Thyroid ultra sound results

[Pebblescat]

The family doctor send my husbandfor a ultra sound of his thyroid because of hypothyroidism here are the results right lobe is identified 4.2x2.0x2.2.cm left lobe is identified measures 3.6x 1.7x1.6cm impression small right lobe thyroid nodule. The family doctor is sending him to a EMT doctor. Also the family doctor said they could put a needle in the nodule to break it up.  Is that true . Also could you help in reading the ultra sound thank you for your help.

[Barb135]

Were those results before taking the 50 mcg levothyroxine or after?  Both the FT4 and FT3 are below the reference range.  How long has he been on the medication?  It takes approximately 4-6 weeks for the medication to reach full potential in the blood, then there should be more blood work, testing, both FT4 and FT3 again.  

I agree that your husband needs a different ENT or, possibly, an endocrinologist, because I have no idea why he's focusing so much on the tonsils, when they have nothing to do with the thyroid, unless you husband is having other throat issues that could be tonsil related...

It's not so hard to move the tongue out of the way to see the tonsils; my ENT has no trouble doing that and he always has a light to use... I'm sorry, but something doesn't sound just right.  Is it possible that your husband misunderstood something?

[Pebblescat]

The results were after taking the medicine levothyroxine. He only taking it for a couple of months.   where  we    used to live in NY  he was  seeing a EMT doctor there just to clean the wax out of this ears. Never said anything about his tonsils. He used to see him once a year.  We live in  LV now He saw a EMT doctor in Jan 2016  just to have the wax taken out of his ears . Never said anything about  his tonsils. The doctor he saw in Jan left the practice. So they gave him another doctor. To see. The doctor hesaw in Aug  is now seeing wants him to get a biopsy of his nodule in September 6.and to see  him back Sept 22 to put the light down his throat. Because he couldn't see the bottom of his tonsils. You are right it does not sound right. I do not think he misunderstood. If you ask him any questions he gets  angry. When he told me what  what the doctor  said    I told him it does not make sense to me.
You can't ask him anything. About it because he think the doctor is right. And he thinks I do not want him to go and get it done. I do not sleep at night thinking because  he is making a big mistake. In having it done.  I am very happy that I am taking to you  Does being obese and diabetic. Has anything to with it. Thanks again.

[Pebblescat]

I forgot to mention he was obese in  NY and never the family doctor in ny or the family doctor in lv said anything about is tonsils.

[Barb135]

What are the reference ranges for the Free T3 and Free T4?  Reference ranges vary from lab to lab and have to come from his own report.  

It's alright that a family doctor is handling the thyroid, as long as they know what they're doing and treat according to symptoms, as well as blood work.  They need to get Free T4 up to about mid range and Free T3 in the upper half to upper third of its range - whatever it takes to alleviate symptoms.  

I have no idea why the ENT could not see the entire tonsil or even what the tonsils have to do with the thyroid... they have completely different functions.  The thyroid can not be seen by looking down the throat.  

[Pebblescat]

Free T3 normal range is 2.2-4.0 Free  T4 normal range is 0.8-1.6   I do not understand either he went to the ent doctor for his thyroid  not his tonsils. If it was me I would find  another ent doctor.  My husband  told me his tongue was in the way that is why the ent can't see his tonsils.  That  I do not understand.  Do you. Thank you  Barb. For your help. Because I do not have anyone to talk to.  I cant'  to my husband either .

[Barb135]

It's unusual to do a biopsy of a nodule that small unless it has strange characteristics.  In that case, it would be normal to attempt a biopsy, but it's possible they won't get enough cells to make a conclusive determination.

I'm not sure of the significance of having to use a light to see the tonsils.  My ENT always uses a light when he looks at my tonsils.  

50 mcg of levothyroxine is a relatively small dosage, but without knowing your husband's lab results, I really can't comment further on that.

[Pebblescat]

This is my husband  blood tests results on June 8 2016  Tsh 72.26 free t3 is 1.5  free t4 is 0.6  the doctor draws the blood in the office and  has the lab right in the doctors office.  He is seeing just a family doctor for the thyroid. The next time he has to take another blood test is Sept 9 . The room when they draw the blood they is a opening in the window where they drop off the blood. Also I do not know why a EMT couldn't look at his tonsils.  That day  he only saw the top of tonsils he   told him to come back for another visit.  

[Barb135]

Do you know what medication your husband is taking or what dosage?

[Pebblescat]

The medicine he is taking is levothyroxine  0.05 m (50 mcg) Also the ent  doctor wants a biopsy of the 6mm nodule. Also the ent doctor only saw the top of his tonsils and couldn't see the bottom of his tonsils so he told him to come back and he will look with a light down his throat. Does this sound normal to you.i thought they do not  do biopsy that small. Also I never heard they can't see tonsils.the ent couldn't see the bottom of his tonsils  because of his tongue

[Pebblescat]

The doctor did not say if it was hashimotos. My husband went to the doctor by himself when he came back he told me what the doctor said. The doctor gave him a copy of the ultra sound and told him to take it to the ent doctor. If I ask more questions he gets angry.  He only taken his thyroid medicine for a couple months.

[Barb135]

Do you know if your husband has Hashimoto's?  You haven't really given us much of anything to read in the ultrasound, except that there's a nodule on your husband's thyroid.  Nodules are very common and are usually nothing to worry about.  I have no idea what your doctor was talking about when he said they could put a needle in the nodule and break it up... That's not true!!  If the nodule is large enough and has abnormal characteristics, they may want to do a biopsy, which means they will put a needle into it to extract some cells to examine under a microscope.  They will only do a biopsy under certain conditions...

How is your husband feeling?  Is he taking replacement thyroid hormones?