advice required from the wonderful people on this site.

[elwins]

Have been told I have nodules on my thyroid and lymph nodes on my chest, waiting to get an appointment for biopsy to be done. Saw an endocrinologist privately, she advised going back to NHS to get tests done. On the two week pathway. Just waiting to be referred. surgery only received letter today. Any help and advice much appreciated.

latest thyroid tests

Ferritin 169 ng/mL range 13-150

See Folate red cell

HCT 0.43 range 0.34-0.45

Folate RBC 1074 Ngl/L range 340-1474

Folate serum 16.5 ng/range 2.9-20.00

Thyroid function test

Thyroid stimulating hormone 0.53 mIU/L range 0.27-4.20

Free thyroxine 20.5 pmol/L range 12.0-22.0

Total Triodothyronin (T3)

Total T3 0.9 nmol/L range 1.3-3.1

Vitamin B12 308 pg/mL range 197-771

Vitamin D nmoL 63

Thanks for any help.

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Have you had previous scans of thyroid?

Obtaining a copy of any scan report always very useful. 

Thyroid nodules are very common, have doctors explained to you if the chest lymph node and nodule are connected to same issue? 

TT3 - total T3 isn’t a helpful marker.  How do you address abnormal TT3? you need to know the Free FT3. If that is low (or high) that can be addressed. 

What replacement do you currently take?

B12 look on low side.  

Do you take any supplements? 

Do you test as recommended on forum? 

I remind myself of things to remember for blood tests with this checklist

A - Always check what’s being tested & collect test results with reference range.

B - Biotin - cease 3 days before draw to avoid possible test interference

C - Consistent unchanged dose - minimum 6 weeks previously. 

D - Delay replacement dose on day of test (until after blood draw) 

E - Early morning appointment. (Book draw as close to 09.00 as possible)

F - Fast overnight.  This can have a slight impact.  Hydrate with lots of water

[elwins in reply to PurpleNails]

thanks for your reply much appreciated, alway leave vitamins off for several days before, take my thyroxine dose after my blood test. Unfortunately my blood draw was not as early as I would have liked due to time of my appointment with the endocrinologist. Went straight for bloods after I had seen her. With it being private she sent me for bloods the same day. Have lower back problems also. Which results in neuropathy of the feet. Need to up my B12 and vitamin d. Waiting as I say for biopsies after my scans to find out what happens next. First scans of thyroid except for CT scan when it was first discovered that’s why i had further tests. Only take vitamin D about twice a week. Have upped that to once or twice a day, use a vitamin spray rather than tablets one which is recommended on this site. Take

50 grams thyroxine per day.

thanks again.