Hi Squirrely,
I had the same thing happen to me, so I'm another weirdo!!  My doc
kept telling me my thyroid levels were within the normal ranges.  Then
I saw a neurologist and he said that my ranges were off wack so my GP
sent me for an ultra sound.  I had a number of nodules and a goiter.
I was referred to a thyroid specialist and he put me on synthroid.
Things improved greatly!  I haven't had an ultra sound since but my
symptoms subsided.

That was about 4 years ago and I'm still doing fine.  I hope they
begin treating you soon so you feel better.  Not everyone with thyroid
disease has the numbers they're looking for in blood tests.  Also,
I've read that people with autoimmune thyroiditis many times won't
have the numbers on a TSH test.  They have low T4's but the docs go
more by the TSH counts than they do the T3's or T4's.  My T4 was a
little low and has been since on and off.

My thyroid specialist said that they can't go by blood work alone when
diagnosing or treating thyroid disease.  I loved my thyroid guy, but
unfortunately he left the state last year and now I have to be treated
by my GP, who I don't think knows what I'd like him to know about the
thyroid.

If there is one nodule/tumor, they usually will send you to an ENT for
a biopsy of the thyroid, but if you have more than one, they tend to
start treatment with a drug like synthroid to see if that alleviates
the symptoms.  A sluggish thyroid will sometimes develop nodules and
increase in size, which makes it a goiter.  The synthroid helps it to
function correctly and the nodules should go down and hopefully
disappear altogether.

Take care Squirrely!!  I'm glad they now know this is not in your
head!!  BTW, I also had pain and had difficulty swallowing at times
because of my goiter and nodules.
Carol

This is going to sound wrong to some who read it, but I'm so happy for you.
I know there have been some times in the last bit when you were even
starting to think it was all in your head.  (Well the thyroid is close)

It isn't just the validation of something physical and measurable, although
that means a lot.  But it will be nice to get a little respect to those who
had some doubts.  (Including a number of doctors here)

It's also a lot easier mentally to deal with something real that you or
someone can see and that there is a real treatment for.

Now that (finally) they know at least part of what is broken, maybe they can
get started on fixing it.

Jo

Glad to hear you have answers.  Sorry to hear they aren't all good ones.
But at least now you have a place to start healing, and that is worth so
much.  Wouldn't it be sweet if you could get rid of your chest pains as
well?  Keep us posted.

Janet N.

as usual, I'm sorry you've got it and ever so glad they've finally found out
that you do!  It was great of the tech to fill you in, especially to tell you
that so many tumors usually don't indicate cancer.  I so hope they can treat
this quickly and help you start to feel better in osme ways!

Oh, and I've always had an affinity for weird people  ;)

Hi Daughter,

<SNIPPED>  :)

If I remember correctly, way back when you lived in the other
house I told you that lots of your problems sounded like stuff
that is caused by thyroid problems. Sorry it took this long to
figure out that normal thyroid levels don't mean there isn't a
problem. Now get your GP to start treatment.

Sending Good Thoughts,
{{{Jo}}}

GramPaHugs,
Alex,

--

 Any information is included for informational
 or entertainment purposes only, is based on my
 personal experiences & is an expression of my opinion.

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yay, squirrely's getting answers!  of course you're feeling better now
that you know what's going on. and wouldn't it be interesting if those
other pains were caused by the thyroid problem and went away after
treatment? it would give you a rest from all the misery you've been
enduring.

so glad you're really sick and it's not just in your head.  :-)
we're a weird bunch,

diane

Hope this solves some of the problems.  Will be nice to put a name to the
aches!

Hugs,

Kelly

i lubs weird people!  you know what they say about birds of a feather and
all that.<g>  (((((((sj))))))))   i'm joining the rest of the weird bunch
here and saying, i'm glad they finally found something that's been part of
what's been making you so ill and soooo miserably uncomfortable.

now, my dear, the battle for you is uphill, which will doubtless put your
mind at ease.  it can be soooo depressing to have things keep happening for
so long and the people we rely upon to help us, not be able to figure it out
and/or do something or suggest something about it.  seeeeee, you aren't any
crazier than the rest of us . . . ulp, i just had a thought.  what if we're
all crazy and don't know it?LOL  i know the answer to that one---we're in
good company!<smile>

how has the rest of your "hell week" gone, as far as testing goes, sweetie?
i mean the mamo and the pituitary gland mri.

still keeping you close in thought and prayer, hon.

kate

I had one tumor they found when looking at my goiter in
the ultrasound. I have been on low dose synthroid
[levoxyl] since and both have shrunk. I had to have
some sort of iodine... wait I think I still have it
written down somewhere. Well, I did but it is not
really clear now. lol

T3 uptake; free t4 by dialysis, iodine uptake
[radioactive drink]

So they made me swallow a radioactive pill I think it
was and then some sort of scan on those tumors. If it
was one way it meant cancerous but a different way [can
you tell I can't remember much about this] it was just
a tumor.
Like you, wasn't really upset about it. Just glad to
find out why I kept feeling like I was choking on
nothing in my throat.
Duckie