Thyroid pain

[golfnfish51]

My problems began about 3 months ago with severe pain in my thyroid(right side).  Ultrasound and CT scan found small nodules on both sides.  Biopsies were negative.  ENT had prescribed prednisone and a strong antibiotic which relieved the pain.  TSH reading was 0.109, T3-139,T4-1.66.
I now have pain on the left thyroid.  ENT suggested waiting a year and doing another ultrasound.  I would be ok with that if it weren't for the pain and what appears to be a new nodule on the left side.  Is there something I could be doing or taking that would prevent future nodules?

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Your history is most consistent with a transient thyroiditis.  This is also known as subacute thyroiditis.  It is not unusual for the discomfort to migrate from one side to another.  Thyroiditis is also associated with a temporary hyperthyroidism which is reflected by the low TSH in your case.  I usually would repeat ultrasound in 3-4 months to reevaluate for any nodules, however the occurrence of pseudo-nodules in thyroiditis is quite common.

[golfnfish51]

Thanks for posting.  I don't think they tested for graves or hyper nodule.  The ENT did mention thyroiditis.  After I told him about the left side discomfort he suggested as did Dr. Lupo that I repeat the ultrasound in a few months.  One thing that did surprise me is that my ENT suggested taking Ibuprofen twice a day for the pain and within an hour the pain was gone and has remained thay way up to this point.  I will ask him about Graves when I see him.  Thanks again.

[mtkst13]

hi.  just wondering...your tsh is low, which means you are hyperthyroid.  did they test you for graves disease?  or a hyper nodule?  or thyroiditis?  if they didn't, they should.

take care,
maria