Hi Dr. Len, I have been hypothyroid since age 20, just turned 40 and went to a metabolic specialist for gaining 60 pounds rather suddenly. She discovered Hashimotos Thyroiditis, TSH 19, I was not converting so started me on t3(30 mcg Cytomel) in addition to my 150 mch of Levothyroxine. I am a sonographer and imaged my thyroid to discover it has have 2 new nodules, one on each side and a severely atrophic gland. The overall shape has changed drastically in the last 3 months. The nodules are not the same texture and appear hypoechoic, they do not look like goiter, they look like either a mass, or lymph node (very unusual looking). I had and FNA on both and showed nothing significant. I am over busy, over stressed, and don't want to worry as to whether or not they will become cancerous, or if the FNA may have missed the correct cells. I asked the ENT if we could remove it, at least that way we could get a complete pathological report on it. He agreed and said most people can regulate well. However, I told my metobolic specialist/nutritionalist and she came unglued and said I should absolutely keep what little I have of my gland and that it can be a nightmare to regulate. What is your experience in regulating hormones after thyroidectomy? One other factor, I have wonderful health insurance now but have intentions of leaving as soon as I can get this taken care of. My new job will have insurance but I may have the preexisting problem. What would you do if it were you? Thanks! Melany
without a whole lot more information, I can't tell you ya or nah, but I would do all I could to keep my thyroid. As to your thyroid problem and the fact that you are not converting T-4 into T-3....this is an adrenal problem caused by too much cortisol interfering with the conversion. Fix that problem and you may have a completely different remedy or problem.
I would say about 80-90% of my thyroid patients have a Primary adrenal problem...and only a secondary thyroid problem, but mainstream medicine doesn't know how to address the adrenals...they don't have a medication to recommend, which is why they can always find the thyrodi problem.
If you haven't had your adrenals glands measured, that would be the first thing and see where that takes you.
