I visited my endo today and she said I
have an elarged thyroid gland on my right
side. She has scheduled me for an
ultasound. Has anyone had an enlarged
thyroid gland, and how did it turn out?
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MandMs
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Posted: 06-02-08 03:15am
Having enlarged thyroid gland with only
one side enlarged enough to be felt, can
be a sign of thyroiditis, inflammation of
thyroid gland. One of the most common
thyroiditis is Hashimoto's thyroiditis
that leads to state of hypothyroidism.
Diffusely enlarged thyroid, can be due to
other condition (Graves' disease), when,
the thyroid is stimulated to produce and
secrete excess thyroid hormones into the
blood (hyperthyroidism)
Also, several types of nodules can develop
in the thyroid gland.
What kind of symptoms you have?
Have you been examined with ultrasound?
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eeyore46
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Posted: 06-02-08 03:31am
I am scheduled to have an ultrasound. My
thyroid levels always come back okay. I
have every symptom of hypothyroidism, but
the tests are always normal.
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MandMs
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Posted: 06-05-08 03:31am
When a diagnosis of hypothyroidism is
made, most of the doctors relay on blood
hormone levels.
Although your blood hormone levels have
"normal" ranges, other factors need to be
taken into account as well, such as the
presence or absence of symptoms.
Many patient will have this disease in
mild to moderate forms which are more
difficult to diagnose. Different people
will feel different with the same thyroid
hormone level.
It is not necessarily to make the lab
tests go into the normal range, but to
make you feel better as well!
So, even if a patient is in the "normal"
range, it may not be the normal level for
them.
In early hypothyroidism, the level of
thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) may be
normal.
That's why the main tool for the detection
of hypothyroidism is the measurement of
the TSH, the thyroid stimulating hormone.
The increase in TSH can actually precede
the fall in thyroid hormones by months or
years.
Have you been tested for specific thyroid
antibodies (anti-thyroid peroxidase
antibodies)?
Waiting for your post!
Marija
Last edited by MandMs on 07-16-08 04:57am; edited 1 time in total
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eeyore46
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Posted: 06-05-08 20:11pm
My TSH levels are always within normal
limits. My endo did do blood work, and
now I am scheduled for the ultrasound on
the 24th. Also, the right side of my neck
is slightly swollen as well as the
enlarged thyroid gland on my right side.
It seems I have every sign of
hypothyroidism, but again, the TSH levels
are with normal range. Thanks for your
reply.
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MandMs
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Posted: 06-17-08 10:48am
Were your TSH levels in the upper half of
the TSH test's normal range?
Have you experienced fluctuating results
for the TSH level in the past?
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eeyore46
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Posted: 06-17-08 19:25pm
I do not know about the upper or lower
level - I just know they always tell me
the TSH is within normal range. The endo
took blood work the day she found the
enlarged thryoid, but I will not know the
results until the 24th.
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eeyore46
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Posted: 06-26-08 00:10am
Well, I had my ultrasound for the enlarged
thyroid. It showed I had a small nodule 4
mm. The doctor said that was too small to
do a needle biopsy on so we will wait 6
months and do another ultrasound. My TSH
level was within normal range. Really no
explantion for the enlarged thyroid gland.
She indicated some people just have a
larger thyroid than others. Even though I
have most of the symptoms of
hypothyroidism, she said that my level was
normal so that no, I did not have
hypothyroidism. Now I guess I just wait
and see what happens in the next 6 months.
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eeyore46
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Hypothryroidism Posted: 07-03-08 22:28pm
Still worrying as to why I have an
enlarged thyroid gland. I have read many
articles and I have all of the symptoms of
Hashimoto's Disease, but since the TSH
level is normal, the doctor continues to
say no. However, she has no reason for the
enlargement. The nodule is very small
that the ultrasound detected, and she does
not think that is why my thryroid gland is
enlarged. Has anyone else experienced
this before?
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MandMs
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Posted: 07-09-08 05:22am
Have you been tested for specific thyroid
antibodies, characteristic for
Hashimoto's? (anti-thyroid peroxidase
antibodies)?
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eeyore46
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Posted: 07-09-08 19:01pm
I do not know. All she told me is that
my TSH level is normal and that I had an
enlarged thyroid and a small nodule. Are
there other tests? I guess because my TSH
was normal she did not feel the need to
test further.
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eeyore46
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MandMs Posted: 07-10-08 00:19am
What are special thyroid antibodies and
how do you detect them? (anti-thyroid
peroxidase antibodies) I am still worried
about the slight swelling in my neck. I
guess if I had a problem the untrasound
and blood work would have detectd it.
Thank you for your concern and replies.
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MandMs
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Posted: 07-16-08 06:54am
You are welcome!
Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the most common
cause of hypothyroidism state, is an
inflammation of the thyroid gland with
autoimmune nature (your own immune system
detects your thyroid gland as a foreign
part and produces antibodies against
thyroid gland).
Actually, these antibodies, known as
anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies, are
directed towards thyroid peroxidase, an
enzyme (protein) found within the thyroid
gland.
Interaction between enzyme and antibodies
leads to inflammation of the gland,
eventually, resulting in destroyed gland
and lack of thyroid hormones.
Patients with Hashimoto's, usually,
experience swelling of the thyroid gland
(due to the inflammation), leading to a
feeling of tightness or fullness in the
throat.
And, also, the enlarged thyroid gland is
felt as a lump in the front of the neck,
called a goiter.
Have a good, healthy day!
Marija
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eeyore46
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Posted: 07-16-08 23:00pm
Thank you so much for your reply. The
swelling is on the right lower side of my
neck/throat. Thus far, I do not have a
tightness or fullness in my throat.
Somethimes, when I swallow, it feels like
there is some tightness or narrowing. My
swelling is isolated on the right side.
Is is likely that in time my thyroid test
may show a negative TSH level? This far
- it is negative.
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MandMs
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Posted: 07-24-08 04:06am
The first sign of Hashimoto's disease may
be painless swelling in the lower front of
the neck.
Suspicious for this disease is always
present when the physician finds an
enlarged thyroid gland or abnormal blood
tests.
You can have Hashimoto's with a thyroid in
the process of autoimmune dysfunction,
but, the level of this dysfunction may not
be significant enough to register as an
out-of-range TSH level, but the presence
of antibodies may in fact generate
hypothyroid symptoms.
Many doctors will not treat patients who
present clinical symptoms of
hypothyroidism, test positive for
Hashimoto's antibodies, but have a normal
TSH level, known as being "euthyroid" --
or, "in the normal range" (their bodies
achieved to have enough thyroid
hormones).
Some endocrinologist, based on recent
studies (when people with autoantibodies,
but normal TSH levels, were treated with
low dose of thyroid hormone, after a year
experienced lowering of the autoantibodies
and other signs of inflammation) think
that low doses of thyroxine can stop the
progression of the disease.
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eeyore46
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Posted: 07-26-08 22:21pm
You sound very knowledgable on this
subject. Do you have a problem with your
thyroid? On my ultrasound it showed a
small nodule - they told me to come back
in 6 months. They also told my aunt this
same thing. She did this for a year. She
went to her gynecologist and on her
information sheet she listed a thyroid
nodule. Her doctor insisted she have a
dye test even though she had two
ultrasounds. They found six nodules and 3
were malignant. She went to MD Anderson
Cancer Center in Houston, Tx for surgery
and they were all contained within the
thyroid glands. Should I ask for the dye
test? Her thyroid gland was not swollen
as mine is and she had no symptoms.
Thanks for the reply.
You may be able to shrink your nodule with
a change in diet.
Check your food labels first of all, and
don't eat anything with soy in it.
Soy is notorious for causing thyroid
problems. All bread, many soups and
cereals have soy in them. Check EVERYTHING
you eat. Avoid soy like the plague. (It IS
a plague).
Consult a nutritionist and have your
iodine level checked. Call a nutritionist
anyway. They will probably know what to do
to help you.
Hope this helps.
Honeycomb
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MandMs
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eeyore46! Posted: 08-21-08 04:10am
You are welcome!
I don't have thyroid gland problem
myself.
You can ask for the dye test if you are
worrying, too much.
Please, inform me if you have some new
informations!
Marija
