[caption id="attachment_1842" align="alignright" width="150"]<a href="http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1842" rel="attachment wp-att-1842"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1842" alt="Thyroid Ultrasound" src="http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/thyroid-ultrasound-HS-150x100.jpg" width="150" height="100" /></a> Thyroid Ultrasound          image: 123rf<span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"></span>[/caption]

I went for a thyroid ultrasound this week just to check the status of my thyroid.  I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 4 or 5 years ago.  I find it strange that I don't really remember when but it was such a non-event in a way.  Back then I didn't understand much about hypothyroidism and my doctor was pretty non-chalant about it all.  I remember him telling me my thyroid tests came back and that I needed to take thyroid hormone. At the time I didn't have a clue what TSH or T4 or T3 was, let alone what a thyroid nodule or Hashimotos was.  I've learned a lot since then including that I wasn't alone - most women I speak with have no idea!  Even many who have been diagnosed with a thyroid disorder!  Since that day, I have come to realize how important it is to treat that beautiful little butterfly shaped gland with plenty of TLC - tender loving care - even if you don't have thyroid disease!

I've never had a thyroid ultrasound before and decided it was time to ask for one.  So I spoke with my doctor about it and she agreed I should get it checked out.  I am waiting for the official results but the ultrasound technician said she didn't see any nodules but that she could tell I had hypothyroidism.  I had known that the ultrasound could show things like an enlarged thyroid and nodules or masses, etc. but hadn't realized that hypothyroidism is apparent due to the size and texture of the thyroid which shows up on the ultrasound.  I knew that had to find out more about ultrasound and thyroid and here's some of what I found:

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<td><span style="font-size: small;"><em>"Ultrasound is not <strong>generally required for the diagnosis of diffuse thyroid diseases</strong>; however, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is primarily a subclinical disease and <strong>ultrasound can detect this subset of patients before they come to clinical attention</strong>, when typical ultrasound findings are present. In addition, <strong>ultrasound has a role in excluding focal thyroid disease and in assessing the size of the thyroid</strong>."<sup>
</sup></em></span><span style="font-size: small;"> <em>"All patients should undergo an evaluation of the cervical lymph nodes as part of a routine thyroid ultrasound. Enlarged but morphologically normalappearing cervical lymph nodes are common in patients with AITD (particularly Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and can even be the first clue of this diagnosis"</em></span>

<em>Sholosh, B. &amp; Borhani, A., (2011). </em>Thyroid Ultrasound Part 1: Technique and <em id="__mceDel"><em id="__mceDel">Diffuse Disease,  </em></em><em id="__mceDel">Radiologic Clinics of North America, 49, 391–416.</em></td>
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It's still important to check your neck and you can learn to do it yourself
<p style="text-align: center;">Click the link below for the simple instruction sheet on how to check your own neck in the mirror:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a title="Neck Check " href="http://thyroidawareness.com/sites/all/files/AACEneck_LR.pdf" target="_blank">Thyroid Neck Check by www.ThyroidAwareness.com</a></p>
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