Thyroid Problems - Nodule

[cristiana]

4 minutes ago, cyclinglady said:

My neck felt normal.  I think all your current issues are related to inflammation of the lymph nodes, etc. from your cold.  Wait a few weeks.  If it is not resolved, then consult your doctor.  

Yes - I can't really feel any discreet hard lumps but I guess the more that one digs around (not a good idea) the more weird stuff one finds - no wonder my neck hurts.  I did have a severe mouth infection just over a month ago and then colds so I suppose it is likely things just haven't settle down yet.  Thank you for that suggestion about waiting - it's comforting to think it might just be these infections.  I've never had swelling there before so its all a bit new to me - apart from really bad mumps when I was little!

[cyclinglady]

I had a tooth infection (root canal failure), the flu (the knock you on your A*# kind), a failed root canal re-treatment, a tooth extraction and bone grafting, a cold, a re-occurrence of the bacterial infection (or never resolved) -- all without the aid of OTC pain killers as I am allergic to ALL of them in the last 8 weeks.  My face is still a bit swollen, but I am healing -- slowly.  

It is hard to be patient, but things do improve each day.  I never worry about my thyroid.  I do not worry about getting cancer.  I do worry about getting glutened as I have made great progress in the last four years.  

So, give your self time to heal.  Relax.  Read a good cheerful book (like the No. 1 Ladies Detective), or help someone else.  It will take your mind off feeling yucky!  I am going to practice my flute for a few minutes.  

Hugs!  

[ironictruth]

3 hours ago, cristiana said:

Hi ironic - thank you so much for sharing, what it is not to feel alone! But that said I'm sorry you are in this fix as well.  It is so interesting that you have had pain. I do feel sorry that you've had to wait around like this, wondering what on earth is going on.

I always imagine something else is going on with my thyroid other than multi-nodular goiter,  although so far my TSH readings have been normal.  But as my friend icelandgirl and I have often remarked, it seems there is always something going on... Something to be wondering about. That in itself can be pretty exhausting.

I was told by a dentist a while back I ground my teeth - but my husband has never said anything about it, I imagine that's something that someone else would hear?  Is it a thyroid symptom or just stress?

Teeth grinding can cause pain in the neck/muscle. 

I hope you get some answers soon!

[icelandgirl]

4 hours ago, cristiana said:

Hi Icelandgirl

Thanks so much!  I hope it turns out well, too.

Here in the cash strapped NHS system they do two particular thyroid tests - I haven't got my readings on me just now but I felt shortchanged when I got them back.  That said I was told if something was amiss it would have been detected.  I'm going to probably ask for a proper referral to an endcrinologist if I can get one.

Unfortunately the health care system here seems pretty reactive rather than proactive so I should really see if I can get my symptoms monitored more closely.

Most likely they did TSH and Free T4.  Free T3 and the 2 antibodies TPOAb and TgAb would be very helpful especially with your nodules.

I have found some very helpful information on this site Open Original Shared Link.  It's kind of like celiac.com, but for thyroids. ☺  You may find some helpful information there.

Here is another link to some good information on thyroid issue and testing:

Open Original Shared Link

Please let us know when you get the ultrasound and if you're able to, insist on more complete thyroid testing!

[cristiana]

Thank you friends, I don't know what I'd do without everyone on this forum. xxx

[cyclinglady]

2 hours ago, cristiana said:

Thank you friends, I don't know what I'd do without everyone on this forum. xxx

Hugs!!!!

[cristiana]

Hi thyroid friends.... Just found my September thyroid results. 

 

Serum TSH level  1.0 miu/L  [0.35 - 5.0]

Serum free T4 level   14.3 pmol/L [9.0 -19.0]

These are the standard NHS tests.  I think I'd only be able to get the full panel done if I failed these - which I haven't. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing!

 

Can anyone tell me if I could still have a thyroid problem apart from multinodular goiter syndrome with these results?

If I have any symptoms it is tiredness and feeling colder than I used to.  That said, my ferritin is always around 9 at the moment so maybe that's why I feel tired?  Oh - I also get v. erratic periods - some months terrible, and other normal.

 

 

[icelandgirl]

Hello...can you clarify the range on Free T4?  Is it .9-19, 9.0-19?  You want to be between 50-75% of the range.  Looking at Free T3 would be so helpful as that is the active hormone...it's your energy and healthy hair hormone.  It's best to have that one at 50-75% of the range as well.  Having antibodies tested is crucial.  If you have high antibodies, you could have normal #'s on all of your other thyroid tests, but feel bad.  That was my mom.  Perfect thyroid tests, super high antibodies.

Your symptoms do sound like they could be thyroid related.  I know that when my thyroid has gone wonky that I feel exhausted, cold all the time and my anxiety increases.  The problem here is that low ferritin can cause your issues as well.

I hope that helps...any ideas when you will be getting a thyroid ultrasound?

Hugs!

[cristiana]

14 minutes ago, icelandgirl said:

Hello...can you clarify the range on Free T4?  Is it .9-19, 9.0-19?  You want to be between 50-75% of the range.  Looking at Free T3 would be so helpful as that is the active hormone...it's your energy and healthy hair hormone.  It's best to have that one at 50-75% of the range as well.  Having antibodies tested is crucial.  If you have high antibodies, you could have normal #'s on all of your other thyroid tests, but feel bad.  That was my mom.  Perfect thyroid tests, super high antibodies.

Your symptoms do sound like they could be thyroid related.  I know that when my thyroid has gone wonky that I feel exhausted, cold all the time and my anxiety increases.  The problem here is that low ferritin can cause your issues as well.

I hope that helps...any ideas when you will be getting a thyroid ultrasound?

Hugs!

Hi - sorry - the range is 9.0 to 19.0.

I'll try to edit the original!

C x

PS  My ultrasound is tomorrow. 

[icelandgirl]

Hi again ?

As of September, your Free T4 was at 53% of the range, so decent.  It could, of course, have changed since then.  Have your symptoms increased recently?  I would say that with your symptoms and a palpable nodule that most likely your values would be changed now.  

Are you able to request having your bloodwork redone?  With the nodule, is there any chance your Dr would order an antibody test just to get a better idea of what's going on?

Let us know how it goes tomorrow!

Hugs!

[cristiana]

Icelandgirl

I think if things look amiss tomorrow I'll have good grounds to ask for the full panel. 

It is a source of frustration for many in the UK at how difficult it is to get beyond the TSH and T4 tests, helpful as they are.

Maybe this will be the beginning of getting my other odd symptoms sorted!

Thanks so much my friend.

Cxx

[icelandgirl]

15 hours ago, cristiana said:

Icelandgirl

I think if things look amiss tomorrow I'll have good grounds to ask for the full panel. 

It is a source of frustration for many in the UK at how difficult it is to get beyond the TSH and T4 tests, helpful as they are.

Maybe this will be the beginning of getting my other odd symptoms sorted!

Thanks so much my friend.

Cxx

Absolutely!  Keep advocating for yourself!  I'm thinking of you today, hoping that all goes well.

Hugs!!

[cristiana]

57 minutes ago, icelandgirl said:

Absolutely!  Keep advocating for yourself!  I'm thinking of you today, hoping that all goes well.

Hugs!!

Thank you all - had the scan.  

Wonderful news - the nodule is fine, in fact, they know it isn't cancerous as it  is now smaller than it was three years ago - so I seem to be going the same way as you, Cyclinglady!  My glands are now normal, the lovely doctor thinks it was just residual swelling from the infections.  I could have hugged her, she checked everything so thoroughly. 

So thank you all for your support - I really didn't think it would go this way.  So glad I had the scan though - better than worrying.

 

 

 

[icelandgirl]

Wonderful news!  I'm so glad for you and am sure you are relieved!  

????

[cyclinglady]

That is great news!  It would be nice to know whether  the reduction  of nodule size (yours and mine) has anything to do with a gluten free diet, or just healing from celiac disease.  Many thyroid websites do recommend a gluten free diet.  I wish they would encourage people to test for celiac disease first!  

[Gemini]

I swear the gluten-free diet works wonders with thyroid problems.  I do not have nodules but my thyroid was wonky and I had sky high antibodies until I went on the gluten-free diet.  Good thing the Celiac was discovered or I would have never known how it can help the thyroid.  You are right, cyclinglady......they should tell people to get tested first, considering the higher numbers of people with thyroid disease who also have Celiac.  Ditto for Type 1 diabetes.

Very happy to hear things are going well, cristiana!  

[cristiana]

1 hour ago, cyclinglady said:

That is great news!  It would be nice to know whether  the reduction  of nodule size (yours and mine) has anything to do with a gluten free diet, or just healing from celiac disease.  Many thyroid websites do recommend a gluten free diet.  I wish they would encourage people t

58 minutes ago, Gemini said:

I swear the gluten-free diet works wonders with thyroid problems.  I do not have nodules but my thyroid was wonky and I had sky high antibodies until I went on the gluten-free diet.  Good thing the Celiac was discovered or I would have never known how it can help the thyroid.  You are right, cyclinglady......they should tell people to get tested first, considering the higher numbers of people with thyroid disease who also have Celiac.  Ditto for Type 1 diabetes.

Very happy to hear things are going well, cristiana!  

We could be onto something here - maybe we should do some research and publish a paper!

Thank you so much Icelandgirl, Cyclinglady and Gemini for your kind words.  

 

[icelandgirl]

I agree Cristiana!  My nodule was 5 mm when I had been gluten free for 6 months(that was when it was discovered).  A year later it was 3.5 mm.  I do think that for celiacs, at least, that thyroid problems including nodules are helped by the gluten free diet.

[Scuff]

I had an enlarged thyroid, but no nodules. Dr felt it and ultrasound confirmed. I had so many symptoms of hypothyroid- weight gain, fatigue, hoarse voice-couldn't yell or sing or swallow (still can't swallow, but mostly at the bottom end. Used to not be able to get it past my neck, either) brain fog so that I couldn't form a complete sentence or respond with any timeliness, cold all the time, etc. Dr was in his 70's and old school. He didn't do any further blood tests or anything. Just said to take iodine. So, I started taking iodine. By the next year, different dr, all my thyroid tests came back normal, it wasn't enlarged anymore and most of my symptoms were very much improved. Read "Iodine: Why you need it and can't live without it" Kinda boring and repetitive, but good info. Iodine Crisis by Lynne Farrow is also really good. (She talks more about breast cancer than thyroid. But, the iodine information & history is great.) 

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