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What to do?
I discovered I had something wrong with my thyroid after a 'Life Line Screening' appointment. I was referred to my family physician who sent me to get an ultrasound which showed several nodules. Then was referred to an endocrinologist who said I had all the symptoms of a hypothyroid. I was then sent to do a Thyroid scan with uptake.
The finding were: 6 hour images demonstrate fairly normal distribution of radiotracer throughout the lobes of the thyroid gland. However, the uptake is low at 6.7%. 24 hour images demonstrate an uptake of 11% only an anterior 24 hour image was obtained. There is a question of subtle photopenia about the right lateral margi of the thyroid gland. Correlation with the ultrasound demonstrates that there is a hypovascular mass in this area and further evaluation with tissue sampling is therefore recommended.
That sounds bad to me! My doctor didn't seem too concerned.All my blood work is in normal range. He recommended Synthroid but I consulted a nutritionalist and decided to treat my thyroid naturally. My doctor said he was fine with that. Well I had almost immediate improvements in my health. I felt better, had more energy, my dry skin,hair, & nails all improved, and most importantly, that lump in my throat (feeling like something was stuck and I couldn't take a deep breath) disappeared! ....but after a few months, my symptoms slowly started returning. My blood work is still in normal range. My nutritionalist is starting to think my adrenals could be the true cause of my troubles. OR I need to do a heavy metal detox.I am waiting on a hair analysis. Meanwhile I have an appointment with my endocrinologist which I'm wondering if I should cancel, since I lost my health insurance because of all this. The more I read about Synthroid the more I don't want to go that route...especially since my blood work always comes back normal.
Hope someone can shine some light on what to do or ease my fears in some way.
Sorry so long...thank you for your time.
The finding were: 6 hour images demonstrate fairly normal distribution of radiotracer throughout the lobes of the thyroid gland. However, the uptake is low at 6.7%. 24 hour images demonstrate an uptake of 11% only an anterior 24 hour image was obtained. There is a question of subtle photopenia about the right lateral margi of the thyroid gland. Correlation with the ultrasound demonstrates that there is a hypovascular mass in this area and further evaluation with tissue sampling is therefore recommended.
That sounds bad to me! My doctor didn't seem too concerned.All my blood work is in normal range. He recommended Synthroid but I consulted a nutritionalist and decided to treat my thyroid naturally. My doctor said he was fine with that. Well I had almost immediate improvements in my health. I felt better, had more energy, my dry skin,hair, & nails all improved, and most importantly, that lump in my throat (feeling like something was stuck and I couldn't take a deep breath) disappeared! ....but after a few months, my symptoms slowly started returning. My blood work is still in normal range. My nutritionalist is starting to think my adrenals could be the true cause of my troubles. OR I need to do a heavy metal detox.I am waiting on a hair analysis. Meanwhile I have an appointment with my endocrinologist which I'm wondering if I should cancel, since I lost my health insurance because of all this. The more I read about Synthroid the more I don't want to go that route...especially since my blood work always comes back normal.
Hope someone can shine some light on what to do or ease my fears in some way.
Sorry so long...thank you for your time.
Here are the standard thyroid levels. Hope it helps.
1.Note the level of your Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). At most labs in the U.S., up until late 2002, the normal range is from around 0.5 to 5.5. That range changed to .3 to 3 as of early 2003.
2.If the TSH level is below normal, your doctor may determine that you are hyperthyroid (overactive thyroid.)
3.If the TSH level is above normal, your doctor may determine that you are hypothyroid (underactive thyroid.)
4.If your doctor ran a test called Total T4 or Total Thyroxine, normal range is approximately 4.5 to 12.5. If you had a low reading, and a high TSH, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
5.If your doctor ran a test called Total T4 or Total Thyroxine, normal range is approximately 4.5 to 12.5. If you had a low reading, and a low TSH, your doctor might look into a pituitary problem.
6.If your doctor ran a test called Free T4, or Free Thyroxine, normal range is approximately 0.7 to 2.0. If your result was less than 0.7, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
7.If your doctor ran a test called Total T3, normal range is approximately 80 to 220. If your result was less than 80, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
8.If your doctor ran a test called Free T3, normal range is approximately 2.3 to 4.2. If your result was less than 2.3, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
9.If your test results come back "normal" but you have many of the symptoms or risk factors for thyroid disease, make sure you ask for an antibodies test.
Some doctors believe in treating thyroid symptoms in the presence of elevated antibodies and normal TSH levels.
10.If your test results come back "normal" but you have many of the symptoms or risk factors for thyroid disease, consider going to a reputable holistic M.D. or alternative physician for further interpretation and diagnosis.
I found getting the Free T4 and Free T3 tests answered numerous questions for me on how to get well again and many here found running those labs and not looking at the TSH helped help.
1.Note the level of your Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). At most labs in the U.S., up until late 2002, the normal range is from around 0.5 to 5.5. That range changed to .3 to 3 as of early 2003.
2.If the TSH level is below normal, your doctor may determine that you are hyperthyroid (overactive thyroid.)
3.If the TSH level is above normal, your doctor may determine that you are hypothyroid (underactive thyroid.)
4.If your doctor ran a test called Total T4 or Total Thyroxine, normal range is approximately 4.5 to 12.5. If you had a low reading, and a high TSH, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
5.If your doctor ran a test called Total T4 or Total Thyroxine, normal range is approximately 4.5 to 12.5. If you had a low reading, and a low TSH, your doctor might look into a pituitary problem.
6.If your doctor ran a test called Free T4, or Free Thyroxine, normal range is approximately 0.7 to 2.0. If your result was less than 0.7, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
7.If your doctor ran a test called Total T3, normal range is approximately 80 to 220. If your result was less than 80, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
8.If your doctor ran a test called Free T3, normal range is approximately 2.3 to 4.2. If your result was less than 2.3, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
9.If your test results come back "normal" but you have many of the symptoms or risk factors for thyroid disease, make sure you ask for an antibodies test.
Some doctors believe in treating thyroid symptoms in the presence of elevated antibodies and normal TSH levels.
10.If your test results come back "normal" but you have many of the symptoms or risk factors for thyroid disease, consider going to a reputable holistic M.D. or alternative physician for further interpretation and diagnosis.
I found getting the Free T4 and Free T3 tests answered numerous questions for me on how to get well again and many here found running those labs and not looking at the TSH helped help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You should probably have FNA biopsy of the nodule - would discuss with the endocrinologist. 5-10% of nodules are cancer - FNA is the best test to determine if the nodule is high-risk for cancer.
Levothyroxine (synthroid) is the standard of care for the treatment of hypothyroidism.
Levothyroxine (synthroid) is the standard of care for the treatment of hypothyroidism.
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Make sure the progesterone cream says it is USP for the best possible quality. My TSH was a little higher than yours but under 3.0 and my doctor considered that high. There are new ranges in the thyroid levels and not all doctors have changed to them. Anything over 3.0 is considered elevated now for TSH. I am unsure about t4 because my doctor tested free t4 and free t3. I have a list of thyroid levels from a friend. I will get back to you when I find them.
Thanks for responding...
My THS is 2.76 and my T4 is 8.2 which I was told are great levels.
I live in a small town in Louisiana...never heard of a compound pharmacy.
I do use a progesterone cream already, among a long list of supplements including Thyrostim by Biotics Research.
My THS is 2.76 and my T4 is 8.2 which I was told are great levels.
I live in a small town in Louisiana...never heard of a compound pharmacy.
I do use a progesterone cream already, among a long list of supplements including Thyrostim by Biotics Research.
I am being treated for hypothyroid with high normal levels. I had all the symptoms of hypothyroid as well as inflammation of the thyroid. I didn't want to take any synthetic drug so my doctor recommended Armour thyroid. Taking this has helped with many of my symptoms and has helped take down the inflammation. If you can't go this route do to expense you can also get your doctor to write a prescription for thyroid medication and the dosage. No particular brand because you are going to take this to a compound Pharmacy. You could ask the compound pharmacist exactly how the script should be written before you go to the doctors that way there isn't any problems. There the pharmacist will make you the thyroid hormone from natural ingredients not synthetic. I was told by my compound pharmacist that it is very inexpensive to make. It would cost me about 9 dollars a month without insurance. It may cost you more because you live in CA. I pay less than that for my armour thyroid because of insurance and it is pretty much the same thing. My compound pharmacist also fills my bio-identical progesterone cream through a prescription from my gynecologist. Look into this because it isn't as bad as it seems. I also wanted to tell you that women our age can be low in progesterone and this hormone helps with the function of your thyroid. Some women start taking progesterone cream first and notice that they don't need thyroid medicine. That of course didn't happen for me, mainly because I have a lot going on and waiting for a diagnosis with recent testing. If you have any more questions just message me. I hope this helps.
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