Goiter Problem

[runner1226]

I have been diagnosed with a goiter using an ultrasound. My doctor sent me to an endocrinologist who gave me levoxyl to shirnk it. My blood work all came back within normal ranges. The levoxyl caused me to have an allergic reaction  after taking 1/2 of the smallest dose for 3 days(panic attack, itchy skin and scalp and shortness of breath.) He has told me to stop taking the levoxyl and come back in 3 months. I feel a fullness in my throat sometimes. When I lay down on my back it feels heavy. Sometimes I wake up during the night feeling like my throat has pinched shut.
Is it normal to just see how big this thing will get? I don't want to have my thyroid removed. I'm having no symptons of hypo or hyper. I'm 43 year old female with a partial hystorectomy (I have my left ovary). I've had my gallbladder removed and I also have mitrovalve prolapse. I exercise 30 to 50 minutes 6 times per week.
Thanks for you help

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Shrinking a goiter/nodule with levothyroxine in a patient with completely normal thyroid labs is no longer the standard approach (according to AACE and ATA guidelines).  Many patients with thyroid enlargement have normal labs.

The options - given the compressive symptoms - are surgery or I-131 treatment.  Surgery is more definitive but depending on the surgeon poses more risk.  I-131 can be used as a one-time oral pill to try to radiate the thyroid and shrink the goiter -- about 2/3 of patients respond and the decrease in goiter size is about 40%.  

[runner1226]

Does the I-131 treatment stop the thyroid from working also?