Three Long Years

[MistylouWho]

At 29 I was at the top of my game. I was in the best shape of my life. I was running 6 miles a day, had energy, and felt on top of the world. But as the year went on I began to lose that energy. I began to have stomach problems. I attributed it to being inactive as I simply didnt have the energy to get out of the house. Shortly before my 30th birthday I was in the ER with what I thought was appendicitis. They did a CT scan and much to my embarrassment I was just really constipated. Can you imagine how embarrassed I was? The doctor did mention I had a few complex cysts on my ovary. I thought maybe thats why I felt so terrible. After the news we had the cysts removed. I was hopeful that this was going to give me my energy back. No go.
Since then I have been diagnosed with several ailments Hashimotos, Raynauds, etc.
When I was having a thyroid US about a year ago I was told I have a small nodule and it would be watched. In that time my symptoms have gotten worse and new ones are popping up. My limbs always feel like they are falling asleep, my lymp nodes are swollen in neck on the right side for no particular reason. So much that people can see them. I have a weird cough and a nearly constant headach. I have gained 20lbs. Last week my doc did the usual blood tests and gave me a Z Pak for a suspected sinus infection. The Zpak is done, no change in symptoms and the blood tests came back as in the normal range with the exception of my Thyroglobulin which was at 78.
I head back into radiology Saturday for another U/S on my thyroid and swollen glands.  I am bracing myself for the worst. Its been three years since the symptoms began and I felt like maybe I was just crazy. I just want to feel better. What are your thoughts on the symptoms? If its cancer and my lymph nodes are swollen...has it spread?

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Thyroid swelling and lymph node enlargement is not uncommon with Hashimoto's.  Areas that appear suspicious on ultrasound should be biopsied to confirm that there is not cancer.

[Red_Star]

I have an enlarged lymph node myself under my right ear due to my thyroid issues. I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis and went through a two month hyperthyroid flare up this year.  After the flare up was over, the high heart rate and blood pressure remained but most symptoms are due to hypothyroidism. I have to stop thyroxine sometimes as my thyroid flares up. I'm not sure if you are on thyroid replacement but this particular paragraph from the first link below may explain why your labs are normal...

"Here's what stumps doctors most when you are dealing with Hashitoxicosis - your labs.  Due to this constant cycling of hypo to hyper from minute to minute and hour to hour, the net effect of these changes is a zero sum game - normal labs."

"Hashitoxicosis: Does It Really Exist? YES!" by Philip Bernie

"Hashitoxicosis Update - When Hypothyroid Patients Have Flares of Hyperthyroidism" by Elaine Moore