Has anyone had a swollen/painful tongue with Hashis/Hypo? I have teeth marks around my tongue, but it is also painful underneath the tongue when I talk. I think this could be because it's swollen. I can't seem to figure out what else this might be from.
While a swollen tongue can be from other causes (anemia for one) It is a symptom of hypo. I am actually surprised we do not see this question pop up more often. Maybe mild hypothyroidism does not produce this symptom. Severe or even prolonged mild hypothyroidism however DOES usually produce the symptom. Take a look at your tongues everyone, they can get twice the size as normal. Most people do not even notice until they start to hurt or interfere with how you pronounce words. Incidently some of us have swollen lips also along with this symptom.
Glad that this topic was brought up. I have been through the swollen tongue thing also. I have had thyroiditis for many years and have 2 nodules. However, my tongue problem didn't start until about 2 years ago. My doctor recommended allergy tests which came up negative. After that I was tested for Sjogren's Syndrome which came up negative. Finally a rheumatologist told me that my swollen and inflamed thyroid could cause occasional swelling of the salivary glands and tongue. Hmmmmm. I do know that my thyroid levels flucuate between high and low, but never get out of range. The tongue problem seems to flucuate also, so perhaps there is a connection. My GP still thinks that along with thyroiditis I do have Sjogren's regardless of the tests. He also threw in fibroymalgia. Geez! It's difficult to know what to think sometimes. However, it is very uncomfortable, not to mention frightening, when your tongue is so large you can hardly swallow.
I hope others that have experienced this will chime in here too.
Interesting that the rheumatologist said thyroid problems can also cause swollen salivary glands, it seems that my pain is coming from the salivary ducts right underneath my tongue. I'm going to an ENT specialist to have my salivary glands checked. I'll let you know if he suggests this could also be a thyroid problem, like everything else seems to be.
The symptoms of Fibromyalgia and hypothyroid are the same more or less. I was diagnosed with Fibro too (confirmed by a rheumy)and my PCP KNEW,that I had gotten a TT (total thyroidectomy) 12 yrs previous. What it turned out to be was NOT Fibromyalgia at all! I had problems with the Synthroid conversion from T4 to T3 and within a WEEK of adding 5mcg of Cytomel (T3) I had NO fibromyalgia symptoms. Here I had been in misery for a whole year + and all that time no one ever checked my T3 or T4, if they had (and knew how to read them) Gopherhead read mine! The PCP did not know anything! I would have been well a year ago. I had to go to a new Endo to get the Cytomel but boy was it worth it. I felt like a young girl for the 2 weeks I got to be on it. I had to go off all meds for a WBS (whole body scan) to see if my cancer had come back, which incidently if it has, it is because the PCP let me stay hypo so long!!!!!. You can take it from me that a swollen tongue IS a symptom of hypothyroidism. The insides of your cheeks may swell also. If you get this symptom along with others of being hypo go to the Dr. and insist they run ALL of the thyroid tests.
Afuji, I'll be watching to see what you find out. I had pain at the base of the tongue also, and all along my chin. I took an over the counter pain med and used moist heat which helped a lot. When I would get about half way into a meal I would get sudden swelling. Scared the life out of me a few times. For whatever reason it eventually got better though.
Hi browneyegurl, I'll have to try the moist heat thing, I take advil but doesn't seem to do much. I talk on the phone a lot at work so that doesn't help. Glad to hear your problem eventually went away and I will let you know about my appointment with the ENT, it's tomorrow.
Well, I went to the ENT today and he diagnosed oral thrush. I was on antibiotics a couple weeks ago, so he thinks it came from that and my acid reflux. It also affects people with weakened immuned systems (which we have). I did have a thin white coating on my tongue, but didn't think anything of it. He said thrush can cause pain. I'm taking Nystatin so we'll see if that helps the problem.
Afugi, that is interesting, but sounds like an easy to treat problem. I do hope you get some major relief. Please be sure to post a follow-up soon. I am going for FNA on Monday morning and am a bit nervous about it. All of this neck, throat and mouth stuff gets sooooo confounded confusing. lol
Just an update. The thrush has cleared up, however I'm still having the tongue pain. I didn't think that's what was causing the problem. It's getting better, but still there. I'll wait a bit to see if it gets better on it's own. Maybe it's just one of those things.
I think i read somewhere that oral thrush and yeast infections have something to do with hypothyoid. You could check it out on the net. good luck Tribechic
I've also got the tongue indentations or "scalloped tongue" thing going on. I'm hoping I can tell when my meds are actually helping by monitoring this and other symptoms.
