The THYROID Thread

[cceandme]

Anybody had any luck with a gluten free diet helping with thyroid issues?
I'm starting gluten free to help my arthritis and read that it can help thyroid disease also. Anyone know?

 

[bellanotte10]

hi all! Just found out i have a tiny little cyst on my thyroid 3mm big. My ENT who found it doesn't seem that concerned, and passed it off as not a big deal at all. do these things grow? i'm not concerned either, but still not a fun thing to hear.

right now i have all the symptoms of hypo but every tsh test comes back normal (except for that cyst they just found) I also have a grandmother and aunt who were both hypo so I keep getting tested and tested, but never test abnormal for tsh, despite the symtpoms

 

[Christine]

hi all! Just found out i have a tiny little cyst on my thyroid 3mm big. My ENT who found it doesn't seem that concerned, and passed it off as not a big deal at all. do these things grow? i'm not concerned either, but still not a fun thing to hear.

right now i have all the symptoms of hypo but every tsh test comes back normal (except for that cyst they just found) I also have a grandmother and aunt who were both hypo so I keep getting tested and tested, but never test abnormal for tsh, despite the symtpoms

Cysts can grow so I would think that you should have it looked at once a year. At some point, it should be biopsied if it grows. Otherwise, it's fine to watch it.

A lot of things can bother women and make them feel like they have a thyroid problem. I felt horrible for a long time and chalked it up to not having a thyroid gland and just not being right. My thyroid numbers were perfect.

It took a few years to figure out but I had a very low ferritin level (this measures your iron stores). It should be at least at 50-70. Mine was at 3. I had just started to become mildly anemic. Once I started supplementing with iron, it was a major improvement. But for a long time, I blamed my thyroid and my doctors felt it was "all in my head."

 

[SingingMom]

Cysts can grow so I would think that you should have it looked at once a year. At some point, it should be biopsied if it grows. Otherwise, it's fine to watch it.

A lot of things can bother women and make them feel like they have a thyroid problem. I felt horrible for a long time and chalked it up to not having a thyroid gland and just not being right. My thyroid numbers were perfect.

It took a few years to figure out but I had a very low ferritin level (this measures your iron stores). It should be at least at 50-70. Mine was at 3. I had just started to become mildly anemic. Once I started supplementing with iron, it was a major improvement. But for a long time, I blamed my thyroid and my doctors felt it was "all in my head."

I was the same with the iron. You know how the blood work says high or low.... Mine said ALERT in red. Lol.
I also had a very low vit D level. I felt much better when that was taken care of.

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[bellanotte10]

ooh thats good to know. I just had anemia last year and was bad until about december, very low ferritin etc, and a low b12, and put on ferrous gluconate. recently was re-tested while off the iron and was stable and normal. I had some uterine polyps that was causing the anemia they think. Apparently i'm filled with cysts and polyps I'm switching to a new doctor (my old primary care left) so hopefully we get this all sorted out. I do feel like i'm going crazy and that its all in my head.

Thanks for the help!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Anybody had any luck with a gluten free diet helping with thyroid issues?
I'm starting gluten free to help my arthritis and read that it can help thyroid disease also. Anyone know?

No sorry, never tried this, but I am sure any anti inflamatory stuff for the diet would be good for you. Wishing you all the best.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

ooh thats good to know. I just had anemia last year and was bad until about december, very low ferritin etc, and a low b12, and put on ferrous gluconate. recently was re-tested while off the iron and was stable and normal. I had some uterine polyps that was causing the anemia they think. Apparently i'm filled with cysts and polyps I'm switching to a new doctor (my old primary care left) so hopefully we get this all sorted out. I do feel like i'm going crazy and that its all in my head.

Thanks for the help!

I hope your new dr. is helpful and you are both on the same page about your care. I had severe anemia and had to have 3 blood transfusions and a non existent b12 so I needed shots for that and plus the non existent vit. d, I am good right now except for the vit d which I take 50,000 iu prescript. once a week

Wishing you all the best. I am thinking of changing drs. too. Mine needs to retire. He is not with it on anything, especially calling with test results.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

http://www.self.com/health/2013/04/thyroid-cancer-risks

Just read this article last night in Self magazine. I'm almost compelled to write in about it because I feel that it is reckless reporting but I've got enough to complain about!!!

I feel the article did a real injustice to people who may have or who are struggling with how to handle their thyroid cancer.

I realize that, for a long time, there have been "theories" that some thyroid cancers may never progress; i.e., back in the 80s, during routine autopsies of elderly people, they found micro-thyroid cancers thyroid glands. They suspect that many of us walk around like this and they never progress.

But once you've found a tumor? Don't treat it? Ahhh...I don't think so.

I read the article. I really was not happy with it either. I am glad they did have Dr. Shah say something. Dh friend goes to Sloan but I dont know if he is Dr. Shahs patient. He is a guy and they are watching his cyst. They are deciding what to do. The fna is neg but the guy says its pressing on his throat etc?

I think that Dr. Davies quotes are a little mis represented etc. I think she is the one that needs to be addressed. If she is only a research nurse does she only look at statistics? Of course I say I am not a statistic. I dont fit into a surgical algorithm etc.

That got me to thinking. Last time I went to the er with the possible blood clot in my lung that turned out t be the bad muscle pull, I told the er dr. think outside your little box with me!

Yes we all dont fit into their little surgical/cancer boxes etc. And you know that with me for sure!

But I do see the trend seems to be going more toward watchng the little stuff, especially with younger people, have your read/heard this?

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Oh and now to take you away for one minute from your regularly scheduled thyroid posts.....

I'm going to Disney Ditching well, having to call the onc. and reschedule my yearly visit for this! lol!

I had to wait because dh is traveling to Los Angeles , San Francisco and then Russia for 13 days. So we finally booked it last night. He needs time to catch up on his reg. work before we go etc.

Of course I am trying to save money because we need a new roof and driveway. Our house is needing lots of tlc. Its getting older.

So we cashed in dh ff miles for 4 days at the Beach Club, Club Level, heah its a really big anniv. for us, so its something he deserves. He works really hard for sure. So thats free! Then we are switching over to the Yacht Club water view for 3 days June 1-4.

Then since I was on a roll I looked at all our southwest points and saw dh had enough for a whole free trip so that costed only a whooping $2.50! and I had enough for 1/2 of my flight, so I only paid $125.

Of course all the money we save we will probably spend eating!

I need a vacation and am so looking forward to this!

 

[buzlite]

Hi I just wanted to let people know that they should make sure what type of thyroid carcinoma they have. Their are multiple types. If you plan on doing any type of research about your condition, it will help you be more concise. IE. Follicular, medullary, papillary or anaplastic.

 

[Christine]

Oh and now to take you away for one minute from your regularly scheduled thyroid posts.....

I'm going to Disney Ditching well, having to call the onc. and reschedule my yearly visit for this! lol!

I had to wait because dh is traveling to Los Angeles , San Francisco and then Russia for 13 days. So we finally booked it last night. He needs time to catch up on his reg. work before we go etc.

Of course I am trying to save money because we need a new roof and driveway. Our house is needing lots of tlc. Its getting older.

So we cashed in dh ff miles for 4 days at the Beach Club, Club Level, heah its a really big anniv. for us, so its something he deserves. He works really hard for sure. So thats free! Then we are switching over to the Yacht Club water view for 3 days June 1-4.

Then since I was on a roll I looked at all our southwest points and saw dh had enough for a whole free trip so that costed only a whooping $2.50! and I had enough for 1/2 of my flight, so I only paid $125.

Of course all the money we save we will probably spend eating!

I need a vacation and am so looking forward to this!

I'm so jealous!!

I want to go SO bad this year but can't. My DD's college tuition doubled this year (due to a major change) and my son is starting in the FALL. I feel SO broke. Of course, the government thinks I'm apparently rich because I get no tuition credits, no aid, no nothing. We will be living VERY austere for at least one year. I hope my HVAC system holds out.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Hi I just wanted to let people know that they should make sure what type of thyroid carcinoma they have. Their are multiple types. If you plan on doing any type of research about your condition, it will help you be more concise. IE. Follicular, medullary, papillary or anaplastic.

Welcome. What kind do you have??

 

[robynslp]

Quiet thread lately. I hope everyone is doing well.

I'm over a month post partial. I feel run down, run over and just in general BLAH. This is normally my best time of the year as I recover from Seasonal Affective Disorder but it just seems to be dragging on.

I am going for labs this week and maybe they will tell the tale, but I assumed all would be well with just a partial. The remaining tissue would do its job.

I was also woefully underprepared for how long I would have swelling (fluid?) in the area. Feels like they put a golf ball in my neck.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Quiet thread lately. I hope everyone is doing well.

I'm over a month post partial. I feel run down, run over and just in general BLAH. This is normally my best time of the year as I recover from Seasonal Affective Disorder but it just seems to be dragging on.

I am going for labs this week and maybe they will tell the tale, but I assumed all would be well with just a partial. The remaining tissue would do its job.

I was also woefully underprepared for how long I would have swelling (fluid?) in the area. Feels like they put a golf ball in my neck.

Sorry you are dealing with all the post op issues. Hope the labs will give your endo a good picture as to what is going on. Do you take synthroid? Maybe a dosage adjustment is needed?

I am still dealing with tiredness,but its a constant thing with me.

Is the fluid an actual golf ball sized lump? Or just puffiness, for lack of a better description. If its an actual lump, maybe it could be a seroma? I had one drain in for weeks post op but I had lots of fluid due to the 3 surgeries. If its just fluid I am assuming your body will reabsorb it? But if its a true lump then I would ask the surgeon etc. Do you have any more post ops with the surgeon scheduled?

Wishing you all the best. Hang in there!

 

[AmazingGrace]

Just found this thread. My obgyn saw that my thyroid looked big, so she ordered blood work and an ultrasound. The good news is, my blood work was normal. The not so good news is, the tech let me peek at my ultrasound this morning. There was the thyroid, all butterfly shaped and right there on the left side was a huge darker grey area. The other angle showed that area lit up in red and blue, large patches and the other side showed red and blue dots. When she did the ultrasound, the right side really hurt sharply and the left side felt like I was being strangled, so I don't know what to think. Dr. Google, of course, is no help. So I guess I'm just in the waiting stage. I have noticed over the past month or two, I'm having a hard time swallowing pills. I'm wondering about my blood work too. I've not felt my healthiest in a long time. Just tired, headachy and just not well. Any insight or experience would be greatly appreciated.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Hi LoriAnn - glad you made your way over here, Oh and on a personal note I saw your ? from a long time ago, I dont know how to answer it on that page, but my grandmas brother owned the house in Sayreville (Parlin) that was by the cemetary on the corner and Dominics Market, does that sound familiar? My cousins wife knew the Bon Jovi boys of course. She said they would always hang out in some deli after school I think.

Now onto your thyroid stuff. What blood tests did you get done? Tiredeness could also be low B12 and iron stuff. Did you just get thyroid blood tests?

Christine probably knows more about the ultrasound stuff so I cant really answer that. I think my one tumor showed up as a black/very dark spot with a while ring around it. They really didnt show me too much, I just peeked and I knew it wasnt good when she made me keep lying on the table and pulled the radiologist in right there to look at it and they said I needed a ct scan. Then after that it was the pet scan.

I think you should def consult with an ent dr./surgeon. They have special cameras they can look down into your throat with in the office. Uncomfortable but tolerable.

Wishing you all the best and keep us updated.

 

[AmazingGrace]

I went in and saw my PCM today. She said that I have a few nodules and the one on the right is about 12 mm. So she put in a referral to endocrine and I'm waiting to get a biopsy scheduled. She also said that my thyroid is definitely enlarged.

 

[mrsklamc]

I had a non stimulated thyrogobulin level that came back undetectable recently so that was good news. Mostly just dealing with my OTHER medical problems- the fact that my teeth are terrible from the lack of saliva post RAI and the fertility stuff.

Those who are in limbo, just hang in there. I know it's tough and scary but yesterday I was feeling sorry for myself and outside the doctor's office was a woman who had no feet. Reminded me pretty vividly of that old saying "I was sad when I had no shoes and then I met a man who had no feet," or however that goes.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

LoriAnn - I am glad you are going to an endo. Glad that you are getting the biopsy too. You have dealt with a lot on your plate lately (your other surgery)

Micayla - I hear you about teeth stuff. My dentist says I have very little bone there. Right now I am sitting with 1 capless tooth, my decision. Dont have time to fix it right now etc. Also I am praying for you on your journey. I am sure its stressing both physically and emotionally. I hear what you say about seeing someone else. I think sometimes God helps you put things into perspective.

And on to some other news. I just called the oncologist to reschedule my appt. She says she is booked and gives me July. I said, well it was suppose to be May and you pushed it till June and now you are giving me the end of July?? She said shes really booked. That means translated - you are going to be waiting in the waiting room a long time etc. She doesnt do anything anyway but I know we will be discussing the 5 year scan that will be next year. She books that up then too I think. Well Christine, pipe in on this, Do you know anything that has not had the 5 year scan. Maybe its me but I dont want anymore radiation. I already had that ct scan in the er etc. I dont mind doing the diet etc. But isint the blood test enough?? I am just wondering if they do the 5 year thing as protocol and as part of thyroid cancer algorithm etc?? Anyones thoughts??

Oh and onto some disney stuff for your reading pleasure, lol. We are eating at Cape May, Chefs de France, Hollywood Brown Derby, Yachtsman, Kouzzina Kona, and Citricos.

Most of the planning is done. I just need to order the town car since dh hates the magical express and book a wheelchair.

Oh and since ds3 is flying out to calif. this week end to be with dh they are going to..Disneyland of course. Hmm, I guess they just wanted me to know that little fact and ds1 is going up to Providence or Kingston Rode Island to coach a basketball tournament so its just ds2 and me.

 

[SingingMom]

LoriAnn - I am glad you are going to an endo. Glad that you are getting the biopsy too. You have dealt with a lot on your plate lately (your other surgery)

Micayla - I hear you about teeth stuff. My dentist says I have very little bone there. Right now I am sitting with 1 capless tooth, my decision. Dont have time to fix it right now etc. Also I am praying for you on your journey. I am sure its stressing both physically and emotionally. I hear what you say about seeing someone else. I think sometimes God helps you put things into perspective.

And on to some other news. I just called the oncologist to reschedule my appt. She says she is booked and gives me July. I said, well it was suppose to be May and you pushed it till June and now you are giving me the end of July?? She said shes really booked. That means translated - you are going to be waiting in the waiting room a long time etc. She doesnt do anything anyway but I know we will be discussing the 5 year scan that will be next year. She books that up then too I think. Well Christine, pipe in on this, Do you know anything that has not had the 5 year scan. Maybe its me but I dont want anymore radiation. I already had that ct scan in the er etc. I dont mind doing the diet etc. But isint the blood test enough?? I am just wondering if they do the 5 year thing as protocol and as part of thyroid cancer algorithm etc?? Anyones thoughts??

Oh and onto some disney stuff for your reading pleasure, lol. We are eating at Cape May, Chefs de France, Hollywood Brown Derby, Yachtsman, Kouzzina Kona, and Citricos.

Most of the planning is done. I just need to order the town car since dh hates the magical express and book a wheelchair.

Oh and since ds3 is flying out to calif. this week end to be with dh they are going to..Disneyland of course. Hmm, I guess they just wanted me to know that little fact and ds1 is going up to Providence or Kingston Rode Island to coach a basketball tournament so its just ds2 and me.

I had papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, totally removed, and spread to about 7 lymph nodes. This was 20 years ago. I did not have radioactive iodine treatment because I wanted to get pregnant and didn't feel comfortable about it. My endocrinologist was supportive in my decision, since my initial scan was just over 2%. They look for you to be under 2%, at least back 20 years ago (The radiologist in the hospital thought I was putting a bullet in my head. He was very nasty and treated me like I was an imbecile.)

Apparently the protocol is different now, but I never had another body scan. I had periodic chest xrays and a few ultrasounds, but that is all.

Disney news: We are heading to Germany on our second Adventures by Disney trip and back to Disney World again in January as our Christmas gifts to each other. (DH, me, and DD20)