Hi all, today I’ve noticed a large swelling at the front of my throat that looks very much like a goitre. It’s slightly uncomfortable when I swallow. It’s Saturday and the doctors are all closed till Tuesday as it’s a bank holiday in the UK, so I called 111 out of hours service and they kept giving me advice about neck pain and injuries and told me to see my doctor Tuesday. I kept telling them it wasn’t a neck injury and was a swelling, I even said it looks exactly like a goitre as it moves up and down when I swallow, but they did insist on keeping to their script!
I don’t have any diagnosed thyroid condition, but have suspected for a long time that my thyroid isn’t functioning well (I’ve posted on this forum several times). My TSH is around 2.5-3 and my T3 is generally low ish. I have to take iron, vitamin B12, folic acid and vitamin D otherwise I become deficient. I’ve also been prescribed natural progesterone cream and DHEA by a private GP who specialises in the menopause and other hormonal issues as my levels were all rock bottom.
My question is, is it ok to leave it till Tuesday or is it something that should be seen sooner by an out of hours doctor? Any advice about what to ask when speaking to a GP would also be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
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Julesboz
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I’m Sorry you are so worried - but I think from what you are describing this could wait until Monday unless you have other symptoms like heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, high pulse rate or increased blood pressure. Then I would go to A & E.
Hope you find out what is going on - it does sound like thyroid but more testing and evaluation is needed. Wishing you all the best.
Thanks greekchick, don’t worry I’m not worried, I’m fairly chilled I just didn’t really think the lady on 111 was listening to me and was just reading off her script! It’ll be Tuesday for the doctors as it’s a bank holiday here on Monday, but I’m happy to wait and will keep an eye out for other symptoms and go to A&E if I get any of those. Thanks again!
I’m no expert on hypothyroid matters, but from what you say, you may be hypothyroid - also do get tested for antibodies - Tg and TPO - just to make sure nothing autoimmune is going on like Hashimoto’s, for that matter. I would also recommend a new and complete thyroid panel with vitamin readings, etc. All the best.
I’ve had antibodies tested, and nothing has come up so far. I’ve also been tested for RA and other connective tissue diseases as no-one can explain why I can’t retain iron etc and I get arthritis like symptoms in my hands and I have mild and unexplained chronic kidney disease and raynauds. Everyone I’ve seen (rheumatologist, gastroenterologist, GPS) assures me I’ve not got any autoimmune problems. I’m due my annual blood tests in sept/Oct for the CKD so I’ll request vitamins etc are also done.
I am not a doctor, but it seems that most of your diseases are in some way related to thyroid.
One thing you may want to talk to your doctor about is the connection between your kidney disease and iron absorption. Apparently, people with CKD have many issues with iron absorption - and I have attached a link for you that explains the relationship - if you get through the medical jargon, there are a few paragraphs that explain in detail why people with CKD can't absorb iron. You may want to show this article to your doctors - as this is commonly understood by nephrologists.
Also, Raynaud's causes arthritis like symptoms, which would explain why your hands hurt. This is also a common symptom experienced by most people with Raynaud’s. Raynaud's can be caused by thyroid disease, so it may be that when your thyroid is treated, your Raynaud's will also get better. Here's another link that explains this:
This article explains how the lack of T3 can lead to CKD. Again, if your thyroid is properly treated - and this means you will receive T4 (and possibly T3 if you do not convert the T4 to T3), you may experience a resolution of some of your problems - both Raynauds and CKD.
Keep us posted here on how you do - but you should receive a referral to an endocrinogist so you can get the proper blood testing. This includes ALL thyroid TSH, T4 and T3. And definitely a scan as well.
Thanks, I agree with you completely! I think everything is linked but doctors dismiss me when I suggest this. I’m fortunate enough to have access to private healthcare through my husband’s work so I will ask for a referral to an endocrinologist and I would imagine they will do a scan for me. If they don’t do all the bloods, I’ll head down the medichecks route.
Don't worry about it, thyroid problems develop slowly BUT when once they are established, they are utterly B awful.
A couple of days makes no difference, I was kept waiting for 6 months between a failed attempt to remove a goitre and finally getting it removed by a more experienced surgeon.
If you are having any difficulty breathing if the goitre is constricting your trachea, then make sure to breath deeply whenever you can as that can and DOES cause pneumonia.
It sounds very similar to what happened to me - a large egg shaped and sized lump appeared overnight. Mine also bobbed up and down when I swallowed. It was a cyst that had bled, hence the sudden appearance. It was uncomfortable but not urgent so I would say you can def wait until Tuesday.
Low vitamins associated with gluten intolerance, very common with autoimmune thyroid disease
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
Thanks SlowDragon, I’ve already been tested for celiac (had an endoscopy) and that was all fine. I’m already gluten, soya, dairy and alcohol free as I’m intolerant to them all. That’s interesting to know that many Hashimoto’s sufferers don’t have raised antibodies. I will request full thyroid panel testing but I’d be surprised if my surgery did it, so I’m happy to go the medichecks route as I’ve used them before. I’m also lucky enough to have access to private healthcare through my husband’s work, so it may be easier to request a thyroid scan. Thanks for your advice!
Hi there, I’ve been trying to convince my doctors for years that all my weird and unexplained symptoms are linked and have one root cause (probably thyroid) but no-one seems interested and, because all my symptoms are fairly minor and not life threatening, although to me they’re a pain in the bum, they always dismiss me. And yes, my cholesterol has risen in the past few years and I’ve put on 1/2 a stone in the last 6 months without changing anything (I’m very active and eat healthily).
SlowDragon, just wanted to let you know that I’ve seen my GP and she doesn’t think it’s a goitre but she doesn’t know what it is and has booked me in for an urgent scan and blood tests Friday. Thanks for all your advice!
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I just didn’t really think the lady on 111 was listening to me and was just reading off her script! It’ll be Tuesday for the doctors as it’s a bank holiday here on Monday, but I’m happy to wait and will keep an eye out for other symptoms and go to A&E if I get any of those. Thanks again!
Mediastinal goitre 
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