lump on thyroid

[Leezah]

I’ve recently noticed a lump on thyroid but haven’t been feeling ‘great’ for weeks/months!

had my TSH done and levels came back 0.49 doctors telling me it’s normal so nothing wrong!

??

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Just testing TSH is useless

Has GP tested vitamin levels or thyroid antibodies?

Also you need ultrasound scan of thyroid

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

Also 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

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)

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and 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...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

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...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Two doctors said my neck was “fine” on a 3rd appointment with nurse. I took a bottle of water & said look at my neck when I drink.

If you incline your chin upwards and swallow (or gulp a good mouthful of water) your thyroid moves up and down any nodules / swelling of the thyroid moves with it.

It can go unnoticed unless looking for it.

Nurse sent me for ultrasound scan & I was given fine needle aspiration which confirmed it was benign.

The function levels later turned out to be an issue though. The results for the test which came back & recorded were all in range but the thyroid function hadn’t been processed. I was told everything fine - no further action and it wasn’t followed up for many months.

Turned out the nodule was hyper functioning but unless FT4 & FT3 is tested abnormal function especially low function can be missed. TSH isn’t reliable.

Look at private test if doctor refuses to test everything you need.