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Suggest Treatment For Thyroiditis
Question: Hello,
The query is for my wife who is a 37 yr old female. We have 2 kids - 8 and 3.
In the second week of May she had pain in her throat which was diagnosed as Thyroiditis. This was after severe cold and sinus for 3+ weeks.
Small nodule was seen in Ultrasound test. She took 1 week of steroid () towards the end of May to get relief from the pain.
Two Thyroid function tests were conducted since then:
17th XXXXXXX Results
T3 - 79.08 ng/dL ;
T4 - 5.96 micro gm/dL
TSH - 0.12 micro IU / mL
15 July 2015
T3 - 92.8 ng/dL
T4 5.55 micro g/dL
TSH - 10.37 micro IU/mL
Other notes - Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D tests showed normal results.
There are no significant symptoms of hypothyroidism - she has gained a kg of weight in the past 2 weeks even though her diet and exercise regimen is as before. She says she feels bit tired, but that could be just a feeling.
With these, the doctor (MD in ENT) recommends that we start medication to get Thyroid function to normalcy. Please help with the most appropriate course of action.
Thanks so much,
XXXX.
The query is for my wife who is a 37 yr old female. We have 2 kids - 8 and 3.
In the second week of May she had pain in her throat which was diagnosed as Thyroiditis. This was after severe cold and sinus for 3+ weeks.
Small nodule was seen in Ultrasound test. She took 1 week of steroid () towards the end of May to get relief from the pain.
Two Thyroid function tests were conducted since then:
17th XXXXXXX Results
T3 - 79.08 ng/dL ;
T4 - 5.96 micro gm/dL
TSH - 0.12 micro IU / mL
15 July 2015
T3 - 92.8 ng/dL
T4 5.55 micro g/dL
TSH - 10.37 micro IU/mL
Other notes - Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D tests showed normal results.
There are no significant symptoms of hypothyroidism - she has gained a kg of weight in the past 2 weeks even though her diet and exercise regimen is as before. She says she feels bit tired, but that could be just a feeling.
With these, the doctor (MD in ENT) recommends that we start medication to get Thyroid function to normalcy. Please help with the most appropriate course of action.
Thanks so much,
XXXX.
Brief Answer:
Thyroiditis
Detailed Answer:
I follow what you are saying. Thyroiditis can be a challenging condition for the non expert to manage. ENT surgeons do the best they can to help but endocrinologists are the most qualified specialists to handle this. So I advise you to find one near you and seek an in-person appointment. Now when I see someone like your wife in my practice I order the following tests in addition to a thorough physical examination : ESR, CBC and thyroid auto antibodies (anti thyroid peroxidase and anti thyroglobulin) , liver and kidney function tests, electrolytes, glucose and calcium. In many instances the thyroid normalized without any treatment after couple months or so. However in some instances it becomes permanently underactive and this requires lifelong treatment with a medication called levothyroxine. At the moment it is hard to predict which direction your wife's thyroid will take. So continued follow up with periodic 6 weekly blood tests for TSH and free T4 will give a fair idea as to the thyroid status
Thyroiditis
Detailed Answer:
I follow what you are saying. Thyroiditis can be a challenging condition for the non expert to manage. ENT surgeons do the best they can to help but endocrinologists are the most qualified specialists to handle this. So I advise you to find one near you and seek an in-person appointment. Now when I see someone like your wife in my practice I order the following tests in addition to a thorough physical examination : ESR, CBC and thyroid auto antibodies (anti thyroid peroxidase and anti thyroglobulin) , liver and kidney function tests, electrolytes, glucose and calcium. In many instances the thyroid normalized without any treatment after couple months or so. However in some instances it becomes permanently underactive and this requires lifelong treatment with a medication called levothyroxine. At the moment it is hard to predict which direction your wife's thyroid will take. So continued follow up with periodic 6 weekly blood tests for TSH and free T4 will give a fair idea as to the thyroid status
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you very much for the response Dr. Topiwala.
We will first visit an Endocrinologist and take his advice. I just have one follow-up question. From your response, I gather that once we do other tests and find everything else normal, then ideally we should wait for another 6 weeks before any decision on medication such as levothyroxine is taken. Is that correct?
Regards,
XXXX
We will first visit an Endocrinologist and take his advice. I just have one follow-up question. From your response, I gather that once we do other tests and find everything else normal, then ideally we should wait for another 6 weeks before any decision on medication such as levothyroxine is taken. Is that correct?
Regards,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Correct. The future course of thyroid function test results will be important in determining the appropriate treatment choice, if any
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Correct. The future course of thyroid function test results will be important in determining the appropriate treatment choice, if any
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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