Re: Newbie with Goitre question - Drs visit

[Guest guest]

Hi Oz Jane. Is this a primary care doc or an endocrinologist ? The

lesson I learned is to go to an endo for anything thyroid. And if you

are not relieved or satisfied with the endo, get a second or third

opinion. Can you tell them you want the TG antibodies tested ?

I was in the ER in September for what we now know was thyroiditis,

heart and breathing bad, high temp etc. To look for blood clots, they

did a CT scan and it was then that my large thyroid was found. The CT

scan also showed where the goiter was making my throat smaller.

Please remind me, have you had an ultrasound yet of the goiter, and

have you had a thyroid uptake scan where you go a bit radioactive for

it. Ultrasound should show if the goiter is solid or a cyst - fluid

filled. The uptake scan shows what part of the goiter works, doesn't

work or it working hypo.

U.S. jane

>

> I have seen the Dr and have blood tests ordered for TSH, free T4 &

> free T3. I had to ask for last 2. She seems to think my Goitre is not

> too bad. I had to raise my arms above head and she waited to see if

> face turned blue (?) from lack of oxygen ? - which it didn't - and

> then said my trach... was OK and it must be a oesphar... swelling ?

> She didn't ask for any symptoms or anything re Thyroid. Just that my

> TSH from last year was normal ( 1.4). Still feel a bit puzzled.

[Guest guest]

Hi Oz Jane. Is this a primary care doc or an endocrinologist ? The

lesson I learned is to go to an endo for anything thyroid. And if you

are not relieved or satisfied with the endo, get a second or third

opinion. Can you tell them you want the TG antibodies tested ?

I was in the ER in September for what we now know was thyroiditis,

heart and breathing bad, high temp etc. To look for blood clots, they

did a CT scan and it was then that my large thyroid was found. The CT

scan also showed where the goiter was making my throat smaller.

Please remind me, have you had an ultrasound yet of the goiter, and

have you had a thyroid uptake scan where you go a bit radioactive for

it. Ultrasound should show if the goiter is solid or a cyst - fluid

filled. The uptake scan shows what part of the goiter works, doesn't

work or it working hypo.

U.S. jane

>

> I have seen the Dr and have blood tests ordered for TSH, free T4 &

> free T3. I had to ask for last 2. She seems to think my Goitre is not

> too bad. I had to raise my arms above head and she waited to see if

> face turned blue (?) from lack of oxygen ? - which it didn't - and

> then said my trach... was OK and it must be a oesphar... swelling ?

> She didn't ask for any symptoms or anything re Thyroid. Just that my

> TSH from last year was normal ( 1.4). Still feel a bit puzzled.

[Guest guest]

Hi US Jane

This is where I felt puzzled. She checked if I turned blue but surely

a small blockage would not turn me blue ? Just make life uncomfortable?

No - haven't had a scan. Had something about 30 years ago but NOTHING

since. Symptoms.... Scored 91% in one of those online quizzes.Dr asked

nothing of that. Even had to prompt her for free T3 & free T4. She

said TSH was enough .....

Endo I saw was no better. He didn't test anything apart from TSH.

I have had CFS, Fibro, saw a Endo 7 years ago re all that. My physio

at the time was concerned. That didn't seem to lead anywhere. He did

tests - can't recall what but have not had a scan or update scan.

Trouble is - today - Dr looked at me as though I was imagining it...

Aussie Jane

> >

> > I have seen the Dr and have blood tests ordered for TSH, free T4 &

> > free T3. I had to ask for last 2. She seems to think my Goitre is not

> > too bad. I had to raise my arms above head and she waited to see if

> > face turned blue (?) from lack of oxygen ? - which it didn't - and

> > then said my trach... was OK and it must be a oesphar... swelling ?

> > She didn't ask for any symptoms or anything re Thyroid. Just that my

> > TSH from last year was normal ( 1.4). Still feel a bit puzzled.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi US Jane

This is where I felt puzzled. She checked if I turned blue but surely

a small blockage would not turn me blue ? Just make life uncomfortable?

No - haven't had a scan. Had something about 30 years ago but NOTHING

since. Symptoms.... Scored 91% in one of those online quizzes.Dr asked

nothing of that. Even had to prompt her for free T3 & free T4. She

said TSH was enough .....

Endo I saw was no better. He didn't test anything apart from TSH.

I have had CFS, Fibro, saw a Endo 7 years ago re all that. My physio

at the time was concerned. That didn't seem to lead anywhere. He did

tests - can't recall what but have not had a scan or update scan.

Trouble is - today - Dr looked at me as though I was imagining it...

Aussie Jane

> >

> > I have seen the Dr and have blood tests ordered for TSH, free T4 &

> > free T3. I had to ask for last 2. She seems to think my Goitre is not

> > too bad. I had to raise my arms above head and she waited to see if

> > face turned blue (?) from lack of oxygen ? - which it didn't - and

> > then said my trach... was OK and it must be a oesphar... swelling ?

> > She didn't ask for any symptoms or anything re Thyroid. Just that my

> > TSH from last year was normal ( 1.4). Still feel a bit puzzled.

>

[Guest guest]

My prejudice is primary docs are not trained enough to handle

thyroid stuff. I say, tell docs you want scans, if they balk, ask

it for your peace of mind. Bring up that blood tests can show

normal when the gland can even be close to dying. Scans will show

more. If you aren't getting what you want, keep going to docs till

you get what you want. If that's possible in Oz. Both lobes of my

thyroid were the size of tangerines, each side a tangerine, and arms

above the head did nothing with me either. Now I realize there was

a tightness around my neck, but it came on so gradually, I thought

it was just how necks felt. Good luck and keep pressing for what

your gut is telling you.

U.S. jane

> > >

> > > I have seen the Dr and have blood tests ordered for TSH, free

T4 &

> > > free T3. I had to ask for last 2. She seems to think my Goitre

is not

> > > too bad. I had to raise my arms above head and she waited to

see if

> > > face turned blue (?) from lack of oxygen ? - which it didn't -

and

> > > then said my trach... was OK and it must be a oesphar...

swelling ?

> > > She didn't ask for any symptoms or anything re Thyroid. Just

that my

> > > TSH from last year was normal ( 1.4). Still feel a bit

puzzled.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

My prejudice is primary docs are not trained enough to handle

thyroid stuff. I say, tell docs you want scans, if they balk, ask

it for your peace of mind. Bring up that blood tests can show

normal when the gland can even be close to dying. Scans will show

more. If you aren't getting what you want, keep going to docs till

you get what you want. If that's possible in Oz. Both lobes of my

thyroid were the size of tangerines, each side a tangerine, and arms

above the head did nothing with me either. Now I realize there was

a tightness around my neck, but it came on so gradually, I thought

it was just how necks felt. Good luck and keep pressing for what

your gut is telling you.

U.S. jane

> > >

> > > I have seen the Dr and have blood tests ordered for TSH, free

T4 &

> > > free T3. I had to ask for last 2. She seems to think my Goitre

is not

> > > too bad. I had to raise my arms above head and she waited to

see if

> > > face turned blue (?) from lack of oxygen ? - which it didn't -

and

> > > then said my trach... was OK and it must be a oesphar...

swelling ?

> > > She didn't ask for any symptoms or anything re Thyroid. Just

that my

> > > TSH from last year was normal ( 1.4). Still feel a bit

puzzled.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

My prejudice is primary docs are not trained enough to handle

thyroid stuff. I say, tell docs you want scans, if they balk, ask

it for your peace of mind. Bring up that blood tests can show

normal when the gland can even be close to dying. Scans will show

more. If you aren't getting what you want, keep going to docs till

you get what you want. If that's possible in Oz. Both lobes of my

thyroid were the size of tangerines, each side a tangerine, and arms

above the head did nothing with me either. Now I realize there was

a tightness around my neck, but it came on so gradually, I thought

it was just how necks felt. Good luck and keep pressing for what

your gut is telling you.

U.S. jane

> > >

> > > I have seen the Dr and have blood tests ordered for TSH, free

T4 &

> > > free T3. I had to ask for last 2. She seems to think my Goitre

is not

> > > too bad. I had to raise my arms above head and she waited to

see if

> > > face turned blue (?) from lack of oxygen ? - which it didn't -

and

> > > then said my trach... was OK and it must be a oesphar...

swelling ?

> > > She didn't ask for any symptoms or anything re Thyroid. Just

that my

> > > TSH from last year was normal ( 1.4). Still feel a bit

puzzled.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Yes - I have a tightness. Its hard to explain but its come on over 2

months and feels strange. Voice is raspy to a whisper at times but not

all the time. Yes - I have concerns. Here in Aust we have a GP who can

refer you onto Specialist. But often they won't. So may have to see

another GP. Your tangerine size lumps were not palpable on exam

?Aussie Jane

> > > >

> > > > I have seen the Dr and have blood tests ordered for TSH, free

> T4 &

> > > > free T3. I had to ask for last 2. She seems to think my Goitre

> is not

> > > > too bad. I had to raise my arms above head and she waited to

> see if

> > > > face turned blue (?) from lack of oxygen ? - which it didn't -

> and

> > > > then said my trach... was OK and it must be a oesphar...

> swelling ?

> > > > She didn't ask for any symptoms or anything re Thyroid. Just

> that my

> > > > TSH from last year was normal ( 1.4). Still feel a bit

> puzzled.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Yes - I have a tightness. Its hard to explain but its come on over 2

months and feels strange. Voice is raspy to a whisper at times but not

all the time. Yes - I have concerns. Here in Aust we have a GP who can

refer you onto Specialist. But often they won't. So may have to see

another GP. Your tangerine size lumps were not palpable on exam

?Aussie Jane

> > > >

> > > > I have seen the Dr and have blood tests ordered for TSH, free

> T4 &

> > > > free T3. I had to ask for last 2. She seems to think my Goitre

> is not

> > > > too bad. I had to raise my arms above head and she waited to

> see if

> > > > face turned blue (?) from lack of oxygen ? - which it didn't -

> and

> > > > then said my trach... was OK and it must be a oesphar...

> swelling ?

> > > > She didn't ask for any symptoms or anything re Thyroid. Just

> that my

> > > > TSH from last year was normal ( 1.4). Still feel a bit

> puzzled.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Raspy, quiet voice is the give away for me, of stuff going on in

your throat or throat area. Something pressing on the vocal nerve.

Here's the history of my goiters. Doc felt the right one was large

in a physical may '04. Anytime I went into her after that, she

didn't feel it. August '05 I see her practice partner and she

mentions one is big, I say doc had noted it and blood came back ok.

This doc ordered another blood test, came back normal. I went into

the ER in September because I couldn't get warm, and this is our

summer, I was in thermals and trying to get warm. I had chills -

chattering and shivering. My breathing was like I was running a

race, when just sitting down and just to stand up, breathing got

faster, harder. Heart too, beating fast, 130 per minute. This was

the same exact symptoms I'd had of a lung blood clots I had in '99.

So I called the ambulance, they noted I had a temperature. I'd also

had 5 days of watery diarrhea. At the hospital they hydrate me via

IV and the heart got better. I was sent to cat scan cuz blood clot

test came back positive. So, they were doing an abdominal cat scan

that just happened to go up far enough to see the thyroids. Doc

comes back, says " good news, no blood clots, bad news, you have huge

thyroid. Go see your family doc in the morning. Go to family doc,

she feels my neck and exclaims " wow! those weren't there before ! "

Now, cancer grows slow, so it took awhile to grow to where the doc

finally noticed it. I didn't even notice them visually because all

of us assumed I had a fat neck. No, now I have a neck, hasn't been

this thin in 15 yrs or so.

Long answer. does it answer your question ?

Here in our State, at least, you don't just phone an appt for a

specialist. A dr office has to call and make the appt for you,

first time. It's not a matter of whether insurance covers it that

way. Specialists just won't let you walk in off the street. Gotta

be screened first. Did you tell doc you want a second consult with

an endo ? Did you tell doc you wanted those scans ? What do you do

to get a second and if needed, third and fourth opinion.

Tomorrow I will have to call our insurance company cuz it looks like

they aren't covering the person I went to for a second opinion.

jane

>

> Yes - I have a tightness. Its hard to explain but its come on over

2

> months and feels strange. Voice is raspy to a whisper at times but

not

> all the time. Yes - I have concerns. Here in Aust we have a GP who

can

> refer you onto Specialist. But often they won't. So may have to see

> another GP. Your tangerine size lumps were not palpable on exam

> ?Aussie Jane

[Guest guest]

Raspy, quiet voice is the give away for me, of stuff going on in

your throat or throat area. Something pressing on the vocal nerve.

Here's the history of my goiters. Doc felt the right one was large

in a physical may '04. Anytime I went into her after that, she

didn't feel it. August '05 I see her practice partner and she

mentions one is big, I say doc had noted it and blood came back ok.

This doc ordered another blood test, came back normal. I went into

the ER in September because I couldn't get warm, and this is our

summer, I was in thermals and trying to get warm. I had chills -

chattering and shivering. My breathing was like I was running a

race, when just sitting down and just to stand up, breathing got

faster, harder. Heart too, beating fast, 130 per minute. This was

the same exact symptoms I'd had of a lung blood clots I had in '99.

So I called the ambulance, they noted I had a temperature. I'd also

had 5 days of watery diarrhea. At the hospital they hydrate me via

IV and the heart got better. I was sent to cat scan cuz blood clot

test came back positive. So, they were doing an abdominal cat scan

that just happened to go up far enough to see the thyroids. Doc

comes back, says " good news, no blood clots, bad news, you have huge

thyroid. Go see your family doc in the morning. Go to family doc,

she feels my neck and exclaims " wow! those weren't there before ! "

Now, cancer grows slow, so it took awhile to grow to where the doc

finally noticed it. I didn't even notice them visually because all

of us assumed I had a fat neck. No, now I have a neck, hasn't been

this thin in 15 yrs or so.

Long answer. does it answer your question ?

Here in our State, at least, you don't just phone an appt for a

specialist. A dr office has to call and make the appt for you,

first time. It's not a matter of whether insurance covers it that

way. Specialists just won't let you walk in off the street. Gotta

be screened first. Did you tell doc you want a second consult with

an endo ? Did you tell doc you wanted those scans ? What do you do

to get a second and if needed, third and fourth opinion.

Tomorrow I will have to call our insurance company cuz it looks like

they aren't covering the person I went to for a second opinion.

jane

>

> Yes - I have a tightness. Its hard to explain but its come on over

2

> months and feels strange. Voice is raspy to a whisper at times but

not

> all the time. Yes - I have concerns. Here in Aust we have a GP who

can

> refer you onto Specialist. But often they won't. So may have to see

> another GP. Your tangerine size lumps were not palpable on exam

> ?Aussie Jane

[Guest guest]

>

> My prejudice is primary docs are not trained enough to handle

> thyroid stuff. I say, tell docs you want scans, if they balk, ask

> it for your peace of mind. Bring up that blood tests can show

> normal when the gland can even be close to dying. Scans will show

> more. If you aren't getting what you want, keep going to docs

till

> you get what you want. If that's possible in Oz. Both lobes of

my

> thyroid were the size of tangerines, each side a tangerine, and

arms

> above the head did nothing with me either. Now I realize there

was

> a tightness around my neck, but it came on so gradually, I thought

> it was just how necks felt. Good luck and keep pressing for what

> your gut is telling you.

>

> U.S. jane

>

>

See this is where I disagree. I went for allergy testing and they

noticed my goiter.. I then walked down the hall to my GP and the

first thing he did was send me for an ultrasound and for bloodwork.

And then to the endo.. endo is ok, but could be better.. alll my

follow up has been with GP including additional ultrasound.

Back to endo for FNA and although he said he would call and do

follow up with in a week I have had no response so now I am back to

GP as he also has a copy of the pathology reports.

I think this really depends on the doctor.. my doctor feels he is

not qualified because my thyroid is not following the normal routine

of things and wants the endo involved. But my GP aslo has a history

with me and if I say something is not right, he knows something is

not right. The endo is more qualifed in training, he knows what

tests to run and what the results mean. But I am only one of many

patients with a goiter and his job is only to assess things. He has

no idea what my history is or what I looked like 5 years ago or what

differences there is in my body.

Kats3boys

[Guest guest]

Thanks but CFS & ssues sort of in the past now. I blundered on

and sort of resolved them. But know that the Endo I was seeing at the

time was muttering 'thyroid'. Now all this swelling 7 years later ....

Aussie Jane

> > >

> > > I have seen the Dr and have blood tests ordered for TSH, free T4 &

> > > free T3. I had to ask for last 2. She seems to think my Goitre

is not

> > > too bad. I had to raise my arms above head and she waited to

see if

> > > face turned blue (?) from lack of oxygen ? - which it didn't - and

> > > then said my trach... was OK and it must be a oesphar...

swelling ?

> > > She didn't ask for any symptoms or anything re Thyroid. Just

that my

> > > TSH from last year was normal ( 1.4). Still feel a bit puzzled.

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I don't know.. maybe it's me... but... well....If you were to go to the ER after a bad fall and the doc saw they your leg looked funny and swollen and you said that you couldn't walk on it without pain.... and the doc said, well.. there aren't any bones sticking out so it's not broke too bad and told you to go home and stay off your feet for a few days.... would that sound like good doctorin'?

I can't see where it makes good sense to say, well, you can breathe good enough to not turn blue so it ain't bad enough to worry about.

Consider what a goiter is... its an enlarged thyroid gland, it enlarges when something is wrong. It enlarges to compensate for something that is WRONG.... why ignore that very important and significant symptom just cuz it's not so bad as to turn you blue from lack of oxygen... does she want you to wait until you are all messed up with symptoms that develop from insufficient levels of hormone... is it a case of waiting until you are sick enough to be worth her time???

She should have run the tests last year, based on the visible goiter and not blown you off.....

Hmmmmmm My attitude is showing... just a sec... I'll hike it back up under my skirt.....

Topper ()

On Wed, 08 Feb 2006 04:04:52 -0000 "aussi_jane" writes:

I have seen the Dr and have blood tests ordered for TSH, free T4 free T3. I had to ask for last 2. She seems to think my Goitre is nottoo bad. I had to raise my arms above head and she waited to see ifface turned blue (?) from lack of oxygen ? - which it didn't - andthen said my trach... was OK and it must be a oesphar... swelling ?She didn't ask for any symptoms or anything re Thyroid. Just that myTSH from last year was normal ( 1.4). Still feel a bit puzzled.

[Guest guest]

I don't know.. maybe it's me... but... well....If you were to go to the ER after a bad fall and the doc saw they your leg looked funny and swollen and you said that you couldn't walk on it without pain.... and the doc said, well.. there aren't any bones sticking out so it's not broke too bad and told you to go home and stay off your feet for a few days.... would that sound like good doctorin'?

I can't see where it makes good sense to say, well, you can breathe good enough to not turn blue so it ain't bad enough to worry about.

Consider what a goiter is... its an enlarged thyroid gland, it enlarges when something is wrong. It enlarges to compensate for something that is WRONG.... why ignore that very important and significant symptom just cuz it's not so bad as to turn you blue from lack of oxygen... does she want you to wait until you are all messed up with symptoms that develop from insufficient levels of hormone... is it a case of waiting until you are sick enough to be worth her time???

She should have run the tests last year, based on the visible goiter and not blown you off.....

Hmmmmmm My attitude is showing... just a sec... I'll hike it back up under my skirt.....

Topper ()

On Wed, 08 Feb 2006 04:04:52 -0000 "aussi_jane" writes:

I have seen the Dr and have blood tests ordered for TSH, free T4 free T3. I had to ask for last 2. She seems to think my Goitre is nottoo bad. I had to raise my arms above head and she waited to see ifface turned blue (?) from lack of oxygen ? - which it didn't - andthen said my trach... was OK and it must be a oesphar... swelling ?She didn't ask for any symptoms or anything re Thyroid. Just that myTSH from last year was normal ( 1.4). Still feel a bit puzzled.

[Guest guest]

LOL hike it back up under my skirt... topper, don't make me piss myself LOL....

andrea

Re: Newbie with Goitre question - Drs visit

I don't know.. maybe it's me... but... well....If you were to go to the ER after a bad fall and the doc saw they your leg looked funny and swollen and you said that you couldn't walk on it without pain.... and the doc said, well.. there aren't any bones sticking out so it's not broke too bad and told you to go home and stay off your feet for a few days.... would that sound like good doctorin'?

I can't see where it makes good sense to say, well, you can breathe good enough to not turn blue so it ain't bad enough to worry about.

Consider what a goiter is... its an enlarged thyroid gland, it enlarges when something is wrong. It enlarges to compensate for something that is WRONG.... why ignore that very important and significant symptom just cuz it's not so bad as to turn you blue from lack of oxygen... does she want you to wait until you are all messed up with symptoms that develop from insufficient levels of hormone... is it a case of waiting until you are sick enough to be worth her time???

She should have run the tests last year, based on the visible goiter and not blown you off.....

Hmmmmmm My attitude is showing... just a sec... I'll hike it back up under my skirt.....

Topper ()

On Wed, 08 Feb 2006 04:04:52 -0000 "aussi_jane" writes:

I have seen the Dr and have blood tests ordered for TSH, free T4 free T3. I had to ask for last 2. She seems to think my Goitre is nottoo bad. I had to raise my arms above head and she waited to see ifface turned blue (?) from lack of oxygen ? - which it didn't - andthen said my trach... was OK and it must be a oesphar... swelling ?She didn't ask for any symptoms or anything re Thyroid. Just that myTSH from last year was normal ( 1.4). Still feel a bit puzzled.

[Guest guest]

LOL hike it back up under my skirt... topper, don't make me piss myself LOL....

andrea

Re: Newbie with Goitre question - Drs visit

I don't know.. maybe it's me... but... well....If you were to go to the ER after a bad fall and the doc saw they your leg looked funny and swollen and you said that you couldn't walk on it without pain.... and the doc said, well.. there aren't any bones sticking out so it's not broke too bad and told you to go home and stay off your feet for a few days.... would that sound like good doctorin'?

I can't see where it makes good sense to say, well, you can breathe good enough to not turn blue so it ain't bad enough to worry about.

Consider what a goiter is... its an enlarged thyroid gland, it enlarges when something is wrong. It enlarges to compensate for something that is WRONG.... why ignore that very important and significant symptom just cuz it's not so bad as to turn you blue from lack of oxygen... does she want you to wait until you are all messed up with symptoms that develop from insufficient levels of hormone... is it a case of waiting until you are sick enough to be worth her time???

She should have run the tests last year, based on the visible goiter and not blown you off.....

Hmmmmmm My attitude is showing... just a sec... I'll hike it back up under my skirt.....

Topper ()

On Wed, 08 Feb 2006 04:04:52 -0000 "aussi_jane" writes:

I have seen the Dr and have blood tests ordered for TSH, free T4 free T3. I had to ask for last 2. She seems to think my Goitre is nottoo bad. I had to raise my arms above head and she waited to see ifface turned blue (?) from lack of oxygen ? - which it didn't - andthen said my trach... was OK and it must be a oesphar... swelling ?She didn't ask for any symptoms or anything re Thyroid. Just that myTSH from last year was normal ( 1.4). Still feel a bit puzzled.

[Guest guest]

LOL hike it back up under my skirt... topper, don't make me piss myself LOL....

andrea

Re: Newbie with Goitre question - Drs visit

I don't know.. maybe it's me... but... well....If you were to go to the ER after a bad fall and the doc saw they your leg looked funny and swollen and you said that you couldn't walk on it without pain.... and the doc said, well.. there aren't any bones sticking out so it's not broke too bad and told you to go home and stay off your feet for a few days.... would that sound like good doctorin'?

I can't see where it makes good sense to say, well, you can breathe good enough to not turn blue so it ain't bad enough to worry about.

Consider what a goiter is... its an enlarged thyroid gland, it enlarges when something is wrong. It enlarges to compensate for something that is WRONG.... why ignore that very important and significant symptom just cuz it's not so bad as to turn you blue from lack of oxygen... does she want you to wait until you are all messed up with symptoms that develop from insufficient levels of hormone... is it a case of waiting until you are sick enough to be worth her time???

She should have run the tests last year, based on the visible goiter and not blown you off.....

Hmmmmmm My attitude is showing... just a sec... I'll hike it back up under my skirt.....

Topper ()

On Wed, 08 Feb 2006 04:04:52 -0000 "aussi_jane" writes:

I have seen the Dr and have blood tests ordered for TSH, free T4 free T3. I had to ask for last 2. She seems to think my Goitre is nottoo bad. I had to raise my arms above head and she waited to see ifface turned blue (?) from lack of oxygen ? - which it didn't - andthen said my trach... was OK and it must be a oesphar... swelling ?She didn't ask for any symptoms or anything re Thyroid. Just that myTSH from last year was normal ( 1.4). Still feel a bit puzzled.

[Guest guest]

Hi Topper, Yes - my thoughts exactly. I have been borderline unwell

all my life after Drs told me 30 years ago that my borderline Thyroid

was normal and too borderline to treat.

A few questions.

Are all goitres 'bad'. Drs seem to say that some are OK and some aren't.

Can a goitre lie dormant for 30 years and then start to change ? I am

46 now.

If I have a goitre and voice starts getting husky over a period of 3

months .... is that an alarm call ?

Do I need a barium drink scan to check oespharigus ? Or a new Dr ?

Some blood tests are due by Monday.

Aussie Jane

>

> I don't know.. maybe it's me... but... well....If you were to go to the

> ER after a bad fall and the doc saw they your leg looked funny and

> swollen and you said that you couldn't walk on it without pain.... and

> the doc said, well.. there aren't any bones sticking out so it's not

> broke too bad and told you to go home and stay off your feet for a few

> days.... would that sound like good doctorin'?

>

> I can't see where it makes good sense to say, well, you can breathe good

> enough to not turn blue so it ain't bad enough to worry about.

>

> Consider what a goiter is... its an enlarged thyroid gland, it enlarges

> when something is wrong. It enlarges to compensate for something that is

> WRONG.... why ignore that very important and significant symptom

just cuz

> it's not so bad as to turn you blue from lack of oxygen... does she want

> you to wait until you are all messed up with symptoms that develop from

> insufficient levels of hormone... is it a case of waiting until you are

> sick enough to be worth her time???

>

> She should have run the tests last year, based on the visible goiter and

> not blown you off.....

>

> Hmmmmmm My attitude is showing... just a sec... I'll hike it back up

> under my skirt.....

>

> Topper ()

>

> On Wed, 08 Feb 2006 04:04:52 -0000 " aussi_jane "

> writes:

> I have seen the Dr and have blood tests ordered for TSH, free T4

> free T3. I had to ask for last 2. She seems to think my Goitre is not

> too bad. I had to raise my arms above head and she waited to see if

> face turned blue (?) from lack of oxygen ? - which it didn't - and

> then said my trach... was OK and it must be a oesphar... swelling ?

> She didn't ask for any symptoms or anything re Thyroid. Just that my

> TSH from last year was normal ( 1.4). Still feel a bit puzzled.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Topper, Yes - my thoughts exactly. I have been borderline unwell

all my life after Drs told me 30 years ago that my borderline Thyroid

was normal and too borderline to treat.

A few questions.

Are all goitres 'bad'. Drs seem to say that some are OK and some aren't.

Can a goitre lie dormant for 30 years and then start to change ? I am

46 now.

If I have a goitre and voice starts getting husky over a period of 3

months .... is that an alarm call ?

Do I need a barium drink scan to check oespharigus ? Or a new Dr ?

Some blood tests are due by Monday.

Aussie Jane

>

> I don't know.. maybe it's me... but... well....If you were to go to the

> ER after a bad fall and the doc saw they your leg looked funny and

> swollen and you said that you couldn't walk on it without pain.... and

> the doc said, well.. there aren't any bones sticking out so it's not

> broke too bad and told you to go home and stay off your feet for a few

> days.... would that sound like good doctorin'?

>

> I can't see where it makes good sense to say, well, you can breathe good

> enough to not turn blue so it ain't bad enough to worry about.

>

> Consider what a goiter is... its an enlarged thyroid gland, it enlarges

> when something is wrong. It enlarges to compensate for something that is

> WRONG.... why ignore that very important and significant symptom

just cuz

> it's not so bad as to turn you blue from lack of oxygen... does she want

> you to wait until you are all messed up with symptoms that develop from

> insufficient levels of hormone... is it a case of waiting until you are

> sick enough to be worth her time???

>

> She should have run the tests last year, based on the visible goiter and

> not blown you off.....

>

> Hmmmmmm My attitude is showing... just a sec... I'll hike it back up

> under my skirt.....

>

> Topper ()

>

> On Wed, 08 Feb 2006 04:04:52 -0000 " aussi_jane "

> writes:

> I have seen the Dr and have blood tests ordered for TSH, free T4

> free T3. I had to ask for last 2. She seems to think my Goitre is not

> too bad. I had to raise my arms above head and she waited to see if

> face turned blue (?) from lack of oxygen ? - which it didn't - and

> then said my trach... was OK and it must be a oesphar... swelling ?

> She didn't ask for any symptoms or anything re Thyroid. Just that my

> TSH from last year was normal ( 1.4). Still feel a bit puzzled.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Topper, Yes - my thoughts exactly. I have been borderline unwell

all my life after Drs told me 30 years ago that my borderline Thyroid

was normal and too borderline to treat.

A few questions.

Are all goitres 'bad'. Drs seem to say that some are OK and some aren't.

Can a goitre lie dormant for 30 years and then start to change ? I am

46 now.

If I have a goitre and voice starts getting husky over a period of 3

months .... is that an alarm call ?

Do I need a barium drink scan to check oespharigus ? Or a new Dr ?

Some blood tests are due by Monday.

Aussie Jane

>

> I don't know.. maybe it's me... but... well....If you were to go to the

> ER after a bad fall and the doc saw they your leg looked funny and

> swollen and you said that you couldn't walk on it without pain.... and

> the doc said, well.. there aren't any bones sticking out so it's not

> broke too bad and told you to go home and stay off your feet for a few

> days.... would that sound like good doctorin'?

>

> I can't see where it makes good sense to say, well, you can breathe good

> enough to not turn blue so it ain't bad enough to worry about.

>

> Consider what a goiter is... its an enlarged thyroid gland, it enlarges

> when something is wrong. It enlarges to compensate for something that is

> WRONG.... why ignore that very important and significant symptom

just cuz

> it's not so bad as to turn you blue from lack of oxygen... does she want

> you to wait until you are all messed up with symptoms that develop from

> insufficient levels of hormone... is it a case of waiting until you are

> sick enough to be worth her time???

>

> She should have run the tests last year, based on the visible goiter and

> not blown you off.....

>

> Hmmmmmm My attitude is showing... just a sec... I'll hike it back up

> under my skirt.....

>

> Topper ()

>

> On Wed, 08 Feb 2006 04:04:52 -0000 " aussi_jane "

> writes:

> I have seen the Dr and have blood tests ordered for TSH, free T4

> free T3. I had to ask for last 2. She seems to think my Goitre is not

> too bad. I had to raise my arms above head and she waited to see if

> face turned blue (?) from lack of oxygen ? - which it didn't - and

> then said my trach... was OK and it must be a oesphar... swelling ?

> She didn't ask for any symptoms or anything re Thyroid. Just that my

> TSH from last year was normal ( 1.4). Still feel a bit puzzled.

>

[Guest guest]

> A few questions.

>

> Are all goitres 'bad'. Drs seem to say that some are OK and some

aren't.

That's got 2 sides to it, depending on how you see it. Something

goes wrong that a thyroid grows. Thing is to find out what made it

grow. 2)most goiters are not cancer.

>

> Can a goitre lie dormant for 30 years and then start to change ? I

am

> 46 now.

Yes. If you have Hashimoto's, antibodies attacking the thyroid, it

can change to cancer if untreated for a long enough time. The other

question to find out is, what is making it grow. Cancer would be an

easy one to point to. But then, few goiters are cancerous.

>

> If I have a goitre and voice starts getting husky over a period of

3

> months .... is that an alarm call ?

Husky is one of the symptoms of having thyroid cancer. Tightness in

throat. Troubled swallowing. But, then, being hypo makes your

voice husky. Have you read the symptoms of having thyroid cancer ?

Thyca.org has lots of info.

In retrospect, looking at things I went to my doc for over the last

2 yrs or so. If I had been more aware, I should have gone back and

said " no, doc, I think this is something else, I think it needs to

be looked into. " Is that something you, Aussie Jane, could do with

this doc ? " There's something here doc, and I want it looked into

more. " Might get her attention then and get things done. If it's a

visible lump, goiters have to get really big to be visible. At that

point, thoughts should be about squeezing the throat and impinging

on arteries. Mine had moved one of my arteries, and was making my

throat smaller at one spot.

Look up the symptoms on thyca org about goiters, and , I think it

was symptoms of it being cancerous. Though it seems any benign

goiter that size could do the same.

u.s. jane

>

> Do I need a barium drink scan to check oespharigus ? Or a new Dr ?

>

> Some blood tests are due by Monday.

>

> Aussie Jane

[Guest guest]

> A few questions.

>

> Are all goitres 'bad'. Drs seem to say that some are OK and some

aren't.

That's got 2 sides to it, depending on how you see it. Something

goes wrong that a thyroid grows. Thing is to find out what made it

grow. 2)most goiters are not cancer.

>

> Can a goitre lie dormant for 30 years and then start to change ? I

am

> 46 now.

Yes. If you have Hashimoto's, antibodies attacking the thyroid, it

can change to cancer if untreated for a long enough time. The other

question to find out is, what is making it grow. Cancer would be an

easy one to point to. But then, few goiters are cancerous.

>

> If I have a goitre and voice starts getting husky over a period of

3

> months .... is that an alarm call ?

Husky is one of the symptoms of having thyroid cancer. Tightness in

throat. Troubled swallowing. But, then, being hypo makes your

voice husky. Have you read the symptoms of having thyroid cancer ?

Thyca.org has lots of info.

In retrospect, looking at things I went to my doc for over the last

2 yrs or so. If I had been more aware, I should have gone back and

said " no, doc, I think this is something else, I think it needs to

be looked into. " Is that something you, Aussie Jane, could do with

this doc ? " There's something here doc, and I want it looked into

more. " Might get her attention then and get things done. If it's a

visible lump, goiters have to get really big to be visible. At that

point, thoughts should be about squeezing the throat and impinging

on arteries. Mine had moved one of my arteries, and was making my

throat smaller at one spot.

Look up the symptoms on thyca org about goiters, and , I think it

was symptoms of it being cancerous. Though it seems any benign

goiter that size could do the same.

u.s. jane

>

> Do I need a barium drink scan to check oespharigus ? Or a new Dr ?

>

> Some blood tests are due by Monday.

>

> Aussie Jane

[Guest guest]

> A few questions.

>

> Are all goitres 'bad'. Drs seem to say that some are OK and some

aren't.

That's got 2 sides to it, depending on how you see it. Something

goes wrong that a thyroid grows. Thing is to find out what made it

grow. 2)most goiters are not cancer.

>

> Can a goitre lie dormant for 30 years and then start to change ? I

am

> 46 now.

Yes. If you have Hashimoto's, antibodies attacking the thyroid, it

can change to cancer if untreated for a long enough time. The other

question to find out is, what is making it grow. Cancer would be an

easy one to point to. But then, few goiters are cancerous.

>

> If I have a goitre and voice starts getting husky over a period of

3

> months .... is that an alarm call ?

Husky is one of the symptoms of having thyroid cancer. Tightness in

throat. Troubled swallowing. But, then, being hypo makes your

voice husky. Have you read the symptoms of having thyroid cancer ?

Thyca.org has lots of info.

In retrospect, looking at things I went to my doc for over the last

2 yrs or so. If I had been more aware, I should have gone back and

said " no, doc, I think this is something else, I think it needs to

be looked into. " Is that something you, Aussie Jane, could do with

this doc ? " There's something here doc, and I want it looked into

more. " Might get her attention then and get things done. If it's a

visible lump, goiters have to get really big to be visible. At that

point, thoughts should be about squeezing the throat and impinging

on arteries. Mine had moved one of my arteries, and was making my

throat smaller at one spot.

Look up the symptoms on thyca org about goiters, and , I think it

was symptoms of it being cancerous. Though it seems any benign

goiter that size could do the same.

u.s. jane

>

> Do I need a barium drink scan to check oespharigus ? Or a new Dr ?

>

> Some blood tests are due by Monday.

>

> Aussie Jane

[Guest guest]

Hi US Jane - You are starting to scare me ! Lots of symptoms of

Thyroid cancer. Blood testing has shown nothing ( yet). 30 year

history but suddenly worse last months. Also suddenly worse since my

last small op. Wondered if the tubing during op has done anything.

.. I keep telling myself its probably a throat infection but its just

that it doesn't feel like any throat infection I have ever had before.

And trouble with swallowing is really quite bad. At the goitre.Also

getting a pain there - hard to describe - but a tingly sort of pain.

Dr argued the case that my windpipe ( and breathing ) would be

affected first - before swallowing probs. But on all the sites I don't

see 'trouble breathing' as one of them ????

Did your ca show up with a Scan or was it later with a biopsy ?

Aussie Jane

> > A few questions.

> >

> > Are all goitres 'bad'. Drs seem to say that some are OK and some

> aren't.

>

> That's got 2 sides to it, depending on how you see it. Something

> goes wrong that a thyroid grows. Thing is to find out what made it

> grow. 2)most goiters are not cancer.

> >

> > Can a goitre lie dormant for 30 years and then start to change ? I

> am

> > 46 now.

>

> Yes. If you have Hashimoto's, antibodies attacking the thyroid, it

> can change to cancer if untreated for a long enough time. The other

> question to find out is, what is making it grow. Cancer would be an

> easy one to point to. But then, few goiters are cancerous.

> >

> > If I have a goitre and voice starts getting husky over a period of

> 3

> > months .... is that an alarm call ?

>

> Husky is one of the symptoms of having thyroid cancer. Tightness in

> throat. Troubled swallowing. But, then, being hypo makes your

> voice husky. Have you read the symptoms of having thyroid cancer ?

> Thyca.org has lots of info.

>

> In retrospect, looking at things I went to my doc for over the last

> 2 yrs or so. If I had been more aware, I should have gone back and

> said " no, doc, I think this is something else, I think it needs to

> be looked into. " Is that something you, Aussie Jane, could do with

> this doc ? " There's something here doc, and I want it looked into

> more. " Might get her attention then and get things done. If it's a

> visible lump, goiters have to get really big to be visible. At that

> point, thoughts should be about squeezing the throat and impinging

> on arteries. Mine had moved one of my arteries, and was making my

> throat smaller at one spot.

>

> Look up the symptoms on thyca org about goiters, and , I think it

> was symptoms of it being cancerous. Though it seems any benign

> goiter that size could do the same.

>

> u.s. jane