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Bloodwork normal...how can that be?
Just wondering if anyone has had this ... all of my thyroid bloodwork came back normal according to my endo. However, ultrasound is showing slightly enlarged on both sides and a .08 cm nodule. He thinks this is what's causing the symptoms. Just hard to believe my bloodwork is all normal. And he did several tests (I forget what all of them were).
Can anyone shed some light on this or experience this too?
Can anyone shed some light on this or experience this too?
Wow thanx for the info! This gets stranger and stranger the longer it goes on (2 years now for me) I just feel like I have swelling in so many odd places and nothing makes it go away for good. I'm hoping to get my TSH down (in JUne it was 4.3) and see some improvement. My 2 US showed no nodules but enlarged heterogenous gland that confirmed Hashis. It sounds like you found a doctor who's on top of things and treating your symptoms seriously. That's half the battle! On on my 3rd endo and I've lost count how many others I've seen in the last 2 years. I know what you mean about the Xanax, I can't function during the day but It will help me sleep at night, esp when I was having the hyper symptoms! Thanks again and I hope Ike isn't heading in your direction!
LOL - so sorry for all that babbling! Wow - really, sorry. The pain in the back of the neck / base of the neck -- I have heard two things and for me personally, they seem to both ring true...
1) carotidynia (think lower head / neck migraine caused by artery inflammation or compression) OR
2) hashi or just plain thyroid trouble.
When I first came here and explained my symptoms there was a resounding call to the thyroid trouble / neck pain part. I think it mostly comes with the territory. Mine now seems to come with thyroid swelling.
Hope that helps!
1) carotidynia (think lower head / neck migraine caused by artery inflammation or compression) OR
2) hashi or just plain thyroid trouble.
When I first came here and explained my symptoms there was a resounding call to the thyroid trouble / neck pain part. I think it mostly comes with the territory. Mine now seems to come with thyroid swelling.
Hope that helps!
malab23 - when he first diagnosed the carotidynia he put it as the two were separate issues and prescribed .... 1) Medrol (steroid pack) 2) Naproxan (prescription anti-inflammatory and 3) XANAX .25 (lowest dose you can get.... He left me Levothyroxine dose at 25. he explained that the carotid artery was inflamation and hense the steroid pack and the Naproxan. The inflamation or compression of the artery can cause headaches and if you look up carotidynia, it is or can be considered a form of Migraine. He further explained that no, he did not think I was off my rocker or needed nerve medication but the Xanax was to relax the muscles in the neck. BTW - that really did work and probably would have worked better if I would have taken the Xanax as prescribed, BUT --- I had to work and the Xanax put me to sleep, even at a low dose and he wanted me to take 3 a day - I took one at bed time. On my second follow up with him, he changed my thyroid med to Armour and explained that some thyroid patients had better luck with swelling when using Armour. He changed the xanax to some muscle relaxer (I think it was Zanflex or something like that) and said he thought he felt a nodule now, but wanted to see me back in three weeks before we ordered US. My 3rd week apt was cancelled due to Hurricane Gustav and so I saw him Tuesday. He thinks the nodule is still there, the thyroid is somewhat stable (based on symptoms -- not blood) and I still have swelling. I am currently sick with a sinus infection so he just continued my Armour and I go back in 2 months. I got a call today and they set my repeat US for October 29. His nurse explained that he wanted to see what the extra time on Armour would do for the swelling.
The swelling, I still have no help for but, I do know that heat agrivates it. I had to use a heating pad when the carotidynia flared causing a weird symptom I cannot even describe well (inner throat kind of numbness -- something was really swollen feeling and pressing really hard) and it was from the clavicle to the ear. Anyway, the heat from the heating pad I slept with (drs orders) made my thyroid swell more. When I abandoned that the swelling went down for a while then returned. Went down after the start of Armour, then returned. I really honestly think it is hashi.
The swelling, I still have no help for but, I do know that heat agrivates it. I had to use a heating pad when the carotidynia flared causing a weird symptom I cannot even describe well (inner throat kind of numbness -- something was really swollen feeling and pressing really hard) and it was from the clavicle to the ear. Anyway, the heat from the heating pad I slept with (drs orders) made my thyroid swell more. When I abandoned that the swelling went down for a while then returned. Went down after the start of Armour, then returned. I really honestly think it is hashi.
My labs (TSH, free T4 and free T3) are always normal(but on the high end), but my antibodies are way off the charts. I've been hyper and hypo, sometimes at the same time! Trying a low dose of Synthroid now to see if it helps (12.5mcg). I don't tolerate any dose higher than that.
mommy2two---By the way I get the same back of neck and base of head pain and discomfort that you described. I also have vertigo/dizziness along with it. More crazy symptoms of thyroid or something else? Has anything hepled ease your symptoms?
mommy2two---By the way I get the same back of neck and base of head pain and discomfort that you described. I also have vertigo/dizziness along with it. More crazy symptoms of thyroid or something else? Has anything hepled ease your symptoms?
No recent children for me. My youngest is 3... but with that said, I never felt good after having her. Seemed my hormones (the female ones) never reverted to normal again which could very well mean that I had some sort of thyroiditis after her. Who knows. My TSH has never tested above 1.3 beginning last year. I had a spell of loosing weight, but was trying to last year. I have had major weight gain (15-17 lbs since April 3, 2008), but I haven't gained more since the med start. I went back and forth with the medication decision too for a while but found for me, the chance of feeling better finally outweighed my concerns. My endo (i fired him BTW) never changed my dosage from .25 Levothyroxine and left me feeling horrible for 4 months. I switched ( I am on doc #5) doctors and now have an ENT that does his own thyroid treatment and surgeries (no endo needed) and he changed my med to 1 grain of Armour. That stopped the crazy symptoms for the most part, but my right neck still swells and gives me fits at times. I also get headaches. He said I am having a little carotidynia (inflammation or compression of the carotid artery) which is a result of the thyroid swelling on the right and what may be causing my headaches in the back of the neck at the base of the head.
From what I have read, thyroiditis can cause nodules and / or cysts, so try not to worry about it too much. I think I feel 1 or more nodules or cysts and am anxious to have another US to see if he and I are right. I know that is easier said than done -- remember, I am right there with ya! Mine has been going strong since April (6 months).
My suggestion is to take the med. Too many of us have to suffer without the benefit of a trial dose of medication to help out. I think it is great that your doctor is willing to do this for you.
Let me know how you progress!
From what I have read, thyroiditis can cause nodules and / or cysts, so try not to worry about it too much. I think I feel 1 or more nodules or cysts and am anxious to have another US to see if he and I are right. I know that is easier said than done -- remember, I am right there with ya! Mine has been going strong since April (6 months).
My suggestion is to take the med. Too many of us have to suffer without the benefit of a trial dose of medication to help out. I think it is great that your doctor is willing to do this for you.
Let me know how you progress!
Hello,
I just started going to and Endo referred by my family dr after the ultrasound results. I suspect I've had a thryoid problem for a little while. I think I've gone from hypo to hyper because I've had so many symptoms .... for a while it was weight gain, very tired and fatigued all the time, memory problems then it went to headaches, some palpitations, hair loss, quick weight loss.
I did have a baby 8 months ago and so some of it could possibly be from that (thyroiditis I think is what it's called) but am not sure if that could cause the nodule or not. That's what's worrying me. And it's complex which has me a little nervous. I just wish I didn't feel like **** all the time. It's supposed to be rechecked in 6 months to see if it has shrunk.
I'm supposed to start a very small dose of the Synthroid but am not crazy about taking that.
Did you just have a child recently too? Maybe yours is related?
I just started going to and Endo referred by my family dr after the ultrasound results. I suspect I've had a thryoid problem for a little while. I think I've gone from hypo to hyper because I've had so many symptoms .... for a while it was weight gain, very tired and fatigued all the time, memory problems then it went to headaches, some palpitations, hair loss, quick weight loss.
I did have a baby 8 months ago and so some of it could possibly be from that (thyroiditis I think is what it's called) but am not sure if that could cause the nodule or not. That's what's worrying me. And it's complex which has me a little nervous. I just wish I didn't feel like **** all the time. It's supposed to be rechecked in 6 months to see if it has shrunk.
I'm supposed to start a very small dose of the Synthroid but am not crazy about taking that.
Did you just have a child recently too? Maybe yours is related?
I am in the same boat. I have had consistant normal blood (even with the Levo and Armour I have been given) and have a swelling thyroid and multiple symptoms. Have you had a long history of thyroid disorder? Just curious b/c you said your doc is an endo. My symptoms have mostly subsided (i.e. - weight gain has stabalized, tired not so much anymore, no major aches and pains like before, but I continue to have swelling). I have an enlarged thyroid, larger on the right and it has a non-smooth (the word they used is heterogeneous) texture. My ENT (had an endo, he was a moron!) feels a nodule now and I am supposed to have another US sometime between now and the next 2 months. Just wanted you to know you are not alone in the normal blood boat! At least the doc says your nodule could be causing something. What are your symptoms?
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