Living with Thyroid

[Sokhela]

Hi everyone I have been living with thyroid my problem is its iretating me inside my throt that cause me to cough most if all at night when am sleeping anyone can help what I can do?

[Clutter]

Sokhela,

Ask your GP to palpate your throat and neck. If GP detects swelling (goitre) or lumps (thyroid nodules) you should be referred for an ultrasound scan to check whether the thyroid is compressing your trachea. In the meantime, an extra pillow on the bed so you are not lying flat may be more comfortable.

[cwill in reply to Clutter]

Some people find that raising with the pillow as Clutter says helps the cough but can cause a sore back and neck. If this is the case put the pillow between the mattress and the bed base, raising the whole mattress rather than just you head. After a night or two you won't even remember that it is there. Hope it helps.

[Sokhela in reply to cwill]

Thanks CWill will try pillow and see maybe it goner help me thanks ,Sokhela

[webar4780 in reply to Clutter]

Clutter,

I suffered the same symptoms (as well as others), approximately 2.5 years ago. Repeatedly requested that my GP check my throat and I explained how exhausted I was from coughing and throat/neck irritation. I also asked for an endocrinologist refer as for 27 yrs diagnosed hypothyroidism and treated and managed ok levothyroxine, I couldn't understand what was happening to me. My GP looked in my throat as a cursory glance. Told me all ok. Think she thought I was becoming a hypochondriac. Said no refer to endorse needed.

Recently, I have posted on here discussing my on going journey back to health. You may, or may not recall, I have had a number of health issues, thyroxine med changes after dermatologist got involved and referred me to rheumatologist, also diagnosed Sjogrens syndrome.

Fortunately, since finding this site, in desperation, trying to help myself get well, I have found a specialist team for Sjogrens, and they are helping me, a lot. (I asked my dentist to refer me, as I couldn't face asking my GP).

The consultant recently sent me for blood tests, he has included thyroid autoimmune antibodies testing, I await results. He also sent me for ultrasound of neck. Sonographer told me I have no thyroid, it shrivelled up.

I posted this information here as I do not see the consultant until August. You kindly, assured me that I had probably suffered hashimotos. From what I learn on this site, I agree.

My question is, would that awful persistent night coughing, lump feeling in my throat and pressure from throat area have been indicative of hashimotos?

Sorry for long post, but as you can perhaps guess, I am still trying to make sense of what happened to my health. I have not felt as well as I used to. I will do whatever I can to improve my well-being.

Currently, I am once again (3rd time since Xmas), taking antibiotics for sinus and throat infection. I recently had low neutrophils and sodium levels. And, today I have taken antihistamines as well, as I feel that I have hay fever symptoms, sneezing, stuffy nose etc.. grass cuttings and flowers smell really strong burning my nose.

I take 100 levothyroxine, you said my latest bloods were fine. I agree, though my knowledge isn't extensive at all! I take 8/500 codeine/paracetamol prn. Sometimes I wonder if the dissolvable 8/500 are attributing to low sodium and or dry mouth and nose, (despite sjogrens symptoms awareness), I only ever take up to 4 8/500 meds per day.

I have stopped bisoprolol as think may have ?caused cough, GP refuted. Also stopped atorvastatin, (own research), (now have consultant letter saying was never at risk! Nor for needing aspirin prescribed), so stopped that too. GP aware.

I take vit d prescribed, learnt from this site, got tested low, GP reluctantly prescribed. I take vit c buy from H/B. I try gluten free.

Can you give me any other tips? Or, am I now becoming that hypochondriac?!!! LOL.

Thank you for all your hard work, much appreciated.

[Clutter in reply to webar4780]

Webar4780,

A swollen thyroid or thyroid nodule/s might cause nighttime coughing but if your thyroid has shrivelled I think it is unlikely it was responsible for your cough.

There are Sjogrens communities on HealthUnlocked. Click on My Communities > + Browse Communities > type Sjogrens into the search bar.

[webar4780 in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter.

My long post wasn't concise I know.

I wondered if my thyroid had been ok. Then if I had hashimotos flare thus, swelling, applying pressure, before finally shrivelling because I was in a state of collapse?

Or do we always become hypothyroidism after hashimotos? Did I have that 27 yr ago?

Yes, thanks for tip. Paul administrator, pointed me to sjogrens community.

It does become tricky overlapping autoimmune... what's causing what symptom. Lol.

[Clutter in reply to webar4780]

Webar4780,

Hashimoto's usually destroys the thyroid gland over years/decades. It is entirely likely that your pregnancy triggered Hashimoto's which in turn caused your hypothyroidism.

[Sokhela in reply to Clutter]

Thank so much for the past 2years being trying to follow every advise the doctor telling me but no solution

[Hidden]

If it is a goitre and is starting to compress your trachea, so causing your cough then you need to get some proper investigations done. The longer you leave it the worse it will get; you will have trouble speaking, needing more than one breath to say a sentence, much like John Wayne; you will stop breathing deeply so causing continual bouts pneumonia which will permanently damage your lungs. You also need blood tests as a goitre can cause havoc with the normal production of hormones, it certainly did all of these things for me.

[webar4780]

Sokhela,

Just to say I really feel for you. I hope you get the issue sorted soon. Persistent night coughing is very very exhausting.

I think Clutter advice is very good.

[webar4780]

Thank you Clutter,

The idea that pregnancy may have been involved is very plausible.

I was diagnosed hypothyroidism (actually, GP pushed a piece of paper across her desk on which she had written myxodoema), a couple of years after my son was born.