Osteoporosis Thyroid Connection. Lump in neck with swollen lymph node. Advice needed.

[james122]

Well this is my first post and I am glad to have found this website cause I could really use it at this point. Im a 18 year old male and beginning of last year I had received some results showing that my t3 free was elevated, now at that point I had no idea what that was and my doctor said not to worry about it, that it will end up dropping back down. My t3 free was 5.1 reference range 2.9-4.6, my t4 free was 1.4 reference range 0.9-1.4, tsh 1.75.

Now my only symptoms were sweating ALOT, always hungry, and when I would get mad or something my body would feel weird. Long story short I ended up going through almost the whole year without going back to the doctor and just dealing with the symptoms knowing my thyroid was causing this. In october I did end up going back to my doctor and he tested me for all the antibodies for graves, luckily nothing came back but my t3 was still elevated. At that point I just assumed that it will go down eventually and that nothings wrong, until I felt my neck. Yup I ended up feeling a large hard lump with a ball inside it right beneath the adams apple, even made sure to check a diagram to see where the thyroid is located.

I still haven't seen an endo because Im trying to find the quickest appointment and there all two months from now. Here is why Im worried, I recently found out that increased thyroid hormone can speed up the loss of bone causing osteoporosis which makes me so mad that I didnt find this out last year and have left my thyroid at an increased level. When I touch on my bones in my spine they feel like they have all been bruised and Im still at an age where I haven't reached my full peak bone mass. Do you all think that my t3 was high enough to cause bone loss in one year, or should my bones be okay since my levels are not high enough to do that? Really need advice from people who know about this thyroid osteoporosis connection.

I also just felt one of my lymph nodes in my neck and when I press on it there is alot of pain, which gives me even more concern about the lump in my neck being cancerous. From what I have read most nodules are benign unless your a young male, which I am. I would like everyone's input on these things before I could go see an endo.

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum young man and I'm sorry you have at health problem at your age.

I doubt any damage will have been done to your bones yet as it would take a long time and it is best if you see a good Endocrinologist who is sympathetic and will prescribe what's best.

I have hypothyroidism so cannot be of much help symptom wise but others will respond and you will have support.

Always from now on get a print-out of your blood test results with the ranges for your own records (we are entitled to them) and if you have a query you can post them.

[james122 in reply to shaws]

Thank you shaws for the advice and welcoming me to the forum.

[debjs]

I am hypothyroid but do have problems with my spine when I have been overmedicated and T3 levels particularly have been above range so guess your naturally high levels could cause similar. It is painful to touch and twitches and vibrates. I am sorry to hear you have problems and hope others can advise more and you get the help and treatment you need.

[james122 in reply to debjs]

Debjs did your pain go away after lowering dosage? I hope more people who are familiar with the osteoporosis, thyroid connection can respond.

[greygoose in reply to james122]

James, if I were you, I would write a new post, with a different title. 'Very concerned' is too vague, and a lot of people will just skip past it. If you put something like 'Osteoporosis and thyroid connection: advice needed' or something like that, those who know about it will pick up on it.

Myself, I can't help you, I am hypo/Hashi's, but lots of people here are hyper, so you should get more results with a more eye-catching title.

Good luck.

[james122 in reply to greygoose]

Your absolutely right thank you greygoose, I changed the title so now more people who are familar with this subject could come give there advice and opinions on the matter.

[greygoose in reply to james122]

Well, l see you found how to change the title. Well done! lol But l suggested a new post so that more people would see it. The way this site is laid out, it's difficult to see the old posts.

[james122 in reply to greygoose]

Oh I see, what about the newsfeed? Do people look at that?

[greygoose in reply to james122]

Yes, but your post was on yesterday's newsfeed, which most people have already read.

[james122 in reply to greygoose]

Should I just copy and paste this as a new post, then delete this one?

[greygoose in reply to james122]

Copy and paste, yes, but you can leave this one if you want to keep the replies you've already had.

[debjs in reply to james122]

Yes the pain etc goes with a dose reduction. I have real problems tolerating thyroid meds & have had high levels on a number of occasions & the spine thing is definitely related for me. Can you speak to the endo secretary & say you would be willing to take a cancellation to see if you can speed up an appointment?

[james122 in reply to debjs]

Lets just hope that this is just a side effect of high thyroid levels and not actual bone loss occurring. Im really considering going to any endo that will take me in fast even if he is not so good because I really cant wait any longer.

[Silver_Fairy]

Might be worth asking for a bone mineral density scan.

[james122 in reply to Silver_Fairy]

Yea I am trying to see a endo as soon as possible since I dont think my regular doctor would let me do one. Hopefully whoever I go to is knowledgeable on the subject since Ive read many actual medical reports on people who have lost bone due to the increase in thyroid levels, I just hope im not one of them.

[Silver_Fairy in reply to james122]

Why did your GP think your levels would come down?

I have Graves and wasn't diagnosed, from onset of symptoms, for nine months. I cant say I remember having any bone tenderness, although my other symptoms were quite extreme.

How is your heart rate?

[james122 in reply to Silver_Fairy]

I have no idea, at that point I didnt even know what t3 was so I just listened and didnt ask any questions. My heart rate is actually just fine, my thyroid symptoms become worse when I get stressed or mad but the sweating happens no matter what, so much sweating its crazy.