My Experience with Hypothyroidism

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid gland this past summer after complaining about a gland in my neck being swollen and staying that way for some time. I had no clue I would be getting a diagnosis pertaining to thyroid disease as the whole right side of my neck was swollen.

What is hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is defined by the Mayo Clinic website as follows:

"Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is a condition in which your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough of certain important hormones.

Women, especially those older than age 50, are more likely to have hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism upsets the normal balance of chemical reactions in your body. It seldom causes symptoms in the early stages, but, over time, untreated hypothyroidism can cause a number of health problems, such as obesity, joint pain, infertility and heart disease.

The good news is that accurate thyroid function tests are available to diagnose hypothyroidism, and treatment of hypothyroidism with synthetic thyroid hormone is usually simple, safe and effective once the proper dosage is established."

My Experience

Now that I know what was causing several of my problems or intensifying them, I can see where hypothyroidism played a part and why I felt so bad. I had been gaining weight for the last few years with no explanation. I do not eat a lot and get a moderate amount of exercise. I also try to eat healthy for the most part.

I was also tired all the time. I am normally a night owl and thrive at night. This is when I get a lot of things done around the house and also do my writing. I found myself not only tired all day long and usually ready to go to bed around 10:30 to 11:00 pm.

I also experienced more severity in joint pain. This didn't seem to be a symptom before because I also have Fibromyalgia and arthritis. Now after receiving treatment for the hypothyroidism, I can see where my pain was indeed intensified. Several other symptoms also applied.

My Path to Diagnosis and Treatment

My family doctor referred me to an ENT after my initial visit to his office. I was sent for a scan of my sinuses and neck and an ultrasound done on my throat.

My tests results showed that I had a goiter and multiple nodules on my thyroid. My ENT then referred me to a specialist, an endocrinologist. I had to wait several months to get an appointment and my symptoms were worsening each day. My neck was now tender to the touch and the left side of my face was also swollen.

On my first visit to the endocrinologist I had bloodwork done and sat down with my doctor to give a complete medical history. He listened carefully, and noted that I had a history of thyroid disease in the family. He took his time explaining how the thyroid functions and explained to me why I needed a biopsy.

My first biopsy was scheduled for about a month later. My husband took off work to drive me and to be there for moral support. The biopsy was an ultrasound guided biopsy and my doctor, his nurse and the lab technician were present in the room.

A biopsy on your thyroid and nodules is not fun. I have multiple nodules and that meant multiple sticks for lab cells. My doctor had previously explained to me that anesthesia would not be used because it hinders biopsy results. My first biopsy resulted in about 5 total sticks. Several nodules needed to be drawn a second time to ensure that enough cells were collected.

During the biopsy it is imperative that you remain still and do not swallow. The doctor is trying to withdraw a sample and when you swallow, your thyroid moves. This only makes for more discomfort for you if you do have to swallow. Trust me, I found out the hard way.

My test results came back inconclusive and my doctor ordered another biopsy to be done in 3 months.

I have since had my second biopsy which was very uncomfortable and more painful than the first. I can only determine that the reason for this was that my doctor collected more samples this time which required around 8 needle sticks.

My neck was bruised badly in the following week and I looked as if someone had tried to strangle me.

If you are facing your first thyroid biopsy, go in to it prepared. If you are afraid of needles, keep your eyes closed. My doctor's nurse is present for all of the biopsies he performs. She hands him instruments but is also there for moral support for the patients. She also holds your hand while the doctor encourages the patient to squeeze her hand whenever pain is present. She is an angel to do this and I can only imagine that she goes home on biopsy days with her hand hurting.

My last biopsy returned good results with no cancer cells present. My doctor did put me on Synthroid, a medication for treating hypothyroidism at that time. I have been taking it for about two and a half months now and have really noticed a difference in the way I feel. The sluggishness and feeling tired all the time has now diminished. It hasn't gone away, but seems to be getting better.

I would like to comment on a side effect that is common for Synthroid that I had an adverse reaction to. Synthroid usually causes insomnia. It caused drowsiness for me and the first month was very hard to get through. I simply could not stay awake. Luckily my husband and I carpool into town and he drives the majority of the way to pick up his truck. I would fall back asleep during our one hour drive each morning. It was all I could do to stay awake at work and when I made it to my mother in law's house where we meet in the afternoons, I would take a nap until my husband got there. We usually eat dinner and then head home. Again, I would fall asleep on the way home. I also found myself going to bed early, around 10 pm each night.

Some of the symptoms of hypothyroidism are:

Fatigue, sluggishness, increased sensitivity to cold, constipation, pale, dry skin, a puffy face, hoarse voice, an elevated blood cholesterol level, unexplained weight gain, muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness, pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints. muscle weakness, heavier than normal menstrual periods, brittle fingernails and hair, and depression

If you are experiencing several of these symptoms, I would encourage you to ask your doctor more about hypothyroidism. Once you receive the proper dose of medication, you feel a whole lot better!

Sources:

Mayo Clinic (used for definition and symptoms of hypothyroidism)