Newbie with Goitre question

February 5, 2006

Yippee. I got an appt with my GP in 2 days time ! A cancellation.

Usually have to wait 3 weeks ! So - I need TSH, free T3, and free T4

tested ? Is it better fasting or non fasting for the blood work ?

Also - this may be a silly question but what is the difference in

appearance to Apple and a Goitre? I don't want to appear silly

for Dr. When I swallow I am sure I can feel both, and Goitre which is

lower, is much larger. Quite visible. Is that correct ?

February 5, 2006

Hi Aussi Jane, I am US jane. If you do labs now, I'm not sure they

will be available at the time of your doc appt. Check with the lab.

In addition to what you mention here, you want antibodies/TgAb tested

and the plain T3 and T4. Fasting is not needed for thyroid tests

because you are testing what has been stored in the cells. If you take

thyroid hormone, put off taking it till after your blood test, one of

the T's may be a bit more elevated from the day's dose.

Hard to describe appearance of goiter vs adam's apple as it depends on

how big the goiter is, both sides or just one side, how fat or lean the

neck is. But you are right, the goiter is below the adam's apple. If

you follow your collarbones to the middle of lower neck/upper torso,

there is a spot there where bone begins, and just flesh up from it.

There is a notch in the bone there. The thyroid, and goiter than grows

from the thyroid, is between that notch and the adam's apple. If I

have been told correctly, when the thyroid is normal, you don't feel

anything there when swallowing.

There's some beginner info for you, I'm sure others can be more

specific about things.

u.s. jane

>

> Yippee. I got an appt with my GP in 2 days time ! A cancellation.

> Usually have to wait 3 weeks ! So - I need TSH, free T3, and free T4

> tested ? Is it better fasting or non fasting for the blood work ?

>

> Also - this may be a silly question but what is the difference in

> appearance to Apple and a Goitre? I don't want to appear silly

> for Dr. When I swallow I am sure I can feel both, and Goitre which is

> lower, is much larger. Quite visible. Is that correct ?

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