Thyroid Nodules cc: Thyroid Forum

[Kim60]

Hi everyone..I'll try to keep this short.
Hope you're all doing well, this was also posted to Thyroid forum but I remember how all you were sooo helpful before my Chiari surgery..I'm doing much better post op but now I have a new issue :o/
I am just finding out I have thyroid nodules/enlarged thyroid/thyroid cysts.
I had surgery for Chiari Malformation in June 2010. During my post op MRI (Feb.) a thyroid nodule was noted on the report.
My dr. ordered an ultrasound.  I had the ultrasound a couple of weeks ago and I have 3 or 4 nodules (6mm to 13mm insize) along with cysts and enlargement of both sides.  (sorry I don't have the report in front of me so I'll do my best).
My PCP referred me to an ENDO.  They said they need my PCP to order some blood work but they can schedule me for May 24th.  YES I SAID MAY.. Is this normal to wait this long..I'll be going for blood work next week ( I believe it's for TSH, T3 & T4) not sure of anything else.
I have read on the Chiari forum that many of us have thyroid or autoimmune disorders and I have been having many symptoms that seem to match up with what I've found on this forum.  (tired but can't sleep, night sweats, heart pounding, my mind is thinking about a million things at once, exhausted but wired at the same time, no weight loss although I've been exercising pretty faithfully since the beginning of January, also I've noticed my hair getting thin on the top but more growing on my CHIN! ..among other symptoms)...sorry I was going to keep this short.
Would love to hear anyone's thoughts on this.  Am I supposed to suffer with all these symptoms until May? I'm hoping once I get the blood work done things move along a little faster.
Sorry so long.
Thanks for listening.
Take care,
Kim in NH

[tailoong]

Hi Kim, I’m in Singapore and have been with my cousin’s treatment in his thyroid.  He has difficulty swallowing before or breathing and you know Dr. Ranjiv in Mount Elizabeth told the family that he needed the support he can get from us his family. My cousin has recovered now after such time we went to his operation.
Hope it helps and hoping for your fast recovery too.

[*Stormy*]

I know what you mean by not knowing which condition is causing what...that was the source of my frustration too! If you look up the symptoms of Hashimotos you will find many common symptoms to Chiari. I know about the racing feeling and I believe that can be Hashis too b/c what is common with it is that the AB attack the thyroid for awhile and it doesn't function properly and the suddenly when the AB's take a rest your thyroid will sputter to life and you can actually go hyper for awhile. Symptoms of that are heart racing, not being able to catch your breath, being jittery and usually you get hot. When it goes back the other way, a common symptom of being hypo is being cold. However, all of these things have been reported with Chiari too. It is hard for me to know what is what b/c right after the surgery my meds finally got sorted out with the thyroid and I don't have those issues as much, but again, I don't know which one is the one that worked. Having nodules though is a very common occurrence with Hashi's so I would push the test b/c at least then you will have a reason for some of the things that are happening. Especially if your TSH is high, ask them to run the AB test.

Carolyn

[Kim60]

Hi Carolyn,
thanks for getting back to me.  Not sure if they're checking TPO. I guess I can ask them to add it onto the list (I hope).
I just want to know and mostly I want to sleep for more than 4 hours a night.
I am so tired but so awake at the same time. Last night I was noticing that I could not catch my breath or couldn't take a deep breath so that kept me awake or woke me up. As soon as I wake up my mind is racing like crazy.  Sometimes I'm freezing and sometimes I get a quick hot flash and sweat.  Is this normal with thyroid?  I couldn't have gone back into menopause (could I)?  
Not sure if that the CM or the thyroid. This is so dumb.
Hopefully it will get straightened out soon.
I'll keep you posted.

Take care,
Kim

[*Stormy*]

HI Kim

Well it took me that long to see an ENDO too..but I am in Canada and we are pretty famous for our long waiting lists for specialists.

Are they also testing for a TPO antibody? This will tell you whether you have Hashimotos (auto immune thyroid disease) and I think it is important to know that, even if it doesn't change the treatment much. The good news is that once you have the blood work done, your PCP can start some medication and if it is monitored and checked properly, that can ease your symptoms. In fact, by the time I saw an ENDO, I found it a waste of time b/c by then my Dr had got me on the right dose of synthyroid and there wasn't much the ENDO needed to do. However, your nodules are a lot larger than mine so I think the ENDO's  primary concern may be to do a fine needle aspiration of them.

Sadly, my thinning hair hasn't got much better since the medication and I have been on the right dose for about a year. Thankfully it hasn't got much worse. I also would get horrible cystic acne from Hashi's which happens less often now but still does happen.

It is really good though, to sort through the symptoms on what is causing what...though that is hard being a Chiarian!! I remember going through the exact thing after surgery.... make sure your Dr is testing your levels fairly often until you get your TSH around 1.

Carolyn