Aa
Frantically worried about symptoms
Hi all
I'm a 44 year old woman who's never had any kind of thyroid problem before. I'm hoping for a bit of reassurance regarding my symptoms because I'm am imagining the worst case all the time and driving myself crazy with it.
About 2 months ago my Dad noticed a swelling in the front of my neck. I of course got it checked out and my GP said one side of my thyroid gland was enlarged but didn't feel suspicious. She ordered blood tests and referred me for an ultra sound scan.
I've had the bloods and they've come back normal apart from slightly raised platelets and cholestorol. !
My ultrasound is booked for 12th May (the very earliest they could come up with) but my symptoms have gotten worse whilst waiting. I developed what I can only describe as a lump up under my jaw line which can't be seen or felt manually but I can feel it while im swallowing. My throat doesn't hurt but I get an acute pain under the jaw line and into my ear, making my teeth ache too!!! This is all accompanied by a really annoying, choking cough which comes on suddenly and makes me heave. I work in an office an often have to hang up on customers before I burst their eardrums. The cough is worse at night and wakes me up at least a couple of times a night.
I've been back to my GP who confirmed there are no swollen glands so I've got nothing viral and told me he'd write to the radiologist to get the scan expedited. This was around 2 weeks ago. The letter was written and sent and I've chased the xray dept several times to be told nothing's changed regarding my appointment and to call back in another couple of days. I called the appointment booking number today to see if they had a record of the letter on my notes. The lady told me that actually GPs cannot expedite appointments. All requests are vetted by a consultant who decides on the urgency of each case and so my scan can't be brought forward!
I am imagining worst case scenario and it's all I can think about at the moment.
I guess I'm just looking for some similar stories so I can relate and get my head around things a bit. Feel like I've rambled on a bit, sorry.
I'm a 44 year old woman who's never had any kind of thyroid problem before. I'm hoping for a bit of reassurance regarding my symptoms because I'm am imagining the worst case all the time and driving myself crazy with it.
About 2 months ago my Dad noticed a swelling in the front of my neck. I of course got it checked out and my GP said one side of my thyroid gland was enlarged but didn't feel suspicious. She ordered blood tests and referred me for an ultra sound scan.
I've had the bloods and they've come back normal apart from slightly raised platelets and cholestorol. !
My ultrasound is booked for 12th May (the very earliest they could come up with) but my symptoms have gotten worse whilst waiting. I developed what I can only describe as a lump up under my jaw line which can't be seen or felt manually but I can feel it while im swallowing. My throat doesn't hurt but I get an acute pain under the jaw line and into my ear, making my teeth ache too!!! This is all accompanied by a really annoying, choking cough which comes on suddenly and makes me heave. I work in an office an often have to hang up on customers before I burst their eardrums. The cough is worse at night and wakes me up at least a couple of times a night.
I've been back to my GP who confirmed there are no swollen glands so I've got nothing viral and told me he'd write to the radiologist to get the scan expedited. This was around 2 weeks ago. The letter was written and sent and I've chased the xray dept several times to be told nothing's changed regarding my appointment and to call back in another couple of days. I called the appointment booking number today to see if they had a record of the letter on my notes. The lady told me that actually GPs cannot expedite appointments. All requests are vetted by a consultant who decides on the urgency of each case and so my scan can't be brought forward!
I am imagining worst case scenario and it's all I can think about at the moment.
I guess I'm just looking for some similar stories so I can relate and get my head around things a bit. Feel like I've rambled on a bit, sorry.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Ask for copies of your blood work. I see you are in UK; in the US, doctors are required by law to provide a copy to you, upon request; I'm not sure about UK. The minimum thyroid tests they should have done is TSH, Free T3, Free T4; hopefully, they would have gone ahead and done antibody tests, as well, but many doctors don't, and we often see patients in UK that have to fight for anything beyond TSH, including Free T3 and Free T4 testing.
Gimel is right - lab results in the "normal range" on the lab report may not be "normal" for YOU.
Stress itself can cause that feeling that your thyroid is getting larger, that you are choking, making you gag, etc. Hypothyroid conditions can also cause high cholesterol; coarse, scratchy voice, etc.
Please obtain a copy of your labs, and post the thyroid tests, along with the reference ranges, as these vary from lab to lab, so must come from your own report. This will help members comment more fully on your situation.
Gimel is right - lab results in the "normal range" on the lab report may not be "normal" for YOU.
Stress itself can cause that feeling that your thyroid is getting larger, that you are choking, making you gag, etc. Hypothyroid conditions can also cause high cholesterol; coarse, scratchy voice, etc.
Please obtain a copy of your labs, and post the thyroid tests, along with the reference ranges, as these vary from lab to lab, so must come from your own report. This will help members comment more fully on your situation.
Thanks all for replying. I guess I'm just being a worry guts. I too am busy working full time and looking after family but the fears creep in anyway.
Gimel - I was not given info about the results, just that they are normal. What should I ask for?
Gimel - I was not given info about the results, just that they are normal. What should I ask for?
Just because thyroid tests are within the so-called "normal" ranges does not mean that everything is okay for YOU. The ranges are far too broad for that to be the case. Please post your test results and the reference ranges shown on the lab report so that members can assess the adequacy of testing and results.
Hello Catrratt, I have similar worries myself...you can read my story at melissa184 profile. I will be praying for you because I know that worrying about it can cause a lot of stress and it has actually almost overtaken my life however, I know that thyroid cancer (if that is what you have and it is not a real big chance it is) is very curable and so therefore I hope that puts your mind at ease. :( I will be praying for you and I hope you hear something very soon! Keep me posted please! God bless!
Please calm down. I know it can be scary imagining or thinking of worst case senarios.
I had an enlarged thyroid as well, made my neck look a football player's neck. I was only 88 lbs...I would say it was about 4 weeks from the notice of my bulging neck until I had the scan done.
I guess for me, I did not have time to worry about it. Working & had a one year old.
Don't freak yourself out, you will be okay.
I had an enlarged thyroid as well, made my neck look a football player's neck. I was only 88 lbs...I would say it was about 4 weeks from the notice of my bulging neck until I had the scan done.
I guess for me, I did not have time to worry about it. Working & had a one year old.
Don't freak yourself out, you will be okay.
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