Possible thyroid problem...scared.

Ginalynne22 · 03-10-2006, 07:18 AM

For the past two weeks, I have been having trouble swallowing. It comes and goes but feels like I have a lump in my throat. I finally went to the dr today and he did thyroid bloodwork and I have a thyroid ultrasound in the morning. Anyone experience these symptoms? If so, what it your thyroid and what was the treatment? TIA.

kringstraw · 03-10-2006, 06:30 PM

Sorry you're having to go through this. I'm hypothyroid and have been on Synthroid for years. It's cheap and has no side effects and is a tiny little pill, very easy to take. My thyrod has never been enlarged.

My aunt had a thyroid goiter, they were able to shrink w/ meds (not sure what ones). This was 20 years ago and she's never had any trouble with it since, just takes her synthroid everyday.

My sister had a tumor on her thyroid. They did a number of different test to see if it was benign or malignant. Every test they did pointed to a malignancy. Even a needle bioplsy. So they did a thyroidectomy and the tumor was benign. They only had to take 1/2 her thyroid, but they supress the other 1/2 by giving her synthroid because she is at risk for growing another tumor if they let the thyroid produce hormones for her.

I'm glad you're getting it checked out. Thyroid hormones effect a lot of different things in your body and it's really not good when they're out of whack.

Hope everything is okay.

alaskaflygirl · 03-13-2006, 11:18 PM

Hi there,

I'm probably the last person you would prefer to hear from regarding your fears, but I hope I can put things in perspective for you. :-)

I, too, had a "lump" in my neck that interefered with my swallowing. However, it didn't come and go like yours, but rather seemed to grow steadily over the period of months (as do most thyroid nodules). Mine turned out to be cancerous, and was removed a year and a half ago.

There are two things I'd like you to keep in mind: first of all, thyroid cancer is pretty darn rare. All but one type of thyroid cancer (which is the rarest and ONLY affects the elderly) are extremely slow-growing when compared to other cancers. Secondly, the fact that your nodule popped up so suddenly, has been bothering you for such a short amount of time, and isn't constantly bothersome are all good signs, statistically.

Your best bet is to find a really good, trusted endicrinologist. Be warned: doctors have a tendency to minimalize thyroid cancer. If I had a dime for every time said "Oh, that's the GOOD cancer!", I wouldn't be up to my ears in cancer bills. If the ultrasound is suspicious, don't hesitate to get a biopsy. And if the biopsy is suspicious, get it taken out.

If you need someone to talk to about this, don't hesitate to e-mail me: spacelovertq@hotmail.com (use the subject "Thyroid").

Good luck and keep us posted!

Ginalynne22 · 03-17-2006, 10:44 PM

My Thyroid Ultrasound Showed No Nodules. My Bloodwork Was Normal. However I Have An Enlarged Thyroid And Am Being Sent To Have A Nuclear Thyroid Scan. I Am So Scared!

CelticLabyrinth · 03-24-2006, 06:55 PM

Firstly, don't freak out!!! I have hypothyroid(I was diagnosed three years ago). I have a goiter, and I have had a goiter since I was 8 years old. All of my blood tests would always come back fine because the "goiter" is really just my thyroid doing it's best to compensate. When I first saw a specialist and she told me it could be cancer I FREAKED! Trust me, it's not something to worry about. I know lots and lots of people who have gone through this same situationr- some people have goiters for no really good reason!!! As for the nodules, they are almost always benign! My doctor wouldn't even order an ultrasound until my goiter had shrunk to half it's size! Relax!!! :-)