Thyroid Nodules but gp says blood tests normal........

[Annaw9]

Hi all

I've just joined this forum as I'm discovering that I need to self inform to get somewhere with my health as gp/hospital seem to have let me down so much I'm losing faith.

To cut a long story short, for the past few years I've been suffering from recurrent throat infections which have increased in frequency and really debilitate me and lay me down for at least a week virtually every month or two months. I'm 55 and post menopausal and am on HRT. Menopausal symptoms came on a few years back and the sweats/hot flushes/depression got so bad I went on HRT which has helped but the throat infections are on the increase. I also get headaches with these infections and it's difficult to explain but I almost know in advance when its coming on as I wake up and literally look in the mirror and I can see how I've suddenly changed overnight and I have this completely wiped out, drained look on my face and it always seems to happen overnight!

I've noticed that some mornings I sometimes wake up and sweat after or upon waking and then I'm fine.

I've been seeing the doctor about this as I've also felt a lump in my throat which bothers me at times. I've had numerous blood tests and the gp says they are all normal. I've been told that I've had thyroid function tests and even been tested for thyroid antibodies. My gp did confirm there was swelling on my left neck side.

I was referred to the hospital last year (ENT) and the consultant has said I have a lot of gastric acid reflux which is causing this throat issue. He did refer me for a barium swallow and the person who did this said that there was something pushing on my thyroid gland. I then had a further follow up appointment at the hospital and another (locum) consultant insisted there was nothing wrong with my thyroid and my problems all stem from acid reflux!

I then received a letter from the hospital which was so poorly written it didn't make sense but I definitely understood there was compression on the thyroid and lots of other stuff that I did not understand (lots of C numbers and talk of mild compression). So my GP referred me for a thyroid scan which has shown I have apparently a lot of thyroid nodules or cysts (i'm not too sure) but my gp said definitely not cancerous and has now referred me to see an endo.

On reading a lot on here, I wonder if I should insist on a printout of my blood test results as they keep saying they are normal but I've no idea what they are.

Ironically also since the thyroid scan I feel that the swelling on the left (where the nodules are) is worse and I seem to feel it more.

I've felt that I've had to keep going back and back to the doctors so often to insist that I'm feeling something is not right and fortunately it's only one gp at the surgery who has referred me to the hospital but I still feel its taken a ridiculously long time to even get to this stage where i'm still in limbo.

My lifestyle has changed. Whilst I still work this has affected me terribly and I've lost so much income due to illness as I'm self employed and at one point this was all put down to menopause.

I have found though that taking certain steps has helped me a little. One thing for sure I can't bear to feel cold and I know if I feel slightly cold I will come down with a bad throat so during winter I always have a scarf around my neck.

I do get tired at times too and can't seem to take much noise at times.

I'm just kind of putting this out for any thoughts/comments/advice. Apologies for the long ramble

[Annaw9]

I forgot to add that also my voice gets affected too. I find that sometimes I just cant talk anymore and get tired from talking !

[barbiebuzz]

I have similar symptoms with my thyroid swelling, tiredness brain fog weight gain tingling in hands headaches etc blood tests always come back normal. Am going to insist on a printout.

[Marz]

It really is awful that you have endured so many investigations without resolving the problems. Am afraid it is very common. Please do not ever accept normal as a result - what is normal for one is not for another You are entitled to all copies of any blood tests - so when you have them please post them in a new post and people will answer.

Acid reflux is very common when Hypo - and is often connected to LOW acid. Are you taking medication ? If so this will lower your B12 which is VERY important to have at a good level. When stomach acid is low due to low thyroid - the proteins remain in the stomach too long as they are not broken down. This can lead to fermentation - which in turn causes the feeling of reflux.

So you need to know the results for the following for the thyroid - TSH - FT4 - FT3 - Anti-TPO - Anti-Tg. Also you need to know you are optimal in Ferritin - Folate - B12 - Iron - VitD as they the building blocks of good health and good thyroid function.

Any chance of going privately for the blood tests ? The main website of Thyroid UK has so much information about private testing in the home even - and with discount. These results are also acceptable by the GP....

Keep asking questions and there will always be someone around to help....

[Thyroidmeg]

Yes ask for print out!! Normal range doesn't mean you don't have thyroid problems in my opinion.

Wish I had when I was told my bloods were normal and I still needed total thyroidectomy . 6 years on I am on thyroxine and still cold all the time. Still 'normal' lol

[Winegum2]

I have a multi-nodular goiter too that is visible from the outside. They don't test them for cancer unless a nodule is over 1cm. However, I had to have a second scan after 3 months to check whether they were growing, they weren't. So I'd check whether you need a re-scan. My largest nodule is 0.8cm so perhaps as it is close to the cut off, they wanted to check me again.

Definitely get a print out of your results. My TSH was 4.3 which is 'normal' in this country, but in countries like Germany, Belgium and Sweden where the normal range is much narrower (cut off around 3), I would've been diagnosed as Hypo about 12 years ago!

[margieb]

I know giw frustrating it can be to feel nobody is listening, sit back and take the tests and hope that a general diagnosis with standard medication will work. You have to be your own advocate for health. I started with thyroid nodules, normal levels , 2 failed biopsy which led to removal if my right thyroid... Still my levels were "normal" . I was given medication to shrink the remaining ones and they grew. I stopped and they started to shrink. Years later I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, Sjogrens and discovered through my own research and training I had leaky gut. I strongly believe gluton was at rhe soutce of my health issues. I changed my diet (went Paleo) focused on whole foods, probiotics and a good digestive enzyme. I have been drug free for years ,and feel better at 52 then I did at 30 with more energy and less pain.This is just my experience. I am not a medical practitioner but a nutritional therapist. Start with the gut! If not in balance it will effect your hormones plus so much more. Whatever you decide to do. Do your own research.

[Orangelady1]

I don't mean to scare, but I had only one nodule and not big, it was scanned, then needle biopsy, and had surgery to remove half thyroid, surgery showed it was early stage cancer, so had other half removed, I'm fine now that was 3 years ago. Please push to get things checked properly. X

[Annaw9]

Hi all

Many thanks for your comments/advice when I first posted.

I saw the Endo in September and will post later about his comments. He's given me results of Thyroid function tests back in May 2015, as follows:

TSH 1.8

T4 10.9

TPO antibodies negative

Any comments would be appreciated on these levels.

Thank you all

[Melbugg in reply to Annaw9]

Did you ever figure out anything?