Hi,
I have had 2 episodes of chest pain in the last 6 months, followed by an elevated D-Dimer. They checked my lungs both times but found no clots. I recently got out of the hospital, with an exacerbation of COPD, and my D-Dimer was high then too. I have taken thyroid meds for years for hypothyroidism, but within the six month span I've talked about, I have lost 40 lbs without trying. I'm 5'9" and now only weigh 121. I feel like I'm disappearing. This last time, they happened to catch a one and one half cm nodule on my thyroid. I have had neck and headaches on that side, but have been attributing it to TMJ which I have had since I was young. Now I'm not sure. I have read that high D-Dimers can be related to cancer, and now I'm scared. The first time my D=Dimer was high, I had no infection....the thought I was having an MI, which I wasn't. Could this be related to thyroid cancer? My Mother had her whole thyroid removed for a large goiter, and eventually died of an unrelated cancer. I guess I'm just looking for answers and am worried. Any thoughts?
~Holly~
According to labs online; An elevated D-dimer may be due to a VTE or DIC but it may also be due to a recent surgery, trauma, or infection. Elevated levels are also seen with liver disease, pregnancy, eclampsia, heart disease, and some cancers. Hope it helps.