About Karen Brawner Expertise I will answer any questions you have regarding the thyroid whether it be cancer, cysts (types), hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, blood tests for thyroid problems, surgery, fine needle biopsies etc...
Experience My complex cysts on my right thyroid gland and the isthmus were found my accident when my doctor thought I was having a TIA. The ultrasound found a complex cysts the size of a golf ball (which turned out to be the size of a tennis ball when it was surgically remove). Doctors were totally surprised because for 5 years, including the day I went to surgery, all of my thyroid blood work was "within the normal range". So much for blood work being conclusive..
Question For about a year now I have several symptoms of low thyroid but my tests come back in the normal range. Is it possible to test normal but that not be normal for my body? I have hair loss and existing hair has beome extremely dry and fine, fatigue,dry skin, low body temp. even wore socks to bed this past summer, decreased sweating, depression, low sex drive, vague body aches and pains, poor concentration, non-restful sleep. As time goes on I am feeling worse and worse and since my results are in the normal range I can't get a doctor to help me. Any suggestions on how to get a doctor to look at the symptoms and not only the test results? Thank you
Debbie Brunette
Answer Dear Debbie, BLood test for thyroid problems are OFTEN inaccurate and say normal when there is really a problem...
I had "normal" thyroid blood workup for years.... When I developed problems swallowing, choaking on my own salava, choaking on water and had the symptoms of a thyroid problem, my family doctor decided to take a cloaser look.... She to felt like most doctors that is the thyroid blood test was normal there was nothing wrong....
She ordered an ultrasound of my thyroid and carotid arteries and found I had a nodule on my right thyroid gland.... She ordered a radioactive ct-scan of the thyroid and it showed a complex cyst on the right thyroid gland and the isthmus...
I had the right thyroid gland and the isthmus surgically removed and the golf ball size nodule ended up actually being the size of a tennis ball.... NOTE: the day before the surgery, another group of thyroid blood tests were done and all came back "NORMAL".....
SO I strongly suggest that you demand that your doctor do an ultrasound and even a ct-scan with radioactive uptake of your thyroid or find a doctor who will.....
