Help for Pain in the Neck

[debo1969]

Please someone help me, I am a 40y female who has been healthy my entire life. Back in April '09 I had severve laryngitis. In May my voice started to crack & sound different, by June I had double ear infections & dizziness ( I passed out). Given medication for the ears, they healed. Still had voice problems, sent to ENT; Found a small nodule on my right vocal cord. I have had 2 MRIs, W & W/O CONTRAST= lungs, soft tissue neck, & brain, no cancer, tumors or mass (some small cysts on my thyroid) . video stroboscopy done as well as Esphogram which found no acid reflux. To no avail doctor can not find what is wrong with my symptoms: Pain/difficulty swallowing, fatigue, unable to speak loudly or at all, hard to breathe in with my mouth. Feels like there something in my throat, moving my neck hurts, touching my Adam's Apple hurts, laying down sleep hurts. Please someone help me.. Can anyone give me any direction to go in?

[TamraW]

TSH is not always reliable, as so many doctors have different standards/opinions on TSH. Docs looked at my TSH (2.74) and dismissed thyroid disease because most labs say anything over 4.5 indicates hypothyroidism. Mine was supposedly 'normal' by one doc and hypo according to another.

Later, I asked a doc to run the Hashimoto's antibodies, and those came back positive. My FreeT4/FreeT3 levels were low, too. The free levels are most important as they tell us exactly what the thryoid is doing. TSH is a pituitary hormone.

I would ask for the TSH, FT3, FT4, TGab and TPOab.

:) Tamra

[debo1969]

thank you, will ask for all that

[cindy378]

Hi there! I'm so sorry you're having problems with your neck. I'm really surprised that your doctor didn't check your TSH levels considering the fact that cysts were found on your thyroid. I have Hashimoto's disease and it took 2 years to finally get diagnosed  a year ago. I didn't really have pain in my throat- just discomfort, but found myself clearing my throat all of the time, weight gain, fatigue, Raynaud's phenomenon (where your toes turn white and go numb), and then the pressure in the throat- like someone's pressing their foot on the lower throat. Uncomfortable to lie down, turn my head, and touch. Sounds a lot like yours.
I would contact your doctor and have them run  full thyroid bloodwork- and even maybe a Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody test to see if you have Hashimoto's. It's an autoimmune thyroid disorder. He may want to send you to an Endocrinologist. Hope you get some relief.
cindy