LUMP ON MY NECK?? | ENDOMETRIOSIS AND THE THYROID - Is there a connection? | ENDOEMMM скачать в хорошем качестве

LUMP ON MY NECK?? | ENDOMETRIOSIS AND THE THYROID - Is there a connection? | ENDOEMMM

If you've been following me for a little bit, you know that I had a recent scare with my thyroid. I woke up one morning with a large protruding lump on my lower neck (just above the collarbone). In all honesty, I thought it was a spider bite gone wrong. I was staying with my parents at the time, so when I went downstairs to show them, they immediately saw my concern. I went to the urgent care clinic and they booked me in for blood work and a neck ultrasound (to look for nodules and a goiter). On top of my endometriosis visits, this was a fun addition to the routine. My blood work came back normal for the thyroid (but outlined that I had high white blood cells and low red blood cells - a sign that I was fighting an infection). My neck ultrasound recently came back and my doctor has outlined that I have several nodules (some of concerning size) that they want to continue to monitor. Every year I will have to go in for a neck ultrasound to see if they grow. Knowing me, I wanted to investigate if this was at all endometriosis related. There are not enough high-quality studies to give strong evidence to a direct correlation between thyroid disorders and endometriosis. The incidence of endometriosis is estimated to be about 1 in 10, while the incidence of thyroid disorder is about 1 in 8 womxn - according to the American Thyroid Association. Thus, there may be significant overlap of the two. However, endometriosis lesions may respond differently to circulating thyroid hormones. One study in 2019 mentions that “in humans, thyroid disorders are associated with more severe forms of endometriosis” as well as “increased chronic pelvic pain and disease score” (Peyneau et al., 2019). This study further demonstrates that endometriosis tissue has its own unique form and functionality. Thyroid test I had done: 1. TSH test 2. Thyroid Antibody test 3. Ultrasound 4. Thyroid ultrasound Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is a condition in which your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough of certain crucial hormones. Hypothyroidism may not cause noticeable symptoms in the early stages. Over time, untreated hypothyroidism can cause a number of health problems, such as obesity, joint pain, infertility and heart disease. (mayoclinic.ca) Hyperthyroidism: Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) occurs when your thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine. Hyperthyroidism can accelerate your body's metabolism, causing unintentional weight loss and a rapid or irregular heartbeat. Several treatments are available for hyperthyroidism. Doctors use anti-thyroid medications and radioactive iodine to slow the production of thyroid hormones. Sometimes, hyperthyroidism treatment involves surgery to remove all or part of your thyroid gland. Although hyperthyroidism can be serious if you ignore it, most people respond well once hyperthyroidism is diagnosed and treated. (mayoclinic.ca) Nodule and goiter described: Thyroid nodules are solid or fluid-filled lumps that form within your thyroid, a small gland located at the base of your neck, just above your breastbone. Most thyroid nodules aren't serious and don't cause symptoms. Only a small percentage of thyroid nodules are cancerous. You often won't know you have a thyroid nodule until your doctor discovers it during a routine medical exam. Or your doctor may uncover it during a scan that was done for another health reason. Some thyroid nodules, however, may become large enough to be visible or make it difficult to swallow or breathe. Treatment options depend on the type of thyroid nodule you have. (mayoclinic.ca) Goiter: A goiter (GOI-tur) is the irregular growth of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck just below the Adam's apple. A goiter may be an overall enlargement of the thyroid, or it may be the result of irregular cell growth that forms one or more lumps (nodules) in the thyroid. A goiter may be associated with no change in thyroid function or with an increase or decrease in thyroid hormones. The most common cause of goiters worldwide is a lack of iodine in the diet. In the United States, where the use of iodized salt is common, goiters are caused by conditions that change thyroid function or factors that affect thyroid growth. Treatment depends on the cause of the goiter, symptoms, and complications resulting from the goiter. Small goiters that aren't noticeable and don't cause problems usually don't need treatment. American Thyroid Association. (n.d.). General Information/Press Room. Retrieved from https://www.thyroid.org/media-main/pr... Peyneau, M., Kavian, N., Chouzenoux, S., Nicco, C., Jeljeli, M., Toullec, L., … & Batteux, F. (2019). Role of thyroid dysimmunity and thyroid hormones in endometriosis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(24), 11894-11899. Retrieved from https://www.pnas.org/content/116/24/1...