they said as I was having symptoms the pins and needles they give me the course of injections. It stopped the pins and needles for a while but never helped with the tiredness

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mrsb1988]

So request FULL thyroid and vitamin testing via GP

Are you diagnosed with Pernicious Anaemia or just low B12

what vitamin supplements are you currently taking

What were most recent thyroid results

ESSENTIAL to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together

Test early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

100mcg levothyroxine isn’t a high dose

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Many people find different brands are not interchangeable

Approx how much do you weigh in kilo

[Mrsb1988 in reply to SlowDragon]

About 63.5 kilo

I've never seen my results when they test me the gp will either say all clear or just up my Levothyroxine

I do get the same brand

I don't take any vitamins

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mrsb1988]

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

Link re access

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet

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

For GOOD Conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone) we MUST have OPTIMAL vitamin levels

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once a year

Many, many people on levothyroxine need to supplement vitamin D and vitamin B complex continuously to maintain optimal levels

Test first before starting any supplements

Government recommends everyone supplements vitamin D from start of October to end of April as minimum

Likely you have low vitamin levels, especially if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, also called Hashimoto’s

[Mrsb1988 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much I am in Wales don't know if that makes a difference I will ask them tomorrow for my blood results how will I know how to read them? Sorry if it's silly question I am Dyslexic 🙈

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mrsb1988]

Ideally get access online …..that way you always get results going forward

Otherwise get printed copies of results from Receptionist

You don’t need to explain why you want them, but if you feel you need to just say “for my own record “

Come back with results ……ideally on a new post

Members can help you understand the results

Far too often only TSH is tested, which is completely inadequate

How long since last thyroid test was done

Do you always test thyroid levels early morning, ideally around 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

[Mrsb1988 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much I got tested last about 2 weeks ago I normally have my blood tests in the afternoon, Im really down feeling ill most days headache,tired, waking in the night with pins and needles, I get hair loss

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mrsb1988]

Hairloss is frequently linked to low iron/ferritin

Pins and needles to low B12 and low folate

Medics (incorrectly) usually only look at TSH

TSH is much higher in morning than afternoon

ALWAYS test thyroid levels early morning to get highest TSH and don’t take morning dose of levothyroxine until AFTER blood test

Sounds like you might need dose increase in levothyroxine

[Mrsb1988 in reply to SlowDragon]

I will, I've got to book my next bloods I normally take my Levothyroxine before going to bed.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mrsb1988]

So ….request they test Ft4 and Ft3 at next test….not just TSH

To get accurate Ft4 result…..last dose levothyroxine should be 24 hours before test

As you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

If testing Monday morning……..delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal

[Mrsb1988 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much!

I will do that!

No no one else in the family has it, I have just looked at my medication and I started levothyroxine in June

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mrsb1988]

so you need to see

A) what thyroid results were BEFORE starting on levothyroxine….hopefully TSH and Ft4 were tested

B) wether thyroid antibodies tested

C) assuming you have high thyroid antibodies….has coeliac disease been tested for

D) have vitamin D, folate, B12 and iron and ferritin levels been tested……at diagnosis

Did you start on 100mcg levothyroxine

Or did you start on 50mcg and get bloods retested after 2-3 months

Need to get results of any tests done since starting on levothyroxine

[Mrsb1988 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you

They started me on 25mg and it's gone up 25 every time my results come back, I can see on my old blood form about 2 weeks ago they tested me for purple top EDTA FBC and Yellow top SST gel TFTF, LDH, UE,CRP.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mrsb1988]

TFTF - thyroid levels

ESSENTIAL to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3

and both thyroid antibodies at least once

Often only TSH is tested

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

CRP

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

Often tested and often raised with autoimmune thyroid disease

FBC - Full Blood Count

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

SST = short Synacthen test

Looking at adrenals.

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

ETDA - low GFR often linked to being hypothyroid

rbht.nhs.uk/sites/nhs/files...

LDH test

nhs.uk/conditions/ldh-test/

UE - electolyte test

nhs.uk/conditions/electroly...

You need vitamin D, folate, B12 and iron and ferritin levels tested

[Mrsb1988 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much for answering me today

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mrsb1988]

Do you know if cause of your hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease

[Mrsb1988 in reply to SlowDragon]

They haven't said only that I am underactive

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mrsb1988]

Are there other members of your family who have any autoimmune diseases

Vast majority of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease

How long ago were you diagnosed

How long have you been on 100mcg levothyroxine

Which brand of levothyroxine do you normally take

ALWAYS take levothyroxine on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be easier and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime

[shaws Administrator in reply to Mrsb1988]

GP should have checked that you do not have Pernicious Anaemia. I have this condition and need regular B12 injections - for life.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Also approx how old are you?

[Fruitandnutcase]

I’m surprised the technician even said that - I didn’t think they were allowed to comment.

I’ve never had any comments about anything I’ve had x-rayed or scanned - not even the private MRI scans I had done last year - I actually asked because I was paying for them but they were definitely ‘no comment’.

It does feel weird when you go in and present your arm or whatever and they take one quick x-ray or scan and that’s it. I always feel they should take more than one and from every angle but it just doesn’t seem to happen like that.

A result in two days in this day and age sounds pretty good going and hopefully everything will be explained by your GP.

[Mrsb1988 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thank you I hope everything will be okay I think I was shocked how quick it all happened 🙈

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Mrsb1988]

I know, it is a shock - there you are feeling dreadful, worried sick - along comes the scan and it all seems kind of casual and over in the blink of an eye. To us patients it’s a BIG thing to the person doing the scan or whatever it’s just another scan. Good luck.

[Mrsb1988 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Exactly how I felt

Thank you so much