Throat lump & bad day

[infinity7]

I had a relatively good day yesterday with only mild body aches/pains and a decent energy level. I've been on 50 mcg levothyroxine for 2 weeks & thought maybe it was starting to work. I've also been eating strict paleo for 2 weeks. Today I woke up exhausted, have the lump in my throat feeling, I can't catch my breath without yawning, and all I want to do is cry & lie on my couch.

So the lump feeling (which I've had off/on for probably 1 year or more), and the can't catch my breath... do those warrant a call to my doctor or is this all typical Hashimoto's & hypo?

I'm so tired that the thought of calling my doctor makes me angry and then I cry again. I hate this. I think my family is tired of listening to me and my friends do not understand at all.

[Barb135]

We don't really have specific "protocol" - it's just that we always ask routine questions to get background information and if you have several threads going at once, you'll be asked for the same information on every one and it gets somewhat confusing.

I understand how you feel, with everything seemingly falling apart at the seams...

If you haven't had an ultrasound, you should ask your doctor to order one to determine if you have swelling/inflammation and/or nodules.  It doesn't happen very often, but it's possible that your thyroid can swell enough to press against your windpipe or a nodule can.  

Often that lump in the throat feeling is anxiety, but even knowing that doesn't make it feel any better.

Hopefully, you'll start seeing some small bits of improvement from the med soon.  The first improvement I noticed was that the bags under my eyes left and I didn't even know they were thyroid related... lol

[infinity7]

Thank you, Barb. I'm sorry... I didn't realize the thread protocol. I haven't had an ultrasound, nor do I know if I have nodules. So far it's all just been the blood tests and my doctor listening to my symptoms. I'll try the cool cloth and ibuprofen. This is all really new to me and I think it's all hitting me today.

[Barb135]

It's usually best to keep your questions in the same thread, so we don't keep asking you for the same information over and over, however, I pretty much remember a lot of it without having to ask or go back and look at your other thread.

You've only been on the med for 2 weeks and it takes 4-6 weeks for it to reach full potential, then it can take even longer for you to get well after that - don't forget - being hypo is an illness, just like having the flu or anything else and you have to give yourself time to get well.  You're probably not on your final dosage yet, either.

There are always going to be good days and bad days.  The idea is that once the medication takes hold, there will be more good days than bad.  

Refresh my memory -- did you have a thyroid ultrasound?  Do you have nodules on your thyroid?  Swelling/inflammation is typical of Hashimoto's and it's very unlikely that there's anything blocking your airway, though I know it often feels like there is.   I found that placing a cool cloth over my throat often made the pain lessen.  I also took ibuprophen, which helped, considerably, but you should check with your doctor.   Don't rub or palpate your thyroid, as that only makes it worse.

As always, you should call your doctor or 911 anytime you feel that you are in medical distress.