Ok guys, bear with me.

I've become a "self-taught thyroid expert wanna-be" in the past few weeks. (This in NO WAY is a means of self-diagnosis.........only MY interpretation of my doctor's comments and research that I've conducted on my own) This is a test....Only a test, of your local.....LOL.... smile

I put off a physical for several months, because of what Dennis was going through, only giving in to the pressure once the symptoms became too tough to ignore. I'm 36, but the worst one was waking up every night drenched in sweat from the chest up. "Could this be menopause?" Everyone told me I was crazy!

I had absolutely no energy and wanted to sleep "forever". I was constantly feeling "unconnected"..... It was almost impossible to function normally.

I wrote it off as stress,or maybe depression. (Even though I'm on an antidepressant). I finally realized that Dennis was improving somewhat.............I wasn't.

Off to the doc. She did 14 different blood tests (only cost $850.00!!!!) and I came up with unusually high thyroid levels. Next came the ultrasound which said I had a couple measurable nodules on one side, a couple on the other, along with uncountable tiny ones. I thought I would faint! Yes, cancer was the first thing I thought of.

Apparently though, multiple nodules on the thyroid are a good indicator that it's not malignant. If there is only one nodule, it is highly more suspicious.


ANYWHO; to get back to my original thought: There are several causes for "thyroiditis". I suggest questioning your doctor to see which he has diagnosed. I'm only referring to my understanding of the latest edition of the Merck Manual. I find it a wealth of information, and can be purchased at any chain drugstore that I know of. I would be happy to talk to you privately, but there is so much information here that it would make for a muuuuch toooo long post.

As far as hypothyroidism, the book describes these symptoms:

Slow pulse
Hoarse voice
Slowed speech
Puffy face
Loss of eyebrows
Drooping eyelids
Intolerance to cold
Constipation
Weight gain
Sparse, coarse, dry hair
Dry, scaly, thick, coarse skin:raised, thickened skin over shins
Carpel tunnel syndrome
Confusion
Depression
Dementia

I have to add that these symptoms are much different to hyp"E"rthyroidism. If I'm not mistaken, Dennis' doctors told us that both conditions are possible following radiation.

If anyone is interested, I would be happy to also list those symptoms from the Merck Manual.

Love,
Mandi

Husband diagnosed with stage III tonsil and floor of mouth cancer in August 2002. Three rounds of chemo/42 RAD treatments. Upper right lung lobectomy in March 2003. (Benign)