3rd generation thyroid issues

[katlynra]

My maternal grandmother died of myxoedema at age 42, she had a goiter. My mother had her thyroid removed due to thyroid cancer. For years I have been unable to sing, going off pitch (I used to sing for weddings) and then no sound would come out after I started singing. Now my voice also in speaking loses the end of syllables. My throat feels raspy, often sounds hoarse and I have some difficulty in swallowing. Finally, after much insistence, I had my dr do a thryoid ultrasound and they found multinodular goiter. I have an appt with an endocrinologist though the first appt they had available is November!
What can I expect? I am leaning toward insisting they remove it due to my family history of thyroid cancer...am I reasonable in this? Is the November appt too far off? Should I push to be sent elsewhere? I am inclined to call the office Monday and ask that they put me on a cancellation list. What happens next?
Oh too...if I touch something cold for more than 5 minutes, my hands will turn red, itch and swell. My left eye has been twitching for a few months now as well, 2 yrs ago I started having panic attacks, have had little to no eyebrows for as long as I can remember and no matter how much I watch my diet and exercise, I keep expanding...weight gain out of control!  I feel like the poster child here...when and how will this all get straightened out?

[katlynra]

Thanks for your response! Are these tests included in the full thyroid panel? I insisted on the full panel at the recommendation of my daughter who is an RN. She knows some but of course she's a nurse not a doctor and certainly not an endocrinologist nevertheless, she does help to clue me in and if she is uncertain, she pulls out her med books. LOL Surprisingly, my full panel tests and general bloodwork all came back fine! At my insistence and acknowledging that my neck felt 'full' my NP ordered the ultrasound which turned up the goiter. Without the ultrasound, I'd still be no farther ahead and my symptoms continually explained away by 'you're getting older.'
I just came off of 6 yrs of caregiving my father, the last 18 months he was a hospice patient and all 6 of those years he lived inmy home with me. DUring this time I developed the anxiety and panic attacks and so Dr. explains away those things as stress related. me, I now see them as symptoms of thyroid problems exacerbated by tjhe stress of caregiving.
I cannot tell you how much hope your words about being on meds for 8 weeks, plucking eyebrows once again and losing weight have brought me.
Yes, I believe first thing Monday, I will call and request that I be called if they have a cancellation and if that is not possible, perhaps I will ask for a different referral or let my daughter track down and corner the Dr. at the hospital :)
Add to that, the very likely possibility that I will be losing my insurance soon with re to my husband's job and I have an added need to get this train rolling.
Thanks again Tamra :)

[TamraW]

Get to a doctor ASAP and get on some thyroid hormone to correct your hypo symptoms. If the goiter is majorly affecting your life, then, ask to be referred to a surgeon.

In the meantime, get these blood tests:

TSH
FT3
FT4
TGab
Anti-TPO

The TGab and Anti-TPO are for Hashimoto's disease, which most commonly causes hypothyroidism and the nodular goiter. Thirty percent of people with thyroid cancer have Hashimoto's. It can also be hereditary, which probably explains what happened to your grandma and mother.

There is medication to treat hypo/Hashi that will make your life better. The longer your doctors wait to test you, the longer you suffer. I have been on the meds for eight weeks. FINALLY, I am plucking my eyebrows again. I have also lost 3.5 pounds this week.

There is hope. You must be your biggest patient advocate.

:) Tamra