Enlarging goiter

[radiogirl]

I have been ill for 5 years with symptoms of Hyperthyroidism. Palpatations, sweating, hot skin, muscle weakness, increased appetite. I also have what they term as a medium sized goiter. It is one that is growing back toward my trachea. Due to this I am having a horrible time swallowing, frequently choking on food and pills. My breathing has become difficult and they tell me I now have sleep apnea which I believe is due to the compression. My neck is visibly swollen and my carotid arteries are very prominent. I have a horrible tightness in my throat and feel great pressure almost like I am being strangled. I can no longer lift my arms staright above my head or the whole throat area will close off. I have a constant feeling of a lump in my throat. Over the past five years I have been tested for everything under the sun. The only abnormalties are a kind of low TSH .06, an extremely high T3 (total) and an ultrasound showing an enlarged thyroid. My voice is now being strained and since I use this for my profession it's becoming increasingly difficult to work.The doctor's won't do anything due to the fact the I have gained weight instead of lost it and therefore claim that I can not have an overactive thyroid. I don't know what to do at this point, but I am scared and feel like I could choke to death due to this.Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

you need to see a thyroid specialist.  The comment that it cannot be an overactive thyroid b/c you gain weight is completely incorrect -- 15% of hyper patients DO gain weight.

You need evaluation for management of a long-standing problem that is increasing in severity.  If Graves disease is the cause then tapazole may shrink the goiter and will normalize thyroid levels.  If it is a toxic nodular goiter, then the options would be I-131 vs surgery (also options is Graves is the diagnosis).

[radiogirl]

Thank you so much for your advice. I will start looking for a new thyroid specialist today.

[Intrigue]

Yes, please do see a thyroid or ENT specialist immediately!  I had a total thyroidectomy four weeks ago because of an enlarged goiter.  I waited too long to see an ENT and the goiter ended up growing behind my breastbone and down into my chest cavity.  It sounds like yours is beginning the same path, so you must get it taken care of.  I was hypo not hyper, but my hypo symptoms were caused from the goiter....my TSH levels always registered as "normal," even though my body was being poisoned by my goiter.  Go figure! If you do have to have surgery, it really is a piece of cake.  The difficulty thereafter is getting the thyroid replacement medication regulated, which can take several months and it's a pain in the patootie, but well worth getting rid of a diseased thyroid.  I feel so much better and would have the surgery again in a heartbeat if needed.

Best of luck!

Intrigue

[stormyca]

I am a 37 year old female who has an extremely large goiter. i was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism 14 years ago. I started taking thyroid replacement at that time. In the first several years of taking the meds my tests always came back normal, however my gland was still quite large. At one point many years ago I was unable to purchase the meds so I stopped taking them. My Thyroid tests were Normal again. My doctor advised me to keep taking the meds. I started them again and my tests were normal or exactly the same as when I was not on meds. I kept taking them for about two years and no change in size. I ultimatly have stopped taking them again against my docs advise. For me its really just a hassle and I would always forget so in my mind since I feel ok then why take them. My concern now is that in the last couple of years I have noticed that (only at times) my goiter will bother me. It only seems to flare up about two to three times a year but it feels like a tightening in my throat. Its not really hard to swallow or breathe but I can tell that something does not feel right. I have seen a specialist and they did an ultrasound but of course they just keep putting me on the meds. I would really like to know if Surgery would be an option and if so then will I need the meds after that? If so I guess I would just be better off taking the meds anyways. The tightness started again about a week ago and seems to be getting worse by the day. I just cant pin point why it only bothers me from time to time? I have made an appointment with a new doc next month, I do plan on discussing this with her however I am hoping that I can go there with a new idea or something that has worked for someone else with the same medical issue. Thank you

[hugmonky]

sounds like Hashimoto's, it later progresses into hypothyrodism with flashes of hyperthyroidism. did you have an antibodies test? very important. TSH could be "normal" with Hashimotos. but antibodies test shows the info.