Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Thyroid Problems - Nodule

cristiana

By cristiana
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

cristiana Veteran
cristiana
Posted
  • Author
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!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

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 Proficient
ironictruth
Posted
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?:unsure:

Teeth grinding can cause pain in the neck/muscle. 

I hope you get some answers soon!

icelandgirl Proficient
icelandgirl
Posted
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 Veteran
cristiana
Posted
  • Author

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

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted
2 hours ago, cristiana said:

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

Hugs!!!!

cristiana Veteran
cristiana
Posted
  • Author

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.

 

 

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


icelandgirl Proficient
icelandgirl
Posted

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 Veteran
cristiana
Posted
  • Author
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 Proficient
icelandgirl
Posted

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 Veteran
cristiana
Posted
  • Author

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 Proficient
icelandgirl
Posted
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 Veteran
cristiana
Posted
  • Author
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 Proficient
icelandgirl
Posted

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

????

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

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 Experienced
Gemini
Posted

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!   :D

cristiana Veteran
cristiana
Posted
  • Author
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!   :D

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 Proficient
icelandgirl
Posted

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.

  • 1 month later...
Scuff Apprentice
Scuff
Posted

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.) 

Open Original Shared Link

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. trents
      - trents replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      So, essentially all of the nutrition in the food we eat is absorbed through the villous lining of the small bowel. This is the section of the intestinal track that is damaged by celiac disease. This villous lining is composed of billions of finger-like projections that create a huge amount of surface area for absorbing nutrients. For the celiac person, when...
    2. catnapt
      - catnapt replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      thank you so much for your detailed and extremely helpful reply!! I can say with absolute certainty that the less gluten containing products I've eaten over the past several years, the better I've felt. I wasn't avoiding gluten, I was avoiding refined grains (and most processed foods) as well as anything that made me feel bad when I ate it. It's the...
    3. trents
      - trents replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      Welcome, @catnapt! The most recent guidelines are the daily consumption of a minimum of 10g of gluten (about the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for a minimum of two weeks. But if possible stretching that out even more would enhance the chances of getting valid test results. These guidelines are for those who have been eating gluten free for...
    4. catnapt
      - catnapt posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      after several years of issues with a para-gland issue, my endo has decided it's a good idea for me to be tested for celiac disease. I am 70 yrs old and stunned to learn that you can get celiac this late in life. I have just gradually stopped eating most foods that contain gluten over the past several years- they just make me feel ill- although I...
    5. trents
      - trents replied to McKinleyWY's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      4

      Accuracy of testing concerns

      The biopsy looks for damage to the mucosal lining of the small bowel from the inflammation caused by celiac disease when gluten is ingested. Once you remove gluten from the diet, inflammation subsides and the mucosal lining begins to heal.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,256
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Christie Fassel
    Newest Member
    Christie Fassel
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By trents · Posted

      So, essentially all of the nutrition in the food we eat is absorbed through the villous lining of the small bowel. This is the section of the intestinal track that is damaged by celiac disease. This villous lining is composed of billions of finger-like projections that create a huge amount of surface area for absorbing nutrients. For the celiac person, when gluten is consumed, it triggers an autoimmune reaction in this area which, of course, generates inflammation. The antibodies connected with this inflammation is what the celiac blood tests are designed to detect but this inflammation, over time, wears down the finger-like projections of the villous lining. Of course, when this proceeds for an extended period of time, greatly reduces the absorption efficiency of the villous lining and often results in many and various nutrient deficiency-related health issues. Classic examples would be osteoporosis and iron deficiency. But there are many more. Low D3 levels is a well-known celiac-caused nutritional deficiency. So is low B12. All the B vitamins in fact. Magnesium, zinc, etc.  Celiac disease can also cause liver inflammation. You mention elevated ALP levels. Elevated liver enzymes over a period of 13 years was what led to my celiac diagnosis. Within three months of going gluten free my liver enzymes normalized. I had elevated AST and ALT. The development of sensitivities to other food proteins is very common in the celiac population. Most common cross reactive foods are dairy and oats but eggs, soy and corn are also relatively common offenders. Lactose intolerance is also common in the celiac population because of damage to the SB lining.  Eggs when they are scrambled or fried give me a gut ache. But when I poach them, they do not. The steam and heat of poaching causes a hydrolysis process that alters the protein in the egg. They don't bother me in baked goods either so I assume the same process is at work. I bought a plastic poacher on Amazon to make poaching very easy. All this to say that many of the issues you describe could be caused by celiac disease. 
    • catnapt
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By catnapt · Posted

      thank you so much for your detailed and extremely helpful reply!! I can say with absolute certainty that the less gluten containing products I've eaten over the past several years, the better I've felt.   I wasn't avoiding gluten, I was avoiding refined grains (and most processed foods) as well as anything that made me feel bad when I ate it. It's the same reason I gave up dairy and eggs- they make me feel ill.  I do have a bit of a sugar addiction lol so a lot of times I wasn't sure if it was the refined grains that I was eating - or the sugar. So from time to time I might have a cookie or something but I've learned how to make wonderful cookies and golden brownies with BEANS!! and no refined sugar - I use date paste instead. Pizza made me so ill- but I thought it was probably the cheese. I gave up pizza and haven't missed it. the one time I tried a slice I felt so bad I knew I'd never touch it again. I stopped eating wheat pasta at least 3 yrs ago- just didn't feel well after eating it. I tried chick pea pasta and a few others and discovered I like the brown rice pasta. I still don't eat a lot of pasta but it's nice for a change when I want something easy. TBH over the years I've wondered sometimes if I might be gluten intolerant but really believed it was not possible for me to have celiac disease. NOW I need to know for sure- because I'm in the middle of a long process of trying to find out why I have a high parathyroid level (NOT the thyroid- but rather the 4 glands that control the calcium balance in your body) I have had a hard time getting my vit D level up, my serum calcium has run on the low side of normal for many years... and now I am losing calcium from my bones and excreting it in my urine (some sort of renal calcium leak) Also have a high ALP since 2014. And now rapidly worsening bone density.  I still do not have a firm diagnosis. Could be secondary HPT (but secondary to what? we need to know) It could be early primary HPT. I am spilling calcium in my urine but is that caused by the high parathyroid hormone or is it the reason my PTH is high>? there are multiple feedback loops for this condition.    so I will keep eating the bread and some wheat germ that does not seem to bother me too much (it hasn't got enough gluten to use just wheat germ)    but I'm curious- if you don't have a strong reaction to a product- like me and wheat germ- does that mean it's ok to eat or is it still causing harm even if you don't have any obvious symptoms? I guess what you are saying about silent celiac makes it likely that you can have no symptoms and still have the harm... but geez! you'd think they'd come up with a way to test for this that didn't require you to consume something that makes you sick! I worry about the complications I've been reading about- different kinds of cancers etc. also wondering- are there degrees of celiac disease?  is there any correlation between symptoms and the amnt of damage to your intestines? I also need a firm diagnosis because I have an identical twin sister ... so if I have celiac, she has it too- or at least the genetic make up for having it. I did have a VERY major stress to my body in 2014-2016 time frame .. lost 50lbs in a short period of time and had severe symptoms from acute protracted withdrawal off an SSRI drug (that I'd been given an unethically high dose of, by a dr who has since lost his license)  Going off the drug was a good thing and in many ways my health improved dramatically- just losing 50lbs was helpful but I also went  off almost a dozen different medications, totally changed my diet and have been doing pretty well except for the past 3-4 yrs when the symptoms related to the parathyroid issue cropped up. It is likely that I had low vit D for some time and that caused me a lot of symptoms. The endo now tells me that low vit D can be caused by celiac disease so I need to know for sure! thank you for all that great and useful information!!! 
    • trents
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome, @catnapt! The most recent guidelines are the daily consumption of a minimum of 10g of gluten (about the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for a minimum of two weeks. But if possible stretching that out even more would enhance the chances of getting valid test results. These guidelines are for those who have been eating gluten free for a significant amount of time. It's called the "gluten challenge".  Yes, you can develop celiac disease at any stage of life. There is a genetic component but also a stress trigger that is needed to activate the celiac genes. About 30-40% of the general population possesses the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% of the general population actually develop celiac disease. For most with the potential, the triggering stress event doesn't happen. It can be many things but often it is a viral infection. Having said that, it is also the case that many, many people who eventually are diagnosed with celiac disease probably experienced the actual onset years before. Many celiacs are of the "silent" type, meaning that symptoms are largely missing or very minor and get overlooked until damage to the small bowel lining becomes advanced or they develop iron deficiency anemia or some other medical problem associated with celiac disease. Many, many are never diagnosed or are diagnosed later in life because they did not experience classic symptoms. And many physicians are only looking for classic symptoms. We now know that there are over 200 symptoms/medical problems associated with celiac disease but many docs are only looking for things like boating, gas, diarrhea. I certainly understand your concerns about not wanting to damage your body by taking on a gluten challenge. Your other option is to totally commit to gluten free eating and see if your symptoms improve. It can take two years or more for complete healing of the small bowel lining once going gluten free but usually people experience significant improvement well before then. If their is significant improvement in your symptoms when going seriously gluten free, then you likely have your answer. You would either have celiac disease or NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity).
    • catnapt
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By catnapt · Posted

      after several years of issues with a para-gland issue, my endo has decided it's a good idea for me to be tested for celiac disease. I am 70 yrs old and stunned to learn that you can get celiac this late in life. I have just gradually stopped eating most foods that contain gluten over the past several years- they just make me feel ill- although I attributed it to other things like bread spiking blood sugar- or to the things I ate *with* the bread or crackers etc   I went to a party in Nov and ate a LOT of a vegan roast made with vital wheat gluten- as well as stuffing, rolls and pie crust... and OMG I was so sick! the pain, the bloating, the gas, the nausea... I didn't think it would ever end (but it did) and I was ready to go the ER but it finally subsided.   I mentioned this to my endo and now she wants me to be tested for celiac after 2 weeks of being on gluten foods. She has kind of flip flopped on how much gluten I should eat, telling me that if the symptoms are severe I can stop. I am eating 2-3 thin slices of bread per day (or english muffins) and wow- it does make me feel awful. But not as bad as when I ate that massive amnt of vital wheat gluten. so I will continue on if I have to... but what bothers me is - if it IS celiac, it seems stupid for lack of a better word, to intentionally cause more damage to my body... but I am also worried, on the other hand, that this is not a long enough challenge to make the blood work results valid.   can you give me any insight into this please?   thank you
    • trents
      Accuracy of testing concerns

      By trents · Posted

      The biopsy looks for damage to the mucosal lining of the small bowel from the inflammation caused by celiac disease when gluten is ingested. Once you remove gluten from the diet, inflammation subsides and the mucosal lining begins to heal. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.