Hypothryoid symptom "feels like something is in my throat" ?

[Marshall1]

Have a patient who is being worked up - by another doctors office - for hypothyroidism - has a lot of the "traditional" symptoms - fatigue, weight gain, joint pain but one she mentioned that caused her to seek help was for a month or so she felt like she had something in her throat..she said it's not painful but "its there" and she pointed to the area the thyroid is located. She said a lot of people have this feeling when their thyroid isn't working in addition to other more classic symptoms. I had not heard this before - anyone else have?

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Quite often the thyroid gland is enlarged due to hypothyroidism (goiter) and thus causes the "lump in the throat" feeling. Sometimes this is the first clue that this is a thyroid condition and not another cause.

Goiter: Symptoms - MayoClinic.com

[Marshall1]

AH - thank you - didn't think of that!

[onyx77]

Have a patient who is being worked up - by another doctors office - for hypothyroidism - has a lot of the "traditional" symptoms - fatigue weight gain, joint pain but one she mentioned that caused her to seek help was for a month or so she felt like she had something in her throat..she said it's not painful but "its there" and she pointed to the area the thyroid is located. She said a lot of people have this feeling when their thyroid isn't working in addition to other more classic symptoms. I had not heard this before - anyone else have?[/quote']

I would say this is normal. Personally I felt think someone had their hand around my throat.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I've been suffering from thyroid disease for nearly half of my life. I was 17 years old when I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in 1998. I eventually became hypothyroid after taking the radioactive iodine ablation treatment at 24 years of age in 2005.

Anyhow, my thyroid gland was normal in shape and size, but many people with thyroid disease have grossly enlarged thyroid glands that cause the feeling of 'something' pushing into their throats.

[twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN]

Its a feeling of someone constantly pressing in on your throat. Wearing sweaters or tight shirts that come around your neck is almost unbearable because it just adds to it. It got to the point for me that swallowing things that were thick like bread took a while and I would have a choking sensation from it.

My origional clue to my hypothyroidism was the goiter (prior to nursing) feeling an abnormal lump in my throat. My other symptoms I attributed to depression.

[Marshall1]

I was surprised at the symptoms that are listed on the Mayo site.. as well as the fact many people can have normal lab readings but the thyroid not be functioning properly and unlike some people, most don't have a goiter until the disease has progressed and most doctors don't think to look for this in people - especially women - under the age of 50 yet it seems to be more prevalent in lower age groups so it would be beneficial for doctors I'd think when running lab work to take a look at this lab too since so many things - like depression/anxiety etc can be a symptom and it sounds like fairly easily corrected w/Synthroid.