[dasiy6]

I have read the posts regarding thyroid medications, but I have questions regarding the tests leading up to the medications. I was recently found to have a nodule on my thyroid.....add this to the severe neck pain (hard nodes per Dr), headaches and ringing in my ears (all of which I had attributed to the recent addition of lamictal to my meds . ) I was sent for a CT scan of my neck. With those results, yesterday I was sent for a ultrasound of my thyroid. At the conclusion of that test the technician went to speak with the the radiologist and then came in and said I needed to schedule a thyroid scan w/uptake with the nuclear medicine department. My GP called today with my scan appointment and a referral to a endocrinologist. When I asked what was up...the nurse said that they found masses on my thyroid and that the new dr. would now be treating me. Help......my bloodwork, including a T3 &T4 test came back good (per my dr. on Monday), but now things seem to be going downhill. I have my final (?) scan next week over 2 days, & the new Dr. 's office wants me to schedule an appointment 2 days after that test so they can look over the results and determine what "type" of appointment I will need. Have any of you with thyroid problems gone through all these tests before being put on thyroid meds? I stopped the lamictal last friday......hoping that would help my neck pain.....it hasn't and I have probably succeded in making my new Pdoc mad for not consulting her first...oh well........anybody else go through all this for thyroid meds??????? Thank you in advance for your input.

[pebblypoo]

I have Grave's disease (no nodules) and only had to have an uptake and scan right before my radioactive iodine treatment. Actually they only did a scan because for the "uptake" part what they have you take is a low dose of radioactive iodine (from what I recall, or some other radioactive isotope in a low dose) and I can't swallow pills (for the radioactive iodine treatment itself I took the liquid version) so they just injected me with another radioactive isotope that would show up on the scan. It was no big deal at all. In total it took about 30 or 40 minutes.

For the uptake and scan I believe they view the gland at different intervals after the medium is given and then again the following day to determine how much of the isotope or whatever, is taken up by the thyroid gland. I believe this is how they determine a 'hot nodule' from a 'cold nodule,' meaning malignant or possibly malignant or not.

My mother recently had a fine needle aspiration biopsy of a thyroid nodule and it was no big deal either. It's done as an outpatient under a local anesthetic.

I have Hashimoto's disease (results in low thyroid). Two years ago, nodules were felt by a specialist and he ordered a scan to be done. The scan showed that the Hashimoto's disease had twisted my thryoid to the point of it being irregular- thus causing the nodules. Which was good news to me--- no further attention was needed besides me staying on thyroid meds for the rest of my life.

I wish you luck--let us know how things go!!

Mandy

[darkeyes]

Just a small note, Lamictal does not cause thyroid problems.
One less thing you can eliminate from things leading to your thyroid problem.
See, what your final results are, medication, can help alone, some need surgery for nodes.
I have a cousin who had to have his thyroid removed and now lives on thyroid supplements.
I also had a friend with thyroid cancer, again the thyroid and para thyroids were removed and she too, has been on supplementation, luckily she did not require any radiation or chemo.
As a little re assurance, let it be known thyroid supplementation is an alternative and helps immensley.
Lots of luck with this, let us know how it all goes.
Sincerely,
DE