Comment from: whats real at 46, 45-54 Female (Patient)Published: September 16
Looked in the mirror and noticed a lump under my "Adam's apple" (but I'm a woman). Ultrasound indicated several nodules and cysts in both lobes and the isthmus. Awaiting official results of fine needle aspiration biopsy; although radiologist and pathologist think they are benign. TSH over the years has always been slightly under the "normal" range. But the T-3 and T-4 have been slightly above the normal range. There was no concern from doctors over the years regarding the blood tests. No other obvious symptoms. No rapid weight gain or loss. Hair loss, but its not thinning. Skin is not dry, but no longer oily either. Hard to tell if heart beat occasionally is rapid or if I'm imaging it. Tired, but who isn't these days.
Comment from: Ebonyeyes, 45-54 Female (Patient)Published: September 16
I have been monitoring the nodule on the lower left hand side of my neck for a few years now. It's pretty obvious that I have a nodule because it goes up and down when I swallow. I have no pain, no symptoms, and the biopsies that I have endured show no cancer, yet it keeps growing. My doctor has recommended total removal of the thyroid gland. After removal I will need to take a thyroid replacement tablet for the rest of my life. I have finally decided to have the thyroid removed. I don't like the unsightly lump in my neck and don't want to take the chance that I have cancer.
Comment from: 45-54 Female (Patient)Published: September 03
I didn't have any symptoms or signs with my thyroid nodules. I had gone to my doctor for another issue. After my exam, he said I should have an ultrasound of my thyroid. I asked why and he said because I have been on thyroid medicine for 20 years. So I did and it showed nodules. I had it repeated in six months and a biopsy one month later (which I just found out was fine). So hopefully you have a doctor who is on the ball and if there is any thyroid history in your family, you may want to have it checked.
Comment from: Lila, 35-44 Female (Patient)Published: September 03
In 2006, I had a lot of pain in my muscles, joints and long and heavy periods, acne, weight gain, etc. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and insulin resistance. I am on .025 Synthroid and 500 mg Metformin. I have been OK until last May 2008 when they discovered two swollen nodules on my thyroid. They are going to perform a needle biopsy. I have a hard time swallowing and even touching my throat. My hormone levels are normal, but my autoimmune antibodies are high. I am in tons of pain in my joints and muscles. I sleep all day long and night, my face is breaking out, and my periods are heavy again. My specialist said that it can't be from Hashimoto's, but my family doctor said it is. I feel like I am going crazy, but the signs are all there that it is Hashimoto's. I am just waiting on my biopsy to see what the next step is.
Comment from: Ina, 35-44 Female (Patient)Published: September 03
I have had significant weight gain in the past three months, I'm always clearing my throat, my hair is dry and falling out, and I'm exhausted. I had lab work done three months ago and the TSH was high. But on repeat tests, they were "normal." But I felt something on my neck. An ultrasound showed a "mass" near my thyroid. The radiologist suggested a CT scan. It found an area of concern: a nodule on my posterior right thyroid (no size given). Now, the radiologist wants another ultrasound. There are no other plans I guess, and I am really concerned.
Comment from: Sandra, 55-64 Female (Patient)Published: August 27
I am fairly sure that my thyroid nodules were caused because I was using an anti-mosquito plug-in containing d allethrin. The chemical imitates oestrogen and gives instruction to the pituitary gland to produce more thyroid hormone. The nodules are caused purely by the excess hormone that has nowhere else to go. I am hoping they will dry up eventually, once the thyroid hormone level stabilizes. At the same time I had a congenital cyst, which grew very large when a very heavy green pine cone fell on my head, causing me to need 6 stitches. This went away apparently by itself, after 2 years, but coincidentally at the same time as I had a dental implant. My dentist believes it might have been a reaction to the anaesthetic. I live in Portugal, although I am English and it is difficult to get reliable information. I rely a lot on the Internet to check on what is being told to me by the doctors here, who are inexperienced
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Suggested Reading on Thyroid Nodules by Our Doctors
Hypothyroidism is any state in which thyroid hormone production is below normal. Normally, the
rate of thyroid hormone production is controlled by the brain at the pituitary.
Hypothyroidism is a very common condition and the symptoms of hypothyroidism are
often subtle.
Hyperthyroidism is an excess of thyroid hormone resulting from an overactive thyroid gland. Symptoms can include increased heart rate, weight
loss, depression, and cognitive slowing. Treatment is by medication, the use of
radioactive iodine, thyroid surgery, or reducing the dose of thyroid hormone.
There are four major types of thyroid cancer: papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic thyroid cancer. Tumors on the thyroid are referred to as thyroid nodules. Symptoms of thyroid cancer include swollen lymph nodes, pain in the throat, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, and a lump near the Adam's apple. Treatment usually involves chemotherapy, surgery, radioactive iodine, hormone treatment or external radiation and depends upon the type of thyroid cancer, the patient's age, the tumor size, and whether the cancer has metastasized.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the US. This conditions is caused by inflammation of the thyroid gland. Symptoms may include: fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, excessive sleepiness, dry or coarse hair, difficulty swallowing, a lump in the front of the throat, and many more. Treatment is usually hypothyroid medication.
There are many types of thyroid disease. Some occur due to the function of the thyroid itself such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, etc. Some causes of thyroid disease occur due to problems with the structure of the thyroid gland such as goiters, thyroid nodules, and thyroid cancer. Treatment of thyroid disease depends on the cause of the disease.
Thyroiditis is the inflammation of the thyroid gland. The inflamed thyroid gland can release an excess of thyroid hormones into the blood stream, resulting in a temporary hyperthyroid state. Some forms of thyroiditis can be diagnosed based on tenderness and enlargement of the thyroid gland. A thyroid scan sometimes is used in making the diagnosis. Thyroiditis can also be diagnosed with a biopsy of the thyroid gland.
The thyroid gland is found in the neck just below the "Adam's apple." This gland is responsible for producing thyroid hormone, which is an important hormone that stimulates the metabolism of the body. Between 4% and 7% of people in the United States have lumps (or nodules) in their thyroid gland that can be felt on examination. Like many things, the thyroid gland gets "lumpier" as we get older and the frequency of these nodules increases with age. In fact, many are found incidentally during routine examinations or radiology testing. Thyroid nodules are also more common in women than in men. In fact, ultrasound studies have found that up to one in every three women has at least one thyroid nodule that may be too small to notice. (Usually, a nodule needs to be greater than one centimeter in diameter for it to be felt.). Interestingly, because women have so many more nodules than men, the incidence of detected cancer is higher in women then in men by...
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Looked in the mirror and noticed a lump under my "Adam's apple" (but I'm a woman). Ultrasound indicated several nodules and cysts in both lobes and the isthmus. Awaiting official results of fine needle aspiration biopsy; although radiologist and pathologist think they are benign. TSH over the years has always been slightly under the "normal" range. But the T-3 and T-4 have been slightly above the normal range. There was no concern from doctors over the years regarding the blood tests. No other obvious symptoms. No rapid weight gain or loss. Hair loss, but its not thinning. Skin is not dry, but no longer oily either. Hard to tell if heart beat occasionally is rapid or if I'm imaging it. Tired, but who isn't these days.
Related Reading: Ultrasound | cysts | Hair loss