Hashimotos and Swollen Lymph Node

[ShelleyN720]

I have developed a swollen lymph node on the side on the right side of my neck above the lobe that is home to my 1.4cm nodule (UGFNA result was colloidal tissue that came back benign) Other nodules were not checked because they were small.
In the meantime, I have found Hashimotos to be a miserable roller coaster ride with body aches & pains, especially in my lower back kidney area, First month on Levoxyl .75mcg was AWFUL. Was able to be switched to Armour 60mg (sympathetic primary care physician) First 2 weeks on Armour was great...now I am symptomatica again and have a swollen lymph gland on the side on my neck...sort of worried.
I made an appt with the doctor, but would be grateful to know if others have experienced swollen lymph glands with Hashis. I read & read about Hashimotos, trying to gather as much info as I can, but still find it hard to grasp that my body is in the process of destroying my thryoid gland. I feel almost like I have the flu, only in an odd & different way! I am not due for labs until the end of the month. Dr allowed me to up my 60mg to 90mg 3 days ago. Last labs were TSH .4 and T4 1.8 after 3 weeks of Levoxyl hell. (no disrespect to those it works for). No labs yet from Armour use.

[ShelleyN720]

I don't understand why some doctors take hypothyroid so casually especially when the greatest majority of cases seem to be related to auto-immune disease! I believe I have had Hashis for a few years. I had a total hysterectomy & removal of ovaries in 1998. I was 42 yrs old at the time.My mother had died from ovarian cancer so my gynocologist said - lets do this. So I experienced surgical menopause. But I didn't do the HRT for long, maybe 5 months. I wonder if that hormonal imbalance affected my thyroid - the endocrine system is delicately connected.
As far as your MMR vaccine, since vaccines affect our immune system, it may have been able to *trigger* the hashimotos. What an awful experience for you! I am so sad to hear of it.
I stopped using fluoride after reading how toxic it is many months ago BEFORE my diagnosis. My dentist had me using fluoride toothpaste, fluoride dental rinse, Gel-Cam fluoride treatment at home and the water system in our county adds fluoride. I stopped drinking water from the faucet, started using natural toothpaste & eliminated fluoride altogether. Then later I read that fluoride CAN affect the thyroid gland. Heaven knows I was maxed out in fluoride. Wish I didn't have to shower & bath with faucet water. My dentist's office also does not use a thyroid collar when they Xray teeth. Not to mention the dental amalgams I've had for many years. I am one by one replacing them they are so old now and probably leeching mercury. And our over processed food - who knows what we ingest on a daily basis!
The bottom line is, we live in a world of toxic substances that can probably trigger almost anything in the cells in our bodies. I believe my mother had undiagnosed hashimotos. She was a smoker & drinker and I think it probably masked the underlying disease. She died at only 61 yrs of age.
I know I am emotionally & physically challenged right now, even feeling desperate at times. My heart goes out to EVERY person suffering from auto-immune disease. Its like having influenza every day without the fever...with only a few days of respite from time to time. I pray to get stabilized...and wait, for the next round of labs.

[amelinda_cadence]

Hi,

I'm the sme as giules90 - brand new to the site, trying to get as much info as I can as have US coming up at the end of the week to determine why my neck is soooo very thick and sore, along with aches and pains particularly in the lower back/kidney area.  I've known I'm hypo for five years but got told casually by (new) doc that the tests I had three years ago proved I had Hashi's - had been told it was autoimmune hypothyroidism, but not the name - and it explains so much.
Shelly it's strange you mention that you had mono; about six years ago, I had the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine which was a pre-requisite to attend uni as there had been epidemics of mumps across universities that year.  Three days after the jab I was in hospital having collapsed, ended up on the stroke ward because they didn't know what to do with me - turns out, I had measles, mumps and rubella simultaneously as rather than fight the vaccine I just got the viruses.  As this was only a short time before my hypo symptoms started to occur, I wonder if this is a related trigger?

I feel your pain (literally) and hope you get sorted soon!

[amelinda_cadence]

Hi,

I'm the same as giules90 - brand new to the site, trying to get as much info as I can as have US coming up at the end of the week to determine why my neck is soooo very thick and sore, along with aches and pains particularly in the lower back/kidney area and joints esp elbows.  I've known I'm hypo for five years but got told casually by (new) doc that the tests I had three years ago proved I had Hashi's - had been told it was autoimmune hypothyroidism, but not the name - and it explains so much.
Shelly it's strange you mention that you had mono; about six years ago, I had the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine which was a pre-requisite to attend uni in the UK as there had been epidemics of mumps across universities that year.  Three days after the jab I was in hospital having collapsed, ended up on the stroke ward because they didn't know what to do with me - turns out, I had measles, mumps and rubella simultaneously as rather than fight the vaccine I just got the viruses.  As this was only a short time before my hypo symptoms started to occur, I wonder if this is a related trigger?

I feel your pain (literally) and hope you get sorted soon!

[ShelleyN720]

Well, I guess misery loves company and we are all here to support one another. I thank you for your response! I consider this my first real medical crisis and it scares me! When I was first diagnosed I felt SO sick. I was doctor hopping trying to get a diagnosis! Besides the aches & pains I even had singular bizarre sores appear in random locations. They were the size of an eraser head, round, red with white top and hurt! Doctor said they were "nerve sores"? Had one on my shin, and then one on the back of each of my arms - WEIRD! I had EPV (mono) as a teen and I find myself wondering if the Hashis has awakened it.
Treatment for Hashis seems to be limited to the same protocol as hypo treatment since Hashis ultimately renders the thyroid *dead* when the roller coaster is done. OMG I wish you the best because I KNOW what your days are like! The meds do help,even though the underlying Hashis does not go away.

[giules90]

Hi new to this site, read your post and thought OMG that's me! I also have Hashimotos, only recently diagnosed. I get swollen glands occasionally (they come and go) and like you lots of aches and pains especially in the kidney area and just feel generally unwell with a persistant cough and cold symptoms. Oh and feel the cold terribly and very tired a lot. I also have a moderate goiter which sometimes makes me feel like a choker around my neck, I had an ultrasound done which showed enlarged thyroid with one nodule. Doctor has not put me on any meds yet preferring to wait to see what the specialist says (appointment end of July) My TSH was 7.6 and antibodies well over the range. Cannot remember the rest, will need to get out the paperwork. I too have done a lot of research (well, tried) and like you find it difficult to comprehend. Most will say it's not a problem and easily fixed but this really doesn't help how I feel!  Well I know I haven't been any help to you but I just wanted to share with you and that you are not alone in feeling this way. Take care.