Soft swelling follow up

[Vaggers]

Thankyou for all your helpful replies. I have spoken to my GP and sent her pictures, she does not think it is the prednisolone, more likely thyroid. She has arranged blood tests, TFT and calcium. I will update you.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Good - at least she is looking. Which is the place to start ...

[SheffieldJane]

Golly! I hope not. I have, had Graves’ disease since the 80’s. I have to say that my goitre didn’t look like that. When I swallowed it lifted up, then it dropped down, they were always making me do that. It was a swelling wrapped around my neck only. It went completely with Radio iodine treatment, I am on Levothyroxine for life. I was overwrought and really quite ill with thyrotoxicosis and, exopthalmic goitre ( prominent eyes). Weight simply dropped off, irrespective of how much I ate. It doesn’t impact on me at all now, unless it was part of the lead up to PMR and GCA. My “buffalo hump” fat neck from steroids, is quite different - more disfiguring in my case. Good luck!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to SheffieldJane]

I had radio-iodine treatment when I was about 18yrs old - my mother realised very early days I had an issue - my elder brother had been diagnosed with over active thyroid problems a couple of years before.

Fortunately only one session required, and no issues ever since - however both brothers needed lifelong medication for theirs.

The morale of the story -

Mothers do know best!

[SheffieldJane in reply to DorsetLady]

My mum had it. Confronted by the prospect of an operation, she refused further treatment. As far as I know, she didn’t fare any worse than me. It is very common in our neck of the woods ( no pun intended) Derbyshire Neck. Something to do with a lack of iodine in the water. I have spotted it in other people. My first autoimmune disease.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to SheffieldJane]

Can’t claim any connection to Derbyshire. ., but I think I can recall my mum talking about a grandma or great aunt of hers that had it in days of yore!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

That's the reason you get iodised salt - it is more common the further you get from the sea.

[Hollyseden in reply to SheffieldJane]

My daughter was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid when she was 4 and is also on levothyroxine for life. One of the strange symptoms she has had is a butterfly shape appearing exactly over where her thyroid gland is. Blaming hormones because she never had it till she became a mum?

[SheffieldJane in reply to Hollyseden]

I think that’s common. Mine came on at the end of my second pregnancy. Do you mean when she was 40?

Good luck Vaggers!

[Hollyseden in reply to SheffieldJane]

Nope she was actually just 4 years young 😕 picked up at school medical,She was also later diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency which led to over 10 years of daily injections. That wasn't too much fun to start with until she was a big enough girl to use an epi-pen, but she still says she is grateful to have had that treatment because her height is fine, about 5'2.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Hollyseden]

Oh bless her. I am glad it was spotted.

[Marilyn1959]

Thanks for letting us know. Keep us posted on outcome.

[Jackoh]

Thanks for letting us know- all the very best. X