No nodule or swelling found on my thyroid ultrasound

[Sheila8888]

I'm a 21 female and for the last number of years I've struggled with a broad number of sympthoms. After coming across hypothyroidism and hashimotos about 3 months ago, I read literally everything I could about it. I went to my gp and got my tsh, free t4 and free t3 tested, he was convinced my levels were normal like most gps because they were in range, my tsh was 2.6, free t4 was 12.6 and free t3 5.5. The thing that's worried me the most has been that in the last 1-2 months I'd noticed a swelling on the front of my throat. It started out not causing any sympthoms but evently it caused difficulty swallowing, breathing problems, a hoarse voice, and a tightness or having something constintaly stuck in my throat. All of these sympthoms have remained except for the hoarse voice that eventually went away after about 2 weeks. It's also palpable, roles when a swallow, and feels very firm. My gp had a look and refered me for an ultrasound which I got the results for today. He said they found nothing! No swelling or nodules and that my thyroid looks completely normal. I honestly thought I found the reason for how I've been feeling for so long, I've read so many personal story's of people's struggles with hashis and identified with how they felt. I know blood tests can be wrong but how often can ultrasounds miss things? I'm not convinced that it's a thyroid problem anymore but the lump in my throat has all the sympthoms of a thyroid nodule or swelling and I was honestly half convinced it was possibly cancer, has anyone experienced something similar or have any idea what else it could be? It's early days I know, I'm going to see my gp tomorrow morning, while also looking for a new gp because up to now he hasn't been taking me very seriously or my sympthoms. If anyone has any info I'd really appreciate it!

[Barb135]

Can you please post the reference ranges for the Free T4 and Free T3?  Ranges vary from lab to lab and have to come from your own report for the best comparison.  If your results are too low in the ranges, you can still be hypothyroid, even if your levels are "normal" because of the way the ranges are calculated.  

Also, testing for thyroid antibodies will determine if you have Hashimoto's.  Ask your doctor for the proper tests (Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb)).  If you have Hashimoto's, that means there's an attack in progress on your thyroid which can cause symptoms, even if your thyroid function labs are in range.

You should ask for a copy of the ultrasound report.  Thyroid nodules, often, don't cause any symptoms, but the lump in your throat "could" be a swollen thyroid, also known as a goiter and it's possible that your doctor didn't think that important enough to cause symptoms.

Last, but not least, please list the actual symptoms you thought might be related to hypothyroidism/ Hashimoto's; there are other things that go hand in hand with hypothyroidism that cause similar symptoms.

[Sheila8888]

Hey, thanks for responding. The reference range for free t4 is (9-19.1)and for free t3 it is (2.6-5.7). I've been trying to find anyone online with similar labs to figure out what they could mean, as my free t3 seems normal, whatever normal should be. I should have mentioned I've actually been tested for tpo antibodys and my doctor said they were negative, which I know is important for a hashis diagnosment but because of my neck swelling I thought it could maybe be diagnosed by an ultrasound, so now I'm not so sure. The symptoms I have started all started when I was about 15 or 16 so around 6 years ago. They were first mostly psychological like anxiety and depression. Up until that age I don't remember struggling with my mental health, but at 15 ( I also just started my period for the first time at this age, could this start off a hormone imbalance? in the past I thought a maybe have a hormone imbalance before I came across hypothyroidism.) anxiety and depression hit me like a ton of bricks. I've been on and off antidepressants since and am currently on them. My other symptoms are brain fog, poor memory and concentration, a constant feeling of light anxiety ( it was severe, social and general, but with meds and coping mechanisms I'm doing okay) aggressive outbursts and short temper which has gotten a lot worse over the past 2 years, which is completely opposite to my personality as I'm a pretty chill person ( apart from the anxiety obviously lol ) also a general feeling of spaceness like I'm in some weird bubble disconnected from everyone. Psyichal symptoms like tiredness, I literally never wake up feeling refreshed even with a good 8/9 hours sleep, inflammation pain mostly around the shoulders, neck, and tighs. Also, since for years I've had on and off lower back pain. Either waking up in the morning or sitting in certain chairs longer then 5 minutes, or it can come on suddenly. Recently I had back pain that started out of the blue one night which lasted a week. It was severe and started at the base of my spine rising up to the middle, I couldn't stand straight or walk properly with the pain. The only thing that releived it slightly was an anti inflammatory pain killer. Cold hands and feet, especially my feet they are always ice cold at the toes, strange tingles from the legs to my feet, a heavy period, constipation for as long as I can remember that causes sudden severe abdominal pain when I do actually go, a feeling like my body is literally just slowing down like everything feels it's at a snails pase including my brain, loss of libido, depression (it feels different than before as if my body is depressed and affecting my head if that makes sense.) lack of motivation, the drive is there in my head but it's like my body just doesn't sync up and is too tired to do the things I want to do. Weakness from just walking up the stairs in my house or brushing my teeth, I'll have to stop sometimes because I'll feel so tired and can't catch my breath. That's what I can think of off the top of my head, seeing many people get sooo many sympthoms. Again thank you for any replies.

[Sheila8888]

I also had severe low blood pressure symptoms for about 6 months last year, that slowly subsided but I still experience some dizziness. Randomly, some days I do ok as if some of my symptoms have lifted or I'm in a slight remission but it never stays that way.

[Sheila8888]

One more thing, sorry! I've just been looking at my blood results from February and my tpo antibodys is 0.5 with a range of 0-5.61. My doctor said the tpo was negative, is it? I'm really confused.