Thyroid ultrasound question

[ErinMarie123]

Hi -

I had my thyroid checked back on 7/30 -- they did an ultrasound and bloodwork.  The bloodwork numbers were normal with the exception of the thyroglobulin antibodies which registered out of range at 175.

The ultrasound showed a single 5mm nodule on the right side of my thyroid.  I'm to follow up in 6 months.

I'm asking because I've felt what seems like a lump in my throat when swallowing now for about 5 weeks (from about a week before I had the u/s) and when I press on the front/right/middle area of my neck it is "squishy."  Squishy is really the only way I can describe it...it's sort of like pressing on a beanie baby and you can feel the little beanies squish out from underneath your finger.

I'm concerned because my doctor says I wouldn't be able to feel a 5mm nodule, and that the thyroid is lower than where the squishy area is.  So what is this?  He said I'm probably just feeling soft tissue.  I'm concerned there is something else weird in my neck and I am wondering if it wasn't seen on the ultrasound since perhaps it was too high.

I'm on acid reflux medicine and have been for a week - but so far there is no real change.  I don't know if I should go back and insist they look at my neck again or what.  Any suggestions?  Thanks for your help.

[MANmom]

You didn't say if the nodule was solid, cystic, or mixed, if it had vascularity, etc.  Any microcalcifications?  The nodule is not big enough to biopsy, so you are basically stuck in the watch and wait dilemna.  Does your family have a history of thyroid disease?  You have to be on the meds for the acid reflux for two weeks before you feel better.  I have Hashi's, had nodules, and had GERD, too, so I know how you are feeling.  My father, 2 brothers and I had Hashi's, my sister and I discovered nodules, we both had cancer.  I can only tell you to keep an eye on it, you will eventually lose thyroid function due to the Hashi's, but you can take thyroid hormones after that.  Having a nodule is not a sign of cancer, only 5-15% of all nodules are cancerous.  Out of my 4, none had cancer, my thyroid tissue was cancerous.  When it gets up to 1 cm and is solid or mixed, you can have a Fine Needle Biopsy to check for cancer.  Good luck, and keep up on it.

[TamraW]

Erin, it is not normal to have 175 TGab (range below 35) antibodies. That means Hashimotos and this is a thyroid disease that causes nodules/swelling. Don't believe that you can't feel it. I can feel my four nodules, each a little less than 1 cm. The problem with Hashi is that sometimes the thyroid swells. Do you notice it at times  more than others?

What were your 'normal' ranges for your other tests? FT4, FT3 and TSH?

What are your symptoms?

My advice, get to an endocrinologist who will treat your Hashimotos with proper medication. It will only get worse with time if you don't take the meds now to stop the antibodies from attacking your thyroid.

BTW - My supposedly normal numbers are a TSH of 2.74 (Range over 3.0 is high), FT3 262  (range 230-420) and my FT4 is a 0.8 (range 0.8-1.8.) Despite the fact that the numbers are in range, people with Hashi feel better with a TSH around one and free Ts in the upper end of the range.

Take care..
:) Tamra

[dawnangela]

Have they said you have Hashi...would seem the case if you have high antibodies, your thyroid is down low in your neck, bellow the Adams apple...Was your thyroid enlarged (goiter?) I have this and i have a constant feeling of a lump in my throat from the goiter, Also i have a nodual but will have it biopsied soon as it is 11mm..Dawn