thyroid a bit enlarged

[acker]

dr said my thyroid is a bit enlarged, on physical exam. he said uniformly enlarged.
... anything i should do? can the enlarging be made to stop??
he suggested thyroid ULTRASOUND.. should i get it done? anything else i need to know? checking for nodules, i think...

thanks!

fT4 20 [10-20]
- - - TSH <0.05 [0.40-4.00]
fT3 5.8 [2.8-6.8]
++ anti-thyroid peroxidase Ab 500 [<60]

[acker]

i think it's the first time it's shown above range.. i am pretty sure i have had this test before due to thorough previous dr

[acker]

hopefully doc can retrieve my history from the lab.. haven't followed up yet.. appointment next week.. and he says he knows a good thyroid specialist to refer me to.. ohmygosh i was speaking to an endocrinologist friend who said 'thyroid is pretty easy to manage'... holysh!t she has no.clue!!.. thank you for this info.. will sure be updating.. appreciated

[goolarra]

Is this the first TPOab you've had?  Although rare, some people do have the antibodies for both Graves' (TSI) and Hashi's (TPOab and/or TGab).  Whichever is predominant (usually Graves') is treated first.  When both TSI and TPOab are present, the likelihood increase that you will become hypO at some point.  However, it doesn't seem that you are that point yet given your high FT4.

Has your doctor commented on your TPOab level?

[acker]

what's a good link to general info for hashi's?
i will google around, and anyone please feel free to let me know what i'm in for..

[acker]

got the diagnosis initially four years ago based on lab and radioactive scan.. hasn't been updated since..

ok i will look into hashi's a bit more :(

the hyperthyroidism had normalised then recurred, twice in the last four years...

thanks

.. yes in many cases i've got no doubt that cfs and fibro are undiagnosed thyroid cases! :(

[goolarra]

How long have you been hyper and on carbimazole?  TPOab of 500 should be a sufficinet basis for a diagnosis of Hashi's.  On what basis were you disagnosed with Graves'?

There are those who think that CFS and fibro are nothing but thyroid disease in disguise.

[acker]

t h a n k   y o u - !
i feel.. okay. diagnosis has always been graves', but latley my pulse has been 65bpm which is unusual for me.. usually 85bpm.
i also have cfs (fatigue) and fibromyalgic symptoms, so it's tricky discerning feeling hypo or feeling exhausted from cfs..

[goolarra]

Your FT4 is top of range, and FT3 is at 75%, so you're flirting with hyper.  How do you feel?

Do you have Graves' as well as Hashi's?  Most of us with autoimmune thyroid disease have enlarged thyroids.  It kind of comes with the territory.  I think an U/S is a good idea.  If you don't notice it, I'm sure it's nothing to be overly concerned about, but it's always good to have something to compare to later on if it becomes an issue.  Yes, nodules would show up on U/S as well.

Meds will sometimes reduce the enlargement.  If the thyroid isn't overworking, it tends not to be so inflamed.  

[acker]

i take about 1.25mg carbimazole every week... i tapered off some weeks ago but with this latest result i'm sort of self medicating with a maintenance dose.. i'm sensitive to dosage and went hypo at one stage from overprescription - years ago - so reluctant to ever experience that again...
my regular dr is away so street clinic doctor is okay and is going to refer me to a specialist soon... thanks...

[goolarra]

Are you on meds?