Lump on Thyroid That Can't be Seen Externally?

[Fluffysheep]

Not asked a question on here for a little while, so thought I'd ask some advice. I have Hashimoto's and am hypothyroid. Currently taking 100mcg levo and 37.5mcg T3 meds (am looking to decrease the T4 and increase the T3, but that's not the point of this post).

Anyway, saw the endo in December. The only reason I'm seeing him is to try and get T3 prescribed on the NHS (he said he was quite positive I'd be able to get it after being negative on my previous visit and that he'd let me know. Still not heard, again, not the point of this post!).

During my appointment I asked if I should be having any kind of throat ultrasound due to having Hashimoto's. It's mentioned on a lot of American sites, but I had no idea if it's standard here. He laughed at me, had a feel round my neck, and said he couldn't feel anything. To be clear, I'd had no problems with any kind of lumps, I just didn't know if it was standard practice or not.

The 3 weeks or so I've noticed that if I wear a roll neck top (some people call them turtle neck I think, or polo neck), that I've felt as if it's been pressing against something on the front of my neck. It's only been when I've been wearing these type of jumpers, so for the last week I haven't worn them.

However, yesterday and today I've got the sensation that something is pressing inside. Yesterday it lasted around an hour, today it's just started about 20 minutes ago (we've not long had dinner).

There is nothing visible from the outside, and I don't know enough about my neck to know whether anything feels abnormal or not (not in the habit of feeling my neck, so wouldn't know if there was a change).

Around 12 or so years ago I had a thyroglossal duct cyst that was surgically removed. This was very visible, it looked like I'd swallowed a golf ball!

Anyway, I guess what I'm asking (sorry it took so long to get to the point!) is is it possible to have a nodule or some other kind of lump that feels like it's pressing on something inside sometimes, but isn't visible from the outside? I know nodules can be common with Hashimoto's.

Is this something I should be concerned about? I don't have another appointment with the endocrinologist, so it would be a GP job. I'm just not sure if it's something I should bother about because I've read it's common.

Any advice welcome!

[radd]

Fluffysheep,

"is is it possible to have a nodule or some other kind of lump that feels like it's pressing on something inside sometimes, but isn't visible from the outside?" Yes, absolutely.

"Is this something I should be concerned about?' Probably not as most are benign, ie very few are cancerous.

"I'm just not sure if it's something I should bother about because I've read it's common." It should be checked. It is common procedure to be referred to an endo who will organise an ultra sound scan. If there were any doubts then an FNA would be conducted.

Lumps, ie goiters, nodules, cysts are all incredibly common in Hashi, usually harmless & often in multiples. Wearing a roll neck probably bought more conscious attention to it. Occasionally a goitre will grow so large it may press on the windpipe or make swallowing difficult. Then surgery to remove it would be considered but generally these lumps decrease when we are optimally medicated and/or overtime the thyroid shrinks or becomes atrophied.

[Fluffysheep in reply to radd]

Thank you. I have no ongoing appointment with my endocrinologist (not that I'd particularly want one with him anyway, long story!), but I can imagine if I went to the GP she would try and contact him to see whether he'd want to do anything further.

Hopefully the lump will decrease if I ever get optimally medicated as you put in your reply. I'm kind of flying solo on that, T4 meds really didn't agree with me even though my results on paper looked great, so I self sourced T3 and have been on it a while. At the moment I'm on a combo of both, but I really think I need to decrease the levo and increase the lio.

[Crwbin1]

Hi, I have the same problem but have the lump sensation all the time, I can literally point to the area, feels like someone is putting pressure where the Adams apple space is.I have had an ultra sound, they found a nodule but it’s on my left hand side of thyroid. The say it’s probably benign but nothing in the area the sensation is. I also sometimes choke when eating or drinking. It’s also affected my voice-sometimes it makes it very husky. I have also had an endescope -nothing in the area but they found Barrett oesophagus so am also now on a lot of anti acid meds -not made any difference either to the lump sensation . I have also had a nasal scope -they found a bit of inflammation around voice box -but again nothing that could cause the problem. The nhs have been brilliant-as I had cancer before they were worried I had secondary cancer-but nothing has showed up . It’s a mystery, an a uncomfortable one at that!

[Fluffysheep in reply to Crwbin1]

Thanks for you reply. Glad they found nothing serious, but sorry it's affecting you so much. I have to say that your two scopes sound horrendous, I'm terrified of having to have something like that! I can see why they took it so seriously for you though with you having had cancer.

[Crwbin1]

The two scopes were fine-the Endescope I was sedated….so away with the fairies and don’t remember much about the procedure. The nasal scope was ok -you would be fine with them . Hope you are able to get answers for yourself soon.