The THYROID Thread

[mrsklamc]

They call those 3d scans and no, we didn't have one like that- not sure if it will be offered to us or not.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Singing Mom - cant wait to hear all about your trip. It sounds so exciting!

Christine - are you on furlough? My dh got a memo that says he can still come to work but they cant order anything or spend money etc. But today he tried to call someone around 5 and no one answered so he doesnt know what is going on officially as he is off to Calif. now.

Micayla - how is your mil and you too?

dmlaini - guess you will get your dh path this week

ang - how are you feeling?

Well the vacation is over. Went too fast for sure. We loved the Beach Club as always. Only 2 problems. The housekeeper calls our room at like 9:30 am asking if she could make up the room. Um, dh was sleeping and I was quietly on the laptop. Gheesh, I guess she couldnt read the do not disturb sign on the door. I was really po'd because dh works so hard and I wanted him to rest etc. sigh.
Then we had a nice full balcony and yest we wanted to eat breakfast on it. Dh goes and gets the stuff, comes back to the room and we see a deluge of water coming down on the patio. Apparently they were power washing the floor above us, There that idea got washed away. Oh well we did get to swim in Storm A long Bay twice so that was fun.

We went back to the food and wine again. It was funny because we were watching tv in the morning and they had the epcot head chef, a german guy, on tv. Well when we went to the one booth there he was! He wasnt cooking anything, Just checking on supplies. I wanted dh to take his pic but that didnt happen.

Honestly I can see how Disney makes so much money on the F and W. It was nice but way, way too expensive.

We really like this time of year, still a little hot but the lines for almost all stuff were not bad at all. We did actually wait in the Toy Story line for 1 hr. and 15 mins. I only did this for the ds. That was the longest.

So now dh said he might want to go this time of year instead of May etc.

The internist said she was sending me another lab slip for the blood work but I havent gotten anything yet. I will have to ask the ds where they put all the mail etc. Guess I will call if I dont get it next week.

Check in when you can.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Oh I forgot to mention I now have dh Russian germs and my chest hurts me from coughing and my ear has popped on the plane and I still cant hear, sigh. Everything is an echo etc. 8 hours later - this is totally frustrating me.

Also my L jaw near my ear is bugging me on and off too, so I dont know if its a drainage problem?

Its bearable enough not to go to the urgent care but if it gets worse I am going over the week end.

At least I have some leftover narcotic cough syrup because lat time when I coughed it kept pulling on the neck dissection and hurt so much etc. I have taken it once this time so far.

 

[mrsklamc]

LMP- it's exhausting to always have something going on medically, isn't it?

MIL is doing well...they had to wait a month post surgery before the radiation, and they are still waiting on the test to decide about the chemo.

I have good days and bad days.

 

[Christine]

LMP--no I'm not on furlough. I would have/should have been but, for some reason, the SecNav requested that those involved in BLDG 197 be excepted and the President approved that. Not sure how I feel about that but the gesture from the head of the Navy was nice and I won't complain about that. It is certainly nice that I don't have to worry about my paycheck an with two kids in college (one paying out of state rates) that is a huge load off my mind.

Your trip sounds like so much fun. I really miss Disney!!! It will be awhile before I get back. I at least have to get one of this "moneysuckers" (kids) off my tab!!! The college stuff is killing me!!! But it isn't forever.

I've never been in October but have always wanted to go. May has been my favorite time but we haven't been able to do that once the kids got older. I like a little hit when I go, but not the opressiveness of July and August. I've never been to the F&W but want to do that one day. I always think I might like to try one of those marathons but then I'd have to make a concerted effort to train before I go and I'm sort of lazy!!

I am still dealing with a lot of physical issues that I can't tell are thyroid related or anxiety related. My intestines (TMI, I know) have been a mess since June. I had a lot of issues at work and, unfortunately, they coincided with the Levoxy recall. I've tried two new thyroid medications and I can't tell if they are the problem, or me!! The shooting issue and being displaced at work is also weighing heavily on me and how I do my job, so who knows. I've also had some issues when driving on the open highway at high speeds. It's kind of like some sort of vertigo. It's been pretty bad for the last month. Anxiety, something else? Hyperthyroid? Hypothyroid? Who knows.

I called my endo last week to get an appt. Since I'm home now and not overly choosy about appt. times, I thought I might get in sooner but, no, it's November 1st. I suppose I could call back and ask him to prepare me a TSH order for a lab draw but, I don't know, maybe I'll just wait the 3-4 weeks at this point.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Micayla - prayers that you will have more good days than bad days

Well I had ds3 take me for the blood test. Got my usual girl. Said I am back again. She said, yeah I see that and you arent walking any better either. Hmm, I thought that was rather rude, but I think she meant it as a joke. I am getting to know her personality still.

Friday I think I will have ds take me for the xrays and then one day this week I will call the dreaded cardiology dept. and see what happens.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well I am

They just called me from the internist and my latest blood test was showing no problems whatsoever, so I guess it was a false positive with the first test.

Yippee, no liver problems for me!!!

Micayla - how are you feeling? Do you still have your blog. I know you mentioned you had one once. I am thinking of having one. I would like it to be more for reviewing childrens and christian books. I want to get the books and then donate them to the church/former boys school etc. I am clueless about this or if its even doable etc. I dont want to spend a lot of time and effort with it. I am thinking more like a hobby. etc. Any suggestions?

Well the weather here is terrible and poor ds3 is sick so I dont know if he can take me for the x rays tomm. We shall see. I guess I will call the cardiologist tomm.

Check in when you can everyone

 

[SingingMom]

Well I am They just called me from the internist and my latest blood test was showing no problems whatsoever, so I guess it was a false positive with the first test. Yippee, no liver problems for me!!! Micayla - how are you feeling? Do you still have your blog. I know you mentioned you had one once. I am thinking of having one. I would like it to be more for reviewing childrens and christian books. I want to get the books and then donate them to the church/former boys school etc. I am clueless about this or if its even doable etc. I dont want to spend a lot of time and effort with it. I am thinking more like a hobby. etc. Any suggestions? Well the weather here is terrible and poor ds3 is sick so I dont know if he can take me for the x rays tomm. We shall see. I guess I will call the cardiologist tomm. Check in when you can everyone

Thank goodness your liver tests came back with no problems!!

Checking in from London. Visiting DD20 while on her break for the semester. So good to spend time mother/daughter time with her! We were in Disneyland Paris the past three days. Stayed in the beautiful Disneyland Hotel , directly in the park. Different experience from WDW. Glad we went, wouldn't make a special trip to return.

One more day in London then heading back home on Saturday. :-( DD will be home December 6 th.

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

 

[Christine]

Well, I finally had some labwork done earlier this week because I've been feeling crazy since mid June. This was EXACTLY the time Levoxyl was pulled from the market. I started with Tirosint which, I thought, was making me feel nuts. It was hard to tell because I had such a stressful time at work (two problem employees that I had to let go). I then researchd the generics and found a levothyroxine made by Sandoz that was very similar to Levoxyl. I then switched to that and felt a little better but not a lot. I then found a 90-day supply of Levoxyl in my cabinet that I didn't know I had. It was even expired, so I sort of switched back to that and felt even better.

Yet, I knew it wouldn't last forever so I am working with the generic drug again. Of course, during all this, the shooting occurred at work and my whole routine has been changed. So, yeah, I don't feel right but I feel like it is out of proportion to what has happened to me. I have had IBS almost every day since June (with a few small breaks), and have had some panic attacks and/or increased anxiety. My period is about 3 weeks late (but that's not unusual these days since I am almost 50).

Soooo...with all that, my TSH is usually at around 0.5. I feel okay with this (even better if the doc would let me stay at 1.0). Sometimes I might be at 0.35 but when I get to that level I just start feeling "not right." My current TSH is at 0.16. I know it doesn't sound like a lot lower but with TSH, I believe it makes quite a difference for people who are sensitive to the lower end of the spectrum. I really, really hope it explains why I feel so poorly. So, I am going to skip one my days of taking the medications which just about puts me at the next lower dose.

I really wish Levoxyl would come back on the market. I was so good for so many years. But who knows how it will be when it comes back on the market. Will they use the same formulation/fillers?

Oh, well, sorry for the long, boring rant! But I'm happy that I might have some explanation for feeling like a mean, crazy woman...

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Christine - sorry you are dealing with this. I know its hard when you personally and your body gets use to one med and then there it goes. I am sure it will be a lot of trial and error to figure out what works best for you. Its good you got the blood work. I guess you could also use that as a baseline now.

Sorry you are dealing with all the stress. You can always rant to us, its therapeutic!!

Well I think I am going to have dh take me for the xrays today. I didnt want to bother ds yest. Also dh is stressed beyond max with all this govt. shutdown stuff. They have already laid off custodians and guards where he works. They had a big meeting and they said, next the people will go, sigh. So I feel like we are living on borrowed time right now. Glad we have a big emergency fund.

Mon or Tues I will call cardiology. Been putting that off, but its inevitable.

dmlaini- just wondering how your dh is.

Well check in when you can everyone

 

[Christine]

I didnt want to bother ds yest. Also dh is stressed beyond max with all this govt. shutdown stuff. They have already laid off custodians and guards where he works. They had a big meeting and they said, next the people will go, sigh. So I feel like we are living on borrowed time right now. Glad we have a big emergency fund.

The shutdown stinks. I know that a lot of people in the country aren't touched by it but it's incredibly stressful for those that are.

I've been working the whole time and due to the Pay Our Military Act, I even got paid on time, but I *don't* have a big emergency fund anymore due to both my kids being in college so the thoughts of losing pay really scared me. At one point I could have lived off one income, but not these days. It is stressful at work because we are expected to keep working yet have very limited funding (and I work in finance) and everyone is under immense pressure to figure out what areas REALLY need the money.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I forgot to post about my little x ray experience. I went to a different place where the equip is newer as is the place. I have been there once before.

The girl had to take 3 chest xrays She said the first 2 were blurry. I was gonna say no more. If you cant get a good picture then sorry etc.
Then they did 2 each of my knee and hip. She heard my knee really creaking and cracking. I think it scared her as I saw her and the other techs faces. She said yes I heard it!'

Anyone see the little article about the just published study about the rise in thy ca. The guy from Penn. was trying to prove if more tests showed an increase. I think the conclusion was its not more thy ca being diagnosed from more unplanned testing and discovery. There is def. an increase and no one seems to know why. Yeah, doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure it out..

 

[mrsklamc]

I can't be too helpful with the blog- my DH set it all up...I think it was hosted with dreamhost and used wordpress.

 

[turkeymama]

Quick question for anyone who can help decipher numbers better than me. I am hypothyroid (so is my mom and her sister). I also have goiters, which I realize is fairly common. I've had this for about 13 years now. My numbers get a little wonky every now and then and we adjust meds up and down until we settle back into normal. The worst was a few years ago when my levels were so off that it began to affect my blood sugar. I seem to be leveled off at a nice low dose of synthroid right now.

DS 9 has had some weird symptoms of angioedema (idiopathic, origins unknown in other words) and urticaria. Allergist/immunologist has not found any causes to this point and has ruled out the possible more serious causes of the symptoms. We took him to the dermatologist to have some moles checked and she noticed his rash. We disclosed all the other diagnoses to her and she ordered more tests, one of them being a thyroid panel and ANA screen. The ANA screen is negative and the thyroid peroxidase was <6. The thyroglobulin antibody was <1.0, so she says there is no indication of any autoimmune problems. His TSH level was 3.94. To me, that TSH level is getting close to the top of "normal". When I asked the nurse if any of his results were bordering abnormal, she told me "no".

I just want answers. DS has lived with chronic constipation since he was born, he has had global developmental delays which are being addressed and improving, he is literally skin and bones with no muscle mass and low muscle tone, breaks out in hives and swells seemingly at nothing...I feel like I am failing him. For those of you with more thyroid experience, could any of these symptoms line up with thyroid problems?

 

[luvmarypoppins]

turkeymama - I dont know too much about the pediatric numbers. But want to say its sounds like you are being a good advocate for your son and following up on his issues.

As a mom I would personally be more concerned with your skin and bones statement and the chronic constipation. Has your ds been to a pediatric gastroenterologist. Has he had any testing like gastric emptying, has anything been ruled out like hirschprungs etc.

Does he have sensory issues as far as eating goes? GERD issues etc.

I would def. think of taking him to a large hosp. with a pediatric gastro specialist.

It does seem like he is very sensitive to certain things with the hives issues. Has he had all the allergy testing?

I know its hard when there are a lot of different puzzle pieces so to speak and you just want all the pieces to fit together. Sometimes it takes a while but trust your gut as a mom and find the answers you need for your ds.

Wishing you all the best.

 

[turkeymama]

turkeymama - I dont know too much about the pediatric numbers. But want to say its sounds like you are being a good advocate for your son and following up on his issues.

As a mom I would personally be more concerned with your skin and bones statement and the chronic constipation. Has your ds been to a pediatric gastroenterologist. Has he had any testing like gastric emptying, has anything been ruled out like hirschprungs etc.

Does he have sensory issues as far as eating goes? GERD issues etc.

I would def. think of taking him to a large hosp. with a pediatric gastro specialist.

It does seem like he is very sensitive to certain things with the hives issues. Has he had all the allergy testing?

I know its hard when there are a lot of different puzzle pieces so to speak and you just want all the pieces to fit together. Sometimes it takes a while but trust your gut as a mom and find the answers you need for your ds.

Wishing you all the best.

No on gastroenterologist, yes on all allergy testing, yes on sensory issues (autism).

I may look into gastro specialist next. We have a good endocrinologist locally too.
When he was younger, the pediatrician kept implying and saying DS would "catch up". He isn't catching up physically in weight. He is really tall though. When I plugged in some symptoms to research, I kept circling back to thyroid. I was kind of hoping it could be that simple.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[skylizard]

Hey everyone
I'm newly diagnosed hypothyroid. Been on Armour 60mg for 3 weeks now and still not feeling much better. How long does it take until I start noticing a difference?
Thyroid issues suck

 

[portocall]

Been a long while since I visited this thread. I ended up having my thyroid removed two weeks ago. Pathology confirmed it was cancerous but hadn't spread. We had been watching it for a few years since they found the goiter and I was diagnosed hypothyroid. They only doubled my meds for now and I can already tell I need a higher dose. I get terrible leg pain when I'm low and that's starting again. My endo didn't have an opening until February but I mentioned out to my surgeon at the post op appointment and voila, got an email this morning that I have an appointment in two weeks. The surgery went great and was easier than walking around with the neck pressure the last few years. My surgeon does only head and neck surgeries so he was skilled enough to save all my parathyroid. I did remember to ask him a lot of the points you brought up here so if any of you have any wisdom to share for what might be in the road ahead, please share. I'm all ears.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Been a long while since I visited this thread. I ended up having my thyroid removed two weeks ago. Pathology confirmed it was cancerous but hadn't spread. We had been watching it for a few years since they found the goiter and I was diagnosed hypothyroid. They only doubled my meds for now and I can already tell I need a higher dose. I get terrible leg pain when I'm low and that's starting again. My endo didn't have an opening until February but I mentioned out to my surgeon at the post op appointment and voila, got an email this morning that I have an appointment in two weeks. The surgery went great and was easier than walking around with the neck pressure the last few years. My surgeon does only head and neck surgeries so he was skilled enough to save all my parathyroid. I did remember to ask him a lot of the points you brought up here so if any of you have any wisdom to share for what might be in the road ahead, please share. I'm all ears.

Sorry to hear about your ca dx, bu glad to hear your surgery went well. Did you have any lymph nodes removed?

Have you gotten your pathology report back yet? I think they said its usually 7 to 10 days. Mine took a while since it was the rare variant. Lots of people wanted to look at it, gheesh!

I guess your treatment plan will depend on the path.

I would mention to the endo about how you feel for sure. I started out at 150 and after the first blood test post op she raised me to 200. Then I was 175 and now she is letting me have 150 but she said I cant go lower because of the aggressive variant. I still feel tired all the time. And I am putting on weight for no reason.

Well if you have to have the rai or do the lid diet alot of us who have done those can chime in and help you.

Wishing you all the best.

 

[portocall]

What is the lid diet? I did get the pathology report back and the lymph nodes (3) were all benign. I don't have the report handy for spelling but it was papillary follicular variety, about 3cm. No other signs and they said no other treatment is required. For peace of mind along I did request a body scan though. I am putting weight on again and the leg pains. I have enough meds to move up to 150, waiting on the doctor to give me the green light because after a few years of feeling really good, going back to the no energy, achy way of life again is unappealing.