Results trickling in....advice please

[1lumpygal]

Hi all - questions from a newbie...

Doctors have just started investigating my enlarged thyroid and here's what I know so far:

Blood tests: TSH - 1.96 (.3 - 5.5), Free T4 - 12.2 (10 - 23) and positive for thyroid antibodies - 44 (within 41- 99 borderline range)

US: "Appearances in keeping with multinodular goitre; multiple cystic and solid nodules throughout - largest on the left are 6 mm cystic and 10 mm solid; on the right there are 2 large cysts (17 mm and 30 mm) as well as multiple smaller nodules, both cystic and solid."

Symptoms: absolutely freezing!, weight gain (though let's face it, this could be my lifestyle choices!!,) tiredness and foggy thinking, difficulty swallowing (especially at night,) I feel bloated/swollen, and suffer from night sweats.

Cancer seems to run on my father's side of the family and my father died of pancreas cancer at age 62. I'm 39 and am in reasonable health aside from a benign breast lumpectomy.

I'll be seeing an endocrinologist in a couple of weeks, but wanted to do a bit of research and gather my thoughts to be prepared for the appointment. Any thoughts you may have about what might happen next or things I should try to investigate with the doctor would be appreciated.

[stella5349]

with the condition of goiter present my thought here would be - at one time - you had raging autoimmune antibodies ( in the hundreds if not thousands) and right now - based off your labs you have a mild suppression going on.

It couldn't be anything but the TPOab test here based off the other panels and symptoms. You have unpredictable Hashimoto as a condition.

A good thing to start doing is digging extremely hard in suppression so the antibodies stop rearing up. Hashimoto is the cause of the nodules forming due to the gland being sick.

Diet - certain supplements and thyroid meds can assist you.

[LazyMoose]

Now that I look at that wide range for Free T4, your results don't look to good. Most feel good with F T4 at least in the mid range for proper conversion to T3. Some like T3 in the middle, but many feel symptom relief with FT3 in the upper half of the range. Were all a little different that way.

[TamraW]

Once a nodule gets over 2.0 cm. then many doctors suggest removal of the nodules and attached thyroid lobe as a biopsy will not always get a good sample.

You need both antibodies tested: TGab and TPOab

You may be borderline in one and very high in the other, but so far, it does look like Hashimoto's, especially considering your nodules.

You have a messy thyroid, which is typical for Hashi patients. Best of luck to you.
:) Tamra

[1lumpygal]

Thanks LazyMoose - I believe the antibody was the TPO one, but I'm not entirely sure as I'm having a bit of a challenge navigating the UK NHS "ways." I return for the breast pathology report this week and am scheduled to see the endo next month. I agree (after some brief research) with your thoughts. I don't want to have some lifelong thyroid condition like Hashimotos, Hypo, etc., but it is certainly a challenge when you don't fit so  neatly into any of the boxes that leads to some helpful course of action straightaway.

Again, thanks for your kindness in responding to my post and I'll explore the T3 asap!

[LazyMoose]

Your TSH and free T4 look great.............but you need to get Free T3 tested to see if your body converts this from your t4 hormone, we cant just assume this if you also have symptoms.. T3 level is what makes you live....or not live.

Please post what thyroid antibodies where tested. Several out there and your FT4 and TSH point to neither Hashimoto nor Graves, but you have antibodies of one and you are feeling it now.