thyroid

[camj]

Went to dr. a week ago. Looked in my ear and said I had an ear infection. Neck swollen all the way down the neck. Lump down by adam's apple. Went on antibiotics for 10 days and then went back to Dr. Dr. said ear infection is gone but I still have the lump next to adams apple. It is smaller than it was. 

Still goes up and down when I swallow.  Just wondering if an ear infection can cause your thyroid to become inflammed.  Does thyroiditis begin that way? She's thinking it may be a cyst on the thyroid.  I have an ultrasound scheduled.  Just had blood work done two weeks ago and the TSH was 4.92. She has started me on 30mg armour thyroid.

I think its a strange coincidence that this started at the same time as the ear infection. When I am fighting any infection it will show up on the left side of my neck in the lymph nodes.
Also are there lymph nodes next to your thyroid?

[Scottietottie]

Hi camj 

When my thyroid got bad enough to hurt I felt like I was coming down with flu which never quite happened. My throat felt rough and my head felt 'full' and I ached. I don't remember my ears hurting specifically. I went to the doctor when I gfelt the lump on my neck. I didn't even know where a thyroid gland was before then. Our necks seem to have a lot of lymph nodes!

A TSH of 4.92 would certainly indicate an underactive thyroid. There are more than one kind of thyroiditis though. There is the autoimmune one (well - more than one) and there is also De Quervains (not sure of spelling) which flares up but actually settles down again although it can take a couple of months to do so.

The best doc to see about your thyroid is an endocrinologist. An ultrasound would show whether the gland is swollen or whether it has a nodule.

Take care - Scottie 

[camj]

I always feel like I'm coming down with the flu if overdo. Always hard to know if its another aspect of Sjogren's or something else.
Just had the ultrasound.  The fact that it came on the same time as the ear infection and that it has gone down some in size with the antibiotics makes me wonder if its related to the infection. 
Just so hard to think of dealing with something new.  True of all of us.
Just getting ready to head to Florida in three days. Mom's not well and wanted to spend the winter near her. I hate to disappoint her. So tired of letting down those that I love. We've already rented a place.
I so appreciate this website. I'd be lost without it.   Thanks

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

The positive thing about thyroid problems is that they can usually be treated and the meds are pretty effective. If you do need thyroid meds you could find that you end up feeling a lot better than you have felt for a while. If the thyroid is 'off' it's miserable!!

Take care - Scottie 

[gsmraxe]

I think its a strange coincidence that this started at the same time as the ear infection. When I am fighting any infection it will show up on the left side of my neck in the lymph nodes.
Also are there lymph nodes next to your thyroid?

Not to scare the beejezus out of you, but I had a lump in my neck, right near where my adams apple would be if I was a guy.  I had it biopsied, the doctors swore it was a nodule or cyst.  Turned out to be Medullary cancer, too late to get rid of it entirely, but now my thyroid and over 100 lymph nodes in my neck are gone.  I remember after the ultrasound, the tech told me in a very serious manner to get it checked out.

Don't blow it off...Get it biopsied if necessary, oh and the biopsy hurts like all heck.   

[Pegasus47]

Hi:

I have a friend who had a throat nodule, turn out to be benign.  Surgery may damage her voice box.  So she went to an acupuncturist.  Nodule was gone in 6 treatments. 

May not work for everybody, but get it checked out is a good idea.

Pegasus