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.

[tammy88ptl]

you sound very experienced in all this thyroid stuff., I have hashimottos/ hasitoxicosis., took me three opinions to get that plus me being my own investigatorin all this! I had a thyroid uptake scan , diagnosed with multi toxic hotspot nodule/goiters GRAVES.., I didn't agree at all went 100 miles to get another opinion just to go back to same ENDO office I began in but with the MD and not the PA who then agrees yes I have hashimottos thyroiditis he ended up just giving me the same treatment RAI December 17th but never tested my levels again b4 the the treatment to see where I was over a month after the wrong diagnosis of graves... ugh.., I kept telling these drs that I have and had symptoms of both for a very long time.., so confusing. I am only 30 but felt like I walked out of a prison cell sick irritable insomnia hot cold on and on and on...... should I just have them kill the rest of my thyroid like I wanted from the beginning???? DR swears I will eventually be normal thyroid but then ultimately go hypo so watch for signs... the radiologist swears what he gave me in those two capsules (RAI) will destroy whole thyroid gland and if not which is rare 6 months later another dose is appropriate to destroy it all..?? so one dr/PA has one set of percentages., another ENDO., MD  has another set of percentages compared to the RADIOLIGISTS percentage rates of the RAI that I received WOW this is awfull but atleast I know im not mentally ill like I was misdiagnosed and wrongly medicated for over half my  life so I am in a better place now than b4 but still way confused on how im going to feel one moment,hour day to the next...???  

[ettevyva]

There are natural and safer ways to shrink goiters and nodules.   Low Dose Naltrexone shrunk my nodules.  The only time someone should have their thyroid removed is if it is cancerous, and then save as much as you can.  Once you have it removed, there is no healing it, and you will be permanently hypothyroid with medication the rest of your life.  I healed mine with help from the book "Hope For Hashimoto".  Never make such an important decision without research and finding a doctor that can save it.

[898_1]

Most nodules treated by PEI (ethanol injection therapy) are smaller than yours 2...2.5cm in diameter, but you still need to explore this option with the specialist who is familiar with procedure. Benign follicular nodules tend to grow in other side of thyroid, but most colloid nodules are removed only due to  cosmetic reason or mechanical obstruction.
Best!

[Barb135]

A goiter is a swollen, inflamed thyroid.  A nodule is a growth on the thyroid.

While you will hear horror stories about thyroid removal, rest assured that having your thyroid removed is not really a whole lot different from those us, whose thyroids were destroyed by autoimmune disease.  

Once the surgery is done, the most important thing is to find a doctor who will test and treat the resulting hypothyroidism, adequately, according to symptoms, not just labs.

[goitreinfo]

I have a similar situation as yourself.  I found a lump 19 years ago and the specialist told me I should have it taken out.  When I found out that I would be on medication for the rest of my life, I was more that hesitant.  Every couple of years I have had it checked and all is normal but over the years, the Multinodular Goitre has grown and is now a similar size to yours.  I also have normal Thyroid functions.  I am interested to know what you decided at your appointment on the 7th August.  I have had almost 20 good years since first being told to have it taken out (I have been told by numberours surgeons over the years the same thing) without medication but feeling that my time is coming closer.  Good luck...

[ddisthe1]

I appreciate your feedback and suggestions.