Goitre

[Leosmum76]

I’ve a 4cm goitre on my thyroid plus a lot of smaller nodules. Does this mean my thyroid is not working as well as it should?

Im always so fatigued and have put on a stone although my eating habits having changed.

[greygoose]

Hi Leosmum76, welcome to the forum.

A goitre is not something you have on your thyroid. It is your thyroid - a swollen thyroid. The question is: why is it swollen? Have you had any blood tests to find out how well it's working? That should be the first step, rather than trying to guess what's going on.

Fatigue and weight-gain are hypo symptoms. But the problem is that all hypo symptoms are non-specific and could be caused by a number of other things. And, doctors these days are totally incapable of diagnosing by symptoms. So, you need to ask for a blood test.

A goitre could be due to an autoimmune condition so you absolutely need your antibodies tested, as well as your thyroid hormones.

As for nodules, most people have them and they rarely cause problems - especially if they're just small.

[Leosmum76 in reply to greygoose]

thank you for replying

I had a blood test back in August for thyroid and doc said came back normal.

[greygoose in reply to Leosmum76]

Yes, I don't doubt he did. But what exactly does that mean? Well, in doctor-speak it just means that your results are somewhere within the range. But that's not the same as being optimal. You can have results in-range but still have a thyroid problem.

So, what we always advise is asking at reception for a print-out of your results - it's your legal right to have one. And, you need to know exactly what was tested - I doubt he did all the right tests - and exactly what the results were. Then, you post the results and the ranges on here and we can help you to understand them.

[Leosmum76 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for your help. I’ll request results from surgery and keep you all posted.

[greygoose in reply to Leosmum76]

You're welcome.

[Leosmum76 in reply to greygoose]

My blood results are

TSH 3.94

T4 11.4

T3 0

[greygoose in reply to Leosmum76]

Sorry but we absolutely, 100% need the ranges to make any sense of those results. Although it's obvious that the TSH is too high.

T3 0

Is that a typo? If your T3 was zero you'd be dead!

[Leosmum76 in reply to greygoose]

No typo lol

That’s the results I was given today

[greygoose in reply to Leosmum76]

Well, if it were me, I'd query that because it's just not possible. And if it were, you should have been rushed into hospital on the spot and given T3 by IV!

[Leosmum76 in reply to greygoose]

It’s all new to me so I was at nurse today and that’s the results that are on system. She said they do change every time the thyroid gets checked. I’m going to go see the ENT consultant soon so hopefully he can answer my questions. I’ve not been feeling good for over a year and a half. Daily exhaustion, heart palpitations, high blood pressure ( which is now controlled), feeling cold, the list could go on.

[greygoose in reply to Leosmum76]

You certainly wouldn't feel good with zero T3! I'm surprised the nurse didn't query it - obviously knows nothing about thyroid! Unless it just means that they didn't test it? But it's a strange way to let you know.

[greygoose in reply to greygoose]

BTW, just for your information, T3 is the active thyroid hormone needed by every single cell in your body to function correctly. T4 is basically a storage hormone that doesn't do much until it is converted into T3.

[Leosmum76 in reply to greygoose]

The nurse did say she knows nothing about thyroid. I was only getting my B.P checked.

[greygoose in reply to Leosmum76]

Ah, well, that explains it, I guess. But do bring this up with your ENT consultant, see if he knows anything. He should at least know the basics because he must see a lot of hypo patients.

[Leosmum76 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for your help. Hopefully I’ll get to the bottom of it all

[greygoose in reply to Leosmum76]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

[Leosmum76 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator]

welcome to the forum

Has GP done blood tests

Please add any results and ranges

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 TPO and/or high TG 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.

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)

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)

Are you based in U.K.

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

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/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

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

[Leosmum76 in reply to SlowDragon]

thank you

I will take on board what info you have given regarding blood tests etc

I’m going to go back see my gp as nothing else has been done.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Leosmum76]

I had a blood test back in August for thyroid and doc said came back normal.

have you seen actual results?

Far too often only TSH is tested

was test done early morning?

Were vitamin and thyroid antibodies tested ….if not request these are tested at next test alongside TSH, Ft4 and Ft3

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

patients-association.org.uk...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

In reality some GP surgeries still 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.

[Leosmum76 in reply to SlowDragon]

My blood results are

TSH 3.94

T4 11.4

T3 0

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Leosmum76]

We need ranges on results

Especially Ft4

Ft3 can’t be zero …..you would be in a Myxodema coma or dead

TSH far too high….

What time was test don3

TSH not high enough yet for a GP to diagnose

Next step get FULL thyroid including BOTH TPO and Tg thyroid antibodies and vitamin levels tested

Request GP test thyroid antibodies and vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin levels NOW

Or test privately yourself

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning…..before 9am and only drink water between waking and test

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

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]

Has your thyroid been scanned? Ultrasounds look at health & size of thyroid but don’t determine function, doctors rely on thyroid function blood tests to see if there is a function issue. See if you have a complete test.

I have a nodule over 5cm and after my scan I was told every is fine / normal no further action. Many months later upon rechecking they realised thyroid function had been missed off blood tests. The nodule was benign but over functioning.

Most thyroid nodules - which quite common - do not function at all & the thyroid compensates.

Recommend you obtain a copy of both any scan report & blood tests. I did request all my historical results and found I’d only ever had 1 thyroid test previously, about 5 years before my scan & even that showed abnormal levels.

Don’t make any assumptions until you viewed your blood test. Weight gain doesn’t always equals hypothyroid / low thyroid. I gained weight whilst hyper. Low energy / incredible appetite. I only returned to dr when my finger nails began detaching!