New to this...

[wibb]

Ok, so I was recently found to have a 3.8cm goiter on the right side of my thyroid.  My thyroid levels are normal and they just did a biopsy and ultrasound to investigate further.  The dr. talked to me about several options available, depending on the outcome of the tests, but am I just better off to have it surgically removed right away???  It feels like I have a constant lump in my throat and if I talk too much it gets worse.  I'm not really one who wants to think about surgery, but also don't want to continue to feel like this or have it continue to grow.  Any input would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!

[wibb]

Oh yea, 1 other question I had...is it normal that following the procedure they keep you in the hospital a day or so?  I have a friend telling me she knew some people that had it done as a same day surgery procedure.  I guess I just didn't know what was "normal" for this kind of thing.  Thanks!!!

[wibb]

Thanks everyone for the information.  I know there are lots of people who have dealt with this issue but apparently I don't seem to know many!  The biopsy came back and basically they can't say for sure if it's cancerous or not.  So now I'm scheduled to have the right side of my thyroid removed and they will do a freeze test to determine if the growth is cancerous or not and if so remove my whole thyroid.  Little nervous about the whole thing but also just as worried that I may develop another growth on any remaining parts of my thyroid.  Is that even something I need to worry about??  

[mrsomes]

See what the test results show.   If everything is normal you may want to wait a while if you can.   The symptoms you are experiencing may go away.  I had a large goiter for most of my adult life (30+ years).   Thyroid levels were normal; scans were normal; biopsies were normal.  Most of the time it never bothered me.  Once in a while it would "flare up" and cause issues with swallowing and talking etc but that always went away.    I was not terribly thrilled with the idea of removing it unless it was really necessary.   Your thyroid controls so much.  Anyway,  at age 54 I started to have issues (non-cancerous) and did wind up having a thyroidectomy.   15 months later I'm totally fine.   If I hadn't had the issues I did, however, I probably would have lived with the goiter my whole life.    Get as much info as you can from your dr.   Good luck.

[blsdnsvd]

I was in the same situation, however both sides were enlarged with one side larger than the other (3.7cm). I felt it more on the right and was unable to wear turtle neck shirts because it was very uncomfortable. I had sono, scan and fna biopsies for a period of two years and the enlargement grew. I asked about suppression med's and was told that it may help with the enlargement however it will not change the diagnosis. My fna's (fine needle biopsies) were all benign (3) but the cells inside of them were abnormal (follicular and Hurthle)...without removing my entire Thyroid Gland, they could not dismiss the change of Malignancy...so of course I opted for Surgery in Dec of 09...It took me two years to decide but because my situation was getting worse and not better, that was my best choice. No one wants surgery but it beats having to go for 6mos followups and praying that it did not turn into Cancer...
Due to the enlargement alone, removal should be considered as long as there are no abnormal cells on the other side...partial removal would be recommended.

God Bless You...and you will be fine

[stella5349]

There's 2 options available for you.

One is the surgery to remove the enlargement - but that will not entirely solve the root issue

Two is to try and suppress the enlargement - Iodine can be used - thyroid medication to offset the imbalance - selenium supplements to see of you can naturally convert the hormones to lower the goiter with other supplements.