What do you think? Dr. response to my questions:

[Guest guest]

I asked this on the medhelp site. I posted 3 times, as you will see in

reading. I have to say, that I am getting very worried. I will post a

follow up to this, so that you might understand why.

My posts to the Dr:

I have been having thyroid symptoms for some time. I finally nudged my

Dr. to test beyond TSH alone. My last TSH was 1.9 (previous 2.1 and

1.16)

Thyroid Peroxidase AB: 17 <35 IU/mL

Thyroglobulin Anitobodies 47 <20 IU/mL

ANA: NEGATIVE

He wrote on the lab, " With normal TSH and other studies this may be of

no significance. Will suggest repeating thyroid tests in 3 months. " That

said, he is also awaiting for me to take a Candida skin alergen test and

repeat CBC as the WBC is slightly elevated (%Lymph 18.8 low / #NEUT 9.2

high)

In the not distant past, I've battled thrush, UTI w/kidney pain, flu and

colds. I rarely EVER got sick before this period of my life!

I have had so many symptoms it’s pathetic. I'll mention those

that bother me most:

In my front right thyroid region (at the base of the neck), there is

some slight swelling & tenderness. Radiating along side my neck and

sometimes referring pain to my right ear.

When it's feeling it's worse, eating dry/course foods do not move down

so easily. My voice has changed some.

Sore throat " flares. " Reddened throat and surrounding area of Uvula.

Ouch!! Can thyroid issues cause this?

Weight issues: for a long time, I was battling to keep it on (yo-yo). I

finally pushed my weight back up with high calorie foods, backed off and

my weight seems to be stabilizing. Added a few more pounds rather

quickly since but that's ok.

Menstrual issues: moved to heavy/shorter periods to lighter/shorter

periods.

On top of the typical " aches & pains " (if you will) there seems to be

cycles or bouts that come on: toe/calf muscle spasms, muscle/joint

aches, knarly headaches, the reddened sore throats, occ heart palps at

rest.

What do you think and what course of action do you think is reasonable?

borninquisitive

4/29/2007

C1 . Just a little history:

It was almost 3 years ago that I had my last child. It began shortly

after birth: primarily menstrual cycle and utter crashing fatigue

(outside normal for having a baby. I know, this is #4 for me), then

eventually fluish feeling w/o temperature, burning eyes (which I thought

was a fever coming on- it wasn't) then muscle/joint aches. After dealing

with an infection in December of 05...everything else seemed to come on

with a vengeance. My life since has been either " not so good " or

" terrible. "

In January, a Dr. noticed my voice, thought it was thyroid and ordered a

TSH test (normal). After tonsillectomy (04/06) the anesthesiologist,

upon my being quickly wheeled away from the operating room belted out,

" Have your thyroid checked! " It wasn't until then, that I started

wondering about the thyroid.

Prior to all this, as I said...I rarely ever got sick. With the

exception of pregnancies and some minor infections throughout my

life...I've always been just fine.

I am 35 years of age.

Thanks so much, Dr. Lupo. I really appreciate your time.

~Kate

borninquisitive

4/30/2007

C2 . I apologize for the extra posts (as apposed to keeping them in

one) I hope you aren't too annoyed by it. Just questions:

1) Could it be possible that if a thyroid isn't too large (whether

itself or nodules) that if it is too close to a nerve, affect speech

and/or swallowing to some degree?

2) If someone has acid reflux or say bronchitis, can it/they cause

irritation to the thyroid (or seemingly) beings that the trach. and

esoph. are within close proximity?

His response:

Forum-M.D.-MAL

5/3/2007

The thyroid function appears normal overall - the positive Tg Ab (47)

means you need to recheck thyroid periodically and to check thyroid

ultrasound for nodules. It is unlikely that thyroid hormone treatment

will make a significant difference, but may be worth a try to get TSH

around 0.5 to 1.0 to see if you feel better. My guess there is a

non-thyroid cause of most of the symptoms.