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thyroid size and pain

I am a 29 year old female who was recently diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency and hypothyroidism (among other endocrine problems). A recent thyroid ultrasound did not show any nodules, but the right side of the thyroid is 5.6cm tall, and the left is 4.0cm.

I am having tremendous pain in the right side of my neck that radiates to my jaw, ear, eye, and face. Sometimes my face becomes puffy on the right side only, and I have enlargement of the right pupil, vision changes, and ringing in my ears (worse on the right) with this. The pain is always worse at night than in the morning.

The doctors I've seen for this all agree that there is probably irritation/compression of a sympathetic nerve in my neck. However, the thyroid specialists I've seen do not think my thyroid is large enough to cause these types of symptoms. I am a very tiny person - 4'11" and 95lbs. I don't know if "normal" thyroid dimensions should apply to me.

Should I be worried that my thyroid is larger on one side? Does anyone know if Synthroid will actually shrink an enlarged thyroid? I'm hoping that once my dose is regulated, this pain might subside. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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Avatar universal
Hi FTB4,

Thank you very much for your reply.

I'm on Synthroid. My endo believes this is Hashi's, because my mom and all of her siblings have it. However, I don't have the antibodies to thyroid/adrenals, and I've never had a biopsy...but, I have every manifestation of Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome type 1 (Addison's, hypothyroidism, chronic pancreatitis, malabsorption, atrophic gastritis/pernicious anemia, Celiac and other food allergies, etc). I have an enlarged thymus, which is what, to my doctors, indicates that this is autoimmune in the absence of antibodies.

My TSH has never been through the roof. The highest it's ever been was 6.0. My T4 is always at the very bottom of the range. My old endo said Synthroid wouldn't shrink the thyroid, but my new endo said many of his patients have experienced relief after finally finding the right dose.

Anyway, thanks again. Glad I found this forum, and I'm looking forward to more replies! Hope your pain improves with treatment. Hang in there.
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Avatar universal
I have an enlarged thyroid also, although I have pain on the right side from the ear down to the collar bone, I am also on Synthroid, I questioned my Endo about how long the medication would take to reduce the size of my thyroid, he said it may not because I have Hashimoto's and my immune system keeps my thyroid inflamed by attacking it, Are you already taking Synthroid?  If you do not have nodules and you do not have an Auto Immune problem (Hashimoto's or Graves), it is possible your thyroid could shrink when your levels are back to normal. You could post your Free T3, T4 and TSH with references for members to explain and comment. Good Luck FTB4  
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