NODULES

[helsyf]

Is it possible to have nodules that cannot be felt from the outside?

My daughter has just been through a flare up, which with a meds increase and supplements hopefully we are coming out of. However, she is still having major swallowing issues. It could be related to her suffering gastritis/gerd (which is now improving after a levothyroxine rise) or, could it be nodules? A Doctor felt her throat and said she did not have nodules, but quite honestly, he was so dismissive and inefficient about everything, I am not sure I event trust that examination to be thorough. I doubt they will offer us an ultrasound on the NHS...so was just wondering whether it was worth getting a private ultrasound done, or whether he definitely would have found any nodules just by examining her neck?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Suggest she pushes GP for an ultrasound

or consider getting privately

thyroiduk.org/?s=Ultrasound+

Looking at previous post she increased dose levothyroxine 2 months ago

She needs to get full thyroid and vitamin testing done see where levels are now

[helsyf in reply to SlowDragon]

thank you..yes, we are planning to get her tests next week. We will try to push the GP for scan and if not, will have to go private. It its not like she visits the GP that often, but on the rare occasion she does, they always try to put everything down to anxiety. I am not saying anxiety is not important or valid, but surely rule out any physical possibilities first..grrr. Obviously the swallowing issues affect her eating, which is the last thing she needs right now whilst trying to get well and strong again.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to helsyf]

anxiety is a symptom of Hashimoto’s and not being on adequate replacement/low vitamins

[helsyf in reply to SlowDragon]

yes, she has suffered in the past sometimes when very first diagnosed and if her TSH rises, but now is very good at managing it and is fine when well medicated...problem is, once you have had any issues with anxiety in the past, the doctors seem to want to put every physical symptom you have down to you being anxious...what makes her anxious is not being able to swallow and the doctors insisting it is `probably` nothing physical without checking. I think being anxious about it is exacerbating the problem (obviously) but feel the real issue is actually physical. I know acid reflux can cause throat issues too. The digestive issues have moved in the right direction..will know more when we check her levels..but I am a believer in excluding any possible physical causes before we regard it as anxiety. Having trouble even getting appointments at the moment...but will ask for a scan..we may have to go private anyway though because I suspect there will be a long wait time even if the do refer.

[Kapuna in reply to SlowDragon]

I missed the part where you mentioned that things were better with her gastric system after the increase in levo. I’m hoping that something like that could happen with my case. I was on just levo for thirty years but added liothyronine about six years ago. My gas problems started some time ago and got progressively worse. It could be caused by my CPAP because I also have apnea and my mask occasionally leaks. But that wouldn’t have caused my leg cramps, hair loss, or fingernail splitt

[helsyf in reply to Kapuna]

the gastric issues are her Achilles heal...if anything is going to flair up, it will be that first..but she goes though quite long periods of time feeling pretty good. Only problem is with this illness is it always takes ages to get back to your normal once things go wrong. Good luck..it gets hard constantly having to be pro active, but if you have these symptoms, something needs putting right. I have found this page very helpful. What the doctors regard as normal ranges and where patients actually need to be to feel well are worlds apart!

[Batty1]

I had over the years lots of doctors feel my throat and tell me “no lumps” as I suffered with swallowing issues eventually I had US and this showed nodules and again ignored and swallowing troubles worsened and panic attacks started eventually “years” later I experienced eye popping issue and was sent to Endocrinologist and she said my thyroid was swollen and the US showed nodules which I knew I had but she ordered a FNB and it did come back as positive for pap cancer ….