Re: New-Confused and Desperate

[Guest guest]

Hi, Carole. Wow, many of your symptoms sound almost exactly like my

own! I can tell you, you've come to the right place for support. I

only discovered this board a few weeks ago, but the folks on here

have been a big help already. I was diagnosed with an " enlarged

thyroid " by an emergency room physician in April, after I was

admitted to the ER with my heart racing and my left arm totally numb;

I thought I was having a heart attack. This was the first time

anyone had said anything about my thyroid, and I don't know how long

it had been a problem prior to the ER visit. I subsequently had lots

of bloodwork done, plus an RAIU (iodine uptake scan) and ultrasound.

Everything showed that I had a toxic multinodular goiter, and was

moderately hyperthyroid. Since April, my symptoms have started to

become quite bothersome, especially the cardiac-related ones. I saw

an endocrinologist who told me that for what I had my two choices

were RAI (radioactive iodine therapy/ablation) and surgery. So, this

past Thursday I took the scary little pill and am waiting to see what

happens. The likelihood is that I will become hypothyroid and have

to go on replacement hormone for the rest of my life, which certainly

sounds better than what I've been going through these past months. I

am hoping the goiter will shrink measurably because, like yours, it

is pushing on my trachea, and generally feeling unpleasant. Also, I

have what my ear, nose and throat doc called " a mixed bag " of

symptoms. Even though I'm hyperthyroid my weight has stayed the

same, I'm tired all the time, foggy head, nervousness, etc. It's

apparently not that uncommon. I would encourage you (as will others

on this board, I'm sure) to get more tests done, including the

images, and get to the bottom of this. I was tested for Graves

disease as well, which is an important one. Good luck with finding

more information and starting on the road to recovery.

>

> Hi,

>

> Let me introduce myself my name is Carole, I am 47 years old live

in

> the UK and I have three sons. Two of my sons are autistic. I really

> hope that you can help me as I feel that my body is out of control

at

> the moment and it's scary!

>

> The Certainties.

>

> I have a goitre, which I have had for around 5 years now. When I

> first found it I was scanned and had a blood test and told that

> everything was OK. My blood test for thyroid function was normal;

the

> goitre was not bothering me so it was decided to leave well alone.

> Now five years later the goitre has got bigger and a scan last week

> has shown that it has now pushed my trachea out of place and into

the

> right side of my neck, which now protrudes and is very

uncomfortable.

> I also have a rapid heartbeat, by BP is slightly raised and my

> potassium levels are low and I feel dreadful. These are the facts

> that I am sure of. Added to which my mother has an over active

> thyroid gland.

>

> My Symptoms.

> This is where I become confused as I appear to be having symptoms

for

> both an over and under active thyroid gland and they go in a cycle.

> First of all I had the rapid heartbeat and a feeling of numbness

> running down my legs arms and also in my jaw and eyes. This was

> followed my severe muscle pains mostly in my legs and sometimes in

my

> arms. I can often not sit still and have to move around. I feel

> panicky inside and my head is not mine. By that I mean I feel as if

> my brain is fluffy and concentrating is difficult. I also feel

dizzy

> from time to time and sometimes my brain actually feels like it is

> shaking. But I am not loosing weight my appetite is about the same

> although I do feel as if my food just sits in my stomach now and

does

> not digest. I feel bloated have gas all of the time and often feel

> nauseas. I am also constipated and have been for weeks now,

although

> when this entire first began in January I could not keep off the

loo.

>

> Another thing that also confuses me is that my blood tests are

still

> showing a normal thyroid function so is any of the above down to my

> thyroid or is it something else?

>

> Sorry that this is so long with so many questions but I am now

> becoming quite desperate.

>

> Carole

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group, Carole! I am Feisty (ThyroFeisty),group co-owner.

To me, it sounds like you have Hashimoto's thyroiditis-----an autoimmune illness that has cycles of both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism until the thyroid finally burns out to permanent hypothyroidism.There is a strong family connection with this too.,as well as with other autoimmune diseases.

Now as to the blood test being normal------they may not be "normal" for you!The tests that should be done are TSH (not as much a valid test for checking thyroid functioning-----it is measuring the amount of a hormone the pituitary puts out in response to perceived levels of thyroid hormones in the blood.The two tests that are more an accurate reading of thyroid functioning are the Free T3 and Free T4.These two measure the amount of the thyroid hormones in the blood that are available for use.T4 is the "storage "thyroid hormone and T3 is the one that is used by the body.What is needed also are the tests for thyroid antibodies---the TPO and anti-TPO.This will help to determine if you have an autoimmune thyroid disease such as Hashimoto's, Graves or Reidel's.Other blood tests results may help to add pieces to the puzzle, such as the cholesterol,iron(various anemias are very common with thyroid disease).The vital signs are helpful too as high blood pressure is often related to thyroid disease, as is pulse irregularities(often the pulse may be low)or the pulse can help determine if you are having hyperthyroid activity.Temperature is often a good indicator.The temp may run below normal with hypothyroid and if you are hyperthyroid, you may run a higher than normal temp.Respirations are also indicative. Topper( or ThyroGeek---the other group co-owner) is very knowledgeable on these indications

Wow! I am usually the less wordy one, but again I would like to welcome you to our family here. We have so many here that are so supportive, so compassionate/caring,so wise and so informative.Feel free to ask any questions, to rant or to exult. We all have been touched by thyroid disease.

hugs,

Proud group co-owner,

Feisty(ThyroFeisty)

New-Confused and Desperate

> > Hi,> > Let me introduce myself my name is Carole, I am 47 years old live in > the UK and I have three sons. Two of my sons are autistic. I really > hope that you can help me as I feel that my body is out of control at > the moment and it's scary!> > The Certainties.> > I have a goitre, which I have had for around 5 years now. When I > first found it I was scanned and had a blood test and told that > everything was OK. My blood test for thyroid function was normal; the > goitre was not bothering me so it was decided to leave well alone. > Now five years later the goitre has got bigger and a scan last week > has shown that it has now pushed my trachea out of place and into the > right side of my neck, which now protrudes and is very uncomfortable. > I also have a rapid heartbeat, by BP is slightly raised and my > potassium levels are low and I feel dreadful. These are the facts > that I am sure of. Added to which my mother has an over active > thyroid gland.> > My Symptoms. > This is where I become confused as I appear to be having symptoms for > both an over and under active thyroid gland and they go in a cycle. > First of all I had the rapid heartbeat and a feeling of numbness > running down my legs arms and also in my jaw and eyes. This was > followed my severe muscle pains mostly in my legs and sometimes in my > arms. I can often not sit still and have to move around. I feel > panicky inside and my head is not mine. By that I mean I feel as if > my brain is fluffy and concentrating is difficult. I also feel dizzy > from time to time and sometimes my brain actually feels like it is > shaking. But I am not loosing weight my appetite is about the same > although I do feel as if my food just sits in my stomach now and does > not digest. I feel bloated have gas all of the time and often feel > nauseas. I am also constipated and have been for weeks now, although > when this entire first began in January I could not keep off the loo.> > Another thing that also confuses me is that my blood tests are still > showing a normal thyroid function so is any of the above down to my > thyroid or is it something else?> > Sorry that this is so long with so many questions but I am now > becoming quite desperate.> > Carole > > > > >

[Guest guest]

Wow you guys are brilliant and thanks so much I feel better already

just for being here. I already know from having two sons with autism

if you want an answer to a question ask the experts - parents are

those with autism.

I have not seen a specialist yet but I am desperate for information

before I do. I will be honest and say I dont understand a great deal

of what you have told me but I will print off all information to

digest when the boys are in bed - should be about 5am and I am not

joking. Life is hard so feeling terrible does not help. I am going to

follow any links I can find Hashimoto's thyroditis as I know that

there is a firm connection between autism - thyroid problems and

autoimmune illness.

Please please keep the information coming I am SOOOOO grateful.

Carole

[Guest guest]

Let me introduce myself my name is Carole, I am 47 years old live in the UK and I have three sons. Two of my sons are autistic. I really hope that you can help me as I feel that my body is out of control at the moment and it's scary!

Have you ever been tested for Hashimoto's thyroiditis? They just check for antibodies. There are so many members that could better answer your questions and explain. But with Hashi's you can go from hyper to hypo and that is what it sounds like is happening to you. I have Hashi's but am usually hypo. I have a goiter with the right lobe much larger than the left. I also have a suspicious nodule on the left lobe that has been followed for over 2 years and many small nodules on the right. I have surgery at the end of this month!

Well, sorry that I don't have much more advice to offer! But I am sure that you will get plenty of knowledgeable advice. They are great ladies on the list.