Update:post Doctors Test

[Booghead]

Yesterday we went to my follow up with my Family Doctor. He said all my test results including TSH (which I previously posted)show hyperthyroidism not hypothyroidism. He suspects graves. They took more blood to run all three tests again just to be triple sure. I always feel nervous when they take blood, because I worry that it will come back normal and I will be back at square one. But that's just silly I suppose.

My heart rate was fairly elevated at the appointment, he says its probably from the hyperthyroid. He doesn't want any strange heart problems popping up so he put me on a blood pressure medicine, which he says can help cover up the symptoms of the hyperthyroid (like a band-aid he said). He also ordered a Radioactive Iodine Uptake test for next week. I will go in and get injected, come back 4 hours later for a scan and then the next day as well. Anyone ever had this test done? I want to know what to expect.

He says I will probably have either an overactive node or a completely overactive thyroid. He made is sound like either way I will need to have something removed (either a whole thyroid or just the node). What do you guys think about this?

Thanks for the input and the support. I really appreciate having you guys as a back board to bounce ideas off of.

[kareng]

I had that when I was 14-15. I had the radioactive test & doctors threatening to remove my thyroid. I don't remember the iodine test being a big deal. That was 35 years ago. I'm surprised they don't have any better tests now. It was determined I had a thyroid infection. They gave me thyroid medicines and monitored it every month. In about a year, it was healed. You need to see an endocrinologist. Your parents may have to suck it up and take you in to the University Hospital in SLC.

[hspichke]

I had the radioactive iodine scan done a few months ago. After I had my son (hes 10 months now) I developed hyperthyroidism, the Dr told me that it should have gone back to normal shortly after but it hadn't so he thought I had Graves and sent me for the test. It was normal. They just had me take a pill come back and pointed this machine at my knee for 2 min then had me lay under an xray machine for 10 min on each side. Didn't feel a thing but it was very boring!

However, like I said my test was normal so he said that was odd and sent me home and wanted me to get my TSH levels checked in 12 wks and I am now waiting for results!

[Booghead]

We are seeing an endocrinologist before the radioactive iodine test. If she says it isn't necessary then we won't do it.

I forgot to tell everyone that my doctor highly recommended a endocrinologist, and he gave us a referral. She works at MckayDee Hospital. He isn't going to do all these crazy things himself. I don't even know if it is legal for a family doctor to remove some ones thyroid. He just wanted to do the test to see if it was the whole thyroid or just a small section of it. He says the antibody tests are only done when hashimotos is suspected, and that there aren't any for graves.

[Skylark]

There is an antibody test called TSI for Graves' disease. I'm awfully glad you're getting referred.

[kareng]

He isn't going to do all these crazy things himself. I don't even know if it is legal for a family doctor to remove some ones thyroid.

Sounds like a horror movie plot!

[GFinDC]

When I had first my thyroid tested several years ago I went to my GP. He had me get an MRI with contrast. Then he referred me to a thyroid specialist. I went to the thyroid specialist and he said I should not have gotten the MRI with contrast. The specialist said the right thing to do is get an ultrasound first. The ultrasound is much cheaper, less risky, and faster, plus no contrast solution needed.

He also said the ultrasound gives just as good information about the thyroid as the MRI in most cases. The thyroid specialist stood behind my back and "plapated" my thyroid with his fingers. Basically felt the thyroid on both sides of my neck and front for bumps etc. I had/have a thyroid cyst so he did a fine needle aspiration (FNA).

He found I had a benign thyroid nodule. He told me that is not a problem, as most people develop benign thyroid nodules at some point in life. But to keep having it checked every year. That was years ago. I have another nodule now but still not a problem. My endocrinologist has me get an ultrasound on it every so often to monitor it.