Anybody had cysts on their thyroid gland?

[RichTeaAreCrap]

I had an ultrasound of my thyroid on Monday due to it being enlarged. The doctors receptionist called me today to tell me that they have found 2 cysts on it and I need to make an appointment to discuss it with my GP. I am waiting to get an appointment now, the earliest being a week on Friday unless I can get a cancellation before.

My thyroid blood results were just out a month ago, TS3 was just under the level it should be, but then they tested again and it was normal.

What will happen now? Has anyone had cysts before? I get jaw and neck pain and wonder if it is causing it. Also dizziness and feeling generally rubbish.

I'm a bit nervous because this is all new to me.

Your GP/endocrinologist will look at the full picture of TSH, Free T3 and free T4 (among others) to decide on whether you need thyroxine if you get hypothyroid or some other treatment if you become very hyperthyroid. From what I can make out, a lot of people can have cysts on the thyroid (and a lot of other places) and not even know.

Hypothyroidism usually makes a person feel cold, depressed, low in energy, slow of movement and thinking, often putting on weight without eating very much. It can be accompanied by various aches and pains (such as join pain) and also hair loss and some other symptoms.
Hyperthyroidism usually makes a person feel anxious, hyper/wired, finding it difficult to put on any weight (while eating well) and although there may be times of intense activity or verbosity, being overcome by exhaustion is not uncommon.

Then there is hashimotos (an autoimmune disease which attacks the thyroid) where a person typically experiences hyper and hypo symptoms alternately until they thyroid pretty much gives up and then they need trating for hypothyroidism. Goitres and cysts can be a symptom of hashimotos. (I probably have small cysts on my thyroid, I find it hard to swallow. I haven't had a thyroid untrasound though, so don't know.)

Thank you for the info. I can feel mine constricting me a little, didn't know it was cysts just thought it was a bit enlarged.

I haven't been referred yet to a specialist, I expect that is what the doctor wants to tell me.

Would they remove the cysts?

I don't know if they do remove the cysts. It could depend on whether they are causing you any trouble, and whether there would be a significant benefit to you to have them removed. If you have a desire to have them removed or not, they might be able to take that into account if it is not a clear choice.

I just checked, it was my T4 that was above the level it should be on the first set of bloods.

I've got a nodule on mine. They biopsied it but it was fine. I go back in December to discuss what, if anything, they're going to do about it!

I am guessing that they will biopsy mine paddyclampo, I am seeing the doctor next Friday so will know more then.

My Mum did many years ago OP and had them removed but treatment will be radically different nowadays I would imagine. (50 years) she mentioned iodine injections daily following surgery but I don't know how long that continued.

She has never had a recurrence though or needed further treatment since.