Seeking some advice

[mrproblemface]

Hi All. I'm stuck in an odd situation where my GP can't quite put his finger on what is wrong with me. I've spent/wasted a huge amount of cash seeing a variety of specialists and so far haven't made any progress. I am starting to suspect my issues are related to my thyroid, but really, it could be anything. So far this year has been miserable for me, I started off with a recurring cough which turned chronic, along with an on/off sore throat. This led to a strange sensation in my soft palate and a lot of drainage down the back of my throat. I have had frequent headaches as well. I feel like Captain Ahab, if you look up my other threads you'll see I was chasing something else the entire year and now I fear I wasted my time with that. About two weeks ago many of these odd symptoms just disappeared, the chronic couch gone, sore throat and soft palate issues cleared up, I even felt a little more energetic(I have had a real problem with fatigue all year). Then, a day later I woke up with an incredibly painful, aching throat, not a sore throat, but it felt like something was wrong below my chin and around my neck, and at the base of my skull. It was very bad for a few days, then began to subside a little. Since then for these past two weeks I have had aches all around my neck, particularly below my jaw and at the back edges of my jaw, as well as a sore spot near the base of my neck. My shoulders and joints have also started aching a little.

After reading a bit online, I started finding things that pointed me to the thyroid, which started me thinking, one of my parents had thyroid cancer, perhaps... ? Some of the other symptoms that I never took notice of, but could be related are that I sweat like crazy when I eat or at random times during the day, I also feel off-balance at times.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Again, this could be entirely off-base, but right now I am shooting in the dark, this really could be anything I guess. I thought my pains were over when the cough and sore throat moved on, and now I'm being punished with this aching painful neck thing. Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

[Barb135]

Good that you are getting the tests done....... do make sure you get the full thyroid panel (FREE T3, FREE T4, TSH) *and* the antibody tests.  

Make sure you get a copy of the report and when you post results, don't forget the reference ranges, as these vary from lab to lab so must come from your own report.  

Good luck.

[mrproblemface]

Thank you so much for this. I saw the doctor today and he scheduled me for a full health screening package. I'm going to go through the entire list of tests plus several additional tests to see if there isn't something else going on. At first he thought perhaps I twisted my neck and that's the cause, but I've twisted my neck many times in the past and I'm quite familiar with that sensation, this time it's definitely something new and different. Hopefully once I get these tests it will square away the root cause. Unfortunately I have to wait almost two weeks to take these tests, but at least the results will be ready in a few days after taking them. I'll report back afterwards.

[Barb135]

I think the basics have been covered, but you  might also want to consider asking for thyroid antibody tests, along with the other mentioned, since it's possible to have an autoimmune disease and still have normal thyroid hormone levels.  

The antibody tests are:  Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Throglobulin Antibodies (TGab).  These 2 will tell if you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.  The other one you should get is Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSI), which will confirm/rule out Graves Disease.

Both Hashimoto's and Graves Disease are autoimmune diseases, in which the body see the thyroid as foreign and produces antibodies to destroy it.  Hashimoto's generally connected more to hypothyroidism, while Graves is generally connected to hyperthyroidism.  

[goolarra]

The specialist that deals with thyroid is an endocrinologist, but that's probably premature.  Your PCP can order these.  Interpreting them may be another matter since, as I mentioned, reference range are severely flawed.  However, we can help you with that.  You'd be referred to an ENT if a sugical consult or biopsy were indicated by the ultrasound.

[mrproblemface]

You guys are wonderful, thanks for the great advice!! I will take careful note of these tests and request them. Out of curiosity, would my regular GP be able to run these tests or should I see a specialist, like someone in Rheumatology or an ENT?

[flyingfool]

Could be Thyroid.  

Go have your Thyroid checked.

be ABSOLUTELY sure and do NOT take no for an answer about getting your FREE T4 and your FREE T3 checked.

Do NOT get only the TSH.  TSH is a screening tool at best and frankly not terribly good even at that.  Yet Dr's seem to rely on TSH and only TSH.  It is TOTALLY insufficient to really determine if you have a Thyroid issue or not.

To NOT settle for "Total" T3 and Total T4.  Again both of these tests are outdated and of little value.  Be absolutely sure you get the "FREE" T4 and FREE T3 tests.

They are not free in the sense of no cost.  The reference is to whether or not the hormone molecule is attached to a protein molecule.  Once a protein attaches itself the hormone becomes useless to your body and it is not used.  That is why total is of little value since it counts BOTH free and attached hormones.  Knowing which ones are "free" and available to be used by your body is what is important.

Your Body ONLY uses the Free T3 molecule.  Do not let the Dr tell you it does not need testing.  If anything that is the MOST important thing to get tested.

T4 is a storage hormone and must be converted by your into T3 to be used by your body's cells.  Having sufficient storage T4 in the blood ensures that there is enough to be converted for the final product Free T3.  This is why the Free T4 is important to test.

Once you get your tests, please come back and post the results.  From that we may be able to help further.

The Thyroid is located at the base of the neck, not up high by the  jaw.

Thyroid imbalance can cause dizzyness, fatigue and an enlarged (Goiter) can cause discomfort, pain and a choking feeling.  Many symptoms cross over between being too high and too low Thyroid.  So sometimes it is hard to determine when a patient has some signs if they are high or low.

Other visible signs of low thyroid are hair loss, brittle hair, loss of eyebrow hair on outer 1/3 part of your eyebrows.  Fatigue and weight gain are common.  Anxiety also in some cases.

High thyroid is racing heart beat, sweats, inability to gain weight or weight loss.  Fatigue and anxiety.

[goolarra]

A few blood tests will tell you if your thyroid is functioning properly.  Ask your doctor to test FREE T3, FREE T4 and TSH.  This is a basic "thyroid panel" and will give a good profile of your thyroid status.  Be sure to ask for FREE T3 and FREE T4.  Otherwise, you'll get total T3 and total T4, not nearly as useful.  Bear in mind that results just "in range" are often not enough to abate thyroid symtoms.  When you get those results, you can post them if you'd like with reference ranges (which vary lab to lab), and members will give you their opinion on them.

It might be a good idea, given your family history, to request a thyroid ultrasound as well.  That will show the physical characteristics of your thyroid, goiter (inflammation) and nodules that could be causing your neck pain.