Lump on Thyroid - worried sick

Hi, this is my first ever post.  On Monday I felt a lump on one side of my thyroid and can see it slightly when I look in the mirror. It is more noticeable when I swallow. I went to see the GP on Wednesday about it. I had blood tests and am going back next week for the results.  Since then I have been a wreck, I am expecting the worst and have convinced myself that I am dying. I first found this forum this morning and have found it to be a bit reassuring. For the last few years I have suffered with unexplained hair thinning which I've discovered in the last few days can be a sign of a thyroid problem. I have also recently been taking a high dose of calcium supplements as I recently broke my foot and thought it may help the healing. In the last few days I've discovered that nodules behind the thyroid control the calcium in the blood? Have I caused a thyroid issue with too much calcium? Any help, advice or words of comfort would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. 

  • Hi KittensInMittens,

    Welcome to the forum, I'm glad you've found it reassuring. When you have symptoms, in can be tempting to look for answers online, but it can do more harm than good. Only your doctor can diagnose you. Until then, try not to worry and do your best to de-stress. There are some tips here to help you cope with the wait. 

    Best wishes,

    Moderator Anastasia

     

     

  • Thank you Anastasia for your reply.  

    The blood tests all came back 'satisfactory'. I am now more worried as I would of though if I had a thyroid problem - for instance an overactive thyroid - the blood tests would have shown that.  I have now got to wait until the 19th of June for an ultrasound as this is the next available appointment. This seems such a long wait. If this is the worst case scenario surely time is of the essence. I feel so helpless and don't understand why I can't been seen quicker, it's as if no one cares. 

  • It's good the blood tests came back satisfactory and even though you may be worried about your symptoms, this should give you some comfort. Your clinic will have many patients to handle at any one time so, naturally, you'll have to wait for an appointment. The 19th June sounds like a long way away, but it's only next Wednesday. Again try not to worry right now and I hope it goes ok.

    Moderator Anastasia

  • Thanks again Anastasia and thank you for the 'coping with waiting for news' link - it was very helpful.

  • Hi there I have just been reading your post as I too suffer from problems with my thyroid. Mine all started over 10 years ago now when i first had swelling in my neck and a horrible sensation in my throat, like something was stuck. I went to the doctors over it and had all the usual blood tests followed by a series of other tests. I was first treated for GERD and put on omeprozole tablets to decrease stomach acid. Later on i was referred to a thyroid specialist had an ultrasound which discovered a lump/nodule followed by a fine needle aspiration biopsy. I was told biopsy results were ok at first instance, only to be then recalled and had the lump removed and tested. It turned out to be a benign nodule. I was diagnosed with thyroidotis an inflammation of the thyroid. I was fine for a good few years, then in 2015 the symptoms started to reoccur. I was sent for blood tests and was referred to the ENT department. I had a couple of tests and an ultrasound and the nodule had slightly returned. I was given tablets to relieve the symptoms and eventually discharged after a few weeks as they seemed to do this trick. 

    Within the past couple of weeks my symptoms have began to flare up again, my neck feels swollen and the sensation in my throat is becoming irritating. So i went to the doctors this morning and was told my neck is inflammed and there is a lump around the site where I had the previous one removed. I was told to get urgent blood tests done today so that I could have results within a few days and take it from there. I am not sure if you have been suffering with any stress or anxiety around the same time your symptoms appeared?? but I know i tend to have flare ups esp during stressful periods. Not sure whether this has been of any help to you. Hope you get your ultrasound soon and positive results.

     

  • Hi liverpoolnat82, thank for you message. Sounds like your thyroid likes to give you trouble! It all sounds awful and sorry for all your suffering. From reading people's accounts on this forum there seems to be so many things that can go wrong with your thyroid and an awful lot of them seem to be quite difficult to diagnose.

    I have a lump on one side of my thyroid and like you it feels like something is stuck in my throat. I have suffered with anxiety for the past 5 years. It can get pretty bad. I have occasional panic attacks. I've had counselling and CBT but nothing really helps. It's that bad it stops me from living a proper life - I haven't been on holiday for 4 years because I'm that scared of going away. When I first discovered the lump I had been at home with a broken foot for about 5 weeks. I'd been signed off work and pretty much housebound - and yes I'd say I was very stressed and anxious!  A friend had a thyroid lump last year. After an ultrasound she was told that it was an 'active cyst' and that it flares up when she's stressed or run down. There seems to be a link between stress and thyroid issues so hopefully that's what we are both experiencing. 

    I hope you get good news and some clear results from your blood tests.  Keep me posted and thanks again for your reply.

     

  • I've had this.  I too had to go for an ultrasound, it took ages to come round and I felt just as you do.  Mine were cysts and I had my thyroid removed in the end but that's an extreme outcome (and I'm fine now).

    I now have a new referral for a breast lump, it seems never ending!

  • Hi pinkpixie, I read your initial post a few weeks ago, thanks for your message! Yours is another classic case of a finding a lump then a long drawn out diagnosis! Happy to hear your thyroid problems are sorted now even though it was an extreme outcome. I'm starting to think that everyone should just have the thing taken out, it would prevent a lot of problems, haha!  Sorry to hear about your new concern and I hope everything is ok for you. I know how these things make you feel. Take care. 

  • Just wanted to add to this thread as I have seen a lot of threads started with a similar issue to mine but with no final outcome. I have now had my ultrasound and results. My GP has told me it is a 'benign nodule'. The results are going to be sent to an endocrinologist to see if any treatment is recommended but for now there is no need for any further concern. :)