WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

[missouriangel]

What does a t3 and t4 and TSH test tell? I had a Nuclear Thyroid Uptake Scan on Tues. and a Fine Needle Biopsy on Wed. I have a Heterogeous hypervascular solid cold lesion measuring (2.5x2.0x2.3cm Ultrasound) (2-2.5cm Uptake) (2.6x1.8cm FNA). 1st of all How big is it? The Uptake said slight asymmetrical enlargement of left lobe of thyroid gland as well as presence of an area of photopenia (WHAT IS PHOTOPENIA?) within the inferior pole of the left lobe. My doctor had his nurse call me and tell me the FNA was negative for malignancy. When I asked her what that meant she said I would have to make an appointment.  The day after my FNA I lost my voice and have been in the emergency room 3x with some kind of infection in my throat Laryngitis, then when my throat closed off back to the hospital they said it was tonsillitis. I really feel like I am dying. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[AR-10]

Sorry you ended up in the hospital.

I would be asking the same question. Statistics say that in many cases monitoring it makes more sense. That probably doesn't put you at ease much.

Lots of questions! Ask away.

[missouriangel]

I got put in the hospital, sorry it took me so long to get back with you. I hope you are still here. I have some blood work that has been done now. I have lots of questions. I got my results back on my FNA, they said it's non malignant. They want to just watch it, wouldn't it be a good idea to take it out before it could become malignant. Please reply if you are still here. Thank you

[AR-10]

If you have not had these tests then yes, by all means, you should have them run. I am amazed that you had an FNA and an uptake scan, but have not had the most basic tests run.

Ask for the following tests;
TSH
Free T4
Free T3

antibody tests;
Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies (TPOab)
antithyroglobulin antibodies  (TGab)

Board member 898 is very adept at interpreting uptake scans, FNAs, and ultrasounds. Utahmomma knows her way around them very well also. There are others as well, but those two pop into my mind at the moment.

Hopefully you will get some answers to your questions soon.
Hope you start feeling better soon and get your voice back.

[missouriangel]

Thank you for posting. Most of the meds I'm on are for the side effects of the original meds. I have asked my pharmacy if there are any conflicts and they have stated that not any real significant to stop due to the risk higher than the benifits. Those meds also inculde vitamin supplements, temp. steroids, and temp. antibiotics that I take. Would these blood test t3 or free t3, t4 or free t4, and TSH be benifitial for me to demand (if so which ones)? I'm scared that not demanding and speeding up these processes could affect the outcome of any necessary treatment or diagnosis. Also I lost my 9 year old nephew to terminal brain cancer 2 years ago because of delays in diagnosis. I started my profession to dedicate in honor of his life and care.

[AR-10]

Someone more exerienced than I should be along shortly to help you make sense of the results you are asking about.

I just wanted to comment on a post of yours I read in another thread.

You are on twenty two different medications right now? Have you checked them for conflicts or contra-indications? I don't know how you could be on that many meds at once without something making you worse instead of better. The chemical reactions would be mind boggling.

I'm sure you have thought the same thing, being in the medical field.

I can answer the easy stuff for you.

TSH is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. It tells the thyroid how much hormone(s) to produce.

T4 and T3 are thyroid hormones. Every cell in your body uses T3, and T4 is converted to T3 as the body needs it. T4 is a form of storage unit that floats around until your body decides to convert it to T3. Your thyroid produces both hormones, but it excretes T4 in much higher volumn than T3.

A TSH test indicates how much hormone production is going on in your thyroid. But it does not measure the thyroid hormones directly. It simply shows how much demand your pituitary gland is putting on the thyroid to get busy.

A Free T4 test and a Free T3 test both measure the actual ammount of readily available hormones that are in your bloodstream. These are the tests that tell you if you are over-producing or under-producing thyroid hormones.

These tests also serve the same purpose for someone who is on thyroid medication. They tell you if you have the correct hormone levels.

Welcome to the forum, and I wish you the best of luck resolving your health issues.