Swollen neck and thyroid nodule..

[Inaquandary]

But blood tests normal. Big lump (approx 3" across) appeared overnight a month ago. Smaller harder lump next to my Adams apple. Feeling totally exhausted, shivery then sweaty. Scan and FNA booked for 10 days time. Any ideas? I am a 51 year old female.

UPDATE: 1st August 2018

After being passed between hospitals on the NHS I finally had full thyroidectomy and 59 lymph nodes removed... I had a tbyroid the size of a coca cola tin and 2 tumours, the biggest was 45mm. I had my surgery privately at the Spire in Leeds, on 6th October 2017. I now feel fine, but tire easily. I had radioactive iodine treatment (4 days isolation at St James in Leeds) which worked well. My follow up scan is the 1st week of September. I don't feel as if it has come back, I feel ok. It was all a bit scary at the time but my scar is quite neat and is a good conversation piece.

Love to all going through this illness.. Keep strong, don't let it beat you x

[soppysokes]

It looks as if it could be a salivary gland or a parotid gland swelling?

If so they can be from an infection and treated with antibiotics or can be benign tumours but obviously any lump/swelling like that will be investigated quickly to eliminate anything nasty. The scan and an ultrasound guided fna will give a clearer picture of its nature.

[Inaquandary in reply to soppysokes]

Don't know if that would explain the feeling so awful, total exhaustion all the time. Also got a smaller harder nodule on thyroid that you can't see on photo.

[soppysokes in reply to Inaquandary]

Hi Lindsay, anything that affects the lymph system can cause the fatigue and general U wellness.they are absolutely doing the right thing by getting those tests run quickly it's standard practice with any unexplained neck lumps.

[Tiredmum75]

Have you been tested for Graves or Hashimotos

[Inaquandary in reply to Tiredmum75]

Hi, no... I have sent off for one of the ThyroidUk tests to check levels.

[Tiredmum75 in reply to Inaquandary]

Get tested soon please I had the nasty experience of being told I had thyroid cancer and having a total thyroidrectmy and then finding out it was just Graves. I don't want anyone else to go through that

[Inaquandary]

Have sent off for the Medichecks test. Spent 3 hours in A &E yesterday trying to get answers but they just said bloods are "normal". Got a scan and FNA on 4th August. So doing all I can for now. Just totally exhausted x

[Tiredmum75 in reply to Inaquandary]

Hi again recommended tests for autoimmune disorders in thyroid are

TSH

TPO antibodies

Thyroglobulin antibodies

Free T4

Free T3

Reverse T3

I hope this helps and demand them off your doctor

[melville999]

hello,sorry if I'm brief as a bit stuck this end.it looks like you may have enlargement in or next to the lymph nodes that are like a gate or guardian in the neck.they are a defence against illnesses in a big area but can have illnesses in them themselves.the list of those illnesses can be quite scary.most are very treatable.if they have come up fast then they may be especially treatable because the disease is a bit in its growing time.you could have an infection like TB very treatable,you could have but less likely inflamation,sadly also but usually treatable it could be an illness like lymphoma or another form of cancer.this is why the doctors are planning to do the fna.of course you may think the worst but hopefully whatever it is gets treated rapidly and I wish you a lot of good help.I hope my reply isn't blunt.its not meant to be.sending u love

[melville999]

this sounds a bit bizzare but whilst you are waiting could you go and see your dentist and ask them to check out your mouth,tongue,tonsils too and teeth.its worth getting their opinion.i know docs doing the right thing and fna asap is most important.dentists are trained to look at non tooth bits of mouth as well.best of luck

[Inaquandary in reply to melville999]

Thank you for your reply, I did show the dentist and she couldn't see anything amiss. Bring on the FNA!

[Vbgr]

Lindsay, in 1998 I had a large lump grow very quickly in my neck, a bit more central than yours that had to go over to the other side to swallow. It was a cyst that didn't get treated quickly enough and turned hard. FNA was no cAncer. They wanted to remove half of the thyroid to take it out. Fortunately, I felt it reduced slightly one day so waited. ,it took two years to go down to nearly nothing. It's still there, but very small. If there is no cancer I would not have it removed till I found out if it was going to go down on its own. The thought that kept me going was that cancer doesn't come quickly or overnight. Good luck, and keep us posted, We are with you, Val

[Inaquandary in reply to Vbgr]

Thats very reassuring to know. I am quite a "cysty" person anyway, I'm happy for it to stay as long as I FEEL better! Just exhausted the whole time. The smaller harder lump on my thyroid is a bit more of an issue to me..... x

[LAHs in reply to Vbgr]

That was very wise of you to notice that cancer doesn't come quickly or overnight. I was once told by my doc that I had arthritis and was given pills by the specialist. I asked why I was normal on Sunday but had terrific pains in my knees Monday morning! I mentioned that everyone I knew had their arthritis and rheumatism sneak up on them slowly, over years in many cases. The doc said he didn't know why it was sudden, but take these pills anyway. I did not take them. I read up on a few things and decided to increased my thyroid meds - the pain disappeared as quickly as it came and has never returned!

[melville999]

as you say,bring on the FNA.not a nice thought I'm sure,am a total needle coward but I hope you get some fast treatable answers.xx

[Inaquandary in reply to melville999]

I'm not a fan either but if it gives me some answers I don't care!

[Vbgr]

Because of my multi nodular thyroid, my Endo said if he had a cancer anywhere he would want it to be in his thyroid, it's easy to whip out and usually slow growing. I have read that nodules are 95% benign, keep us posted.

[Inaquandary]

Tests have come back positive for thyroid antibodies, 608 (0-115). Everything else in range but on the low side. Hashimotos suggested. I think the antibodies are being produced to counteract the nodule and swelling. Any thoughts? Would that make me feel rotten?

[mrneduc in reply to Inaquandary]

I'm a newbie and don't know much but I had half my thyroid removed 5 weeks ago and I've been plunged into an unpleasant hypothyroid state. I had scans which said 90% chance of cancer and 2 FNAs both indeterminate . It was benign yeah. My message is hang onto your thyroid if you can- my remaining half doesn't appear to be working and no one can tell me if it will regenerate. I'm much older than you though. All the best. Pray for a good report for you

[Inaquandary in reply to mrneduc]

Sounds as though you have been "in the wars". Hope you feel better soon x

[Inaquandary]

Update.. Having NHS scan and biopsy next Friday 4th August, seeing Dr Peter Hammond at the Duchy in Harrogate on the 18th. Top endo apparently. Recommended by a friend. Lump growing and pressing on my windpipe. Hope everyone ok out there in Thyroidland xx

[Inaquandary]

Update! Had FNA this evening. Not a nice experience as I wasn't given a local anaesthetic, feeling very bruised and battered now. Took cells and samples from 4 sites. Doc said the small nodule was so hard it was bending his needle! Ouch!! Results in 7 days.

[Dils]

hi can u tell me what u were doagnose with.. I suffering from same but iam hypothyroid notuch know about thyroid cancer.

Now hows u feeling?

[Inaquandary in reply to Dils]

Hi, I have updated the original post. All the best x

[Dils in reply to Inaquandary]

Ur tsh was normal ?

Actuly in.my.city not speclist is present i have to go an other city... But they ignore.me..

Iam afraid of thyroid cancer

[Inaquandary in reply to Dils]

What do you mean they ignore you?? X