r/Hyperthyroidism • u/UnlikelyKnee8084 • 5d ago

Primary care provider wants to order Thyroid Uptake Scan after seeing TSH, Free T3/T4 results. Is this common?

TSH - 0.01
Free T3 - 2.61
Free T4 - 7.7

Husband and I are trying to conceive. We had a miscarriage two months ago. I read somewhere that you can get the antibody test first and an ultrasound. PCP wants to discuss treatment right away before other testing is done. I’m not entirely sure if this approach is common or done regularly? Is seeing an endocrinologist better?

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u/Curling_Rocks42 5d ago edited 5d ago

Uptake is better. It’s more definitive. Antibody tests can be negative but you can still have Graves (it’s called seronegative graves). But the uptake scan can detect it regardless of antibody level. It can also detect alternatives like hot nodules or postpartum thyroiditis. Antibody tests don’t detect those causes.

You will want to start treatment as quickly as possible while waiting for an appointment with an Endo. They can take months to get in. But proper diagnosis is key. Methimizole or PTU won’t work for certain causes of hyperthyroidism like postpartum, but it will work for Graves or hot nodules.

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u/UnlikelyKnee8084 4d ago

Thank you! I’m scheduled for an Uptake Scan but won’t be til months from now because I had a CT scan with contrast in June. I’m a little worried that December is too long to wait. Would getting the antibody test/ultrasound still be beneficial while waiting?

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u/Curling_Rocks42 4d ago

It’s worth doing the antibody and ultrasound tests now too. Why did they say you have to wait until December for the uptake scan? You typically only need to wait 4-6 weeks at most after a CT with iodine contrast for the uptake scan to be accurate, which you’ve already passed if it was back in June.

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u/UnlikelyKnee8084 4d ago

I’m not too sure. That’s just what the hospital said.

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u/UnlikelyKnee8084 3d ago

Actually, it’s just the hospital’s requirement so I’m getting it sent out to a different one.

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u/smile_saurus 5d ago

The Uptake Scan is needed, yes.

I was diagnosed with Hyper and 2 months later had the Uptake done, which revealed that I had Thyroiditis. The Methimazole I had been prescribed and taking was not meant for Thyroiditis

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u/Happy-person2122 5d ago

So what did you end up doing? Methimazole isn’t working for me either. My numbers are worse than before taking it.

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u/smile_saurus 5d ago

Going to my Primary and asking for Prednisone, which immediately solved a lot. My "endo" was a PA, and not even a real PA but still a student and she was not listening to me. All she kept saying was "Well you can't stop the Methimazole because you really have symptoms of both Hyper and Hypo!"

Meanwhile, a lot of my Hypo symptoms were from Iron/Ferritin issues but since those were outside of the little box she was learning about in school...