Should I have goiter surgery?

[ddisthe1]

Today I went to one ENT surgeon and will go to another on Aug 7th. I am not happy with taking out my thyroid because it is functional but it has been enlarged with one bug nodule on my left lobe for a few years now and is feeling like its compressing. All my levels of hormones have been normal all along but now because of its size is competing for space in my throat. I was just told I have a small nodule on my vocal cord making my voice raspy and the ENT doesn’t think my goiter is contributing to my voice change. They all have been saying for years to remove the goiter because of the size even though there isn’t any cancer present (did all the tests) but I have chosen to monitor it with sonograms and leave it until now. I have some symptoms recently complicating my breathing and swallowing. I am at a crossroad and can't ignore this because I feel it in my throat now but because my TSH, T3 and T4 levels are normal I don't want to remove it. Not sure if I should remove the entire thyroid or half of it if I decide to have the surgery because there is no way of telling what will happen in the future. I am scared to change up my hormone levels with meds because I am also in Menopause. I am not on any meds for anything and feel great but my throat is tight now with the goiter being over 4 cm. I have another surgeon appt. and will have to make a decision within a few weeks. Anyone care to share their surgery story of partial or total removal of their thyroid with me? Anyone successful in shrinking a large goiter? Please feel free to advise. I really feel like I am dammed if I do and dammed if I don’t. Thanks.

[missouriborn]

How are you doing, now that it has been almost a year. I'm having the same systems that you had but I also am extremely tired all the time and my hair is falling out also. I have been told that it's up to me and I don't know what to do. Just wondering how you are doing now and are all of the systems gone. How do you feel?

[ddisthe1]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Often times people go decades without incidence and then things change. I am happy to hear you were not on meds for all that time but now unfortunately with the newest growths have to change that course of direction. I believe the main reason I am keeping both sides of my thyroid, the one with the goiter on most of the left lobe and the other entirely normal is for what eventually happens with most people who have partial removal. As mentioned everyone experience is different and I know the time element is also different for each of us to sustain our thyroid health. Taking meds usually brings on other things as there are side effects to most. I feel for you with the weight gain as it only adds to the challenges as we get older to stay fit. I am 53 and think my goiter was probably dormant for many years prior to it being noticed in 2008 so I could have lived with it for decades without knowing. As long as it stays the same and isn't getting bigger or turning into something else, I am happy to leave things be. Good luck with your situation.

[Mecherye]

I had a partial removal when I was 24 and have not been on meds,My other half was working fine for both sides,I am now 44 and have 2 goiters on the remaining half,for now the dr has put me on synthroid which seems to be making me gain wait,but my point is I have  done fine for 20 years with half a thyroid and no meds.

[ddisthe1]

Thank you for all your comments and shared experiences. I still have my goiter and completed my regular tests again this year 2014 with no growth or change. I feel great, have a lot of energy and can breath fine. A little over a year ago I had a very small nodule on my vocal cord which made my voice a bit raspy. I thought it might be the goiter compressing but it wasn't so I did nothing beyond vocal rest and it went away. My voice is fine, throat and breathing still good. So after seeing 5 endocrinologists both in FL and NY, I will leave you with the advice of the only endocrinologist from NYU Cancer Center that made any sense to me based on my specific situation which is a bit different than most of everyone's response posted.... Unless the goiter is cancer, obstructing your air passage, been diagnosed with a disease like Graves etc. or continually growing based on yearly tests results.....it's ok to leave it alone as it is still functioning and supplying the body with the right amount of hormones especially since I am also in menopause. I feel blessed that my thyroid isn't complicating anything because that in itself can cause issues which right now I don't have.  Of course I would choose a different path if my situation changes but so far my goiter is not affecting me on any level. This is a very personal decision for each person to do what they think is best with the knowledge they have been given. I do a lot of research for a living, have seen many doctors with all but one advising removal just in case. I realize doctors want to release liability by recommending removal but I am my own health advocate and look at my choices based on my overall lifestyle and health while respecting the advice of specialists. Ultimately, I am making my own decisions and thus far its been all good. God Bless everyone and good luck on your own journeys....

[Hurricaneh]

Hi, my advice is to get it all removed!  I had mine removed 4 days ago,after living with an enlarged thyroid for 30 years.  As it worked perfectly I was reluctant to have it removed and put it off for as long as I could.  I had begun to suffer from a croaky voice and trouble breathing and swallowing.  I hen got Pains in my neck which the physio couldn't sort, which eventually lead to a mri scan.  This  showed the thyroid gland  was pressing on my carotid artery and wrapped around my wind pipe.  I eventually plucked up the courage to go ahead with the surgery.  When the surgeon operated he discovered that it had also grown behind my sternum On both sides and weighed 288 grms.  The operation took 3 1/2 hours!!    He had done a fantastic job and my scar is already healing well and I am sure it will be hardly noticeable.  Apart from being a little tired I feel absolutely fine and can already breath and swallow better.  I am a little apprehensive about having to have medication, however I can't stop looking at my profile , it is lovely to have nice slim neck and to be able to swallow properly.   Take the plunge I am so glad I have

[Adibahgrm]

Hi. Can you share me more details about your thyroid? Is it goiters or hypo or hyperthyroid?  Please send me email to this address n.***@****

This is related to my mom's thyroid i guess. She will be having an operation to remove the thyroid because her thyroid is so big enough than her face. I need ur experiences and advice to give spirit and confident to my mom so that she's not that scared as in at the moment.

I really really really appreciate for your kindness and speedest reply. Please and thankyou.

[angiebruno]

The right lobe of the thyroid measures 4.1x1.2x1.4 cm and the left lobe measures 4.2x1.3x1.4 cm. the isthmus is not thickened at about 2mm. there is a 6x3x5mm partially calcified nodule at the  junction of the rt lobe and isthmus. there is also a 4mm hopeochoic nodule posteriorly at the mid the inferior aspect of the rt lobe.  On the left side there is cystaic nodule measuring about 10x6x8mm . this contains some internal echoes including a round 1-2mm projection in the nondependent portion. there is no increased vascularity. can someone tell me whats going on