Can you reduce the size of a goiter?

[mymeow74]

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?  

[goolarra]

I'd definitely want a second opinion before making an irrevocable decision like that.  Do you have the results of your thyroid labs?  If so, please post them with reference ranges.  Ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from your own lab report.  For a number of reasons, thyroid test ranges are very flawed, and just being "in range" isn't usually enough.  Thyroid meds can often shrink a goiter.  

[worriedmomma78910]

I've recently been diagnosed with a thyroid gland (goiter) three x's it's normal size. I also have a 5.5 cm nodule on the left and a 3 cm nodule on the right. I often feel cold. I have trouble breathing, a choking sensation, difficulty swallowing. The chest x-ray shows a deviated trachea. The urgency is due to that my breathing can get completely cut off, there is no chance of shrinkage in the gland or nodules, they will continue to grow in size, and the risk of cancer is 20%. I was told my Thyroid levels are normal in blood work.
The doctor has recommended a complete removal of the goiter and nodules, and if suspicious of cancer, will take my lymph nodes as well.
I have not seen an endocrinologist. This diagnosis is from my PCP and general surgeon. The surgery is 12 days away! shouldn't I see a endocrinologist before making this life decision? Thank you all

[Barb135]

Plummer's disease has been known to resort to permanent hypothyroidism, so there's a possibility you could end up hypo anyway.

Plummer's has also been known to mask Hashimoto's, which ultimately ends up hypo, even though it's often characterized by periods of hyper in the beginning stages.  I understand that Plummer's is not the same as a hyper phase of Hashimoto's...

Treatment may include anti-thyroid drugs; has your doctor suggested that?

[Thyroid15]

i have just been diagnosed with Plummer disease. i have always been told all my tests were ok but please tell your family and friends to be very aggressive with their doctors and get more opinions. i wasn't so here i am given two options, iodine 131 which is a form of radiation or surgery.

the iodine 131 is not even a 50% chance of reducing the size of the goiter and surgery means you have to dependent on meds which usually dont work perfectly until the doctor gets the right doze for your body.

i did lot of reading on thyroid issues and there are practically only the two options i mentioned in the beginning of this posting.

Anyone with any other new methods?

thank you for your answer..

[chacheword]

Is there a way of shrinking or reduce the size of goitre!?

[veegs]

Yes, get the antibodies tested. My levels were all normal and finally they tested for those and turns out I have hashimoto's disease

[KRJ2]

thank you very much. Here is the lab history I have. I developed celiac disease, epilepsy and hypothryoidism at about the same time. There is a lot of autoimmune disease in the family. These were done at different labs and some were done to test epilepsy med levels. When I had those annually I just asked my neuro to add thyroid tests.
March '05  TSH 1.323 (.35-5.5)  T4 Free 1.44 (.67-1.76)
Aug '06  TSH .33 (.35-7)
Oct '07  TSH 1.47 (.35-5.5)
Jan '09  TSH  0.848 (.470-4.681)  ANA was very high 253 (0-99)
April '09 TSH .42 (.35-5.5), Thyroglobulin AB 68 (less than 20), Thyroid Peroxidase 73 (less than 35)
Sept '09  TSH 1.1 (there was no normal listed)
July '10 TSH 1.24 (3.5-5.5) T4 1.48 (.89-1.76)  T3 2.9 (2.3-4.2)
March '12 TSH 2.64 (.470-4.68)  T4 1.7 (.78-2.19)
Jan '14 TSH 1.23  (.47-4.68)

I will be off synthroid for 8 weeks before the scan! I have a lot of pressure in my neck, lots of trouble swallowing, breathing, hoarseness, cough. I need to be able to swallow my med for epilepsy.
The doc (family physician) said they'll try to shrink it first before surgery. Why doesn't he try to do that now?

[Barb135]

This is an old thread and justfixit is no longer active on the forum, so I doubt you'll get a response.  

The test you're getting is a nuclear uptake and scan.  You will be given a small dose of radioactive material (tracer), the tracer will collect in the thyroid than a sensor records how much of the tracer your thyroid absorbed. The second day the tracer is injected into your arm and a scan of your thyroid is done.

It's typical to go off thyroid med, usually for 4 weeks to be sure they are all out of your system before you have this test.  It does wreak havoc with some people and they have to start all over, once they get back on the med.  Goiter is a swollen thyroid and it's unlikely that going off your med will affect it all that much.  This test is, typically, done on those with hyperthyroidism.

Were you ever tested for thyroid Antibodies to determine whether or not you have Hashimoto's?  Hashimoto's is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the developed world.  

Do you have current thyroid hormone levels that you can post?

[KRJ2]

I just now found this forum, have read your writings and have some questions. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 20 years ago, been taking Synthroid ever since. over 3 years ago I noticed difficulty swallowing, breathing, hoarseness. General doc did a barium swallow, no findings, so it was dropped. It's worse, went to diff family doc, had an ultrasound that showed goiter w/ nodules. am now scheduled for thyroid scan, a 2 day deal in 6 weeks. I was told to stop my Synthroid now. I'm afraid that will wreak havoc with my body and also grow the goiter.
My research is saying I'll most likely have to have thyroid removed which I don't want to do!
Any advice from anyone?

[AMcIntosh]

I just had my thyroid out last week. It had been enlarged for years and my doctor would not take it out until I voiced concerns of snoring and wanting a sleep study. It had almost gotten too large. It had stretched one of my nerves. Both nerves shut down after surgery and I had to be on ventilator in ICU for 3 days!

[patnob]

what did you do to make them shrink?

[justfixit]

Hi Barb135...  

I can shed no more on this as yet..  (hence no new thread)

Saw doctor today and he would not give me print out and was just saying "youre tests are normal".  When I inquired and asked for further tests, I was once again told ALL my tests were normal and we wont be taking it out!.

I replied with leave it or take it out, doesn't the fact that it has grown constitute further investigation?  I was promptly told, it is not pressing on the trachea or any other part of the throat and it has not grown downwards; it is a case of wait and see.

I pushed and pushed and pushed....  the only concession I got was the next time I have a crackly voice he'll refer me to an ENT to look at my throat.

I pushed the fact that I feel weak at the moment and my neck is still sore and moving it is uncomfortable.  Of which his response was to ask if I was possibly a hypochondriac or should I see a psychologist.

So peeved right now and looks like I need to find another doctor UUGGHHH!!!  

FEELING SO FRUSTRATED AND BEATEN RIGHT NOW....  

Barb135, I will start a new thread "just n case"

[Barb135]

No, you aren't going crazy......  Will look forward to seeing the blood test results when you get them.  Be sure to include reference ranges, as those vary lab to lab and have to be posted with your results.

You might want to start a new thread of your own, so we can keep you separate from all the other posters on this thread.

[justfixit]

Thank you Barb135.

I havent got the results from tests yet but will update when I get them :)

Im glad you wrote you can go from one to the other and feel ok in between because it makes me feel reassured Im not going crazy

[Barb135]

"So ultimately I should say Im not interested in his test results and demand the Free T3 & T4 test along with a thyroid antibody blood test??"  No, that's not what I'm saying; the tests that were run are all important, except total T3 and total T4, which are obsolete.

What were your cholesterol levels like?  What were the results of the iron panel?  Blood sugar levels?  

High cholesterol is a symptom of hypothyroidism.  Iron is essential for producing/metabolizing thyroid hormones.  Some of us with hypothyroidism have impaired fasting glucose levels (insulin resistance) that can lead to type II diabetes.  High tryglyceride levels and insulin resistance are components in metabolic syndrome.  

All of those tests are important; they just don't tell the whole story.  Without Free T3 and Free T4, you don't know what your thyroid is actually doing.  Without the antibody tests you have no idea whether or not, you have Hashimoto's, which could be an explanation as to why you feel badly.

Multi-nodular goiter is very common with Hashimoto's and it's not unusual to swing from hyper to hypo, with normal periods in between, which explains your symptoms of both hyper and hypo.

Don't discount any of the tests already done, but do be persistent about getting the FT3, FT4 and "both" of the antibody tests I mentioned above.  It's important that you get them both, or you could be misdiagnosed, because some people have one antibody, some have the other and still others have both....

[justfixit]

Hi Barb135

All that was written on the pathology form was TSH T3 T4 with cholestorol, iron studies and blood sugar levels.

"Have you been tested for thyroid antibodies?"
I dont believe so.

"Do you have other symptoms of thyroid condition, such as unexplained weight gain/loss, constipation/diarrhea, fatigue, slow/rapid heart rate, muscle/joint aches/pain, foggy thinking, etc?  "

I have had the same systems for those 20 odd years but they are becoming MORE extreme....  
regular neck pain; hoarseness of voice (happens for approx 2 weeks every 6-8 weeks) and just general swelling.  I have also had problems of fatigue; breathing issues; multiple tendonitis issues; constant rapid heart rate; "foggy" spells of concentration and mysterious fainting spells...

I have also had issues of diarrhea, bloating, having trouble breathing (such as taking a breath every 2nd or 3rd word.  My arms and shoulders always have that weak feeling.

In one instance a few years ago, I was feeling on top of the world and the next day I couldnt lift a finger without it taking my entire energy....    A whole heap of blood tests later I was told two things...   "Youre fighting something but we have no idea what" and "People like you in the old days we put into sanitariums to rest".

I exercise on average 3-4 days per week and even my personal trainer is amazed I am not so much smaller....   even in some cases I have gotten bigger.

So ultimately I should say Im not interested in his test results and demand the Free T3 & T4 test along with a thyroid antibody blood test??

Thank you for your help :)

[Barb135]

Sometimes, nodules leak hormones independently, of the thyroid, but, typically, they don't "increase it's productivity".  

Have you been tested for thyroid antibodies?  Nodules are typical with autoimmune thyroid diseases.  Many/most of us with Hashimoto's have multinodular goiters. Inflammation can cause nodules to swell.

What blood work are you having done?  You should be getting TSH, Free T3 and Free T4, along with the antibody tests, Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TGab).  These antibody tests are necessary for the diagnosis of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

Even though your CT shows that the nodule has grown, blood work will, most likely, have to indicate a problem in order to get treatment, though it's not unusual for symptoms to appear long before labs indicate an issue.

If you have Hashi's, at some point, you will need to be put on thyroid replacement hormones, because your thyroid is constantly being destroyed by the antibodies and eventually, will there will be no healthy tissue to produce hormones.

I had that choking sensation for a long time; most of it was caused by anxiety.  I get it now, when swallowing, if I take too large bites; feels like whatever I'm eating is getting stuck; it's not a thyroid thing.  

Of course, when nodules grow, there's something "wrong".  Do you have other symptoms of thyroid condition, such as unexplained weight gain/loss, constipation/diarrhea, fatigue, slow/rapid heart rate, muscle/joint aches/pain, foggy thinking, etc?  

[justfixit]

I have been arguing in relation to my thyroid for some 20+ years because of my enlarged neck area and regular neck pain; hoarseness of voice (happens for approx 2 weeks every 6-8 weeks) and just general swelling.  I have also had problems of fatigue; breathing issues; multiple tendonitis issues; constant rapid heart rate; "foggy" spells of concentration and mysterious fainting spells...  but these have all been explained away as "stress" by doctors.

I keep getting told its a multinodular goitre and it isnt pressing on the windpipe so there is nothing to do....    

I demanded and have since had another CT scan today which has confirmed that it has grown by at least 1cm on the right and 0.5cm on the left (so is now 5.5 & 6cm long) and 0.3cm (now being 1.3cm) in the isthmus.  Even though they say it isnt pressing on anything, theyre not the ones that have to swallow twice to get "spit" down.  In some cases I have had to physically push stuff down my throat from the outside (hopefully that makes sense)

So I'm prepared for my doctors appointment...  if my bloods come back supposedly as "normal" again, what should I do?

This is about the 8th doctor I have seen and I have been laughed out of 2 Endocrinologists office already over the years.

My only argument so far has been:
A thyroid works, for it to make nodules to increase its productivity there has to be something wrong otherwise it wouldnt make the nodules.  And now I have proof it is growing!!!! so as far as Im concerned this proves THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG!!!   but how do I get them to listen to me??

Just totally confused! and bewildered its taken this long.

[goolarra]

It's possible to develop thyroid cancer, but it's rare.  Most of us with thyroid disease have a goiter and/or nodules, and they're just monitored for changes.  The harder your thyroid has to try to work, the more inflamed (goiter gets bigger) it becomes.  Often, thyroid meds will make it shrink.

You really should try to have blood work done.  Without it, it's impossible to tell you if you can maintain 100 mcg or not.  However, your doctor did prescribe 150 mcg, but that seemed like too much.  I'd strongly encourage you to see a doctor.

I'm not a doctor, so no, I can't tell you what to take.  That has to be based not only on labs, but on further examination by your doctor.  Medical history, other conditions, other tests can all have bearing on what your doctor does.  We all react differently to meds, so there is no "formula" for how much to take.  No one can look at your labs and say "you need to take X mcg of meds".

Your doctor should choose a starting dose for you, which is usually based on weight somewhat.  He should order labs again in 4-6 weeks to see what that dose has done to your levels.  Then, you should discuss your symptoms with him.  He will then make an adjustment, if necessary, and you have to repeat that process until you feel well and your dose is stable.  At that point, you can go longer between lab work.

It's pretty complicated.  I think the best thing you could do is try to find a free clinic.  

Best of luck...  

[bojingaw]

ok thanks!..yes its only 100mcg available in our pharmacy here!..is normal goiter have a chance to be cancerous one?...i was not able to ask here if their was government services here in free..i try to ask first..can be a normal goiter be larger as i expected? can i maintain a 100mcg levothyroxine even if i cant go to doctor as of now? can i give you my thyroid panel test and can u give me a med take to? how about that?..thank you so much for answering my questions...i hope you could help me..

[goolarra]

150 mcg is a very large starting dose.  Many people don't need that much.  Your doctor should have started you on a lower dose and worked up.

Yes, it's okay if you take 100 mcg of the same brand.  Are you saying that you can only buy 100 mcg tablets at your pharmacy?  Of course, that's a lower dose, but you might be able to take it without geting tachycardia, etc.

Hair loss is a symptom of hypo.

Being hypo is a little like being diabetic.  Your condition has to be monitored with regular blood work so meds can be adjusted as necessary.  Is there a free clinic you could go to?  What about a government health service?

There's really nothing else you can take.  I think you'd do fine on a smaller dose, but you really do have to see a doctor and keep monitoring your levels.

[bojingaw]

thats the first med that my doctor gave me....at first i take 15omcg, but since we live in urban less medicine here...since the pharmacy here only have 100mcg..then i have no choice is to buy only not to stop take med...is that ok that i take 100mcg the same brand? now i feel ok since i stop taking levothyroxine..my heart beat is normal...is hair fall a symptom of hypothyroid?

what can i do now?? i did not go to doctor bcos we are poor....any recommended med?..but my neck is not bigger..its the same since i discover it..thx for the reply

[goolarra]

Was 150 mcg the first dosage your doctor started you on, or dd you work up to that?

Tachycardia is a symptom of overmedication.  It sounds like you needed less meds, but perhaps didn't need to stop altogether.

How do you feel?  Do you have a lot of hypo symptoms?

[bojingaw]

hi..i want to ask something..i am 24...i have a normal goiter in my left neck
after the fna the doctor said that it was a normal goiter(hypothyroid)..the doctor gave me a med levothyroxine euthyrox(150mg)...but after a few 2 months i stop taking it bcoz my hearts beats faster that i cant even control it...so what should i do? i did not take the until now...i didnt even go to doctor bcoz i dont have money any more...can someone give me an advise....plzzzz help me...thnx

[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.