Sudden Thyroid Issues-Please Help!

[Seven21]

3 weeks ago I woke up with swelling in my mouth, then developed swollen saliva gland went to PCP, referred me to Oral surgeon, referred me to Allergest who did ultrasound who found the huge, swollen, multi-nodular goiter described as having
- a nodule with a heterogeneous echtexture nodule with significant solid component 1.3cmx7mmx9.5mm
-2 smaller nodules between 3 and 5 mm with internal cystic components
-an isoechoic nodule 7 x 5 mm
-multiple adjacent nodules in inferior left lobe appearing partially confluent measured together 1.7cm x 2 cm appearing solid and isoechoic
-depth of isthmus 2.8 mm

I was admitted to the hospital for stridor a few days after this was done where they did a CT of my neck and also found me to have
-symmetric prominence of the palatine tonsils
-exophytic nodule 3 x 2.2cm
-and incidentally a tracheal diverticulum

I  spent a day in the hospital and saw my admitting doc (allergey/immunology) an ENT and 3 Endodrinologist.  My thyroid levels all came back fine but I have many of the symptoms of being hypothyroid, they tested me for Graves, Hyshimoto's...all came back fine, my white blood count was only slightly elevated.  No fever but sweats and cold chills, elevated heart rate, suffocating constriction in upperchest and left side of throat causing light headedness and flushed feeling.  Still feel numbness & tingling in lips & tongue and lump in throat plus swelling.  ENT and 1 Endo. said to take out entire thyroid , other Endos. said wait 4-6 weeks and see how symptoms are, some said all symptoms were related other Dr.s siad that they were completely seperate issues.  My Dr. said that this was a "True Medical  Controversary" between the specialist that saw me and he felt that it was best to get an opinion from the micro-surgeon who specializes in thyroid and parathyroid surgeory, we have an appt. with in 2 1/2 weeks and go from there.   My husband and I were expecting to get a biopsy done when we were there but they said there was no reason to do it if they were just going to take the whole thyroid out.  It seemed like they were trying to avoid doing the biopsy for some reason and kept insisting that it was bengign, it all seemed a little strange.  

Can someone help me figure this out?  I have always been healthy, but I have had a feeling since this started that somethign is really wrong although the Endos said thyroid Cancer doesnt come up this quickly and I must have had this "Goiter" and didn't know it.   I have a 2 and 4 year old boy & girl and I am scared to death for them that this is someting serious and the Doctors are not telling me.

Please, any answers to help interperut my results will help.

[Barb135]

I don't think you are necessarily "any more or less worse of a case than most people on here".

As to your levels - I'm not real familiar with T3 uptake, total T4 is considered an obsolete test, but there are calculations they can do with it; to me, it would have been far easier to test for FT4 and FT3.  Your TSH is in the low normal range.  

That said, I think the point here might not be so much whether or not your levels are normal, but the characteristics of the nodules and thyroid gland.  It's all too common to have "normal" thyroid levels and still have other issues.

A biopsy would seem to be the easiest way to settle the issue of removing they thyroid or "wait 6 weeks and see".

My heart goes out to you, but I'm very sorry, I can't answer that question for you.  

[Seven21]

Why would they not have done the biopsy when I was in the hospital?  

Do my levels look "normal" to you?  

I am so knew to this, does what I have seem any more or less worse of a case than most people on here?

Thank you for your answers.

[Barb135]

You are right; there is an aggressive form of thyroid cancer.  A quick search showed the following:

# Peak onset age is 65 and older.
# It's very rare in young patients.
# It's more common in males than females by 2 to 1 ratio.

I can certainly understand how you feel about not wanting to take chances.  Maybe you should consider going with what the ENT and one endo recommended and have the TT.  

I will be very interested in hearing what the micro surgeon has to say.  Maybe you could suggest a biopsy to him and see what his thoughts are.

[Seven21]

Whatever it is, is changing in size quickly.  Swelling has not subsided in over a week.  There is an aggresive form of thyroid Cancer and I will never forgive myself if I just sit back and wait on the doctors and end up with a diagnosis liek this.  

My body is telling me something is very wrong.  It took me 2 years to loose the 40 pounds I gained from my pregnancy with my son (working out like crazy & eating right ALL the time) now I have suddenly lost 7 pounds in 3 weeks.

Name                  Level           Reference Range
T 3 Uptake             26            22-35%
T4 Total                 11.7          4.5-12.5 mcg
Free  T4 Index (T7)  3.0            1.4-3.8
TSH, 3rd Generation  0.50        mIU/L

[Barb135]

Sorry to ask more questions...... is the T3 a Free or Total?  what's the reference range for both it, and the FT4?   The reference ranges vary from lab to lab, so must come from your own report.

[Seven21]

On October 8th Thyroid Test were:

T4  11.7
T3  26
TSH  .50
Free T4  3.0

Does this help?

[Barb135]

I would agree that cancer doesn't show up that quickly and it's very possible that you could have had that goiter for a long time and not know it.  I have a multi nodular goiter as well, but had no inkling until I became hypo and was sent for an ultra sound.  

Did they happen to do any regular thyroid blood tests?  Such as TSH, Free T3 and Free T4?  If so, it might be helpful if you could post the results along with the reference ranges.  Just saying your levels were "fine" doesn't tell us anything because it's all too common for patients to have thyroid levels in the normal ranges and still not be "fine".  

There is no reason for the doctors not to tell you everything.  In the event, that you do have cancer, rest assured that thyroid cancer is the easiest to deal with.  

Please do try to relax (I know that's easier said than done) a bit while you wait for your next appt with the surgeon. He might want further tests or something.