Thyroid nodules

[Steffidias]

I've been diagnosed with Multinodular goitre. The doctor says that it's benign after I had a needle biopsy last week. She says that it can be monitored to check growth or it can be immediately removed as it's quite big around 3.5cm. What do you suggest? And if I remove it what will be the side effects?

[Barb135]

A goiter is a swollen thyroid, so if you remove the goiter, you're removing your thyroid, which will leave you hypothyroid for the rest of your life. You will, then, be dependent on replacement thyroid hormones, since we can't live without them... There are a lot of questions that need to be answered before any suggestions can be made.

First of all, is the nodule putting undo pressure on your throat/airway, causing breathing/swallowing issues?

Secondly, do you have thyroid function tests that you could post?  Those should include Free T3, Free T4 and TSH.  Be sure to include reference ranges, as those vary from lab to lab and have to come from your own report.

Do you know if you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?  If so, you will, most likely, eventually, become hypothyroid anyway (if you aren't already) and be dependent on replacement thyroid hormones.  

Are you on thyroid hormone medication, at this time?  If so, what medication, what dosage and how long have you been on it?
Replacement thyroid hormones can, sometimes, help shrink nodules, in which case the surgery would not be necessary.

Last, but not least, have you considered seeking a second opinion?

Once we know the answers to these questions, perhaps we can better help you.