Strange things with throat...not sure if it's anything or not.

Hi all,

I've been getting uncomfortable feelings in my throat/neck. I can't exactly say it's a sore throat as such and there's no cough, but it feels like a tickle. I've also felt the area around my thyroid and it's protruding a little bit although if I go to my GP they'll probably examine it and say that it's fine.

My voice has also gotten hoarse a few times but it resolves itself. It's very strange - I have nothing suggestive of a cold but because of the irritation I cough anyway and nothing comes up. I've also had no problems swallowing as I did the last time this happened.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Jo xxx

[mamamazz]

Go get it checked better to than not and worry. I have a 3mm nodule swelling and my throat is just as you describe only I get the odd choking fit too.

[Hidden in reply to mamamazz]

Hi mamamazz, thanks for your answer.

The goitre isn't visible in the mirror which is what's stopping me from going and for the GPs to think I'm uneccesarily worrying. I'm also able to voluntarily move the thyroid area with my neck muscles and one of my upper legs has now become swollen.

No choking fit - in fact I've been swallowing better than before which is odd.

Thanks

Jo xx

[Jackie]

Hi Jo,

It is quit common with thyroid disease, especially autoimmune. However, vital to have an ultra sound. If it shows nodules,common, then a fine needle biopsy under ultra sound by a radiologist.

Best wishes,

Jackie

[Hidden in reply to Jackie]

Hi Jackie, thanks for your answer.

I had a flare-up of this before however it was quite bad back then as my whole neck swelled up. This time I only have an uncomfortable feeling in my throat and I can also voluntarily move the thyroid area up and down using my neck muscles. Not sure if that's normal or not!

I had an ultrasound back in February last year and although the report stated it was normal I heard the radiologist say the gland looked "bulky" on one side. My previous GP then refused to do anything further thyroid-wise, so I'm worried if I go back to my current doctor they'll look through my notes, say I had a scan done a year or so ago and leave it at that. It isn't that I don't want to go but I'm worried they'll say the same thing as my previous GP.

Thanks

Jo xx

[Jackie in reply to Hidden]

Hi Jo, Difficult! I can only guess but it could have not been so obvious a year ago. The scan is only as good as the person doing it as a moving picture.Mine is enlarged with nodules but my voice has just got worse over the years and swallowing a night mare. Have you had antibodies ( thyroid) tested? Normally this sort of thing is autoimmune thyroid disease, most is anyway.Of course, you could see a different GP in the practice, if necessary ask the receptionist when they are away? or perhaps time to ask to see a good Endo of your choice ( not the GP`s).

Best wishes,

Jacie

[Hidden in reply to Jackie]

Hi Jackie, thanks for your response.

Yes, my antibodies were tested before the hypoT diagnosis and they came back with the anti-TPO at 84,000 (normal range >34, although I'm not sure if this should be 34,000 as the GP said at the time they were only "slightly elevated". What their definition of "slightly elevated" is I'm not sure!)

I'm NHS registered so I don't know how easy it is to find a good endo in my area.

Thanks

Jo xx

[Jackie in reply to Hidden]

Hi if you want a NHS endo, ask for Louise`s [e-mail] If no one near on that,look at large teaching hospitals, travel distance, for names of Endo`s, cross reference them to the local private hospitals, often more info on their sites , and l also look on the WEB for their names, lots have their own site. Phone the NHS sec and ask what treatment they use, top thing is Do they listen to patients? You can usually get a feel from the sec of what they are like. Ask everyone possible but do not rely on GP`s choice.When you go insist on seeing the Consultant, remember if not happy to have a new referral., mistake to say with someone not sure about.

Hope that helps,

Jackie

[Hidden in reply to Jackie]

Hi Jackie, thanks for the tip and it does help. Does that also mean I can do this without my GP knowing? I don't think they'll want me going through to see an endo if I ask them myself.

Thanks

Jo x

[Jackie in reply to Hidden]

Hi Find the endo then you need a referral from any GP. This is for any hospital consultant, private or NHS but then you want the drugs from GP any way. Private docs totally different in all respects.

Jackie

[Hidden in reply to Jackie]

Hi Jackie, thanks. Jo xx

[anbuma]

my doctors now have an online appt system so you cna see which drs are available.if mine isn't fro a couple of weeks then I see another only if I like them.

when I cough my neck moves where my thyroid is so think cough I have had fro a year is related.

[susymac in reply to anbuma]

everybodies neck moves where the thyroid is when you cough. Not saying you dont have a problem just pointing out a fact.

My last GP had the online appointments, was a godsend to me, the ones now are still in the dark ages though :/

[Hidden in reply to susymac]

Hi susy thanks for your answer.

Yes, my gland is more prominent however when I do voluntarily move my neck muscles in that area. I didn't know if it was normal or not.

I wish my GP had online appointments available, but I'm starting to think about seeing an endo. I don't know how easy that's going to be as I requested I be seen through a letter I sent my GP and they omitted to refer me.

Thanks

Jo x

[Jackie in reply to Hidden]

Hi Jo., I doubt they would bother with a letter. You really have to see them and emphasis your case!

Best wishes,

Jackie

[Hidden in reply to anbuma]

Hi anbuma thanks for your reply.

My neck doesn't move that much when I cough (although I don't cough that much so I probably haven't noticed!)

The last time my neck swelled the exact same thing happened - no cough, just an uncomfortable feeling in my throat. But at that time I left it too late as I thought I had some sort of UTI. My voice went incredibly hoarse as well, it was terrible. Because my neck swelled I was wearing scarves to cover it up.

Thanks

Jo xx

[anbuma]

ive not noticed it before maybe its cos my glands are up.what I may mean it isn't chesty.online appts are a godsend -the amount of times i ahev asked for an appt with my own dr only to be told there are none for like 4 weeks and then the receptionist told me you can go online now and I got an appt 2 days alter.

[Hidden in reply to anbuma]

Hi Anbuma, thanks for your reply.

I had an MRI done a year ago, and it showed my tonsils were enlarged - no goitre. The strange things with my throat have calmed down but I'm getting strange symptoms all of a sudden, feeling hot one second and then cold the next. I was on the bus one day with a jacket on and I hadn't walked far and I literally peeled it off. I got cold within five minutes and it was back on again. I'm on thyroxine but I don't understand what's going on at the moment. I know I have episodes of hypo and hyper but not as quickly as that.

I envy you having online appointments! My previous GP surgery introduced online ones before I left but it meant me having to go through an ID check all over again. The GP i'm now with does not let people book online but you can observe your appointments online if I wanted to.

Thanks

Jo xx