Swollen thyroid with hypothyroid symptoms

[swollenthyroid]

Back in October I had a lump in my lower neck, just above the collar bone.  The doctor told me that my thyroid felt swollen.  A scan was done, my thyroid was enlarged.  I had a cyst removed and nothing was done with my thyroid.

Last week I went into urgent care for a lingering cold, well it was getting worse instead of better and I could barely breathe.  The doctor I saw there said I had an infection and prescribed me antibiotics.  Then he started feeling myneck and asking me all kinds of questions and asked if I'd ever had thyroid problems before.  He wanted to do the TSH test to check it, but I didn't have time that day.  He said my thyroid is VERY enlarged.

So I looked up enlarged thyroid and I have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism; hair loss, weight gain, inability to lose weight, fatigue, trouble concentrating and thinking, achy pretty much everywhere, ect.  My throat is very tender and it feels like I don't have as much room in my throat as I should.  Eating and breathing are more diffucult then they should be.

Today I had an appointment with a new doctor I've never seen before.  Told him my symptoms, he felt my neck and agreed that my thyroid is very enlarged.  Did the TSH test and was scheduled for an u/s.  Got the test results at the end of the day and the level is .76, which is at the low end of the 'normal' range, but would be more indictive of hyperthyroidism, which my symptoms do not match.

I don't know what to do.  There is obviously something wrong with me because my thyroid is very enlarged and I have all the symptoms of hypo, but the TSH test says I am no where near hypo.  Is there anything else it could be or that I should mention to my doctor?

[MANmom]

You might also ask for an ultrasound to see if it is anything else....They might spot something on an ultrasound that they can't feel.

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

TSH is not a very sensitive test.

Given your symptoms you need to have a complete thyroid panel done.  This includes testing for antibodies, and testing FT3 and FT4 - which are the active thyroid hormones.  These can be low even if TSH is low.

Perhaps you can be referred to see an endocrinologist.  With the enlarged thyroid and symptoms you definitely need to look into this much further and get some answers.

Best wishes.  Please keep us updated.