Experience with Goiters?

Hi K.,

I have the same thing, have had now for 3 years or so. It is fairly common. They just need to be monitored. My doc has me doing thyroid blood testing every 6 months to be sure all is continuing to function normally. You need to check your neck once a month, just like you do your BSE to be sure you don't feel they are getting larger. They only need to be removed if they grow large enough to cause restrictions to your swallowing or such. You also need to watch for symptoms of thyroid malfunction such as rapid weight gain, fatigue or the reverse, rapid weight loss without any apparent cause. I don't think they really know what causes them, I've done a lot of research and there doesn't seem to be a concensus for cause. They really aren't anything to be anxious about at this point. You can ask to see an endocrinologist, but since your labs are still normal, that probably isn't really needed yet either!

The best advice is to get it checked. I had one pop up out of now where all of a sudden. Those are the ones to worry about.
I have/had Hoshimotios' Thyroiditis as well. It is an auto immunue that basically turnes your thyroid to stone if you are not medicated and you become hypo thyroid (not enough). They though my nodules were cancerous so they removed them and I had several the size of golf balls and my thyroid was nine inches long and weighed 4 lbs 5-6x's the normal size. This all happened in December, and I had it checked at my 6wk post partum in September. So it was fast.
But no cancer and the recovery was long and I am still dealing with the thyroid stuff, it isn't regulated.
So get it checked and follow it. It can change and fast! And there is also something called type 2 hypothyroid that they can't check with bloodwork. So be aware of that too. They go by your hystory and symptoms.
Good luck!

K.,

I have a goiter that I've had a biopsy on. It showed that I have a condition called Hoshimoto's disease. It affects my ability to stay pregnant. Women with Hoshimoto's are 4x more likely to miscarry even if all their thyroid levels are within the norm when they are NOT on medication. So when I want to get pregnant I have to be on medication and be monitored throughtout the pregnancy. I forget which it is but with this disease I can go either hypo or hyper with the thyroid. One is your product too much of the hormone and the other is too little of the it. Either way I need to be monitored for the rest of my life.
The one thing I would say is have your thyroid checked by an endocrynologist. They may do a biopsy which will tell you if there is an concern.

Good luck,
L. M

Hi K.,

I've had thyroid cysts for years which finally became a "multinodular goiter". I am followed by an endocrinologist and my thyroid levels are normal so unless I have compressive symptoms I am just leaving it alone. I see him yearly and have an ultrasound and blood levels done and it is stable now. Hopefully yours is the same type of thing.

S.

Hi K.,

I had one the size of a golf ball about 10 years ago. My PCP found it during a routine physical. He put me on medication and within a year it disappeared. I do get my thyroid tested regularly and haven't had any issues since. My OBGYN kept a close eye on it during my pregnancy three years ago but again no issues during the pregnancy. My advice, go see a good endocronologist!

Best of luck!
Sofia