i was just wondering if anyone has a problem with enlargement of the thyroid gland, mine is (had ultrasound) but my blood test came back ok, i have a strong family history of thyroid problems and thyroid cancer. my grandmother, her sister, 2 of my aunts, all of these on my fathers side of the family. doctor says it is nothing to be concerned with and will keep a check on it, the reason i asked that it be checked is because it hurts there sometimes, lower front portion of neck, just wondered if any of you had this and if so is it lupus related thx, kel
Hello Kel,
It can be thyroid related but also an enlarged Goitre which is an enlargement of the thyroid gland because Goitre's can get larger...i have an underactive thyroid gland but my eldest sister as a Goitre in her neck it's enlarged and been the same for years and she never had to have treatment where as i have to take thyroxine.
The info below may help you more...Terri :)
Goitre (Enlargement of the thyroid)
Goitre is the general term for enlargement of the thyroid gland. The swelling can be diffuse, where the whole gland is generally enlarged or nodular where irregular local areas of the gland become swollen. Enlargement of the thyroid gland can occur with no associated abnormal function (euthyroid or non-toxic goitre) but also in conditions where under-activity (hypothyroidism) or over-activity of the gland (hyperthyroidism) is evident.
Myxoedema (Hypothyroidism - under active thyroid)
This is the condition caused by under-activity of the thyroid gland with impaired production of thyroid hormone. This is usually caused by deficiency of dietary intake iodine, impairment of pituitary function or inflammation or primary disease of the thyroid gland.
When iodine becomes severely deficient the thyroid gland fails to produce sufficient thyroid hormone. The pituitary gland responds by producing increasing amounts of TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) in an attempt to force an increase in production of thyroid hormone.
When production of TSH is impaired by disease of the pituitary gland there is insufficient stimulation of the thyroid with consequent reduction in output of thyroid hormone.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an inflammatory disease of the thyroid glandular tissue and impairs the ability to produce thyroid hormones. The gland becomes enlarged as a result of the inflammation.
The effects of ionising radiation, either from therapeutic use or accidental exposure, and surgical removal of the thyroid gland may produce the syndrome of hypothyroidism.
Thyrotoxicosis (Hyperthyroidism - overactive thyroid)
This is the condition that results from increased action of thyroid hormone. Around 70% of cases are caused by a condition called Graves' disease. This results from an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system produces antibodies, which act like TSH and uncontrollably stimulate the thyroid gland. The gland responds by producing an excessive amount of hormone and goitre can result from the massive over-activity of glandular tissue.
Toxic multinodular goitre accounts for around 20% of cases and usually develops from chronic (euthyroid) nodular goitre following treatment with iodine.
The remaining 10% of cases fall due to causes such as toxic adenoma (a toxic non-malignant tumour), thyroid cancer or its metastases (malignant thyroid disease TSH-secreting pituitary tumour or thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland)
yes, , one of my friends has a goiter, i dont have anything visible i just have pain there occasionally but doc says its fibromyalgia, idk, will have it checked in june again, thanks for info
Tez_20 said:
Hello Kel,
It can be thyroid related but also an enlarged Goitre which is an enlargement of the thyroid gland because Goitre's can get larger...i have an underactive thyroid gland but my eldest sister as a Goitre in her neck it's enlarged and been the same for years and she never had to have treatment where as i have to take thyroxine.
The info below may help you more...Terri :)
Goitre (Enlargement of the thyroid)
Goitre is the general term for enlargement of the thyroid gland. The swelling can be diffuse, where the whole gland is generally enlarged or nodular where irregular local areas of the gland become swollen. Enlargement of the thyroid gland can occur with no associated abnormal function (euthyroid or non-toxic goitre) but also in conditions where under-activity (hypothyroidism) or over-activity of the gland (hyperthyroidism) is evident.
Myxoedema (Hypothyroidism - under active thyroid)
This is the condition caused by under-activity of the thyroid gland with impaired production of thyroid hormone. This is usually caused by deficiency of dietary intake iodine, impairment of pituitary function or inflammation or primary disease of the thyroid gland.
When iodine becomes severely deficient the thyroid gland fails to produce sufficient thyroid hormone. The pituitary gland responds by producing increasing amounts of TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) in an attempt to force an increase in production of thyroid hormone.
When production of TSH is impaired by disease of the pituitary gland there is insufficient stimulation of the thyroid with consequent reduction in output of thyroid hormone.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an inflammatory disease of the thyroid glandular tissue and impairs the ability to produce thyroid hormones. The gland becomes enlarged as a result of the inflammation.
The effects of ionising radiation, either from therapeutic use or accidental exposure, and surgical removal of the thyroid gland may produce the syndrome of hypothyroidism.
Thyrotoxicosis (Hyperthyroidism - overactive thyroid)
This is the condition that results from increased action of thyroid hormone. Around 70% of cases are caused by a condition called Graves' disease. This results from an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system produces antibodies, which act like TSH and uncontrollably stimulate the thyroid gland. The gland responds by producing an excessive amount of hormone and goitre can result from the massive over-activity of glandular tissue.
Toxic multinodular goitre accounts for around 20% of cases and usually develops from chronic (euthyroid) nodular goitre following treatment with iodine.
The remaining 10% of cases fall due to causes such as toxic adenoma (a toxic non-malignant tumour), thyroid cancer or its metastases (malignant thyroid disease TSH-secreting pituitary tumour or thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland)
Yes, I have had the same problem and I believe it is Lupus related…the only thing I found to help is the prednisone. I have really been monitoring certain symptoms one at a time and trying to see what works and what doesn’t because my doctors know nothing.
What are you taking for it?
Kel,
Lupus, fibro and thyroid trouble are all connected and i think you'll find this link interesting...if you want more info on it :)
http://www.helpmychronicpain.com/blog/bid/65833/The-Thyroid-Fibromyalgia-and-Lupus-connection
Hi I do have a thyroid problem i'm not sure if it's related to the lupus I have but I tend to think so.
Erica
Hello Erica,
Regarding general symptoms which can occur daily with anyone....Lupus can also do the job in covering the lot besides, so alot goes against we about if it's linked with Lupus or not.
Terri :)
stormgirl said:
Hi I do have a thyroid problem i'm not sure if it's related to the lupus I have but I tend to think so.
Erica
Kel
I know I am a little late in writing to you on this but here it goes anyway! Thyroid diseases is what started my journey of the doctors checking me for lupus. My blood work never showed that I was having a problem with my thyroid! It was always okay! One of my doctors that I did not see very much put his hands around my neck and said, “do you know that you have an enlarged thyroid?” I said no, no one has ever told me that before! He ordered an Ultrasound! Not only did I have an enlarged thyroid, I also had three Lesion. They had to Biopsy the lesions which were negative for cancer! Unlike you, I had not thyroid history in my family! I was followed by endochronologist for three years, having an Ultrasound every six months! I ended up with a total of nine lesions at which time I was having problems swallowing. After a second negative biopsy and a Nuclear scan they decided to remove it! To the doctors surprise not only did I have an enlarged lump bump thyroid! They found a Substernal goiter! This is hardly ever heard of! It didn’t show up in my Ultrasounds or in the nuclear scan, so the surgeon was shocked! He told me after the surgery that if he knew I had the Substernal goiter he would have never done the thyroid surgery! But because it was there he had to deal with it! I had pain as well in the lower part of my neck and chest area!
If it wasn’t for that first ultrasound I would’ve never known there was a problem!
I am on thyroid medication for life. Thyroid Disease is an autoimmune issue! At lot of us that have lupus have thyroid problems.
Best of luck to you. I am here anytime if you need to chat!
Deenie
nothing, my rheumy is not even treating me for lupus, she says its borderlinelupus and we do more test june 18th, she also thinks i have sjogrens but we are checking that again then too, my general practitioner told me that my thyroid levels were low but not low enuf to treat, my doctors dont know anything i have been doing this for years and i am just worn out but not giving up-since my last visit with rheumy (and it was the first) i have developed butterfly rash and black eyes, guess i will see what she says i am sure she will run blood test and say the same thing. thx kel
Bubbles said:
Yes, I have had the same problem and I believe it is Lupus related...the only thing I found to help is the prednisone. I have really been monitoring certain symptoms one at a time and trying to see what works and what doesn't because my doctors know nothing.
What are you taking for it?
Kel
Ask her to do a thyroid ultrasound on your thyroid. Like I said my blood was always find, it took an ultrasound to prove my case of thyroid disease!
D
Let us know what you find out on the 18th…Deenie
kel said:
nothing, my rheumy is not even treating me for lupus, she says its borderlinelupus and we do more test june 18th, she also thinks i have sjogrens but we are checking that again then too, my general practitioner told me that my thyroid levels were low but not low enuf to treat, my doctors dont know anything i have been doing this for years and i am just worn out but not giving up-since my last visit with rheumy (and it was the first) i have developed butterfly rash and black eyes, guess i will see what she says i am sure she will run blood test and say the same thing. thx kel
Bubbles said:Yes, I have had the same problem and I believe it is Lupus related…the only thing I found to help is the prednisone. I have really been monitoring certain symptoms one at a time and trying to see what works and what doesn’t because my doctors know nothing.
What are you taking for it?