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Thyroid Cancer, Nodules & Hyperthyroidism (Expert Forum)
goiters
Answered by
Mark Lupo, M.D. - Thyroid Nodules, Thyroid Cancer, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Thyroid Ultrasound
Thyroid & Endocrine Center of Florida
Sarasota - FL
Questions in the Thyroid forum are answered by Mark Lupo, MD. Topics covered include Goiter, Graves Disease, Hyperthyroid, Parathyroid/Calcium Problems, Thyroid Cancer, Thyroid Nodules/Cysts, Thyroiditis, Thyroid & Pregnancy, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Thyroid Tests, and Thyroid Surgery.
goiters
by hollyloxx, Nov 20, 2006 12:00AM
i am 24 yrs old and have always noticed that my thyroid is large. and have always had my thyroid levels checked been told that they are normal, but i know that the levels of normal do vary alot. i am 5'6 weigh 130lbs. low bp.
i previously was diagnosed w/ svt, i had an ablation for it 5 years ago. since i was 17 off and on i have had problems for different intervals of (months to weeks) of tachycardia and skipped beats. besides the (svt)
i notice the skipped beats signifcantly more around my period.
latley the skipped beats have been more than i can handle so
i have been back to the cardiologist and the ep, they say everything looks good that they gave me atenolol for the racing heart.
this time though my pcp told me that he thought i should have a sonogram done on my thyroid.
i did and was told that it is enlarged both sides, but the right side is 2 times bigger than the other. w/ 3 inflamed nodules. he said that it looked like it was functioning alright but wanted to send me to an endo anyways.
i wanna say that the tsh was .5 i was then sent to an endo dr.
my endo said that he did not want to give me anything yet until i have a nuclear uptake.
my question is that what are the chances that the goiters could be messing w/ how much hormones my thyroid is producing?
can this be the cause of my papltitations and skipped beats?
it makes me anxious, stressed, on edge, i am tired all day yet i cant sleep at night. my weight also usually drops within a 15 lbs range when all this is going on.
thank you
i previously was diagnosed w/ svt, i had an ablation for it 5 years ago. since i was 17 off and on i have had problems for different intervals of (months to weeks) of tachycardia and skipped beats. besides the (svt)
i notice the skipped beats signifcantly more around my period.
latley the skipped beats have been more than i can handle so
i have been back to the cardiologist and the ep, they say everything looks good that they gave me atenolol for the racing heart.
this time though my pcp told me that he thought i should have a sonogram done on my thyroid.
i did and was told that it is enlarged both sides, but the right side is 2 times bigger than the other. w/ 3 inflamed nodules. he said that it looked like it was functioning alright but wanted to send me to an endo anyways.
i wanna say that the tsh was .5 i was then sent to an endo dr.
my endo said that he did not want to give me anything yet until i have a nuclear uptake.
my question is that what are the chances that the goiters could be messing w/ how much hormones my thyroid is producing?
can this be the cause of my papltitations and skipped beats?
it makes me anxious, stressed, on edge, i am tired all day yet i cant sleep at night. my weight also usually drops within a 15 lbs range when all this is going on.
thank you
Doctor's Answer
by Mark Lupo, M.D., Nov 20, 2006 12:00AM
, Nov 20, 2006 12:00AM
doubt the nodules are effecting thyroid function if the TSH keeps coming back normal - so unlikely the cause of palpitations. With a normal TSH, the nodules may need to be biopsied. The nuc med scan may be helpful -- biopsy can be avoided in clearly "hot" nodules (but warm or cold nodules need biopsy).
Related discussions
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goiters an heart problems (10 replies):i have jsutbeen told after a sonogram that my thyroid is...[more]
I have all the symptoms u have including the heart palpation, i had to even go to ER as i had 150 pulse and had hard time breathing, since then this problem is on and off and i am very tired through out the day but cant sleep at night. i also have hot flushes....
keep in touch
and let me know ur levels as well...
i was convincing myself that theere was something else wrong w/ my heart and that they just didnt catch it this time.
does your heart feel like it skipps beats too? i was getting this wierd flushed hot lil pain feeling in my neck then it would jsut make my heart start racing. sounds like a panic attack but i am so sure that its got to be from my thyroid.
i heard that its hard to diagnose thyroid disorders cause the sypmtoms are so wide and vary so much.
i go in next week for the nuclear scan thing. i just want this to be over with. its been 2 onths i have been dealing with this and the insurance finally approved the scan!! after 2 months ago my dr put in the request for it!!
i am on dsability right now.
20 years ago I was diagnosed with a goiter fairly large.I was on synthroid for years, everytime I had surgery for something else the goiter would show up and the medical people would panic and had to have tests to make sure no cancer was there. Got so I explained before xrays were taken to ease off on the worry. Eventually needed a cervical fusion and dr wouldn't touch me till I had the goiter removed or actually a partial thyroid ectomy. Went off synthroid cold turkey in prep for tests and went into atrial fibrulation in intensive care.Onward to surgery. The goiter was pushing on my breathing tube and the anesthesia person could not get the tube down my throat do to goiter blocking one side. It was done had throidectomy and my voice was weak for a long time. Went to ENT and found out I have a paralyzed vocol cord on one side. Been over a year and it is permanant. Sound like I have a cold. Throid surgery was not painful, but I got an infection that caused some problems.
Ok thought everything OK and ended up in ER last new years eve with atrial fibrulation again. Took texts and my thryoid is growing back in little finger-like strings into chest cavity. Requires an incision through the breastbone. So I had Radiation to destroy it. It was high, now its normal and they want it to be low so I can be put on synthoid because they think the thyroid is causing rapid heart beat.Anyway on tons of heart med even though my heart is in good shape, waiting to see what happens wth the Thyrogen/Radiation and if it works.
Sorry story so long. Anyway if a goiter is a problem, get it out .Doctor always said the synthroid would keep it from growning which it did not, I now have a weak voice and a rapid heart beat. The Cardioligist said a Thyroid problem alone does not cause heart trouble, probably have a small electral problem but having a thryoid problem adds fuel to the flame.
I am very fortunate it is not cancer, I just wish they would handle the problem. All my doctors have different views on the whole problem
yeah i have an electrical problem and i think that its got to be worsened by this thyroid thing.
my mother in law had a goiter finally had surgery after having it for 20+ years then they said she needed it removed. it was the size of an egg.
she said she feels so much better now. before she always felt off. even though she was on meds, she was hot and cold easily, really bad memory.
i will pray for you. and i hope my situation doesnt escalate to that level.
I probably signed a waiver about the vocal cord at the time of surgery, not really sure it was his fault, problem just went on to long. It should have been handled years earlier. Doctor was voted one of the top docs in Denver in the 520 Magazine.
i am upset that this is all taking so long to get taken care of.
i feel like my life has been on hold for the past 6 months getting thrown around to all these dr's.
and this one above said that most likely goiters not cause of rapid heart rate......
i am so frustrated.