Is HETEROGENEOUS Thyroid normal?

Just found this on Google re average size of a thyroid gland:

Anatomy.

The normal thyroid weighs approximately 15 to 25 g, with each lobe 4 to 6 cm in length and 1.3 to 1.8 cm in thickness. The isthmus measures less than 4 to 5 mm.

So, your thyroid is not enlarged, it is about average - that's good!

Thanks for info.  You are very clear in your words.

In six weeks he wants T4, free and T3, free and TSH 3rd generation.  I don't see any antibody tests.  Should I call and request those? I don't want to wait ANOTHER six weeks.  Is T3/T4 same as LEVOTHYROXINE?  So confusing and right now I am very confused, trust me!

Thanks, just looked up levo and t3/t4!

If antibodies ae causing the thyroid to malfunction would the thyroid be normal in size or likely to swell. Can  low tsh cause severe tetany like spasms of the feet and ankles?

Would iodine help a low tsh?

Lucy.

Hi Lucy,

Well, I can answer a couple of those questions. It is not the antibodies which cause the thyroid to malfunction. The thyroid is already malfunctioning and it causes the immune system to send the antibodies to the problematical area. Antibodies are like soldiers, they are dispatched  to fight the elements causing the problem. That is why they do antibody blood tests. If there is a lot of antibodies, then there is a problem somewhere.

I do not believe a low TSH will cause spasms of the feet and ankles. I have had low TSH (also known as supressed TSH) for 8 years and I have never had any trouble with my feet.

Do a lot of research on Iodine before you take it, too little and too much can cause big problems. All I can say on that is read about iodine and understand its function before you take foods that will send your levels up. I believe that just using iodonized salt can give you all that you need but I have not recently read up on this subject. I do remember though that there are areas of the world where you get no iodine in your water nor in the vegetables grown in the local soil, Derbyshire is one of those region. In those places the people have to get iodine externally otherwise their thyroids are adversly affected. (Of course, these days veggies consumed are not necessarily grown locally - so some iodine is consumed by default).

Sorry you wish you were dead.  It is very discouraging after all the doctors and you still feel bad.  As you can see I don't know how to help you.  But I do know the legs numb and giving out feeling.  One day do something, next day home.  Please don't despair.  I am ecstatic after all the tests and docs they HOPEFULLY found something to get me back on track.  Hope is a good thing.

Marge, see if you can get on an NDT, e.g. Armour thyroid. Pains in the legs associated with thyroid problems is usually low T3. Synthroid is only T4 and the docs rely upon the patient's ability to convert T4 to T3. T3 is the active hormone which will enter your cells and give you energy.

Any TSH over 10 is hypothoiridic and needs at least 125 mcg of T4 for starters.  Tell your primary you want a full thyroid panel done so that you can see where you stand. That will entail T4, T3, TSH, reverse T3 and antibodies. If he will not do this either get them done privately and read up on how to interpret the results or publish them here and you will get dozens of suggestions.

It's usually an ignorant or uninterested doctor which is the biggest problem. So it is not safe to rely upon them completely. Please do not give up, we have all been there and struggled out, but it does take time.

Would you get pains in the legs in hyperthyroidism as well?

Lucy

 

Good question Lucy. I am very sorry but I am not sure since I have only had hypo and I have no familiarity with hyper. Perhaps someone who has hyper could answer this question from first hand experience.

I just read a good internet article and it made me think of you.

How do you approach the problem of TSH elevation..... On medscape . Com.  

it has some ideas that might be helpful to you.  Example: I just had a small bowel barium test and the barium went thru my small bowel faster than they could do the X-rays!  Hope that doesn't interfere with my LEVOTHYROXINE absorption.

perhaps there's something in the article that helps.

I was under the impression homogenous is smooth and normal.  Heterogenous is bumpy and not normal.

My TSH is 96.  That definitely is not normal.

Hi Shelly,

With the greatest respect, you are wonderful but please note that Ann's TSH was 96, nowhere in the normal range, and Homo is "the same" while Hetero is "different".

I hope you do not mind me pointing this out, but it's kind of serious.

Hello LAH:

I misread it.  Sorry! I thought it was 0.96 my bad.  Yes, that would mean she is low or Hypo.

Heterogenous in my medical dictionary means uniform in structure. 

I also know this word as it is used a lot in the medical world. You can google it.

Shelly

Hello Ann:

You do have Hypothyroidism from your TSH if it is 96.  I thought it was 0.96.   Heterogenous means "Uniform in structure" in my medical dictionary.  It just means the shape of the gland is uniform to what a thyroid should be shaped like. It is not about any lumps just shape.

If it has lumps they would describe it as multinodular thyroid.

Please take your Levo without food so it will not be blocked by food.  It is very important to do that.

Let us know how you do.

Shelly

This is why I am confused.  Different interpretations.  I will advocate for my T's and anti tests and go from there.

 I was concerned if my thyroid is causing my breathing to be hard and face feeling full when I look down.  Also my face turns red and hard to breath when I wash or brush my hair.  I thought it might be my thyroid pushing on my throat.  It sounds like my thyroid is not that big tho.

thanks for your input

Hello Ann:

Forget the words in the report,  if the thyroid is not working well, you will have nasty symptoms, like hair loss, muscle aches, weight gain, dry skin, no periods or infrequent ones, mental confusion,  etc..

If you can't breathe, that is serious, and go to the A & E or Emergency room. Sometimes it goes down once the medication level is reached. 

You may have a goiter that can happen if the thyroid is not working well and it can press on the throat. In some people it is removed.  Also from the words in the report you may have what I have which is Hashimoto's disease. So get the antibodies test done and that will let us know for sure.

I would see an Endo since they know the gland well, and can order more  important tests to diagnose it.

It takes about 6 to 8 weeks for the thyroid med, (Levo) to make a new level.  So you will need blood work later on.

Keep us posted, many of us have been where you are now. It will get better.

XO Shelly

 

Do you know what the nrmal range the antibody test is ? Is this the anas?

Lucy

Hello Lucy:

The TPOA antibodies test is done for Hashimoto's  and Graves disease. Normal range is 0-34. Sometimes they use a SED RATE test which measures inflammation in the body to determine autoimmune.

This is normally ordered by an Endocrinologist.  Some GP's order it though.

Shelly

Is the antibody test allways reliable?

Hello Lucy

Yes the TPOA antibody test is a good test and is reliable to detect autoimmune disease of the thyroid.

SED RATE is also a test to see if there is inflammation in the body due to disease like autoimmune.

Shelly