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1517452 tn?1290749217

Possible Thyroid Problem?

To give a list of my diagnosed problems, to date:
1 August 2009:  emergency cholesystechtomy
Late January 2010 (forgot the date):  incisional umbilical hernia repair (from lap chole, due to having to extend the umbilical port because of the size of my gall bladder)
3 May 2010:  emergency ERCP and sphictorectomy
Late July 2010:  endoscopy and diagnosis of chronic gastritis

My current symptoms, in no specific order:
* epigastric pain, stronger on right side
* feeling of a knot or ball slightly left of center and slightly lower than the epigastric region of my abdomen
* abdominal itchiness
* nausea
* extreme amounts of gas
* loss of appetite or not feeling hungry
* neck pain
* extreme fatigue and lethargy
* night sweats
* chills
* irregular or non-existent bowel movements
* almost no bowel sounds
* in addition to the sounds stopping, it feels as if movement has stopped down there as well
* EXCESSIVE (talking 50 pounds in three years) weight gain and almost complete inability to lose it  
* joint pain and numbness
* thining hair
* Edema - ankles and feet
* Abdominal swelling

Some things to add to this:
* I have a history of depression.
* I have had a few hemorrhoids in the past
* I have had two abnomal pap smears, but they were 11 years ago  
* I do have a history of heavy periods

Also of note:  I have had my blood tested for just about everything through my normal physician.  My thyroid always comes back normal, but the most recent test did show a BUN/creatine ration of 6:1, almost non-existent bilirubin levels in my blood (it actually said <0.1% on the read out), and small ketones in my urine.

What is the liklihood of me having a thyroid condition?  I match almost every single hypothyroid symptom, but every time I am tested for it, I don't show the signs of it in my blood.

(there is a more in-depth verions of this in my Journal)
4 Responses
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1517452 tn?1290749217
Nodule specifications:
Lower left pole: 1.4 cm complex
Upper left pole: 7 mm (no status)
Midpole right: 5 mm solid
Inferior right pole:  5 mm partially cystic

Also numerous small ones not counted.

As I wait for an endo referral and fine needle aspiration:
Any chance of cancer?  I've read numerous nodules decrease the chance, but solid and complex can be of concern.

Thanks.
Helpful - 0
1517452 tn?1290749217
Well, thank God I listened to myself and pushed for the thyroid ultrasound.  I have numerous nodules, two enormous, in my thyroid.  I've also now tested positive for Fifth Disease, which was suspected I had 30 years ago.  Therefore, I have been sick for THIRTY years with a thyroid disease, most likely Hashimoto's.  In addition, now that I have lost my gall bladder and am now suffering from malabsorption because my intestines are barely working, I may be in myxedema coma!  More tests and more money and more time off work are now required.  I strongly suggest that doctor's quit relying solely upon blood tests when a person had every darn symptom of hypothyroidism, but all blood tests are normal.  If I had not have FORCED my doctor into these tests, God only knows how much longer I'd have to suffer before dying...and I'm only 33!  So...thanks for nothing there, doc.
Helpful - 0
1517452 tn?1290749217
No offense, Dr Lupo, but my labs were only for TSH and not free T3 or T4.  Therefore, my thyroid isn't really being tested.  I am going to pursue an appointment with an endocrinologist, but I am trying to make sure I am not a hyperchodriac before doing so.
I will add two more symptoms that came about yesterday.
It feels as if something is closing my throat off from the inside, down around the area where my neck and torso meet.  My neck has been getting bigger for years, but I've always thought it was fat from weight gain.  Any chance this is a goiter or thyroiditis?
I read about the iodine strip test, so I thought I'd give it a try yesterday.  I painted two strips on my upper thigh - one strip, two separate times - and both times, the iodine was completely gone within 3 hours.  What exactly does that tell me, as the info on the strip test was limited.
Helpful - 0
97953 tn?1440865392
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Symptoms are nonspecific.
Labs are very specific - with normal thyroid labs, your symptoms are not likely due to a thyroid problem.
Helpful - 0

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