Goitre: No sure if this is anxiety but recently I... - Thyroid UK

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Goitre

Irch85 profile image
15 Replies

No sure if this is anxiety but recently I've been experiencing numbness in my left arm along with pins and needles..

Is this common with Goitre sufferers?

Thanks

Emma

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Irch85 profile image
Irch85
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15 Replies
SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Could possibly be low B12. Lots of us Hypos are low in vitamins and minerals. Have you had yours tested - Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin? All need to be at optimal levels for thyroid hormone to work.

Irch85 profile image
Irch85 in reply toSeasideSusie

No I'm still awaiting these to be done, follow up appointment next week with my GP and hopefully he agrees to test all these. If not then will pay to have them done private.

Irch85 profile image
Irch85 in reply toSeasideSusie

thanks for that info though 👍🏼

Nanaedake profile image
Nanaedake

Try to avoid attributing physical symptoms to anxiety. Docs are only too happy to let you think it's anxiety as it saves them the trouble of investigating the root cause of physical symptoms properly. Thyroid conditions are connected to vitamin deficiency as SeasideSusie has said. In addition, hormonal imbalance can cause physical symptoms.

Irch85 profile image
Irch85 in reply toNanaedake

I do feel very anxious with this but coupled with a boat load of other symptoms of which I know aren't neurological, the doctor has already offered me antidepressants of which I declined due to me not being depressed or anxious..

I know I'm physically poorly atm and my ever growing goitre should be evidence of this but sadly not.

Nanaedake profile image
Nanaedake in reply toIrch85

I'm wondering why the doctor thinks antidepressant will help someone who is not depressed? I think it's normal to feel anxious when you don't understand what's going on with your body and why you are getting symptoms. Your vitamins tests might help to begin to unravel it. What suggestions have been made to treat the goitre? Do you know what your options are?

Irch85 profile image
Irch85 in reply toNanaedake

To be perfectly honest the doctors have never offered to treat me with this, I had a flare up of this same swelling last year then all returned to normal.. I have fluctuated with weight over the last few years. At my biggest size 16 with a noticeable goitre then lost it all and no goitre but now I'm a steady size 12 but still a very noticeable goitre..

I've only noticed this myself in the last couple of months on pictures etc then come down with what I thought was a throat infection which is all too common for me, exhaustion coupled with swollen glands of which are still present 5+ weeks and they hurt too..

It's not got any bigger than this but to me it feels huge x

Nanaedake profile image
Nanaedake in reply toIrch85

Well, it's good you've got a follow up appointment. I see you've had an ultrasound but it sounds like the doctor was dismissive which isn't helpful. I guess if it were me I'd want to know what was causing it, how to manage it and what my treatment options were.

Octo profile image
Octo in reply toNanaedake

It's their stock answer when they've no idea what is wrong. I suffered an accident during surgery with massive loss of blood. Despite a transfusion during surgery and two later ones, I was still anaemic when they decided I was otherwise well enough to be discharged and I was started on iron tablets. I took the tablets for three months

silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7

Doctors are so quick to say depression. I got a copy letter from my last Endo visit when apparently I said I was depressed!!!!! I wasn't and I didn't say that!

malancy profile image
malancy

Anti-depressants are also prescribed to help anxiety and panic attacks. They aren't just for depression.

Irch85 profile image
Irch85 in reply tomalancy

the cause of my anxiety isn't neurological though it's physical because of my Goitre and hyper/hypo symptoms.. I have a mixture of which I cannot pinpoint wether I'm one or the other.

malancy profile image
malancy

I had anxiety and panic attacks when I had a goitre and anti depressants helped me feel a little bit more 'normal'

Irch85 profile image
Irch85 in reply tomalancy

It's difficult though when your labelled depressed as oppose to the GP taking your physical symptoms seriously, I'm reluctant.

madge1979 profile image
madge1979

Emma ... I have Graves .. tho .. Euthyroid for some time now ..

But coincidently ... I have pins and needles and numbness from my elbow to the three outside fingers on my hands .... I thought it was part of the Hellish symptoms if Graves' disease

but I have just been told I have Ulnar Nerve Entrapment in my Elbows .. and I'm assured it will be ' fixed ' When I have surgery in two weeks time ..

Good luck

Mx🌹

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