Hashitmoto's and Goiter

[sherrick13]

Very frustrated with endocrinologist.  I have been on 125 mcg for the last 15 years on Synthroid, why do I have a multi-nodular goiter? I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's during thyroid sonogram recently and was told  to make an appointment in a year. The endocrinologist is not the one who prescribed the 125 mcg. They didn't even talk about medication. I just want the thyroid taken out. I had a fna and it was benign and they did a flow test and it was negative. The thyroid is 5.5 cm and enlarged on left side. I have all kinds of nodules in the cervical region and in the thyroid including another mass in the superior medistinal. I have trouble swallowing and had 3 episodes of stopping breathing in the last 2 months. I have developed severe hoarseness in the last two months and I am just tired of all the lack of knowledge about the thyroid. Is the synthroid medication, even doing any good at this point?
Any suggestions on how to approach the situation. I just want to get well.

[Barb135]

Thyroid removal for multi-nodular goiter is rarely done, once they've been shown to be benign.  Most of us on the forum have multiple nodules.

ahmee is right that some simple blood tests may be all that's needed to determine whether or not you need a med adjustment.  If you've been on the same dosage for 15 yrs, chances are you've needed a med adjustment for a while, now.

Hashimoto's is progressive, in that the antibodies are continually attacking destroying thyroid tissue, until, eventually, the thyroid will produce no hormones at all.  The destruction process can take many years and if your med dosage isn't adjusted properly, symptoms, such as yours will be an issue.  

You should have been getting tested regularly for the Free T3 and Free T4, along with TSH.  If you have test results for those, please post them, as ahmee suggested and be sure to include reference ranges, which vary lab to lab and have to come from your own lab report.

If your doctor is not testing FT3 and FT4 regularly and adjusting your med to alleviate symptoms, you need to find a different doctor.

[ahmee]

Before considering thyroid removal surgery, why not look to some simple blood tests to determine whether or not all you need is a simple medication adjustment?

Please post any recent labwork you have-- otherwise consider requesting new labs so we can get an idea of where your hormone levels are at. The most helpful tests are Free T3 and Free T4.