Thyroid globin blood test

[punkabean]

If you don't have a thyroid and you have a thyroidglobin blood test which I am told should not show anything but is reading 7.9 is this a concern that thyroid cancer is lurking somewhere.

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

Welcome aboard, try not to worry as results are often anything but straight forward to understand, how long ago did you have a total thyroidectomy, was it due to cancer?

Do you have any recent thyroid/ vits and mins results you can share as it doesn't sound like you are optimally treated as you mention high cholesterol... what are you currently taking?

I'm not up to speed on this so I'll let more experienced guide you regarding thyroglobulin levels post TT 🤗

[punkabean in reply to TiggerMe]

In September 2018 due to cancer which had spread to lymph nodes in neck and chest as well as growing a goitre the size of an egg. Currently on 100mcg for 2 days then 125mcg on 3rd day repeating. T4 14 tsh 0.03. Never been well on levothyroxine hate them. Weight and cholesterol shot up since last taken was 6.8 was 5.00 before all this started. Jydt had gallbladder removed emergency surgery so endocrinologist will not do bloods for 8 weeks then review, with a thought of trailing me on a small amount t3.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to punkabean]

Depending on the lab range your fT4 looks on the low side assuming 12-22 which is a common range, it would be great if your Endo also requests fT3 results to really see where you are.

Has your Endo not explained the thyroglobulin result?

[punkabean in reply to TiggerMe]

No I will be asking her about that at next appointment as I was told now I have no thyroid gland it should be negligible

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to punkabean]

It is always possible that the thyroid may have regrown to some extent

[punkabean in reply to TiggerMe]

Apparently not had a scan

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to punkabean]

That's a bit confusing then as I thought only thyroid cells can produce thyroglobulin?

[punkabean in reply to TiggerMe]

That's my concern 😟

[pennyannie in reply to punkabean]

Hello Punkabean and welcome to the forum :

just for reference a fully functioning working thyroid would be supporting you on a daily basis with trace elements of T1. T2 and calcitonin + a measure of T3 at around 10 mcg + a measure of T4 at around 100 mcg - with T3 being the active hormone and around 4 times more powerful than T4 .

T4 - Levothyroxine is a pro-hormone and needs to be converted in the body into T3 - which is the active hormone that runs the body and no thyroid hormone replacement works well until ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D are up and maintained at optimal levels - which we can advise on if you have any results / ranges.

The thyroid is a major gland responsible for full body synchronisation from your physical ability and stamina through to your mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual well being, your inner central heating system and your metabolism.

Living without a thyroid and not optimally medicated can be a bit like driving a manual car with a dodgy gear box and with kangeroo petrol.

Some people can get by on T4 monotherapy.

Others find tht at some point in time T4 only seems not to work as well as it once did and that by adding in a little R3 - probably at a similar dose to that their thyroid once supported them with - thyroidal hormone balance is restored as it health and well being.

Some can't tolerate T4 - and need to take T3 only - Liothyronine - as you can live without T3 but you can't live without T3.

Whilst others find their health restored better taking Natural Desiccated Thyroid which contains all the same known hormones as that of the human thyroid gland and derived from pig thyroids, dried and ground down into tablets referred to as grains.with each grain containing a declared measure of T3 and T4.

We generally feel best when the T4 is up in the top quadrant of its range at around 80% through its range with the T3 tracking just behind at around 70% through its ranges - and at around a 1/4 ratio T3/T4 .

Generally speaking the first line treatment in T4 monotherapy and you will need a referral to an endo for anything other than Levothyroxine.

I very much doubt the NHS will entertain the most expensive treatment - NDT -

and the prescribing of T3 has become something of a post code lottery with ICB / CCG financial restraints being implemented - though read your endo has mentioned that T3 may now be a treatment option for you.

Obviously if you can afford to go privately all treatment options are available - and some forum members self source their own thyroid hormone replacement and monitor and look after themselves :

Thyroid UK - is the charity who supports this patient to patient forum and they hold a list of recommended thyroid specialists both NHS and Private - as well as so much information on all things thyroid - thyroiduk.org

There is a lot to take in and understand and just reading around on the forum helps with the learning curve - if you get lost - just press Profile which sits alongside My Hub - Chat - Post - Alerts and Menu icons - top right on this screen facing you - and this takes you back to all you have ever written and all your replies on this forum.

You can also read any forum members Profile by pressing their Profile icon which sits alongside any message they have written.

[Poniesrfun]

Hi punkabean ~

Thyroglobulin (Tg) is the marker used to check for recurrence of thyroid cancer and the “goal” is for Tg to be undetectable . Did you have RAI? With the extension to lymph nodes in the chest and neck I would expect you were considered medium to high risk needing RAI and keeping your TSH suppressed. You should be getting at least annual ultra sound scans and, if Tg has increased over time, additional scans (Iodine, CT or PET scans) to determine if there has been additional spread. RAI doesn’t always eliminate thyroid cancer in lymph nodes.

Some people always have detectable Thyroglobulin (Tg); what’s importent is to know if it is increasing or staying at the same level over the years. It’s also important that the appropriate test is used - if you have positive Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb) then Tg need to be tested using mass spectrometry as the antibodies can interfere with the common Tg test. Taking biotin (in a supplement, energy drink, etc) can also affect the test.

Your endocrinologist should address both the thyroid cancer and the possibility of recurrence and your quality of life - which includes testing for Free T3 and providing T3 meds. Many docs are reluctant to prescribe T3 for cancer patients but there are many of us who take T3 or NDT after TT for cancer with no problems.

Patti in AZ