This day couldn't get any worse could it? OK I'm sure it could, but I don't want to think about it. I woke up this morning with a lump on my throat. That means one thing. My thyroid is acting up. I've had issues with my thyroid for a couple of years, but it's not bad enough for me to be on medication.
My sister has Hashimoto's disease which is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack the thyroid. She was diagnosed with it at 18, and is the youngest case the thyroid specialist here has ever seen. I have to get tested every 2 years for it, but because the disease can attack in spurts, they can't be 100% sure I have it until I show enough antibodies in my blood to test positive for it.
Sometimes I will show classic symptoms of having hypothyroidism while other times I show symptoms of hyperthyroidism. That's a big symptom of Hashimoto's because the thyroid can try to repair itself.
The lump on my throat this morning is due to my thyroid being inflamed. From time to time I may also feel like I can't swallow or my throat is constantly tender. I couldn't sleep at all last night which is another classic sign.
Unfortunately when I called the doctor this morning I couldn't get an appointment until next week. That seems to be what always happens. Unless I have another "thyroid attack" as they call it around the time I have to have the blood work, my blood will test negative for the antibodies. Thyroid attacks normally happen during the night (causing the insomnia), and if they aren't continuous the thyroid will repair itself to some degree.
I can't be placed on medication to replace my thyroid hormones until they can be sure exactly what is happening. The only other option is have is to have my thyroid biopsied, and at this time there's no need to go that far. I just have to keep up with my chart that tells what symptoms I'm having and when, and hopefully eventually I'll be able to get a full diagnosis one way or the other.
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