Should I Follow up with My Momma?

Go back to her. Follow up as often as you need to. My mom had pains in her legs and she went to the dr, who told her it was something entirely different then what it was just to hurry her along and get to his next patient.

Turned out it was a blood clot brought on by deep vein thrombosis, likely cause by her hormone replacement therapy. She had a massive stroke and died 3 months later.

I would go back and redo it all and be more involved if I could. Better for her to be mad and safe, than happy and at risk.

Continue to nudge her in that direction but know that lots of time we cant make our parents do anything they dont want to do :(

I agree with Grandma T. And if she gives you grief about it say, "Gee, sorry for caring about you Mom!"

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Absolutely you should follow up - and make her go get it checked.

As her daughter, it's your job (I know it sucks) to be sure she is doing what she needs to be doing in terms of her own health care. Make her make and appt and then go with her if you can.

Isn't it better to pop a pill to regulate a thyroid then have to have it removed once it's cancerous.

Stay on it. And stay on top of her health going forward. Older folks don't realize how far health care has come in the last 20 years - so there is no need to suffer with anything.

Good luck!

Go back to her and say, "Mom, I love you. I am worried about you. I could be completely wrong, but I would never forgive myself if I didn't tell you I was worried about your health and wanted you to see a doctor about this. Please go. I want you to see your grandbabies grow up. If I'm completely wrong, I'm fine with that. We'll celebrate with dinner or something. But if I'm right, then you need to know."

My mom has an ongoing health concern and we don't think her doctor is doing more than patching her up and she won't see anyone else. It eats at us every time we see her and I wish she'd just get a second opinion! We keep bothering her because while I can't march her in myself, I still very much want her to GO. I told her I'd continue to nag her til she got a 2nd opinion.

It IS scary to think you might have cancer. But is it worse to slowly die of cancer or to know and potentially have a 2nd chance? My mom is the head in the sand type, too, and it's maddening.

Does your mom see an Endocrinologist for her hypothyroid? Dr. Khoury on Northline in Southgate is awesome. A great website about thyroid cancer is www.thyca.org . Most cases of thyroid cancer are diagnosed in younger women, in their 20's or 30's. although there are different types of cancers of the thyroid, and some are more common over age 50, but that type is less commonly found at all. A few simple blood tests can reassure you :) Whoever prescribes her synthroid should be doing these tests yearly - TSH - thyroid stimulating hormone. Comes from the pituitary gland and tells the body that it needs to produce more thyroid hormone. Thyroglobulin - is the hormone that comes from the thyroid itself. Free T3 & Free T4 - one of them converts to the other, but I always forget which way, lol. When there's too much, it indicates that the synthroid doseage is too high, because the body is not using as much as is being provided.

I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 1989 (I was 24 yrs old) and had a total thyroidectomy. They never leave the thyroid in when it's cancerous. I had a total of 5 surgeries because it had spread to the lymph nodes. I've never heard of anyone complaining of shoulder/collar bone pain in relation to their thyroid/thyroid cancer. I actually had a node that was enlarged, kind of like when you're sick and your glands are big in your neck.

I do agree that your mom should have regular appointments with her doctor, to keep up on her thyroid levels and medication. And she should see an endocrinologist, not just her family doctor/internist.

In Michigan, we are in what's called the "thyroid belt" or "goiter belt." It's basically in the northern United States and it's from a lack of iodine in the ground soil, so also lower iodine levels in our food. When you ask around, alot of people you know have family members with thyroid problems.

Symptoms of hypothyroid are usually feeling super tired, just can't sleep enough, but also insomnia, dry skin, irritability, weight gain, feeling cold, constipation, brain fog.
Symptoms of hyperthyroid are a fast heartbeat, palpitations, losing weight without dieting, increased bowel movements, nervousness, feeling tired, feeling hot, hair loss...and if left untreated, you might notice their eyes sort of bulging (called exopthalmos).

More than likely your mom's shoulder pain is just age and the aches and pains that come with it :)

D.