Please share your goiter symptoms

[TamraW]

Hi, all! I'm new here. I've been very sick for almost a year. My doctor thinks I might have goiter. The ultrasound shows three grape sized nodules, two on one thyroid and one on another. The biopsy is next week. My current health problems are:

dry, painful eyes and forehead
hot, painful skin rash on chest
pain/clogging in ears
GERD
soreness on back of neck and head
heartburn
scaly skin on my shins and neck
migranes
neck slightly swollen and pain that shoots down my body when I touch it
sometimes bones, knees hurt
fatigue
parched mouth, easily dehydrated, frequent urination

When I was at my worst this winter, my PTH was a 67, my calcium was a 10.4 and my Vitamin D was an 18, so I thought I had a parathyroid problem. I've brought my D up with pills. One week, my PTH and calcium is normal. One week it is high/high normal.

The doc says my case is confusing. I've heard some people have had goiter and parathyroid problems. Anyone else with similar symptoms?

Thanks,
Tamra

[TamraW]

BTW - I have consulted with a parathyroid surgeon. He told me I was barking up the wrong tree. When my D levels came up, my PTH was a steady 30/32. My calcium was a steady 9.6.

:) Tamra

[TamraW]

Here is how thyroid and parathyroid are indirectly related:

When I posted this in May I had no idea I had Hashimoto's Thyroid disease. Parathyroid disease causes many symptoms similar to thyroid, and my PTH had gone from 67 to 71 (65 above range) and my calcium varied, the highest being 10.4 (10.2 above range). As you can see, both calcium and PTH were slightly elevated. Those levels plus my symptoms, is why my old endo and I thought it was a parathyroid problem.  

The reason for this elevation was my low D levels, which was caused by Hashimoto's. Yes, low D can cause a slight rise in PTH and calcium. I am proof.

I am on thyroid meds and doing MUCH better.

:) Tamra

[balara32]

I thought I should point out that parathyroid is completely different than thyroid and have completely different functions.

[balara32]

One more thing..
Not everyone experiences the same symptoms with this disease. Some people who have a tumor, don't have any symptoms at all. Also, your our calcium and D levels do sometimes fluctuate. So, just because someone doesn't have symptoms, or if suddenly their levels go to normal, doesn't mean they still don't have the tumor. There is no human cure for a tumor and they only way to fix the problem is to remove the tumorous parathyroid. You'll find on parathyroid.com example of different patients' tumors and levels, it is very interesting and educational.

[balara32]

Sounds like you have a parathryoid tumor or hyperparathyroidism. My calcium is 10.3, PTH 86 and D is 11. My doctor had me get a sestamibi, nuclear medicine scan and sure enough I have a parathyroid tumor on the left side of my neck. Please read parathyroid.com, it has been a great educational tool for me. Many doctors and endocronologist are not experienced enough to diagnose you or give you the proper treatment for hyperparathyroidism. Read parathryoid.com thoroughly. Dr. Norman is extremely experienced in this field. I'm getting surgery done to remove my tumor this month. I hope this helps...

[TamraW]

Thanks for sharing, marbeth. I have a lot of the same symptoms as you. I am awaiting thyroid tests, but the doc does think I have a goiter judging by the bulge in my neck. I was just wondering if anyone else out there has goiter and parathyroid problems or if my goiter is causing my PTH and calcium to rise.

Tamra

[marbeth322]

I had a large multinodular goiter removed in Nov. 06 along with the the right lobe of my thyroid. My symptoms included hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, coughing, difficulty sleeping (couldn't get comfortable), fatique, and a prominent bulge in my neck. My doctor told me the other day that symptoms of parathyroid problems include "moans and groans in your bones".  

Hope this helps.

[CarolG52]

I haven't had those tested.  I'm not familiar with parathyroid.  I will have to read up on this as well.

[TamraW]

Carol, I should be getting my new labs back any day. I'll let you know.

I'm also still checking into my parathyroid issues as well. Are your parathyroid/calcium levels normal?

T.

[CarolG52]

Have you had TSH, FT3 & FT4 tests done?

I too have a goiter with nodules, had an US and had one of the bigger nodules tested.  I had elevated TSH and still working on the numbers for FT3.

You have many of the same symptoms I have, I woul dbe curious to see you results and the ref ranges your lab uses?