How concerned should I be?: I am so grateful for... - Thyroid UK

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How concerned should I be?

21 Replies

I am so grateful for this forum and all the advice I've received. I am back with yet another question.

My neck and throat have been aching quite badly for a couple of weeks. Last week I went to the nurse to look at a lump behind my ear who said it was a swollen lymph node and come back if it's still there in a month.

This morning I was checking my neck and I've found I can move (what I think is) my thyroid but it sort of clicks. It makes my skin crawl a bit.

I will go to the GP but I had an appointment last week, I've emailed this week to ask for an iron panel and I feel like I'm becoming a pest. 😂 🤦🏻‍♀️

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21 Replies
shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

If there's something wrong in our body, it is always better to be cautious and make an appointment to see the GP. If he/she isn't satisfied they should refer you to an appropriate specialist.

There are so many symptoms we can have if hypo or hashi's but most can be resolved 'eventually' with advice from our members who are all so very helpful and many I think could set up a business (where they can get paid for their advice. :) I know that wouldn't be legal.

The majority of whom are very knowledgeable especially about vitamins/minerals etc.

in reply toshaws

I've learnt SO much from being here. It's such a valuable resource. I was all adrift trying to figure out how to help myself until I found this forum.

I agree better safe than sorry, I'm just a bit concerned I'm going to start getting a black mark against my name if I keep going! Not that it should matter of course.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to

I've certainly got a few black marks in my surgery and I am positive about that. You can sense the awkwardness but thankfully there's more than one GP I can consult with, although all of us on the forum this year have probably never been face-to-face with a doctor.

What does black marks mean when we reach a plateau of, no pain, can sleep all night, can carry on as we used to i.e. normally?

in reply toshaws

I absolutely agree and the GPs shouldn't change their care based on frequency, however the people pleaser in me struggles! 🤦🏻‍♀️

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to

For a change, you should concentrate on yourself until you are able to have no clinical symptoms at all and feel well.

in reply toshaws

Well I had a phone consultation and she will see me this afternoon but said "well we've seen you quite a lot recently" so I've definitely earned my Frequent Flyer mark there! 🤦🏻‍♀️

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to

Maybe she'll let the 'frequent flyer' to actually fly when you get the correct dose of thyroid hormones you need :)

in reply toshaws

Quite right! I keep coming back because you've not fixed the problem yet!

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Looking at previous posts you are only on 75mcg levothyroxine

Make sure to get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing 6-8 weeks after dose increase

Always get test done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently on?

in reply toSlowDragon

Next test at the end of the month at 8:50am.

Currently prescribed 1.5 50mcg Northstar a day but take 50/100 alternate days.

Currently take:

A b complex from Holland and Barrett

1000ug B12

200ug vit D

200ug selenium

220mg magnesium

180ug vit K2

i was also taking floradix iron tablets & vit c but stopped 2 weeks ago so I could get checked for iron deficiency anaemia.

Some weeks I take them all every day others I end up taking none. I've struggled with the gaps between each. It's easier now iron isn't on the schedule! :)

Lora7again profile image
Lora7again

I would never press on your thyroid or try to move it if I was you. When I had my last ultrasound last year I found my neck ached for days afterwards. I do have a multi-nodular goiter which sometimes swells up. At the moment I can't stop choking on some of my food so I think it might be a bit swollen.

in reply toLora7again

It wasn't completely deliberate! 😂I was gently squeezing to see if I could feel any swelling and I must've put my thumb in just the right place because my thyroid moved and clicked against something. 🤢 Made me all squeamish!

I think it needs checking out because I'm holding my chin too high like something is stopping me holding my chin at a normal level, and I'm finding it a chore to swallow, or I'm aware of swallowing all the time. So something is going on in there.

Might just be swollen but with a swollen lymph node on the same side I'm a bit concerned.

Lora7again profile image
Lora7again in reply to

Have you had a ultrasound sound on your thyroid?

in reply toLora7again

Nope. It was examined by the GP about 2years ago who said it was fine and that was it. To be fair, it felt fine then to me too!

Lora7again profile image
Lora7again in reply to

I think you should request a ultrasound to see if you have any nodules.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to

Definitely ask for ultrasound scan

It's terrible you weren't believed. I'm glad they caught it in time though.

Cancer has crossed my mind but it's a job to know when to give those thoughts the time of day. My grandma, grandad, and auntie (on my maternal side) all died of cancer. My mum was given the all clear from breast cancer 2.5 years ago but has just been told they've found pre cancerous cells on her cervix so I'm hyper aware ... !

Lora7again profile image
Lora7again

It is always best to get things checked because my mother died of breast cancer in her 40s and I have had regular mammograms since I was 30. My goiter has not turned cancerous yet but I try to have regular ultrasounds to make sure none of the nodules have got bigger.

in reply toLora7again

Yes, definitely better to be safe than sorry.

I'll try and get a GP appointment this week to ask for a referral.

in reply to

Referral v unlikely if my phone consult is anything to go by. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I could practically hear my GPs eyes rolling during our phone consultation. Still, she's going to see me today so I expect I'll be patted on the head and told to come back in 6 months if it's still a problem because I don't think I have any external swelling so obviously there's nothing wrong. 🙄

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