I am a 20 year old Female. I have been under pro-longed stress and anxiety for years. I have also not being getting periods and have gone through eating problems and other hormonal symptoms.
Since getting covid, I kept getting run down with infections and colds. A month ago I got a sore throat and flu like symptoms where i noticed a swelling on the right side of my thyroid. Is more visible when I swallow. I went to my GP who put me on antibiotics and felt the lump/enlargement. I went for blood tests (full blood count and thyroid levels), they came back all normal. She has sent a referral for an ultrasound but said she wasn’t concerned.
I have been waiting a month by the end of this week for a letter for an appointment and am in a constant state of panic. I also have got a sore throat again. I am losing the will to live here, I just wondered if anyone has any reassurance or support through this.
Thank you
Written by
madelined
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It can be worrying but there’s many reasons for swelling in thyroid area. Try not get ahead of yourself. Easier said, I know.
“I went for blood tests (full blood count and thyroid levels), they came back all normal”
Have you viewed the results yourself? You can sometimes arrange online access to results - if that’s not available you are legally entitled to obtain a printed copy.
When Doctors says “normal / in range / OK” it means the results fits into the expected norm (for most) That doesn’t tell where you are in the range or if it the norm for you. You also needs to know if a full thyroid function was tested. Often a pituitary hormone is tested. It signals thyroid to produce & it’s assumed if that’s in range (the TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone) so must thyroid hormones. But it’s not fool proof you need to know if FT4 thyroxine & FT3 triiodothyronine has been measured too.
I had a one sided swelling & it is likely to be on thyroid as that moves when swallowing as you describe.
Mine was a benign nodule. I didn’t check up on function results (just relied on a verbal ok - and it turned out the results hadn’t been processed and my nodule was hyper functioning.
I went for blood tests (full blood count and thyroid levels), they came back all normal.
Do you have the actual test results ….please add them including ranges if you do
Or request copies
You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.
The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results
UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.
In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet
Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.
Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet
Just testing TSH is inadequate
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis) usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s
Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis. Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.
In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally before 9am
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options and money off codes
Ring up your GP practice and get the blood results (you are entitled to them by law) or you may be able to get them on line if your GP has this facility. When you get them, come back here and give us your results, and we can help from there.
I had a swelling, had a biopsy, then another one as the first one was "not clear", so I know your level of worry. It hangs over you and alters the way you see everything. BUT there are glands in your neck that swell when you have an infection, and can stay up for a while even after the infection is cured.
Constant sore throats suggest you are run down. If the blood results dont show anything much, go back and ask for a full screen (blood count etc) as this will show any underlying problems. Then you will know the way forward.
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Hypothyroid and goitre help
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Sudden onset of goitre
