The THYROID Thread

[mrsklamc]

Dischick- congratulations!!!! It feels so good to be 'done!'

luvmarypoppins- my endo seems to feel that it's radioactive material of some sort that causes it and they just don't know exactly where it's coming from; though I have an aunt that doesn't have hers because of non cancerous tumors so who knows?

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I don't know. I've sure put a lot of thought into mine and come up blank; well, blank other than some crazy theories. I know my grandma was hyperthyroid and had a dose to lower that, and it would have been like her to ignore the precautions. I have no idea when she had it done though. My mother used to tell me as a kid not to stand in front of the microwave or I would get cancer. My husband says that's insane. I used to go to my grandparents' house in the summer which was near a military outpost and in my wildest imaginings I've wondered if they had something going on there.
My endo says at one point they tracked a rash of cases to radioactive material being scattered over pastures in the midwest, and many people who drank milk from those cows got thyroid cancer. I've wondered many times how they could track something like that down so specifically.

I think mine was a combination of alot of things. Some enviornmental, some genetic. Bad genes run in my family

1.The enviornmental stuff I only told them about the tons of xrays I had when I had scoliosis. They said, that shouldnt be a problem. (Um, I think it was) and

2. didnt tell them but when I was growing up we had well water, dont know where the source was actually from but not too far from our house was an abandoned drug company place, that I am thinking they dumped stuff in the ground etc. and I might have been drinking all that stuff until we had city water

3. Heard of one of my aunts having thyroid stuff (cant ask as anyone who remembers has passed

So who else has any "theories". Just curious to see if there is any common thread?

 

[Christine]

So who else has any "theories". Just curious to see if there is any common thread?

I do think it's environmental. But I just can't imagine what it could be. I was told that thyroid cancer takes approximately 20 years to develop so if I was diagnosed at 31, it was more than likely something that happened in my teens.

And I can't think of ONE thing.

I lived in a normal neighborhood outside of DC. Nothing special. No special med treatments, nothing.

When I was 19, I lived in an area that had some nuclear weapons are PCBs. I also lived in Japan in my early 20s, near the northern most island and there were talks that stuff was going on there. But, who knows. And as far as I know, if there were stuff going on, we'd get clusters. But I was told by a doctor (who probably really doesn't know) that thyroid cancer is so latent that whatever happened to me in my 20s wasn't causing an age-30 diagnosis, if that makes sense...

 

[KAMLEM]

I have been wondering about the cause of my thyroid cancer a lot lately, too. I lived in a neighborhood that had a little creek that ran under the street. It came between 2 homes, ran under the street, and came back up between the 2 homes on the other side of the street. We used to play in it when we were little, even crawling through the tunnels that went under the street (I know, gross).

What scares me is that six people from the four houses next to the creek have passed away. Three of them had cancer and died between the ages of 50 and 60. One of them had a heart related disease and the other two moved away and I'm not sure how they died but they were young, in their forties. It may just be coincidence but I really wonder if something may have been in this creek.

 

[mrsklamc]

DH bought a deep fryer today and hand cut french fries, and stirred salt into the salt free ketchup. It tasted heavenly.

 

[ElizK]

I have a question for you. I posted about 6-7 weeks ago about my TSH taking a dive (from 4.6 in Sep to 10.3 in Jun). Medication was adjusted, feeling a bit better. Not quite so sluggish.

Here's my question: I've been having these random sore throats that feel like I'm swallowing sand. Very scratchy and painful. I tried to kind of feel around to tell where in my throat the pain is, and it does seem to be right at or just above my thyroid. There is no pain from the outside, just when I swallow. And it's not all the time. Is this the kind of sore throat that is typically associated with thyroid problems? I know that I was asked several times about sore throats when I was first being diagnosed.

I have a lot of allergies, but I know what sinus drainage feels like, and this isn't it.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Christine]

I have a question for you. I posted about 6-7 weeks ago about my TSH taking a dive (from 4.6 in Sep to 10.3 in Jun). Medication was adjusted, feeling a bit better. Not quite so sluggish.

Here's my question: I've been having these random sore throats that feel like I'm swallowing sand. Very scratchy and painful. I tried to kind of feel around to tell where in my throat the pain is, and it does seem to be right at or just above my thyroid. There is no pain from the outside, just when I swallow. And it's not all the time. Is this the kind of sore throat that is typically associated with thyroid problems? I know that I was asked several times about sore throats when I was first being diagnosed.

I have a lot of allergies, but I know what sinus drainage feels like, and this isn't it.

Thanks for your help!

Hmmm...I just don't know.

I never really had any thyroid problems--just thyroid cancer that had a lump. It never gave me a sore throat.

I remember, way back then, reading about thyroid problems, Hashimotos, and thyroid inflammation. I think when your thyroid is inflamed, you can get a sore throat. I don't think hypothyroidism causes it. You can also get a sore throat if you have a lump and the lump is pressing on things.

The only other thing that I might think is that you could have acid reflux (silent). Being hypothyroid will definitely cause that because your LES in your lower esophagus will relax. If you are refluxing at night, you can get burning in your throat periodically. I have reflux (GERD) and sometimes, on a particular bad spell, I will get the burning sensations in my throat. It's not like a true sore throat but more like it's irritated.

 

[mrsklamc]

I'm kinda feeling like a dolt here but I hope you guys can help me out who have been on the LID.

If I'm reading it right (the instructions in the thyca cookbook) it says anything that says kosher is ok as long as it doesn't also say iodized salt? I'm asking specifically about pickles- if the pickles are kosher, and the label says salt, does that mean it's not iodized salt unless it says so?

I'm also not sure about pepsi, dr.pepper, etc. It says colas are ok, as long as they don't have red #3 ( I think.) I think it's saying carmel colored sodas are ok as long as they don't have red #3...but carmel color in and of itself, surely doesn't actually come from carmel does it? (therefore dairy?)

I'm hoping either someone has better reading skills than I do this morning or has been told one way or another by their doc on this.

Thanks!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Micayla - I dont know about the pickles, but I wouldnt take a chance with them.

As far as the soda, I was told as long as it didnt have the dye in it, but I didnt want to take a chance no matter what, so I just did clear like sierra mist, sprite etc.

 

[mrsklamc]

Micayla - I dont know about the pickles, but I wouldnt take a chance with them.

As far as the soda, I was told as long as it didnt have the dye in it, but I didnt want to take a chance no matter what, so I just did clear like sierra mist, sprite etc.

That's exactly what I've been doing (sprite, etc)...I was hoping maybe your nutritionist had told you differently. Only 9 days to go! (I'm not counting Friday cause the scan is in the AM)

 

[mrsklamc]

Hmmm....any article about pickles says that you MUST NOT use iodized salt because the iodine will cloud up the water. Probably still best not to risk it but that sounds so yummy right now.

 

[Christine]

My memory is fuzzy on the sodas but I think, yes, every soda is fine as long as it doesn't have the red dye (cherry sodas, birch beer are probably out). I remember drinking Pepsi. It was one of my few treats.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Hang in there Micayla!!

Well when I went for the mammo and bone density test today, I had the mammo first. I told the girl I couldnt move my arm up to the machine etc. becaue of the cancer. She asked me what kind. I told her thyroid. Get this- she says -
"wow we are getting alot of that here lately, wonder why?

O.K. visions of my questions about finding a "Common thread" from yest. came into my mind. I though yes, lady that is the $100 million dollar question!!

She sad my bone density was a little low and commented about the high synthroid dose. I guess I will have to wait for the endo to call and discuss things with me. I know she said before there was no way she was lowering the synthroid yet. I am wondering if that is because of the columnar cell stuff too?

 

[dischick4778]

Thanks so much for the congrats and support! I have been enjoying my reunion with my boys and truly loving every moment. My only concern is I still can't taste anything. I don't know what to eat, everything tastes so bland I don't want to eat at all. Hope this goes away soon. I know its different for everyone, but how long does this usually last?

When I originally found out I had thyroid cancer and I asked where it came from and how long I had it the Dr told me I could have had it for years and never realized it. He said its hereditary and I do know of a few older family members who had it. He also said my pregnancy could have brought it out or made it worse.

 

[mrsklamc]

My lack of taste lasted about 3 weeks.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I also thought I heard/read this somewhere. I dont know if it was to cut down on the metallic taste etc. Maybe someone sent it to me?

It said something about putting pickle juice on stuff. It does something to take the metallic taste away (which I never got) but I dont know if it would help the bland taste. I dont even know if they mean sweet pickle juice or dill pickle juice etc. Oh wel..maybe you could try just a little bit.

Wishing you all the best dizchick.

Also it was very interesting that your dr. said your cancer was heriditary. I asked my surgeon why I got it etc. and he says "Oh you just had some bad luck!". Hmm, because they were also testing me for medullary thyroid cancer twice, based on my family history. But that was negative, Praise God!!

Micayla - a week to go girl, Hang in there!! I remember I bought myself those little packs of raisins and crasins, so when I wanted a snack I could feel "special" too. Helped if I was around other people etc. I took them to a meeting once and started snacking. I was really hungry anyway.

 

[mrsklamc]

Micayla - a week to go girl, Hang in there!! I remember I bought myself those little packs of raisins and crasins, so when I wanted a snack I could feel "special" too. Helped if I was around other people etc. I took them to a meeting once and started snacking. I was really hungry anyway.

Thanks! This is NOTHING like last time. I am a little extra tired, but nothing a few extra naps can't handle; just a little fuzzy around the edges. I have almost even been worried my TSH won't be high enough, I feel so good.

I think they let me go too long (7 weeks) last time, but hopefully it means that remaining tissue was extra avid, right?

 

[WDWBarb]

I have a question for you. I posted about 6-7 weeks ago about my TSH taking a dive (from 4.6 in Sep to 10.3 in Jun). Medication was adjusted, feeling a bit better. Not quite so sluggish.

Here's my question: I've been having these random sore throats that feel like I'm swallowing sand. Very scratchy and painful. I tried to kind of feel around to tell where in my throat the pain is, and it does seem to be right at or just above my thyroid. There is no pain from the outside, just when I swallow. And it's not all the time. Is this the kind of sore throat that is typically associated with thyroid problems? I know that I was asked several times about sore throats when I was first being diagnosed.

I have a lot of allergies, but I know what sinus drainage feels like, and this isn't it.

Thanks for your help!

DD has Hashimoto's and a small goiter (her thyroid is 2x a normal size). She experiences a feeling of her throat being constricted, but nothing painful. I suppose it's possible, but something to definately talk to your doctor about.

 

[mrsklamc]

For those that do the LID- I just read last night that red #3 has been illegal for most uses in the US since 1990 because at high doses it caused thyroid cancer in lab rats. I find that interesting because that means it WAS in use around the time my cancer started growing, and guess what my favorite flavor of candy always was? The red ones- cherry, strawberry, watermelon, etc.

 

[Christine]

For those that do the LID- I just read last night that red #3 has been illegal for most uses in the US since 1990 because at high doses it caused thyroid cancer in lab rats. I find that interesting because that means it WAS in use around the time my cancer started growing, and guess what my favorite flavor of candy always was? The red ones- cherry, strawberry, watermelon, etc.

Me too! I used to LOVE picking out the red M&Ms. Then they pulled them off the market. I remember there were no red M&Ms for awhile. Now we do have them, obviously, using the *better* red dye. As a kid, though, I alwasy went for the red Kool-Aid, the red slurpee, the red popsicle--you get the picture...