Thyroid Goiter, Nodules and Bone Loss
Find a Conversation
Thyroid Goiter, Nodules and Bone Loss
| Tue, 04-18-2006 - 9:13am |
Hi! I'm new to this site, but not to IVillage. I'll start at the beginning and try to make it short. I'm 55 years old.
I had a bone density test, which was ordered by my internist after my yearly physical. My GYN called and said my left hips came back -2.4. Because I have had trouble taking the meds for Osteo she suggested a specialist.
I found someone at a near by hospital.
After the PA took a history the doctor came in and immediately looked at my neck. To my surprise she said I had a goiter and nodules. They sent me for blood work and an ultrasound. The test came back stating "patient presented with finding of multinodular goiter" "color doppler study shows increased vascular supply of the thyroid which may indicate hyperthyroidism" "Possibly patient is hyperthyroid" "further evaluation should include thyroid scan & uptake". My TSH is 5.55.
Hyperthyroid is confusing to me since I have symptoms of both Hypothyroid and Hyperthyroid. FATIGUE, MUSCLE WEAKNESS, in legs especially, COLD INTOLERANCE, especially water, MUSCLE CRAMPS, CONSTIPATION, MEMORY LOSS, PALPITATIONS, NERVOUSNESS, IMSOMNIA, FAST HEART RATE.
My blood work also came back with an elevated total cholesterol of 243 - HDL 72 and LDL 137. I thought I read that Thyroid can elevate your cholesterol. Does anyone know about this? Also, my blood pressure tends to go high. I feel like I'm falling apart.
I went under ENDOCRINEWEB.com which was very interesting.
I do have any appointment with a specialist with thyroid on May 8. So I feel I'm in good hands, I'm just gettin anxious waiting and wanted to talk to someone who would understand.
About 8 years ago my chiropractor felt I might have a thyroid problem, but since my doctor never mentioned it when I had my exams and he/she felt my neck as part of the exam, I didn't pursue it further. About 15 yrs ago I had a stress test and the tech asked about my thyroid, because I was having anxiety attacks. Why I didn't pursue it at one of these times I don't know.
Just wanted to vent and talk to someone.
Thanks for listening.
Deb
I had a bone density test, which was ordered by my internist after my yearly physical. My GYN called and said my left hips came back -2.4. Because I have had trouble taking the meds for Osteo she suggested a specialist.
I found someone at a near by hospital.
After the PA took a history the doctor came in and immediately looked at my neck. To my surprise she said I had a goiter and nodules. They sent me for blood work and an ultrasound. The test came back stating "patient presented with finding of multinodular goiter" "color doppler study shows increased vascular supply of the thyroid which may indicate hyperthyroidism" "Possibly patient is hyperthyroid" "further evaluation should include thyroid scan & uptake". My TSH is 5.55.
Hyperthyroid is confusing to me since I have symptoms of both Hypothyroid and Hyperthyroid. FATIGUE, MUSCLE WEAKNESS, in legs especially, COLD INTOLERANCE, especially water, MUSCLE CRAMPS, CONSTIPATION, MEMORY LOSS, PALPITATIONS, NERVOUSNESS, IMSOMNIA, FAST HEART RATE.
My blood work also came back with an elevated total cholesterol of 243 - HDL 72 and LDL 137. I thought I read that Thyroid can elevate your cholesterol. Does anyone know about this? Also, my blood pressure tends to go high. I feel like I'm falling apart.
I went under ENDOCRINEWEB.com which was very interesting.
I do have any appointment with a specialist with thyroid on May 8. So I feel I'm in good hands, I'm just gettin anxious waiting and wanted to talk to someone who would understand.
About 8 years ago my chiropractor felt I might have a thyroid problem, but since my doctor never mentioned it when I had my exams and he/she felt my neck as part of the exam, I didn't pursue it further. About 15 yrs ago I had a stress test and the tech asked about my thyroid, because I was having anxiety attacks. Why I didn't pursue it at one of these times I don't know.
Just wanted to vent and talk to someone.
Thanks for listening.
Deb

Hi icecreamlover!
Hi Deb,
Welcome!
You do seem to have symptoms from both sides of thyroid disorders which can happen.
April, I will ask about the tests you suggested. I assume they are done with blood work. Also, thanks for confirming that cholesterol, blood pressure and bone loss can be affected. I was sure of the bone loss, but not the other two. This really made me feel better. I eat fairly good and exercise regularly, so it doesn't make total since to me for these to be elevated. Oh and thanks for the tight shoe comment, it really made me laugh.
Calley7, yes I have a hard copy of my blood work. Any questions?
What is a thyroid scan, is it like an MRI? What is an uptake?
I'm glad you said I fell into Hypo because it seems I have more symptoms for that. The cover letter of the tests results says hyper. To tell the truth I almost fell off the chair when she said hyper. The main reason is that I am at times so sensitive to cold water that it hurts.
Of course, I am also going through menopause and felt that some of the symptoms were from that.
I can feel the goiter in my neck, especially when I swallow, can you?
I just thought I was getting a turkey neck as my grandmother use to call hers.
Why I didn't listen to my body this time I don't know. I'm usually good at listening to my body.
I have a friend who is living with thyroid cancer. The doctor at Sloan Kettering (spelling) told her he can give her about 20 years. She's in her 40's.
Oh, one more thing. I was told in Nov. that I was lactose intolerant. Any connection with thyroid? One week I could eat ice cream the next I had trouble disgestion it. (Tried to eat it 3 times, all bad results) Doesn't make since.
Thanks,
Deb
Hi again!
Hi Deb,
Here is a link to information on the uptake and scan and I'll also copy it here.
I've already had the ultrasound. That was a piece of cake. The findings showed mutinodular goiter.
The other tests sound easy also.
I met my friend with thyca after she had been living with it for a number of years so I don't know the whole story. (She is my friend through her sister, her sister and I live across the street from each other, the whole family is great) I know when they discovered it she was pregnant, she waited to have anything done till she had the baby. I believe she had her thyroid taken out and she has had her max of radiation. The cancer has spread to other parts of her body, nothing operable at this point just watching it. How severe it is I'm not sure. This is why she went to the specialist in NY. I don't press her to talk about it, but if she feels like saying something I'll listen. One day she did say she wakes up every day and that's the first thing she thinks about. I haven't told her or her sister about my diagnosis yet, I'll wait till after I know what is going on. I know if I had questions they both would be more than happy to help me. She is the sweetest person.
Thanks again.
Deb
Deb, I have read your concerns and also the answers that the gals have given you, and I think they have covered a lot and given you some good advice. The main thing is to have a good dr. and follow his advice and if you deviate or decide you don't like the treatments, you just don't stop but you go to the dr. again for further advice or to tell him what is bothering you.
I do have one question that I am concerned about though. I also have had thyroid cancer, and just read where you have a friend that you still don't know the particulars about but that the doctor said he gives her about 20 years. I have never heard of this "prediction" from any dr. before unless she has refused treatment for some reason or other. I am interested to know what is happening with her when you get a chance to talk with her or her friends. It just seems like a terrible thing for a medical person to tell a patient when most thyca's are so treatable.
Hoping that your own problems will go along well and get solved in due time. As far as being lactose intolerant, I am and have been long before I ever had a thyroid problem, so I can't really relate that to thyroid, although I guess anything is possible. It will be interesting to know, after all your testing is done (which really will be an ongoing thing) to know if you are hyper or hypo. It can be quite tricky and takes a knowledgeable dr. to decipher some of these tests. Good luck, Bea
As far as my friend goes I probably won't know much more because I feel that unless she wants to talk to me about it I won't mention it. She's very private.
Thanks again,
Deb