Just talked with my new general practitioner.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

Guess what? The MRI that told the Neurologist about the MS showed the GP a guarder (sp?) Next to my thyroid! Got get test done on that now!

[RockRaven]

1. goiter?

[Lady Freedom Returns]

3. I guess...

I can say it. Just not spell it.

[GentryDixon]

2. MS is very difficult to diagnose.

It would be great if the goiter is causing your problems.
My niece has been through years of testing for what they suspect is MS.

Good luck.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

4. Oh. It is definitely MS.

The goiter is just an added bonus!

Yeppy....

[elleng]

5. 'A goiter (GOI-tur) is an abnormal enlargement of your thyroid gland.

Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck just below your Adam's apple. Although goiters are usually painless, a large goiter can cause a cough and make it difficult for you to swallow or breathe.'

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/goiter/symptoms-causes/syc-20351829

[Lady Freedom Returns]

6. He said it looked to be next to the thyroid...

This can't be good......

[elleng]

7. Goiter's not very bad.

'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, a goiter is more often due to the over- or underproduction of thyroid hormones or to nodules in the gland itself.

Treatment depends on the size of the goiter, your symptoms and the cause. Small goiters that aren't noticeable and don't cause problems usually don't need treatment.'

[TexasBushwhacker]

8. Actually, it isn't unusual to have autoimmune thyroid disease with MS

[in2herbs]

9. 97% of salt consumed in US lacks iodine.

The addition of iodine in table salt began in the US in the early 1920s to help decrease the occurrence of goiters, or swelling of the thyroid gland. It was very successful but due to the fact that the government did not mandate the addition of iodine in salt for human consumption, as our culture changed and society began to eat out more and purchase more prepared foods the consumption of iodine has decreased.

Iodine is a mineral/electrolyte needed by humans and animals. In January of 2020 I started a discussion in the Health/Group section of DU about iodine because of the difficulty I was having procuring iodized salt in 25# bags. The title of the discussion is “Are you sure you’re getting enough iodine?. Since that posting I have discovered that while Canada requires iodine to be added to all salt, there is no US government mandate requiring iodine to be included in salt that is intended for human consumption. Just because you are consuming salt does not mean you are consuming iodine. Vitamins generally contain potassium iodide, which is not iodine. They are not even the same components on the Periodic Table.

Restaurants and manufacturers of commercially-prepared foods (generally) use only evaporated salt in their baking/manufacturing process. The last stat I saw on this was that 97% of US commercially-prepared food contains no iodized salt. So, if your required daily amount of iodine is not included in the restaurant food you eat, is not included in the salt of commercially-prepared food you consume, and you do not salt your food with the required daily amount of iodized salt or eat iodine-rich foods, where is the source of your iodine?

To prevent thyroid disease and help maintain a normal electrolyte balance read the label to be sure you’re getting iodine, or consume foods that naturally contain iodine. If your doctor tells you to lower your salt intake because of high blood pressure ask him or her how to go about supplementing with iodine so you don’t end up with thyroid disease.

[Lars39]

10. If they want a sample, request valium or xanax.

It makes everybody in the room happier.

[Aristus]

11. Except the provider asked to prescribe it...

[Lars39]

12. Well, that the brakes, man.

If somebody’s coming at my neck with a needle, me not freaking out is better for everybody.