thyroid nodules

[youvegottobekidding]

I've got slightly below-normal thyroid hormones (particularly low T4), but fairly low TSH as well.
I've just had an ultrasound scan that found nodules in my thyroid gland.

I've read that having low thyroid hormones and low TSH as well is fairly common with lyme disease, but what about the nodules?

Any suggestions on what I should ask at the endocrinologist appointment?

My GP didn't want to give me a thyroid supplement, even though the hormones are below normal, because the TSH is normal so he said "everything is OK". I AM NOT OK! I am so exhausted I can hardly stand up lots of the time, my brain works in slow motion (as does my intestine) and my hair is falling out.

Can they test the pituitary glad to find out why it isn'ìt making more TSH?

[Ricobord]

I have heard of others with swollen glands, but I haven't had any.  Only one of my thyroid numbers was a bit high.  I think it was the T4. We just retested it and it's back to normal. Phew.

[JackieCalifornia]

I'm liking your doc a lot.  Not only thoughtful and logical, but also explains it all sensibly.

I too was on thyroid supps for a while, and it really helped.  

This is progress!

[youvegottobekidding]

Hi folks,

I've had my appointment with the Lyme disease doc at last. He said about ten percent of people with lyme disease become hypothyroid, and my profile of low T3/T4 and also low TSH is typical, as the bacteria attack not only the thyroid gland itself but also the pituitary. This means the normal relationship beteween TSH and the thyroid hormones breaks down. It is also typical teo get a lot of volatility, with thyroid levels fluctuating very noticeably even from week to week.

He said fort this reason it is best to supplement with a very low dose, which will make me feel better but avoid the risk of having too much on my "high weeks".

Meanwhile I have to see an endocrinologist and have a biopsy to make sure the nodules are not cancerous. I'm sure they won't be but, Oh how annoying.

Anyway thank you again to all of you for your very good advice and reassurances.
I'll report back on progress, though I had my first tablet today and the doc said it is such a low dose that I will take several weeks to feel the effect. He wants to take it very slowly and cautiously, and not risk increasing the dose too fast (if at all).

[youvegottobekidding]

Thanks so much for your advice.

I'm reassured to hear that this is most likely just yet another weird complication of Lyme disease. I'll report back on what the Lyme doc says.

I use mag to help with pain. I take a huge dose and cannot get by without it. It helps me for muscle and neurological pain, but not joint pains.
I haven't noticed any gland pains, but I have read that some people get back pains which are from their adrenal glands hurting.

Mojogal, I also have a lump in my liver. I've had several ultrasound scans and they  always comment on it but say it is nothing to worry about. I have an amaxing amount of breast lumps too - my boobs are like 2 bags of marbles! Again, regularly checked but always seem to be nothing important. And like you, I am convinced they are all down to Lyme disease.

[JackieCalifornia]

About the pain, are you taking magnesium supplements?

They are I think mostly for muscle aches and pains, but it really helped me a lot, tho I don't tend to have a lot of physical pain since early on in Lyme, when I hurt ALL over.   I felt like roadkill.  

Don't know what the Mg would do for joint pain, if anything.

Have you tried sauna or at least hot baths?  If you put epsom salts in a hot bath, it is a way to absorb Mg through the skin.  Lyme bacteria use up Mg, so ....

[JackieCalifornia]

I like your doc!

[mojogal]

Low Thyroid is common in Lyme,I got it all of sudden and the nodules. I had the fine needle aspiration and as Jackie, all was fine. I also have a small mass on my liver and a hoard of other things that just have to be the Lyme, I mean what are the chances of getting so many things at the same time. I am lucky my LLMD has that outlook and we are going to wait and see how my treatment for Lyme affects all these other illnesses. If there is nothing happening, I will seek other avenues. The worst thing for me is every gland in my body is swollen and sometimes when the doctor isn't checking them the pain is just there and horrible. I wonder if anyone else had that?

[JackieCalifornia]

There are, I think, different approaches to treating thyroid issues, and one is what your doc said, that some of the numbers line up okay, others don't, but no big deal.

I've read (since my thyroid was acting up for a while too) that some people make enough thyroid hormone, but their bodies don't break it into the necessary fragments to be useful, hence no matter how much is floating around your body, it doesn't work.  Kind of like putting a can of soup in front of each person at dinner but not giving them a can opener.

The nodules can be of concern because they can indicate potential cancer, but docs watch out for that only to avoid overlooking something relatively rare that they could have and should have taken care of.  I had some nodules, they did a 'fine needle aspiration biopsy' (stuck a really skinny syringe into a nodule, took out some of the fluid, sent it to the lab, and everything was fine).  Takes a few minutes, doesn't hurt, no big deal.  

I haven't read much on Lyme and thyroid lately, but there is some interaction there, it seems.  There is a health writer named Mary Shomon who has a lot of stuff about thyroid posted on her longtime blog, I think hosted by about [dot] com, that may be of interest, tho I don't remember if she touches on Lyme.  

I would definitely ask the endocrinologist his/her opinion about the issues your GP blew off, without making it seem like you're asking the endo to criticize your GP.  You know how touchy they are about THAT.

Somewhere along the road to my Lyme diagnosis, a neurologist (who totally missed the whole Lyme aspect) did a brain scan on me (I think MRI) and said I have a small nodule in my pituitary but not to let anybody get any bright ideas about surgery, because apparently it's not uncommon to find pituituary nodules, it's just that nobody knew they were around in such numbers until the MRI was invented.  Try not to worry, it's just part of the drill to go through all this.

It may take a Lyme doc to put the thyroid issues into context, since the endocrinologist will be looking at your thyroid and not at you as a whole, in most cases, that being just what specialists do.  I would do what you are, tho, following up and going down the bunny trails to mark off issues like this from your list of Stuff To Be Concerned About, so you either identify it and deal with it, or put it aside as not critical.

An LLMD type doc should, with input from the endo's exam and testing, be able to put it into the bigger picture of what's up overall.

Let us know how you do and what they say, okay?  You're doing what I would do.