Guest guest Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 Hi Everyone, I went to the internist because of the white coating and red areas on my tongue, and while I was there showed him the swelling at the base of my neck, since it appeared in December long after I last saw him. He said it could be a fungus on my tongue, and gave me a prescription for some type of mouthwash. When I asked him about the neck swelling, he said he has women in his office at least four or five times a year with the same thing. When I asked what would cause it, there was no answer. He said if I was concerned he could do a chest x-ray to check for a tumor. When I asked him what kind he said, " a lung cancer tumor, but you don't smoke, and 99.9% of the time the x-ray comes back normal. " What I read said a chest x-ray is low in radiation. He is proabably right that my risk of lung cancer is low, however I think of the wife of Reeves who didn't smoke either, and was a young woman. To me the swelling is symptom, and there must be a cause. Would you have the x-ray? " There is always a slight chance of cancer from excessive exposure to radiation. However, the benefit of an accurate diagnosis far outweighs the risk. The chest x-ray is one of the lowest radiation exposure medical examinations performed today. The effective radiation dose from this procedure is about 0.1 mSv, which is about the same as the average person receives from background radiation in 10 days. See the Safety page (www.RadiologyInfo.org/en/safety/) for more information about radiation dose. " http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=chestrad Then we had a discussion about the fact that my symptoms are not consistent with underactive thyroid. In August I wore size 6 slacks and they were snug. Now I'm wearing size 4, and they are loose. Even though I'm probably only six pounds lighter than I was in August, I can't wear the clothes I wore then. It shows in the way my clothes fit more than on the scale. His answer to this was that lots of older women lose weight, and it's not uncommon to have opposite symptoms. When I asked him about soy, gluten, and goitrogens, he said I could eat anything I want. The endo at the Mayo Clinic said the same thing, but added the words in moderation. The next topic of concern was the elevated heart rate. It was 96 when I was in his office. Since I'm not slowing down, taking naps, or sleeping better, but am struggling to keep from losing weight rather than gaining while taking such a small dose of medicine, I asked if there could be a problem with the pituitary gland or the adrenals. He said no, because the endo would have pickked it up in a heartbeat, if that were the case. He also said I don't have to take the medicine if I don't want to. I wasn't complaining about taking it, just saying it's weird that such a small dose of Levothyroxin (25 mcg) made the TSH go from over 8 to barely above zero. The Mayo Clinic doctor cut it back to 12.5 mcg becaue of my hyper symptoms and because he didn't like to see the TSH as low as it had been after taking 25 mcg for a while. But, the lower dose didn't slow my heart rate down and my blood pressure was higher than usual too. My last question was if there was a way to decrease the size of my thyroid, or keep it from growing. I am not eating goitrogens and am trying to eliminate soy. That's hard to do! He said if you have trouble swallowing, that's usually when they recommend surgery to take it out. Notice, he didn't answer the question. Here's one of those " out there " questions. If the thyroid of a Hashimoto's patient is removed, does the person still have an autoimmune disease? And, do the antibodies subside, or do they attack something else? The doctor said what I already knew, that if I eventually have surgery I'll be on thyroid medicine for the rest of my life, but since I will be anyway, he didn't think it would make much difference. Any thoughts? Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 You might check your birth certificate and see whether it says " born " or " hatched " !!! [ggg] LOL! Thanks for the laugh . I needed that. My doctor called and is referring me to an ear nose and throat specialist, because " he doesn't know what else to do for me. " Then the doctor from the Mayo Clinic called back and said I should see a dermatologist, who could do a biopsy to find out what is under the swollen skin. It takes months to get an appointment with a dermatologist here, and I am at my wits end. I want someone to figure out what this is and do something about it now. Especially since it's on my face, and getting bigger. Barb Re: Another Doctor Visit You might check your birth certificate and see whether it says " born " or " hatched " !!! [ggg] .. .. > Posted by: " Barbara Mackie " macbarb0503@... > <mailto:macbarb0503@...?Subject=%20Re%3A%20Another%20Doctor%20Visit> > > > > Thu Jan 20, 2011 6:36 pm (PST) > > > > On Wed, Jan 19, 2011 at 12:46 PM, <res075oh@... > <mailto:res075oh%40verizon.net>>; wrote: > > > > > > > IMHO it is extremely unlikely that you have lung cancer; AND it is > > extremely unlikely that if you do the swelling is caused by same. I > > would not be exceedingly surprised if you were in very advanced [stage > > 4] lung cancer to see you have the swelling from it; but I'd expect lots > > of other symptoms first...OTOH I'm not a doctor or expert of any kind. > > I do know that cancer is one of the many things that can cause > weight loss. > > > You're right . The x-ray came back normal. > > > I can tell you that my ex-wife had part of a lung removed a few years > > back and she never smoked. > > > I'm sorry that happened to your x-wife, and hope she is okay now. > > > HOWEVER: Given what to me appear to be totally inconsistent symptoms > > and medical results I would probably lean toward any kind of test I > > could get to start ruling out as many things as possible. So if it were > > me I'd be leaning toward having the x-ray. > > > I'm going for the x-ray today. Tomorrow I plan to go to the walk in > clinic. I checked to see what doctor was there today, and I've never heard > of him. Tomorrow A doctor I met in the emergency room, who I was very > impressed with will be working in the Clinic. > > With your case I'm like someone trying to assemble a puzzle and > everywhere I turn I run into another piece that just doesn't fit... > anywhere. Hang in there. > > Thanks for your encouragement . On days like today I need it. Every > time a new symptom appears, it's kind of scary, and I get to the point > where > I think, okay I can live with that. Then along comes another weird > symptom. It seems like whether I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop or > not, it keeps happening. > > Regards, > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 JAMES, that wasn't funny. <>Roni Immortality exists! It's called knowledge! Just because something isn't seen doesn't mean it's not there<> > > > > > > > IMHO it is extremely unlikely that you have lung cancer; AND it is > > extremely unlikely that if you do the swelling is caused by same. I > > would not be exceedingly surprised if you were in very advanced [stage > > 4] lung cancer to see you have the swelling from it; but I'd expect lots > > of other symptoms first...OTOH I'm not a doctor or expert of any kind. > > I do know that cancer is one of the many things that can cause > weight loss. > > > You're right . The x-ray came back normal. > > > I can tell you that my ex-wife had part of a lung removed a few years > > back and she never smoked. > > > I'm sorry that happened to your x-wife, and hope she is okay now. > > > HOWEVER: Given what to me appear to be totally inconsistent symptoms > > and medical results I would probably lean toward any kind of test I > > could get to start ruling out as many things as possible. So if it were > > me I'd be leaning toward having the x-ray. > > > I'm going for the x-ray today. Tomorrow I plan to go to the walk in > clinic. I checked to see what doctor was there today, and I've never heard > of him. Tomorrow A doctor I met in the emergency room, who I was very > impressed with will be working in the Clinic. > > With your case I'm like someone trying to assemble a puzzle and > everywhere I turn I run into another piece that just doesn't fit... > anywhere. Hang in there. > > Thanks for your encouragement . On days like today I need it. Every > time a new symptom appears, it's kind of scary, and I get to the point > where > I think, okay I can live with that. Then along comes another weird > symptom. It seems like whether I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop or > not, it keeps happening. > > Regards, > ------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 I thought it was Roni. It was a moment of humor in a situation I don't find funny at all. Barb On Fri, Jan 21, 2011 at 11:29 PM, Roni Molin <matchermaam@...> wrote: > > > JAMES, that wasn't funny. > > > > <>Roni > Immortality exists! > It's called knowledge! > > Just because something isn't seen > doesn't mean it's not there<> > > > > > > > > > > > > > IMHO it is extremely unlikely that you have lung cancer; AND it is > > > extremely unlikely that if you do the swelling is caused by same. I > > > would not be exceedingly surprised if you were in very advanced [stage > > > 4] lung cancer to see you have the swelling from it; but I'd expect > lots > > > of other symptoms first...OTOH I'm not a doctor or expert of any kind. > > > I do know that cancer is one of the many things that can cause > > weight loss. > > > > > You're right . The x-ray came back normal. > > > > > I can tell you that my ex-wife had part of a lung removed a few years > > > back and she never smoked. > > > > > I'm sorry that happened to your x-wife, and hope she is okay now. > > > > > HOWEVER: Given what to me appear to be totally inconsistent symptoms > > > and medical results I would probably lean toward any kind of test I > > > could get to start ruling out as many things as possible. So if it were > > > me I'd be leaning toward having the x-ray. > > > > > I'm going for the x-ray today. Tomorrow I plan to go to the walk in > > clinic. I checked to see what doctor was there today, and I've never > heard > > of him. Tomorrow A doctor I met in the emergency room, who I was very > > impressed with will be working in the Clinic. > > > > With your case I'm like someone trying to assemble a puzzle and > > everywhere I turn I run into another piece that just doesn't fit... > > anywhere. Hang in there. > > > > Thanks for your encouragement . On days like today I need it. Every > > time a new symptom appears, it's kind of scary, and I get to the point > > where > > I think, okay I can live with that. Then along comes another weird > > symptom. It seems like whether I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop or > > not, it keeps happening. > > > > Regards, > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Where I live [] I don't think it takes anywhere near that long to see a dermatologist. One thing I've found is that one doctor's office can often get you into another doctor's office almost instantly. You might ask the office of the doctor [or the doctor him/herself, if you can get to her/him] for a recommendation to a specific dermatologist; and then ask her/his office staff to make the appointment. Luck, .. .. > > Posted by: " H " macbarb0503@... > <mailto:macbarb0503@...?Subject=%20Re%3A%20Another%20Doctor%20Visit> > westieabbey <westieabbey> > > > Fri Jan 21, 2011 3:09 pm (PST) > > > > > > You might check your birth certificate and see whether it says " born " or > " hatched " !!! [ggg] > > > > LOL! Thanks for the laugh . I needed that. > > My doctor called and is referring me to an ear nose and throat > specialist, because " he doesn't know what else to do for me. " > Then the doctor from the Mayo Clinic called back and said I should see > a dermatologist, who could do a biopsy to find out what is under the > swollen skin. It takes months to get an appointment with a > dermatologist here, and I am at my wits end. I want someone to figure > out what this is and do something about it now. Especially since it's > on my face, and getting bigger. > > Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Humor is a funny thing... Or not. I think she took it the way I intended it, so to her [and me] it was funny. YMMV... .. .. > > Posted by: " Roni Molin " matchermaam@... > <mailto:matchermaam@...?Subject=%20Re%3A%20Another%20Doctor%20Visit> > matchermaam <matchermaam> > > > Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:29 pm (PST) > > > > JAMES, that wasn't funny. > > > > <>Roni > Immortality exists! > It's called knowledge! > > Just because something isn't seen > doesn't mean it's not there<> > > > > From: <res075oh@... <mailto:res075oh%40verizon.net>> > Subject: Re: Another Doctor Visit > hypothyroidism > <mailto:hypothyroidism%40> > Date: Friday, January 21, 2011, 2:30 PM > > You might check your birth certificate and see whether it says " born " or > " hatched " !!! [ggg] > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Precisely. Long ago I knew a pretty young lady who became my friend and she appeared to have problems with spells of deep depression. I found that I could make some ridiculous scathing comment at such times that for a moment or two would make her mad as h*ll. Then she would laugh at the ridiculous statement and appear to be in a much better mood. It does, of course have to be used with care. This time it worked; next time I may fall flat on my face. The thing is: No matter how difficult the situation, we need to keep our sense of humor. There will always be isolated opportunities to laugh at ourselves in even the darkest situations. Sometimes if you can laugh it prevents crying... Regards, .. .. > Posted by: " Barbara Mackie " macbarb0503@... > <mailto:macbarb0503@...?Subject=%20Re%3A%20Another%20Doctor%20Visit> > westieabbey <westieabbey> > > > Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:56 pm (PST) > > > > I thought it was Roni. It was a moment of humor in a situation I don't > find > funny at all. > Barb > > On Fri, Jan 21, 2011 at 11:29 PM, Roni Molin <matchermaam@... > <mailto:matchermaam%40>> wrote: > > > > > > > JAMES, that wasn't funny. > > > > > > > > <>Roni > > Immortality exists! > > It's called knowledge! > > > > Just because something isn't seen > > doesn't mean it's not there<> > > > > > > > > From: <res075oh@... <mailto:res075oh%40verizon.net> > <res075oh%40verizon.net>> > > Subject: Re: Another Doctor Visit > > hypothyroidism > <mailto:hypothyroidism%40> > <hypothyroidism%40> > > Date: Friday, January 21, 2011, 2:30 PM > > > > You might check your birth certificate and see whether it says " born " or > > " hatched " !!! [ggg] > > > > > > . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Thanks for that suggestion . My internist made the ENT appointment, and it was for eleven days out, which isn't bad. When the doctor from the Mayo Clinic called, he said I should see a dermatologist, and that it could take months to get an appointment, so it didn't sound like he could get me in sooner. I know what he said is true, because a few years ago I made an appointment with a dermmatologist, and it took so long to see him, that the problem actually clearned up before the appointment, and I canceled it. Wouldn't that be nice? I'm going to call a few dermatologists on Monday and see when they are scheduling appointments. Then I'm going to call back to the Mayo Clinic, tell the endo how long it will take, that the swelling on my face is growing, and ask him if he can please get me in sooner. I will gladly drive three hours for an appointment if I can get some answers. I just hate to keep going to different doctors and paying all these bills, when I might not have had these symptoms if the Hashimoto's had been treated correctly. Remember I was off of the Levothyroxin for approximately seven weeks, with the exception of five days. I don't know if it's the case, but it seems like that could have caused other symptoms. I had been off of it for about a month when the swelling appeared at the sides of my neck. And, I had just been back on one half a pill for under two weeks when I noticed the swelling on my face. Maybe it doesn't have anything to do with it, or is unrelated, but until I find out I'll wonder. Barb On Sat, Jan 22, 2011 at 1:45 PM, <res075oh@...> wrote: > > > Where I live [] I don't think it takes anywhere near that long to > see a dermatologist. > > One thing I've found is that one doctor's office can often get you into > another doctor's office almost instantly. You might ask the office of > the doctor [or the doctor him/herself, if you can get to her/him] for a > recommendation to a specific dermatologist; and then ask her/his office > staff to make the appointment. > > Luck, > > . > . > > > > > Posted by: " H " macbarb0503@... <macbarb0503%40aol.com> > > <mailto:macbarb0503@... <macbarb0503%40aol.com> > ?Subject=%20Re%3A%20Another%20Doctor%20Visit> > > westieabbey <westieabbey> > > > > > > Fri Jan 21, 2011 3:09 pm (PST) > > > > > > > > > > > > You might check your birth certificate and see whether it says " born " or > > " hatched " !!! [ggg] > > > > > > > > LOL! Thanks for the laugh . I needed that. > > > > My doctor called and is referring me to an ear nose and throat > > specialist, because " he doesn't know what else to do for me. " > > Then the doctor from the Mayo Clinic called back and said I should see > > a dermatologist, who could do a biopsy to find out what is under the > > swollen skin. It takes months to get an appointment with a > > dermatologist here, and I am at my wits end. I want someone to figure > > out what this is and do something about it now. Especially since it's > > on my face, and getting bigger. > > > > Barb > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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