So I've got a swollen thyroid...

stayawake

stayawake

New member
Way more info than most of you want to know I'm sure...

So I have had this problem swallowing for two days, and noticed a large lump on the front of my neck yesterday. Went to a clinic today and got some blood work done, and will be having an ultrasound soon. Seems I have a swollen thyroid! This could explain why I've been depressed, irritable, have no energy, have put on lots of weight dispite watching my diet and exercise since the baby and why my periods are WACKY when I've always been perfectly on time, why the skin on my hands is cracking... EVERYTHING that's been crazy with me for the last year all seems to make sense now. I just don't know what happens next or if it can be 'fixed'. Part of me is a little relieved that all the weight I've put on isnt' soley because of me... there is a reason! :thumbup:

So even though I'm cranky and sad, I'm a little hopeful that at least something can be done!
Anyone here have thyroid issues?? I'd love to know more...
 
I don't have any personal experience but how wonderful that you have a reason!! I know there is thyroid medication out there but I really don't know any more than that. I know girls here have issues w/ their thyroid so I'm sure someone will be along soon to help you. Hope they get you fixed up and you start feeling better soon, Lindy!!!
 
oh lindy! sorry your going through this!! at least it looks like there is a logical explanation! all i know is if you have to have it removed and have replacment therapy make sure your MD puts you on name brand synthroid...no generics. when i nursed i used to adjust people on this med after bloodwork and i've seen too many cases where people could not regulate on generics. that is the only med i would highly suggest name brand only. there's my experience and two cents.
 
thanks lizzy for that advice. :) We have a good drug plan which covers 'name brand' meds, and I know some meds that are used in the states are not available in Canada - we have different regulations but I'll definetly ask a lot of questions about whatever meds I get! I'm thinking they'll probably put me on something. I am being refered to an endocrynologist (sp?) so I'll know more after I meet with her/him.
 
Our mom had this but I don't have any more information than that...I don't remember what made hers go away but she had it for awhile. I'm sorry you have to deal with this...keep us updated!
 
My mum takes thyroid medication, and it takes a while to fine tune the right dose. Once the brand and dose were matched up, she began to feel so much better! STRONGLY echo Lizzy on the name brand, not generics. The generics made her er, more unique than usual.

Hang in there, Lindy, ask tons of questions, and hopefully you will be back to feeling great quickly!
 
DH started having some chest pains last year and after a full work up it was discovered he had an inactive thyroid. He takes a pill every morning (and will probably have to the rest of his life) and has to have his levels checked every so often. He says after he started taking the medication he realized how crappy he'd been feeling before. I hope yours can be cleared up as easily.
 
Good luck with everything ... I have definitely heard that it can take some time to get the meds in order, but hopefully after that you'll start to feel MUCH better. I'm glad you have an answer!!!
 
I have a friend who had pretty much the exact same "story" as you. After she had a baby, she had a big lump on her neck and was experiencing the same symptoms. She ended up having her thyroid removed and is on thyroid medicine. She says she can immediately tell when her medication needs to be adjusted based on the way she is feeling.

Good luck! I hope you start feeling better soon.
 
I don't have any advice, just wanted to say that I'm glad you finally have an answer! Hope it won't be anything too serious! (((hugs))) and healthy vibes!
 
I just had my thyroid taken out in April. They told me that once it's big like that, it's hard to shrink it. They MIGHT be able to stop the growth, but they told me that it would be best just to yank it out. Of course, that means that you'll be on medication the rest of your life, but at least you'll have the correct hormone level in your body. You'll feel SO much better! Good luck!
 
Ahh - the lovely thyroid gland! How can such a small body part wreak so much havoc?

I had my thryoid removed at the end of May because I was hyperthyroid. With hyperthyroidism (which I would suspect is your problem, since your thyroid is enlarged), there are a few treatment options. The most common treatment is to take some radioactive iodine, which will knock out your thryoid, and then you will be on replacement drugs the rest of your life. This treatment wasn't the best option for me, though, because they recommend that you not get pregnant for at least 6 months to a year after the radiation treatment, and we didn't want to wait that long.

There are also drugs you can take to regulate an overactive thryoid, but again, there are some risks here for pregnancies and etc. So after talking with DH and my endocrinologist (who was AWESOME), we decided that surgery was my best option. I had a wonderful surgeon, and everything went really smoothly. I just saw my endo for the first time post-surgery last week. My thyroid levels are the best they've ever been, and I feel wonderful - the best I've felt in two years! It has been such a blessing - and DH loves the new happy me too!

My advise is to make sure they do the T3, T4, and TSH blood tests. Talk to your endo about doing an uptake and scan. Ask lots of questions, do your own research, read studies, and make the best decision for YOU! My endo was so good about answering all my questions, talking to me on the phone, taking e-mails from me, meeting with both me and DH, drawing pictures, and etc. And, he explained things clearly while treating me like an adult. It was so nice!

Good luck with everything. And, of course, if you're not hyperthyroid, none of this will apply, so just ignore me! :thumbup: Hope everything goes well for you. Once you get it figured out, you will feel sooo much better. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
 
Well, after the ultrasound and blood tests, everything appears 'normal', they say... which just frustrates me, because every doctor I saw, even the ultrasound technition said 'wow, I think your thyroid is really enlarged!' but the tests they did at the hospital didn't show anything. So I have to wait for my appointment with the endocrynologist to see what's up. I don't care if i have to take meds, or surgery or what - I just really want an answer, and for someone to say 'you're not crazy' and tell me there is a reason why I'm feeling this way!
 
Wow - that is frustrating! My endo did tell me that there is such a thing as thyroiditis that is just an enlarged thyroid and is usually caused by a virus and usually goes away on its own. So, I guess that's a possiblity. But, it seems like you've been dealing with symptoms for quite a while. Hmm. Hope your endo is able to help you figure it out. I would guess from the blood work they did that they have ruled out cancer, which is good.
 
stayawake said:
Well, after the ultrasound and blood tests, everything appears 'normal', they say... which just frustrates me, because every doctor I saw, even the ultrasound technition said 'wow, I think your thyroid is really enlarged!' but the tests they did at the hospital didn't show anything. So I have to wait for my appointment with the endocrynologist to see what's up. I don't care if i have to take meds, or surgery or what - I just really want an answer, and for someone to say 'you're not crazy' and tell me there is a reason why I'm feeling this way!
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My thyroid was functioning normally as well, it was just huge. I was diagnosed with "multinodular goiter".
 
Oh wow! I hope you get some answers soon! I can't imagine how frustrating that is. Just keep hounding them until they tell you something!
 
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