How concerned should I be?

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. 😂 🤦🏻‍♀️

[shaws]

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.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

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 in reply to Hidden]

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?

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

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

[shaws in reply to Hidden]

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

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

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 in reply to Hidden]

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

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

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

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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?

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

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!

[Hidden]

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.

[Hidden]

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!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Definitely ask for ultrasound scan

[Hidden]

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 ... !

[Hidden]

Yes, definitely better to be safe than sorry.

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

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

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

[Hidden]

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. 🙄