Can you reduce the size of a goiter?

I have a goiter that I swear fluctuates in size, but I don't know if that's really possible, or is it?  My question is, without surgery, is there a way I can either naturally or with medication reduce the size of my goiter?  

[blsdnsvd]

When I asked about doing this (thyroid hormone/synthroid), the surgeon that evaluated me, told me that "he" doesn't use any method of shrinking the goiter because it doesn't help. Before i had my surgery (TT) due to a multi-nodular goiter, i tried a product online that "did" shrink the goiter from 3.7cm to 3.3cm (which is the size it remained at the time of surgery).

Goiters can definitely increase in size.

Lots of people (including myself) are skeptical of trying online products but i figured why not try it..and i did! Due to the nodules, i had to have the thyroid removed regardless.

Before self medicating, speak to your endo about using "thyroid hormone replacement" to reduce the size. Do keep in mind that you will develop side effects from the medication.

[dawnangela]

My goiter and nodual did shrink with thyroid meds quite considerably, but i was put on these for Hypothyroidism.Im not sure how it would work if the thyroid levels are in range to start with, maybe a small dose could work,

[mymeow74]

I had my TSH, T3 and T4 tested and was told they were normal.  I have been doing some reading and am wondering if maybe I should request to get my thyroid antibodies tested??  I have also been thinking of getting a second opinion.  I was diagnosed with my multinodular goiter just a little over 2 months ago, so I don't know if it's too soon or not, or if I should just wait.  I was told to come back in a year.

[blsdnsvd]

Did you have a fna (fine needle biopsy) on the nodules???

[goolarra]

The very first thing you should do is get a copy of your lab report for FT3, FT4 and TSH.  Too often we hear doctors saying "normal" when testing was inadequate or reference ranges used were obsolete.  If you get them, post with reference ranges and members will help you decipher them.

Yes, have TPOab and TGab tested at the same time.  If you are dealing with autoimmune disease, you want to know it.

After you have the above, you'll know whether your doctor is a good thyroid doctor or not,  If not, you can decide on the second opinion then.

Your thyroid is enlarged and you have nodules for a reason.  Don't wait a year to find out what's causing this.  If you do have an autoimmune disease, you'll want to decide when to start treatment.  

Depending on size and composition, etc., many nodules do not require FNA.  Many of us with Hashi's have nodules, which are periodically monitored (ultrasound) for significant changes.  

[mymeow74]

I did have a FNA of one of the nodules and they said it was benign and consistent with a multinodular goiter.  My TSH was 4.472 (normal 0.320-5.500 uIU/mL), free T4 1.30 (normal 0.70-1.80 ng/dL), and free T3 3.57 (normal 2.30-4.20 pg/mL).  What exactly is an autoimmune disease and how is it treated?

[goolarra]

Currently accepted range for TSH is 0.3-3.0.  Your lab, like most of them, is still using an obsolete range.  So, your TSH is a bit on the high side, which usually indicates hypo.  However, your FT4 is right where it belongs, somewhere around midrange, and your FT3 looks really good.  It's just into the upper third of the range, also right where it belongs.

Autoimmune diseases include Hashimoto's thyroiditis (hypo) and Grave's (hyper).  In these diseases, your immune system has "decided" that your thyroid tissue is a foreign protein and is attacking it, just like it attacks truly foreign substances that get into your body, like viruses and bacteria.  This causes your thyroid to malfunction.  

There is no treatment for either.  The SYMPTOMS of both can be treated by thyroid replacement hormones (Hashi's) or anti-thyroid meds, RAI and surgery (Grave's).  When to start treating Hashi's is a controversial area with some saying it's better to start before symptoms appear, and others saying to wait until they appear.  If you have the antibody tests, you can make the decision on when you want to start treatment. Your FT3 and FT4 levels are fine at the moment, but something is causing your goiter and nodules, and if I were you I'd like an explanation.  Your thyroid is working too hard (thus the goiter and nodules).  If you test positive for antibodies, it will indicate what you can expect in the future.  

[mrsomes]

I had a multinodule goiter which was quite noticeable for 40+ years with no symptoms whatsoever.   It would get a little larger, get a little smaller, stay the same...no big deal.   Tried a few times to shrink it with synthroid but that didn't work.  Periodically did the FNA to make sure there were no cancer cells.  Had my thyroid levels checked every year with my physical and they were always fine.    I went to see a very good endo Dr down at Yale about 10 years ago who told me that some people have goiters for no apparent reason and live very long, healthy lives without having any issues.   He told me that a goiter is not necessarily indicative of a problem and to just make sure I had it checked out once a year. That was the case most of my life until last year when it decided to act up (thyroid toxicosis) and I would up having it removed.   So just make sure you watch it, pay attention to how you feel and have all the right tests done every year.

[mymeow74]

Thank you all for your words of advice.  My mom is hypothyroid and has wondered if maybe I am as well.  I think I am going to get a second opinion from another endo and bring up some of the points you all mentioned.  I figure it couldn't hurt any.  The endo I am going to make an appt with I have never seen before, but have talked to in e-mails and I really liked him.  I'll e-mail him again and see if he can order the thyroid antibody blood work, as well as maybe repeat TSH, FT3 and FT4 as well, so the results are in when I see him.  Thanks again!!

[mymeow74]

Okay, I have an appt for March 24.  I am to get some repeat blood work the week before, and I requested thyroid antibodies as well, but I guess the endo has to approve that, so we'll see.  Since I'm still new to all of this thyroid stuff, I am wondering what kinds of questions I should ask the endo.  Any suggestions?

[Altheisha]

Hi. I just want to share my experience. My mom used to have a goiter before and she underwent an operation twice. I'm having the same problem now at 26 y.o. I've been diagnosed with U thyroid/ colloidal thyroid. Thank God that my biopsy result is fine. I really don't want to undergo an operation before so I insisted my Doctor to take chances in taking Eltroxin 5mcg to reduce the size. Yes indeed it helped in shrinking a few mm, but after 6mos, my FT4 became high. It used to be normal before. My TSH and FT3 are still normal now though. It was my right thyroid that has a goiter back then, and now, my left thyroid is also swollen. I'm planning to have an operation in a month because the doctor/surgeon advised me that there are no other better solution than to have it removed before it cause anything bad to my health.

[Barb135]

This is a very old thread and mymeow74 hasn't participated in the forum for a very long time, so it's unlikely she will respond.

You have only one thyroid that consists of 2 lobes and an isthmus.  Goiter is a swollen/inflamed thyroid.  

Have you been diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis? or Graves Disease?

Are you planning to have the entire thyroid removed or just the left lobe? I wish you the best of luck with your surgery.