Brandi,
I'm glad you got through the ultrasound and that the tech was reassuring. Just take each step as it comes. I'm hopeful you'll be right as rain sooner rather than later. Nearly everything that can go wrong with your thyroid is very treatable.
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Brandi,
I'm glad you got through the ultrasound and that the tech was reassuring. Just take each step as it comes. I'm hopeful you'll be right as rain sooner rather than later. Nearly everything that can go wrong with your thyroid is very treatable.
This is an excellent point and very true. It can certainly be a pain in the arse from time to time, but it is treatable. Best wishes Brandi!Quote:
Originally Posted by indysteel
It is amazing how many people have met just in the past week that have or had some thyroid issue in their life. I am glad there is so much support out there.
My biggest question that will never be answered is why this was not caught before it got to this stage. But then who knows? I have always thought I was very in tune with my body and even I didn't notice it!
I really want to thank you women for being there. For many years you have all been so supportive. And the collective knowledge is priceless!
Ok 1 question has anyone heard or know if eating curcifurous veggies can cause goiter growth. I just heard this but have a hard time believing such SUPER veggies can be bad for you if you have thyroid issues. I love all veggies and would hate to think I should stop eating them!
Tomorrow I see the ent to talk about a biopsy. I would really like some answers. Is 3 weeks or more normal to find out what is wrong?
Three weeks doesn't surprise me. It took about 7 weeks to get my Graves Disease dx, between the various tests I had and doctors I saw. Keep us posted and hang in there.
Three weeks from the time of biopsy is what I experienced with my breast. Those are long weeks. Try not to worry. You will be okay.
Trying to keep my spirits up. My brain can get the better of me. I have moments of panic then come back to earth. Jan 7th i am having a biopsy. Then we go from there.
{{{{Brandi}}}} Hang in there!
Thank you. I am my own worst enemy for sure. And in light of what has happened on Friday I am very emotional. Hard not to be. I know anyone of those people would trade me right now. I need to keep things in perspective. On top of everything I got a touch of food poisoning on sat that did not hit me till after we went to a christmas party and never got sleep sat night. Wicked it was. I feel better now and slept like a log last night. So much so I snored my husband out of bed. I think this swollen thyroid has made me snore more then I normally do.
My best friend has the next week and half off so I am hoping we get some girlfriend time. That always helps.
Hi Brandi, here's a couple of links about thyroid and cruciferous veggies..
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA355093
http://www.livestrong.com/article/49...yroid-control/
Thank you snap!
I've been reading but been silent due to handling a new job and a new city.
::hugs::
I have a question for those on synthroid or the like.
I had my dosage dropped about 5(ish) weeks ago and am not about 7 weeks late on my period. Has anyone else dealt with this? (and no ,not pregnant). I had thyroid cancer back in 2003 and had a total thyroidectamy with partial parathyroid gland destruction.
What is parathyroid?
Brandi, most people have four parathyroid glands that are on the surface of the thyroid gland. The parathyroid glands control the calcium in your bloodstream.
Had my biopsy today. Ok didn't enjoy that. First 3 needles I thought "Wow no big, don't know why some people were warning me about this". OMG the 4th almost made me jump out of my seat. I wanted to cry for a minute there. Came home and took a 2 hour nap after that. Woke up to my sweet kitty curled up in my arm pit. Felt better instantly. Hoping for results this week. Will post what happens.
(((Brandi))). Hang in there; I hope you learn something soon.
Ok I learned that a biopsy is not my favorite thing! But worth it. They found no cancer And at this point want me to come back in 9 months to recheck my thyroid with another ultrasound. Or if I notice a change prior to that. I guess I am ok with this. Can you have this and it never turns into anything? Can it go away? So many questions. Thank you all for your support by the way.
Brandi, I'm extremely relieved that it is not cancer.
But, I do have to otherwise wonder about the decision to wait 9 months for a recheck. Thyroids don't just get enlarged for no reason, and the fact that they haven't determined a reason is somewhat bothersome, at least to me, especially since you have some symptoms seemingly consistent with abnormal thyroid function. In the very least, I'd suggest talking to your doc (I forget; are you seeing an endo?) about having bloodwork redone in a few months. Does your thyroid still feel enlarged at all to you? Is it impairing your breathing or swallowing?
The nodule is what has made my thyroid enlarged according to the ENT I am seeing. The endo is like a 3 month wait to get in and the ENT came highly recommended from a few different people and my husband. I will ask about the blood work though. Thank for your opinion.
Some nodules can produce extra thyroid hormone, distinct from the thyroid hormone that your pituitary gland produces. Hashimoto's can cause nodules, too (I think). I'm not sure if your blood work conclusively ruled out either of those options, but again, I'm concerned because if memory serves, you weren't feeling all that great even before you realized that your thyroid was enlarged. If I were in your shoes, I might at least make an appointment with the endo. If in three months time, you feel good, then skip it, but if you still feel off (trouble sleeping, hot or cold, anxiety, heart palpitations or a racing heart, hair loss, fatigue, depression, dry or oily skin), then go through with the appointment and see what an endo says.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandi
In any event, I'm really glad it's not cancer. I hope you already feel tons better. Just keep us posted if anything else develops or changes.
I went to an ENT in 2007, for other reasons and he discovered I had nodules on my thyroid. He sent me to an endo, who did ultrasounds 6 months apart for 2 years. After nothing had changed, she said she'll just keep feeling them and eventually, maybe do a biopsy. She also said that 50% of the people over age 50 have thyroid nodules!This same doctor treats me for my osteoporosis, and I think next time I go for my Prolia shot, I will discuss doing a more in depth thyroid blood work panel. I also have had many of the symptoms of thyroid disease, and no one has suggested this. I had a basic panel done years ago, and of course, my PCP said nothing was amiss. I still wonder if my "fibromyalgia" symptoms are really thyroid disease:physical manifestations of anxiety, heart palps, sweats, weird muscle aches. I never had any of the tiredness and "brain fog" of fibromyalgia and I think this was just a convenient way to rid of me.
I can't tell you how many times I have asked if there was a connection between my symptoms and my thyroid. They say my levels are perfect though. That I could not ask for better levels. And that my symptoms are due to aging or genetics etc.... I swear I have shoved these questions down their throats. Not sure I want to see the Endo that is here. I hear terrible things about him. One he is wishy washy and too layed back. We only have one here that takes my insurance soooo unless I can find someone else not sure.
Brandi, you might ask your ENT to run some bloodwork to screen for the antibodies that are associated with thyroid related autoimmune disease. It is possible for labs to be in a normal range in the presence of such antibodies.
I will do that!
Meow!
Well, I met with my third, and hopefully, last endo today. He's just what I was hoping to find. He listened, didn't talk down to me, and offered understandable answers to my questions. He seems to more closely monitor his patients levels if they aren't yet stable. Plus, he uses an online portal for posting my labs and communication. I just felt a lot more confident talking to him than I did the other two docs. He's not going to push me toward RAI, which is a huge relief.
On a related note, my skin has been really itchy lately and my palms red so he's running some liver tests. sure hope nothing is wrong on that count.
Glad you found someone you like Indy, sounds like he is the one you need. Good luck on the liver tests!
Yay Brandi! Glad it's not cancer!
So happy for you, too Indy! Hopefully this one will figure you out!
I'm still feeling good. My endo appt is in 2 weeks. I don't feel bad or anything, but I'm tired of waiting.
That sounds lovely. I do like my endo, but have yet to find one with online communication like that. It sounds awesome.Quote:
Originally Posted by indysteel
Well, it's been a while since you have seen me on this thread. I hope all of you are getting the attention of those that need your attention. Go Patients!
I'm feeling like I'm at my wits end almost. It's been good that I have not had to come here to complain or get advice etc. However, at my last endo appt. , now about 2 months away previous. He told me to cut my dose in half, so from 10mg to 5 mg once a day. I have since lost a job, become more brain foggy, not remembering, short attention span, some bone aches and lost over or at least 5 pounds. I'm sure there is more. My next appointment isn't until the 20th which will not be here soon enough. I can't wait to tell him to put me back at 10 mg so I can be myself again.
Those that have had to deal with doctors experimenting with your chemistry. Now I understand fully. It's no fun for sure. I have told my hubby that the night before my next appointment to give myself a full 10 mg. he says to wait until I go see him. Aargh! Not sure how I will make it.
Anyway, that is what is happening in my life these days. Hope to be a better person again after my appointment. Thanks for listening.
Red Rock
I don't think I have weighed in on this thread yet, but do have thyroid issues myself. Please call and leave a message for your doctor that your symptoms have worsened dramatically (be specific) since the medication change, and that you, at the very least, need to go back on the old dosage until another treatment is devised and plan to do so unless you hear back with a different treatment option. At my practice I leave messages with the doctor's nurse. If you did better on 10mg, then start doubling your dose and get a refill request sent in if you don't have enough to last until the 20th. No need to wait until the 20th to take action if you are suffering.
Red Rock, I hope you get better!
((((Red Rock)))). I'm with Grits. Call your doc and see if you can, in the very least, get blood drawn sooner rather than later to see where your levels are so that you can make an appropriate dosing change. I'm sorry about your job, too. Hang in there and keep us posted.
I'm telling you; better health through chemistry is tough. I've played around with my own Methimazole dosing (reducing not increasing) because, quite frankly, if I waited for my bloodwork and a doctor's order, I'd feel lousy most of the time.
Thanks for your input Grits and Indy. I put in a call to the endo early this am after reading your responses. Still have not heard anything from them yet.
My endo appt. went well. She thought everything seemed right on, but ordered an ultrasound just in case there's something hiding. So, I'm getting that done tomorrow. She also ordered more blood tests. My GP never tested for antibodies, so it will be good to know if this is Hashi's. The other problem with my blood doesn't seem to be thyroid related, but she thought it may just be my body recovering from the radiation treatment.
I may never need to go back to her, but she was great. She answered all my questions and put my mind at ease. She also pointed out that I was already hypo at my blood test in 2011, but being under 6, it was "normal " by the old tsh standards. I need to talk to my gp about that.
Hope you're all feeling better!
I hope the ultrasound and antibodies don't reveal anything further. But yikes! A TSH of 6 as the upper end of the standard is higher than I've otherwise seen--even for the old standard.
Oh, I think I wasn't clear. My tsh was over 4 in 2011, so I think that's under the old guidelines, but over the new ones. It was my bad for not looking into for myself, but at that point I didn't know the way I felt was abnormal. It really took my hair falling out to make me see something was wrong. And that is also growing back. Yay.
Oh, and I think the guidelines changed before then. Actually, I think they still have the old guidlines on the lab printout, which I need to tell my NP about.
Yeah; a lot of doctors and labs don't use the new guidelines. It's frustrating. Even with the new reference range, some docs will tell you that while a TSH of either .3 or 3 is considered "normal," most of their patients feel at their best with a TSH closer to 1. Depending on a doctor's attitude, it may be up to the patient to insist that dosing decisions are based, not just on what's "normal," but on how the patient feels.Quote:
Originally Posted by redrhodie
Yup. My endo is refusing to up my dosage (I will be looking for a new endo). My TSH is over 2, and went up to closer to 3 between bloodwork. She says "you can't titrate it that closely." ARGH!
Good luck finding a new doc? Has the current doc asked you how you're feeling at that level? If the answer is "not great," I don't understand her opposition.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blueberry
I don't know that they appreciate the frustration of being dependent on a drug for nearly every bodily function. From sleep to pooping to libido, among many other things. As a patient, you just want to go back to taking "normal" for granted.