Regenerated Thyroid gland? that is now enlarged?

[KENDRA1972]

I am going to appologize for the length of this post right off the bat, but I need help and all the "ologists" are passing the buck. In 1994 I had a almost complete thyroidectomy, the surgeon left a tiny bit to eliminate the need of calcium therapy. In 1998 I was diagnosed with Fibro. Sometime in the late 90's or so they said I nolonger needed my thryroid pills as the tiny remnents of the gland were functioning! 2007 parathyroid tumor diagnosed after 3yrs of joint pain, heart palps, pvc's, dizzy spells, passing out, baance issues, nausea, benign, removed awesome! 2010 I went to the doctor with the same symptoms as the parathyroid ( could be thyroid too but honestly I had a 1yr old and don't remember my symptoms in 94) My Parathyroid levels were high, calcium borderline high, calcium very low and thyroid high. At that time I was placed on thyroid meds and all other symptoms dismissed as fibro. Early 2011 I returned to the doctor as the exorcist, I was foul to say the least as I was frustrated and in so much pain. Again, Fibro was the diagnosis and I was given Gabapentine for Fibro... nice releif to an extent for pain/swelling/restless leg and mego does of vit d for 8wks. June 2011 finally got in to the Endocrine doc who upped the thyroid meds, added mego vitamin d for 8wks and then continuing vit d daily. I have completed 4 mego does of vit d 50,000 iu weekly for 8wks each time with ongoing 2000 iu daily. my vit d is at 30 finally but i have to maintain the daily vit d. In early 2012 I discovered a thyroid nodule, had ultrasounf with led to the FNA with benign results and a wait and see answer.  March 2012 found a thyroid nodule ultrasoung led to benign FNA with a wait and see approach... May of this year I went to the doc again as the exorcist and my gabapentine was doubled, no other changes. Since then my symptoms continue to get worst: light headed,dizzy, heart palps, pain head to toe, shakes, unexplained fever, choking sensation esp with liquids, shortness of breath (extreme), double vision... I am so frustrated! Today went in because I have a very noticeably enlarged thyroid-- so not only did it grow back it functions and is enloarged to the point they think it is hashimotos again and will need surgery! (i had ladbs, manyh labs, drawn today and am awaiting the results) But my thyroid in march 2012 t4 was 2.23 which in 2011 when this started was 6.75. PLEASE HELP I will take any info suggestions anything!
I don't think these are related but I had a blood clot in dec 2011(DVT left calf which has now cleared) all cardio work ups incl cario cath show no heart disease as a cause for pvc etc I have been tested in last month for blood disorders none ms negative mri lupus low possitve result they consider to be negative- nothing makes sense.

[KENDRA1972]

Thank you everyone for the replies, I am getting my labs together and will update soon!

[stella5349]

Here are a few things you need to clarify specifically and if some of these were not done they are a must.

1. Are these thyroid labs done and what are those levels.

a. TSH
b. F R E E T3 - must must must be done! Especially w/ inflammation!
c. Free T4
d. TPOaB = this is the autoimmune Hashimoto
e. TgAb = attached to line d.
f. Calcium
g. Phorphorus
h. Vit D3
  i. Magnesium (preferrably this would be a Red Blood Cell/RBC) draw
  j. C-reactive Protein
k. TG/HDL-LDL = cholesterol (MUST be fasting)
l. A1C/DGLA = insulin/arachidonic acid (MUST be fasting)
m. AA/ EPA ratio - (Specifically request to have them do)

What medications are you taking at this time - AND include all supplements whether prescribed or over the counter)?

What conclusions are posted on the ultra sound report exactly?

Tell us how you are feeling at the present time. Try to be as thorough as possible listing emotional, physical, neurological, points. Good or bad. Sometimes knowing the good helps alot too.

Weight changes? Any stress? Period? Additional medical surgeries or treatments done?

[stella5349]

This is a very complicated post between thyroid and parathyroid problems. In order to pick apart everything it would be very helpful to see the current results of your lab work along with knowing exactly what labs they did. I have a feeling back in 1994 with your thyroidectomy, you had a more complex case than just thyroid issues. I'm concerned about the docscalcium intervention theory to leave a portion of the thyroid (or claim that) to stabilize a calcium level in the system. The thyroid (itself) has very little (next to zero) control over calcium however the parathyroids are a major controller of those levels along with magnesium, phorphorus, Vit D absorption and kidney function.

The symptoms of both thyroid and parathyroid abnormalities can be confused however blood labs on both glandular functions can be performed to determine which is causing problems or primary/secondary issues.

If there is truth to the regrowth of thyroid tissue now which is another huge concern I have (and looking over the Ultra Sound report would be helpful) the tissue growth would most likely be more of a toxic growth from the autoimmune condition most likely involved from way back possibly since the original removal that was not addressed appropriately. Did you have Hashimoto thyroidtoxicosis in 1994 w/ goiter to warrant the removal back then or was there something else that ruled removal was needed?

One thing I do feel is the diag. of Fibro for years with you and treatment being done with that "symptom of something else going on" as a ROOT problem. Fibro is not a condition of a "treatable" concern itself. Fibro should/is a "symptom" of inflammation happening in the body from some "unknown" cause of other things not regulated correctly causing the inflammation! It sounds like your true condition (whatever that is) is being masked over with Fibro meds instead of finding the hard core issue causing your pain and hormonal inadequencies.

Another strong assumption I have going back, is this doctor long ago had some underlining concerns on your calcium and Vit D levels and assumming if I could be right, the original problems were not addressed correctly removing the thyroid prematurely as a possibility, with showing little regard for the calcium/VitD (parathyroid) problems. You weren't completely diagnosed correctly and the doc back then was living on a prayer things would balance back out with time if he removed the thyroid and medicated you with thyroid meds to try to regulate you.

[Red_Star]

When you need to take 1.6 million IU of vitamin D to raise serum levels to only 30ng/mL (vitamin D council recommend a minimum of 50ng/mL), magnesium deficiency is the number one suspect. Magnesium is the most important co factor for vitamin D absorption. Magnesium deficiency symptoms are numerous from chronic pain to heart rhythm abnormalities. Another cause of chronic pain is untreated/inadequately treated hypothyroidism.

[898_1]

If your TSH was not supressed (should be around 0.5) after the first sugery, thre is a chance that thyroid tissue can grow back. Could you please post the nodule FNA results. thanks!