Thyroid Question!

[Danijela]

HEY ALL!!!

I have been having problems with my throat/ neck for some time now... I've been waiting for an appt. with a specialist for just over 7 weeks now.... My GP said my throat is really red inside.... I find that in the evening and mornings I have difficulty swallowing it almost feels like what I swallowed (liquid or food) is stuck in my throat (more in my neck sort of if that makes any sence) my thyroid is swollen at times I can feel with my hands that one side is noticably bigger than the other... my voice goes hoarse and it hurts went I talk for extended periods of time....my hands and feet are always cold and its weird my even when I don't feel cold my skin is freezing to the touch (arms lower back and stomach ive noticed the most) I'm still having sugar problems as well...

I mentioned this before in another posting... I didn't get much of a respose

If anyone has any wisdom for me it would be greatly appreciated!!!

[Jnkmnky]

Could reflux be causing some of the throat symptoms???? An ultra sound can be ordered by your primary care dr for your thyroid. You shouldn't have to wait to see a specialist to get that done. I just had it done... found two lumps... oh joy! Also, blood tests can be ordered by your pcd. That will tell you quickly if your thyroid is functioning properly. Why havent these things been ordered while you wait for the specialist? If you get them prior to seeing the speicalist, then you have something to show him for him to evaluate and get things moving much more quickly. Call your regular dr and ask for those tests!

[Rachel--24]

I agree with the last post. You dont need to see a specialist to have your thyroid levels checked...its just a bloodtest. If you're having that much trouble and obvious swelling why havent they ran the bloodtests. Its pretty standard...your GP can order them. Sounds weird that you've been waiting this long....they should be able to tell fairly quickly whether its your thyroid or not. I've had a million thyroid tests over the last 5 years and it wasnt necessary for the specialist to order them...I was only sent to the specialist when I was officially dx'd with Graves Disease.

[Danijela]

hello

thank-you for your responses...

My gp wont order the tests he says there is no point that the specialist is just going to run his own tests anyways...

I think he has lost interest the last thyroid blood test i had was exactly a year ago and it was normal....

I heard that it can take up to a year for the blood test to be high or low....

I don't know but i'm fed up of waiting when i feel so terrible everyday...

my blood pressure is up today i'm cold and just feel off can't really put my finger on it...

I just pray that specialist can see me soon and actually help me...

jnkmnky what are the docs going to do about the lumps?

I am going to ask for an u/s because there is something there

i also wanted to ask does anyone know if shortness of breath is a symptom of this or does it happen to anyone else ... it seems that since my throat has become an issue i get winded very easily doing simple things like cleaning or walking up a flight of stairs....

the bottom of my feet are numb quite often aswell

thanks again!!

Danijela

[Pegster]

When you say your hand and feet are numb, are they turning white with the blood taking a while to get back into them? Do they tingle painfully when the blood goes back into them? This could be Reynaud's phenomenon. If they are just numb and cold it could be that your thyroid is underactive. I think you need to find a GP who will take the time to listen to you. My thyroid tested normal, but then was off just a few months later. I have been on meds for two years, but they have to be adjsted constantly because my thyroid is all over the place. The symptoms for an underactive thyroid include : coldness, dry skin, hoarseness, hair drying out or falling out, tiredness, and weight gain. Good Luck to you!

[elye]

I'd bet a million to one you've got hypothyroidism, and it is bizarre that your GP hasn't given you the standard blood test yet. I've got an underactive thyroid, and have been on the replacement hormone for a couple of months. I wasn't really symptomatic, just a general tiredness, but you have the CLASSIC symptoms: swollen neck where the thyroid gland is located, hoarse voice, freezing hands and feet, exhaustion...

[Jnkmnky]

I'm being haunted by the dr right now to go get...an mri? I think he wants?? Or a cat scan? I forget. His office calls me three times a week to see if I've schedualed it. To rule out cancer. Fun. But I'm apparently in no hurry. Maybe it's pathological denial? Whatever. I've been busy with Easter and spring break with my kids. I'll make my drz day next week.

[tiredofdoctors]

I had hypothyroidism, including a goiter that grew inward vs outward. I had to have a barium swallow, then a video swallow. It showed that the muscles on the left side of my throat, up in the top, weren't working very well. It wasn't due to the thyroid, though, it was due to the neurological damage I had. I also had the red throat, hoarseness, etc. THAT was caused by Gastro Laryngeal Reflux -- I took Nexium for a month, stopped drinking soda, and I haven't been hoarse since. I would still look into the thyroid thing, though -- I had Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and a bunch of complications that are too boring to mention! Good luck to you, . . . . Lynne

[Guest jhmom]

Hi Danijela,

From someone with Hashimoto's (thyroid disease) I think you are doing the right thing by seeing the specialist (Endo) especially if you notice inflammation of your thyroid. In my experience GP's don't always read thyroid levels as a specialist does, after all that IS what they specialize in and your GP would most likely not know what to do about the inflammation. It was explained to me like this " you wouldn't see a dentist if your leg was broke, would you?" Makes sense.......

Hang in there, the appt time will be here before you know it.

[Rachel--24]

Hi Danijela,

From someone with Hashimoto's (thyroid disease) I think you are doing the right thing by seeing the specialist (Endo) especially if you notice inflammation of your thyroid. In my experience GP's don't always read thyroid levels as a specialist does, after all that IS what they specialize in and your GP would most likely not know what to do about the inflammation. It was explained to me like this " you wouldn't see a dentist if your leg was broke, would you?" Makes sense.......

I agree its good to be scheduled with the Endo. but it would be much BETTER if the bloodtests have been taken BEFORE she sees the Endo so that the appt. will be much more useful. Once I got diagnosed with Graves and had my CT scan and uptake test I was seeing my Endo. every 3 months for that first year and I always did bloodwork the week before my appts. so that there was something to look at and discuss. Without the bloodwork the Endo will have nothing to go by other than feeling the thyroid gland but he/she will still want to see the bloodwork before anything else. I still think the GP should be ordering the tests now since it seems obvious this could be thyroid related.

[tammy]

As a person with hypothyroidism and with the need for two thyroid medications, I do agree with both of you. It is most wise to at least, at the very minimum, to have a blood test to give the endocrinologist something to work with for the first visit. Of course, it will take an additional 7 days once you get your blood tests taken to know the results. Once you are in the specialists office, the doctor will examine you and then order several blood tests. Be sure to tell him/her all of your symptoms. This will alter which blood tests to order. Especially IF you should need more than one medication to manage your health. I would also schedule a second visit with your specialist now. IF they allow it, because they usually have a waiting period for office appointments.

I would start charting your symptoms. Daily record keeping is best but unless you have a super memory then weekly record keeping is helpful too. Try to record little symptoms too. If you get headaches, when do they occur. How long have you had your symptoms etc.

P.S. Maybe its time to get a different primary care physician. I have found that an Internist is usually better at listening and assisting his thyroid patients in finding the proper care. Of course, it is also important to find one that is a good doctor and one that you feel comfortable with.

[ms-sillyak-screwed]

I agree with everything that is said here. I would just like to add something here.

I also developed a serious thyroid problem. And I found out the hard way the drugs they give us, either have corn, gluten, or dairy in many of them. So please check if you are put on the medication.

Another warning -- the dye used in the thyroid pills most times are cross-contaminated with GLUTEN. I have been on a mission calling drug companies to find out about a problem with the what is in the dyes they use. And I was alarmed to find the drug manufactures are buying the dyes from companies that run gluten on the same lines they are making their other drugs, and the reason for cross contamination. I was allerted by my doctor when she said some patients can't tolerate the dyes in the colored pills.

SO -- the solution is -- have your thyroid medication made by a COMPOUNDING RX. They will make it free of all the things that can be making us sick(er).

My last thought is -- If you are having a thyroid problem give up the SOY (it's bad for many of us and many docs give out the wrong info about it). Some here don't believe it -- just a thought to play it safe.

[Danijela]

hey there!

well just as i had thought the thyroid test came back negative.... following the trend i guess

i still don't have an appoint with the endo guy i called them and he said hopefully in late august or september i don't want to go through another summer like this....

I am going to be making a seperate post about insulin levels if anyone has any advice for me please respond here or check out my new posting

thanks so much for all your support!!

[prinsessa]

I just wanted to respond to your post about the blood test being normal. My mom thinks I have hypothyroidism (constantly tired, cold, dry skin, etc.). She gave me some info on hypothyroidism. It said that the blood tests are not 100% accurate (I guess like with gluten intolerance). There is a test you can do yourself where you take your temperature every morning before you get out of bed. I think if your temp is under 97.2 for 3 days you might have an underactive thyroid. I'm not totally sure about the specifics, but you could look for more info online or ask the doctor about it. Good luck!

[momandgirls]

You mention that your thyroid tests came back negative...which tests did they do exactly?

[Danijela]

You mention that your thyroid tests came back negative...which tests did they do exactly?

Hey Momandgirls

I am going to look further into the temp thing i'll have to look it up though especially because in canada we use celcius.

the tests that were run were tsh, t3 and t4

thanks for the great idea!

[momandgirls]

The reason I asked about what tests were run is that Hashimoto's thyroiditis is diagnosed by an elevation of thyroid antibodies with all other thyroid bloodwork being normal. I also have thyroiditis. Thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid gland. It is fairly common (mostly in women) and there is no real treatment. It goes away on its own (I've had it for eight months now and it's not gone yet - I believe it can take up to a couple years). My main symptom is feeling like I'm choking. The only thing to do is try to avoid iodine - iodine won't hurt you if you have it but the thyroid absorbs it so, when you ingest it, your thyroid will get a bit larger. Iodine is found in soy, seafood (actually, it's in anything that comes from the ocean), iodized salt, etc. As a general rule, most people with thyroiditis will eventually get hypothyroidism. It may not happen for several years, though, and hypothyroidism is every easily treated with medication. I would urge you to have the blood test for thyroid antibodies and see an endocrinologist. Good luck!

[CarlaB]

Do a search for Broda Barnes on the internet. He is the doctor who did the research on the basal temperature for the thyroid test. It's how I keep tabs on mine, and I take a thyroid from the health food store. Whenever my doc has taken a thryoid test, it's come out normal because I'm taking care of it on my own.

It does matter what time of the month you take the test as your temp. goes up naturally after ovulation.

[Danijela]

You mention that your thyroid tests came back negative...which tests did they do exactly?

wow i some how missed this response sorry!!!!

i had a tsh t4 and t3

[Guest Robbin]

Carla, I know it has been awhile since you posted this, but what thyroid med do you get at the health food store? I have all the symptoms -cold extremities, hair loss, tender sore throat/neck, low body temp. -my dr. did only the t3, I believe and said it was normal, but I am eating very little, and not much weight loss and the other symptoms-not to mention tiredness-are getting worse. I am disgusted with drs. and really really want to take my health back and not be patronized any longer. Can you all relate?

Danijela, I hope you are getting along better and have some answers. Take care.

[loraleena]

It definitely sounds like thyroid. Make sure you get your thyroid peroxidase antibodies checked. This checks to see if your body is making antibodies against your thyroid. All my tests were normal, except this. This is called Hashimotos Thyroid disease. It is autoimmune and common in celiacs. They should be under 20. The tsh is a completely useless and very inacurate test. Yet, it is the standard among all our brilliant doctors. (HA HA). I suggest you check out the web site of Dr. Lowe.com.

[zip2play]

well just as i had thought the thyroid test came back negative.... following the trend i guess

Don't stop there girl. Have someone sonogram your thyroid. My levels have been checked for over a year. ALWAYS were they normal. But I am cold, tired and have weight creaping up. Just a couple weeks ago did they finally sono my thyroid. I have 8 nodules and a cyst on it. You can have Hypothyroid and have numbers that are normal. Thus far none of my nodules are large enough to do a needle aspiration. But one is getting close. I have to go back in January to have it evaulated again. They did start me on thyroid meds. New studies show multiple nodules can benefit from meds. They should help slow if not stop the growth of them thereby helping lesson the chances of full blown Hashi. Keep pushing them. Thyroid issues can mess up a lot of things.

Monica