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Avatar universal

Expanding problems?

Hi, I have had a goiter for 8 years.  It has been biopsied four times, all benign.  Although I have my thyroid tested regularly, it is always in the normal range.  Recently, I have gained weight and feel tired all the time.  I have a lot of headaches and have developed pain in my trigeminal nerve on one side of my face.  It is not severe, but is constant if I touch my temple.  The eye below it has ticks and sometimes feels swollen.  Also, I have developed an itchy scalp that comes and goes and is often bad enough to bleed if I don't wash it everyday with a coal tar shampoo.  I have pain in the joints of my hands, which is not debilitating, but an be suddenly very painful.  It is not related to activity, in fact, I play the guitar and it does not flair up with a lot of playing.  It seems to be more related to diet.  I avoid dairy to keep in under control.  In addition, I have developed issues with constipation.  However, when I eventually go, it is not an unusual stool.
I don't know where all of this is going, but it seems to be related somehow.  What kind of doctor should I take these concerns to?  Does this seem to point in any direction?  
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1153642 tn?1266253989
This could be caused by thyroiditis of some sort. My multinodular goiter turned out to be thyroiditis of some sort. I was negative for Hashis and Graves and had normal scan and normal bloodwork. Just a lumpy goiter which was inflamed and causing all kinds of issues that sometimes felt like hyper and sometimes felt like hypo but towards the end (right before removal) it seemed like most everything hurt...throat, ears, chest, muscle aches etc. I really, really, really REALLY didn't want my thyroid out but now having done it I'm so glad I did. I feel so much better. I haven't started hormone replacement yet so all this good talk could change in a week but this is how I'm feeling now.
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Avatar universal
Yes, getting ahold of your test results is the best place to start.  I suspect your doctor is testing TSH only, which is a pituitary hormone.  Free T3 and free T4 are much more accurate indicators of thyroid status.  Also, many labs and doctors still use an obsolete TSH reference range.  The currently recommended range according to AACE is 0.3-3.0 (many still use ranges going up to or even over 5.0).

You should also have your thyroid antibodies tested (TPOab and TGab) to see if you might be in the initial stages of an autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashi's).  Often in the initial stages, people with Hashi's will swing between hypo and hyper as their thyroids "die", which happens in fits and starts.  This might explain your fluctuating weight.

You can post your numbers when you get them if you want, and members will help you interpret them.
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Avatar universal
thanks, for the response, Clearly I need to get ahold of the tests.  All I know is that my TSH levels always test in the normal range.  No one has any idea why I have a goiter.  I've tried some home remedies.  I definitely decreases in size when I take Fish Oil tablets.  My weight can fluctuate wildly.  Over the past 4 years I've gained 25 pounds, and lost 25 pounds, without feeling like I changed my eating habits at all. I have struggled with ups and downs in mood too.  Frankly, I feel my thyroid is fluctuating out of control, but since no one tests it that often, it doesn't ever seem to be the culprit.  I do not take thyroid meds.  
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Avatar universal
Which thyroid tests does your doctor order?  Please post the results of the latest and their reference ranges.  Has anyone ever diagnosed a cause for your goiter?  Are you taking thyroid meds?

Your symptoms sound hypo.

Sorry to ask so many questions, but the answers will help us give you a better response.
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