My Symptoms

[complience]

I suffer from very Dry skin, Chilblain's, Poor circulation in my arms, hands and feet and my appetite seems to go up and down very erratically.  

I had a blood test for Thyroid dysfunction but was told the results were normal.

do my symptoms sound like a thyroid problem?

Up until 2 months ago.. I was a very fit and health 22yrd.
Exercised regularly
Don't smoke, Drink, Drugs.

[arley]

Thanks for answering me. I am sorry I confused you. This is the findings of my ultasound. Both thyroid lobes mildly enlarged Right lobe 4.5x1.5x1.3 cm left lobe 4.8x1.5x1.3 cm with subcentermeter nodules or cysts with debris in lower ole measuring 0.5,0.3 and 0.3cm. A LYMPH NODE IS NOTED LATERAL TO UPPER POLE OF LEFT LOBE OF THYROID GLAND measuring 2cmx0.7x0.7cm. Both thyroid lobes are somewhat HETEROGENEOUS. can you understand what all this means. Could I have thyroid cancer or more likely lymphoma. biopsy is on tue 12/1`9/06

[arley]

Thank you for the information.I have a question for you what is the difference between a 2cmenlarged lymph node in lobe of thyroid and a nodule in lobe of thyroid. Is there any difference. Please let me know.

[utahmomma]

Your question is confusing because the lymph node is different than your thyroid.  I can't imagine a lymph node growing in your thyroid or your thyroid growing around a lymph node (but stranger things have happened, I guess).  

What I'm assuming (and we all know what that means) is you *either* have an enlarged lymph node near your thyroid or you have a nodule (a growth consisting of solid tissue, fluid, or both) in your thyroid that is near a lymph node.  

Sounds like either way it is something that needs to be biopsied.

[utahmomma]

You might want to post this question on the patient to patient forum as there are A LOT of people on that forum going through very similar circumstances right now.

I don't know firsthand about lymphoma but I do know about thyroid cancer as I and the majority of my family have all been through it.  Usually there are NO symptoms for thyroid cancer.

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Please know that 95% of thyroid nodules are non-cancerous and keep this in mind.  
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You asked about thyroid cancer and any symptoms so here is the short version of my story:

Mine nodule (small - 4mm) was found on a completely unrelated CT scan followed by a thyroid ultrasound.  Since the nodule was "mixed" or complex (solid and fluid) I opted to have it out.  It was papillary carcinoma.  

My sister's suspicious nodule was found just a few months after mine.  My sister was in a minor traffic accident and had a chest x-ray which saw a shadow in her thyroid.  She had a follow up ultrasound because of my cancer.  She also had papillary carcinoma but hers had lymph node involvement (she is the youngest at 24 when it was diagnosed and she was Stage II).  

The rest of the family went in for ultrasounds after our diagnosis.  Final result:  4 with cancer (thyroids removed), 2 with precancerous nodules (thyroids removed), 1 thyroid completely nodule free (only male tested -- just an interesting fact).  

Only one of the family had ANY thyroid lab abnormalities as she was diagnosed as having a slight case of Hashimoto's (she was one of the 4 with cancer) - the rest of us were completely normal on our labs.

If the nodule is thyroid related you will want to find a good endocrinologist in addition to your ENT surgeon.  If you do end up having thyroid surgery you will need to be on thyroid replacement hormones.

I didn't have the biopsy but two of my sisters did and they said it wasn't a bad test to have performed.  There are a lot of people on the patient to patient forum who have had biopsies recently.

Here's some information that may help you with some questions for your doctor:
http://www.endocrineweb.com/
http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/dept/thyroid/

REMEMBER - 95% OF THYROID NODULES ARE NOT CANCEROUS.  Take a deep breath and read some of the research so you can ask your doctor some questions with a clear head.

My best to you.

[arley]

Hi I went to see ENT surgeon again today. Got very upset. He said that I need biopsy of enlarged 2cm lymph node in upper pole of left lobe oof thyroid. He needs to find out if its lmyphoma or thyroid cancer. He said I can't feel it cause it is very deep. I am so scared of having biopsy done. I am having it done on 12/20/06. I am on blood thinners which I have to stop taking 5 days before. Wouldn't I have some symptoms if it was lymphoma or thyroid cancer. I only get night sweats and sometimes a twisting pain in left side of neck. The night sweats are not drenching either please give me some of your input on this matter. Thanks

[utahmomma]

No, but it's considered a really good reason to retain an attorney.  :-)

Find another doctor - preferably an endocrinologist who specializes in thyroids.  Get a copy of those labs the doctor screwed up on so your new (and improved!) endo can have something to compare it to.

You need a doctor who will be your PARTNER in health care.  Fire this jerk and move on (quickly).

[complience]

Okay actualy i enquired further and found that a mistake happened (at best.. i suspect i was actively lied too) and my thyroid test did not come back 'normal' It actualy suggested  under active thyroid levels and stated that i should be retested..

This was 6 months ago.. (is it still considered murder.. if you're doctor really really deserves it?)

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

If thyroid was normal, likely it is something else.  Checking thyroid antibodies would complete the thyroid eval.

[tinkerbell 2006]

Forget the word "normal" Can you post the test results and ranges??

Great website here

www.stopthethyroidmadness.com

[arley]

I am a 53 year old female who has CAD. Had a stent put in LAD artery last december suffered a stroke 3 weeks later left with right sided weakness and no sensation on right side. since In May had diverticulitis and since then suffering from night sweats. had a sonogram of carotid arteries afew weeks ago a 1.8 lymph node was noted near left lobe of thyroid. I was sent to see a ENT surgeon who had a ultrasound of my thyroid done. Here are results both thyroid lobes are mildly enlarged and somewhat heterogeneous. The left lobe had subcentimeter nodules or cysts with debris in the lower pole. A 2x0.7x0.7 node was seen lateral to the upper pole of the left lobe of thyroid. ENT surgeon wants a needle biopsy done. Must be taken off blood thinners for 5 days before procedure. Do you think the night sweats have something to do with the enlarged node. I am so scared Please help me by giving me input on what this all may be. I also had a cat scan of stomach afew days ago waiting for results