TSH, nodule and pituitary gland

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
TSH, nodule and pituitary gland
2
Sun, 04-02-2006 - 1:13pm

Hi! My name is Beth. I am 32yrs and I am new to the boards. I have hypothyroidism (along with my mother, father, and my older sister). I went to the doctor about a month ago to have blood work done. This was the first of quite a few doctor appontments over the past month. Here is a list of the T3, T4, and TSH values.
TSH 36.119 uIU/mL
Thyroxine (T4) 5.3 ug/dL
T3 Uptake 27 %
Free Thyroxine Index 1.4

Because my TSH was so high, the doctor immediately put me on .25 mcg of Syntroid and ordered an ultra sound of my thyroid. I had that done within the week and the results showed a solid nodule on my lower section of the right side of my thyroid. The doctor thought it was a hyperfunctioning nodule, but still ordered me to have a radioactive test done to make sure it was not a "cold" nodule. Those results came in and again the doctor believed it to be hyperfunctioning, but referred me to a surgeon to see if a biopsy was necessary and he also wanted another opinion as well as someone to keep track of the nodule. Before even knowing my numbers (the lab results were not in my file at the surgeon's office), the surgeon talked about the needlepoint biopsy and possibly removing the right side of my thyroid. He asked me what my TSH number was and I told him. He left to have the lab results faxed to him once he got the results, he said it was not my thyroid, but possibly my pituitary gland that was causing the high numbers (TSH is released by the pituitary gland, correct). He mentioned doing a MRI of my brain to check for a pituitary tumor or what else could be affecting the high TSH levels, but then he reconsidered due to the fact that I have been on my thyroid medicine less than a month and told me he would talk with my doctor and call me back as to what the next step should be. He called me back and told me to continue on with my Synthroid, have my levels tested again mid-April. Depending on the results, my Syntroid dosage will be adjusted. After a right dosage has been found for my levels and my body has adjusted, then I should go back for another ultra sound in June to check the nodule.

My question ~ is all that I have been through "overkill"? I have heard the words biopsy and checking for pituitary tumor throughout the past month and then told that I should not worry. If my Synthroid does balance out my numbers, will this also help my pituitary gland to not produce as much TSH as it has been producing? Also, will my nodule disappear as I take the synthroid or is it something that will stay with me?

I am not really worried and feel as though things will balance out eventually (or I hope anyway). I am looking forward to not being exhausted everyday, not dealing with depression and finally losing weight. I have forgotten what it was like to feel young, healthy and energetic.

Thanks in advance for any advice. Sorry for the length of this post :-)

Beth

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
Sun, 04-02-2006 - 1:31pm

Hi:
I'm sure that people who have been through something really similar or almost exactly like what you're going through will back me up in saying that first, we totally understand while you're freaked out and next, it sounds as if you are in the hands of a thurough doctor which is never a bad thing!
Furthermore, when you have a complete diagnosis and get on the right dose of the right supplement and whatever other treatment is needed (I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis, but havent' had nodules and am not totally familiar with what it means, but there are others here who have and do and can chime in)... you will feel so much better that you'll wonder how you ever dealt with how you're feeling now. Some people get things resolved quickly, others have a more complex road to follow (which is where the thurough doctor is a real asset-- many of us can't get tests beyond TSH, so you already have a head start on this... in other words, I don't believe there's any such thing as overkill)---but once we're stabilized, we I think most of us realize that we were coping with fatigue and depression (among other things) sometimes for waaay longer than we even realized... until we're feeling better, that is!

There is a lot of great information out there. Read everything and keep positing your questions here because sometimes that's the best "reality check," or even chance to vent (I've done it many, many times). Check out the thyroid info link through this board, and also http://thyroid.about.com, and www.endocrineweb.com.

Glad you're here & let us know the updates,
Dee.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2006
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 7:43pm
HI! If TSH is released by the pituitary gland...then your thyroid gland determines the amount it needs to function properly...if your levels are that high, then I would think your thyroid is not working (at all)..when your TSH is elevated, then your thyroid is not working, when your TSH is low, then it is overworking...Is your MD aware of your strong family history of hypothyroidism???actually maybe the surgeon should be aware...I have some nodules and had a thyroid uptake scan and it came back fine...and my labs are normal...my mom and all of her sisters and mother have hyperthyroidism...and my 4 year old was just diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder causing her to be hypothyroid..her TSH was 181...Hope this has been helpful...try going to webmd for more info.....