THYROID DISEASE

Read and learn more about enlarged thyroid gland. For more, visit the Thyroid Disease website ThyroidDiseaseWiki.com.

Q: What does an enlarged thyroid gland mean?
I went to the doctors this week for bronchitis. He mentioned that I had an enlarged thyroid gland. What does this mean? What causes this? How can it affect me? I have an appointment for a physical at the end of the month. I will ask my doctors these questions as well. I just wanted to see what others had to say about this.

A: The medical term for this is a Goiter. This can be cause by a generlized enlargement or asymmetric ( nodular)
There are a number of factors which may cause the thyroid to become enlarged. Common cause of goiter is an increase in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in response to a defect in normal hormone synthesis within the thyroid gland. The thyroid stimulating hormone comes from the pituitary and causes the thyroid to enlarge. This enlargement usually takes many years to become manifest.

Your doctor will probably run a variety of tests on you. Starting with Blood work. They will measure your T4 T3 and TSH levels (thyroid hormones)
He may choose to send you for a ultrasound as well. Depending on the results of those tests, it could lead to others.
Alot of times people have goiters and not even know it.

Educate yourself on the thyroid and disease of it. I’ve provided some links that might aid you in this.

Best of luck to you…

Q: If you had an enlarged thyroid gland, and it effected your weight gain, how much weight would you gain in one ?
If someone had an enlarged thyroid gland, and it happened to effect your weight gain, how much weight would you gain in a day?

I am just curious

A: I don’t know about in a day how much one would gain. I do however have enlarged thyroid. and how I have managed it was buying “iodized” “red cross” salt. I cook my food etc with it and so far it hasn’t bothered me in all these years. The reason I did this is because I overheard my mother say the doctor said to use iodized salt. My mother had her thyroid removed during the operation and they found cancer in and all around in there. By the way they didn’t tell her they removed the thyroid. Prior to the operation she had protruding eyes. swollen under the brow area, and the protruding neck area. Taking a crazy guess I would say you might accumulate 8 lbs in a day. But its not really in a day, it may look or feel that way. Any way thyroid messes with your metabolism. Good luck

Q: Can someone with enlarged thyroid gland be granted visa to work abroad?
Status: growth not advancing for 5 years by taking thyroxine hormone regularly(for hypothyroidism), not interferring with swallowing and not visible except on x ray examination. Have work on supervisory level as farm manager abroad already for 8 yrs without it causing a problem. I beleive having it operated on to remove it is not even the solution because the fact that it is hormonal the defeciency of thyroxine will still be there.

A: Shouldn’t be an issue

Q: What did your vet say about enlarged thyroid / goiter / grass gland?
I’ve heard different things that vets have said about enlarged thyroids in horses (also known as goitres/goiters/’grass gland’)

If your horse has had it, what did your vet tell you about it? To treat or not to treat?

Just interested to hear different opinions from vets.

A: Enlarged thyroids are almost always non-pathogenic (of little or no significance) in older horses, caused by a thyroid adenoma. In cats enlarged thyroids are usually associated with hyperthyroidism (over-active thyroid), however in horses this is virtually unheard of. So in an older animal (over 7 years) I would leave well alone unless the growth is so large that it is pressing on other local structures eg trachea or larynx.

In younger horses (especially under 2) an enlarged thyroid can be associated with a dietary imbalance of iodine, in which case I would suggest investigation starting with diet and a blood sample. Ultrasound of the region can also be helpful to confirm the location of the enlargement. These cases do require treatment according to the cause, as thyroid adenomas are not seen in such young animals.

Q: enlarged thyroid gland?
The last couple of days i have been having a wierd feeling in the throat when i swallow food or burp. It feels like there is already something in my throat when the food passes. Or if you ever have taken too big of a sip of water and it hurts going down thats what it feels like at one spot on my throat. Someone told me that this could be an enlarged thyroid gland. Does anyone know the symptoms of this or if what i’m describing could me anything else. Thanks.

A: thyroid is located in lower neck and unless grossly big does not cause difficulty with swallowing.
you have a throat problem.consult a ENT doctor and get your throat examined.

Q: how quickly does an enlarged thyroid gland grow?

A: My thyroid was normal for the first 24 years of my life, then went from the size of a marble to the size of a raquetball in about 2 years. It was very overactive and would have kept growing if I hadn’t had it taken out.

Q: is once enlarged thyroid gland will go back to its original shape…means if harmonal levels normalises. it go?
it goes back to its original shape or cosmetic surgery is must

A: Thyroid gland if is enlarged moderately, like in case of mild goitre, pregnancy, puberty, Thyroiditis etc.. I mean to say grade 1 to 3 enlarged thyroids in medical terms.. Will regress most of the times to its normal size after that period of stress… If these are the causes, do not worry… They even go back to norml size, if u are suffering from a hypothyroidism if u are initiated on the treatment with Elthroxin or Thyronorm etc…

But if its a solitary nodular enlargement, or a multinodular goitre, they regress, but cannot dissapear completely even after treatment… For these surgery might be required..

If its a diffuse enlargement and u are on treatment, than wait.. These regress on treatment.. But takes sometime, may be 6 months to 1 year…

Do not worry……….

Q: once your thyroid gland is enlarged is it possible it will ever go back to its normal size?
mine is slightly enlarged i ahve hyperthyroid with hyperthyroid medication can it bring it back to its normal size or once its enlraged it can enver go back to its normal size?? ok thnks

A: Yes, most goiters shrink once the underlying disease is treated, and the thyroid is brought back to normal.

Q: just found out i have a enlarged thyroid gland and a cyst on it. i need more help to understand it?

A: There’s are many good websites on thyroid. I’ll put a few of them below in the source section.

Are you having symptoms of hypothyroidism? They include; weight gain or the inability to lose weight, fatigue, depression, constipation, muscle & joint aches, headaches, sensitivity to light, dry skin, dry thining hair, brittle finger nails that often have ridges in them, ibs with constipation

Many times if one id hypothyroid and put on thyroid medication the nodules shrink from the added thyroid hormone. I suggest you learn as much as you can about the thyroid so that you get the best care.

Q: Enlarged thyroid gland?
I have a bump in the side of my neck that is smaller at the bottom and larger at the top, like an upside down pyramid. It is only on the left side, and I don’t feel anything strange in the middle or right side of my neck. The bump is always painful if I apply pressure. I was wondering what this was and whether I should see a doctor.
I went to the doctor because I did have enlarged lymph nodes a few weeks ago. This bump is larger though, about 1 inch at its longest. Also, I have not been feeling sick lately.

A: Your thyroid is not on the side of your neck, it’s below your adam’s apple. It sounds like you have a swollen lymph node, especially since it’s painful. If you had an illness or infection recently, that would most likely be the reason for it. If it doesn’t go away within a few weeks or gets bigger, see your doctor.

Q: i have slightly enlarged thyroid glands with diffuse parenchymal disease, what does it mean?
is diffuse parenchymal disease a serious illness? cos whenever i research the net, all i get is about thyroid cancer related answers

A: Hi Jo-ann. My advice to you would be to call your doctor and ask this question. I would want to find this information out from someone with medical knowledge, not somebody on Yahoo answers. I have Thyroid disease, and i have never even heard of Parenchymal Disease. Don’t scare yourself by things you read on the net. Ask your doctor so you can get the correct information. Good luck

Q: Is there any connection with a slightly enlarged thyroid and a head cold?
I noticed this week for the first time that my lower neck was slightly swollen (where my neck meets my collar bone). Soon after I developed a sore throat and symptoms of a head cold. Just wondering if these two things might be connected. I plan on seeing a doctor if the swelling continues in what I assume to be my thyroid gland (uniform swelling, very slight).
Actually, the thyroid is in front of and on the sides of the trachea. And, the swelling is in my lower front neck, not my lymph nodes or tonsils…

A: Yes there could be a connection. If you neck area is enlarged then it is very possible that you have an enlarged thyroid, or goiter. Often, a goiter is associated with thyroiditis which can not only cause your thyroid hormones to fluctuate, but cause a fever as well. The “cold like” symptoms can be an inflammatory response to the inflamed thyroid. If you are having other thyroid symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, tenderness in neck, increased/decreased energy, insomnia, heart palpitations, dry hair and skin, increased arthritic pains, or weight gain or loss…then it is very possible that there is a thyroid issue and you should see your doc. Hope this helps.

Q: Thyroid Gland …. 15 yrs old.? Please answer ♥?
Hi my name is Pinny and I am 15 years old.

I noticed my neck was swollen from the center and both sides and i went to my family doctor. And he told me to get a ultrasound. I went to the Hospital got and ultrasound done and then as soon as my family doctor got the report. My doctor immediately made an appointment at one of the largest childrens hospital in My city. I went there yesterday. And the doctor said i have an enlarged thyroid gland with increased vascularity. and my report said ” findings may reflect thyroiditis, of uncertain etiology. And in the right thyroid lobe, there are 2 predominately cystic nodules. and in the left thyroid lobe there is a predominantly cystic nodule.

Should I be worried ? please let me know I asked the doctor questions but he said he couldnt let me know anything until he got my report.

-Pinny.

A: Well you can technically live without your thyroid but you must take medication for the rest of your life. It is possible that they might just remove the cysts and you’ll be back to normal but if you’re thyroid is releasing too much or too little of the hormones, you’ll have to take medication. As long as they are not cancerous, then you should be ok.

Q: my 13 year old female cat has enlarged thyroid glands?
vet wants to remove them at the cost of $1200 and there would be a very high risk that my cat could die and then there is medication that she can be put on for the rest of her life that costs $30 per month. the vet really wants to do the operation instead and we can’t afford it but we can afford the pills.

A: While the surgery is the optimal correction for this procedure, many owners choose to manage hyperthyroid by medication. That is just fine as long as its controlling your cats symptoms. You may also want to call around town and find out if any of the vets in your area are liscenced to do radioactive iodine treatments, those usually work very well for these cats. Im not sure what the cost would be, definetly cheaper than surgery. If your have a exclusively feline practice in your area they could probably refer you to someone who could tell you more.

Q: Why do you think the thyroid gland enlarges in response to a deficiency of iodine in the diet?

A: Understanding Thyroid Problems — Treatment

WebMD Medical Reference

The Basics | Symptoms | Detection & Treatment

How Do I Know If I Have Them?

A doctor can diagnose hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism by testing the levels of thyroid hormones in your blood. Doctors measure hormones secreted by the thyroid itself, as well as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), a chemical released by the pituitary gland that triggers hormone production in the thyroid.

When you are hypothyroid, higher quantities of TSH are circulating in your blood as your body attempts to foster increased production of thyroid hormones. The reverse is true with hyperthyroidism, in which TSH levels are below normal and circulating thyroid-hormone levels are high.

To determine the cause of hyperthyroidism, doctors often use radioactive iodide uptake tests, which track the amount of iodide absorbed by the thyroid gland. Iodide, obtained from the foods we eat, is a key ingredient in the manufacture of thyroid hormone, so the amount of iodide the thyroid absorbs is a reliable indicator of how much hormone the gland is producing. For this test, you must swallow a small amount of radioactive iodide in liquid or capsule form. After a predetermined wait, the doctor places an instrument over your neck to measure how much of the radioactive iodide has gathered in your thyroid.

If the results of this test suggest that the gland is collecting excessive amounts of iodide, the doctor may then conduct a radioactive iodide uptake scan. In this test, the doctor uses a special film to create a picture that shows the exact location of the radioactive iodide in your thyroid gland. The scan will reveal, for example, if the iodide is collecting in adenomas, indicating that the nodules are responsible for the excess hormone. If the scan shows that the iodide is spread equally throughout the tissue, the whole thyroid is involved in the excess production.

Some doctors believe that blood tests may not be sensitive enough to detect milder forms of hypothyroidism. Instead, they advocate monitoring your body’s basal (resting) temperature. To track your basal temperature accurately, you must closely follow certain guidelines: Shake the thermometer below 95° F at night and place it where you can reach it without getting out of bed. The following morning, before you get out of bed, take your temperature via your armpit for 10 minutes while staying as still as possible. Keep records of your temperature for at least three days. (Women should do this during the first two weeks of the menstrual cycle, as their basal temperature may rise during the latter half.) Normal basal body temperatures fall between 97.4° F and 97.8° F. If your basal temperature is consistently low, you could be mildly hypothyroid.

If you have one or more adenomas, your doctor will want to keep careful records of when they were first found and how they develop, since not all adenomas produce excess thyroid hormone. In fact, most of these nodules are not malignant, especially if they remain the same size over long intervals. (Cancerous tissue, by contrast, will undergo noticeable growth.) Nodules that appear suddenly are typically fluid-filled cysts and are often benign. They can be evaluated with a noninvasive ultrasound exam. If blood tests indicate that the nodules are producing excess thyroid hormone, and if you have other symptoms, your doctor will treat you for hyperthyroidism.

In any case, you should receive periodic checkups if you have a nodule on your thyroid gland, since you may become hyperthyroid in the future. If your blood tests show elevated hormone levels, your doctor may recommend other tests, including radioactive iodide uptake tests and scans that indicate whether the nodules are “hot” or “cold.” Hot nodules, or those that are actively trapping iodide and producing too much thyroid hormone, are rarely cancerous. But cold nodules — those showing low iodide concentrations — indicate a possible malignancy and need to be investigated further.

One type of thyroid cancer can be diagnosed through a simple blood test that measures levels of a hormone involved in bone formation. In most cases, however, doctors check for thyroid cancer by performing an aspiration, or biopsy, which involves drawing cells from the suspect nodule with a fine needle to determine if the tissue is malignant.

What Are the Treatments?

For thyroid disorders stemming from the over- or underproduction of thyroid hormones, both conventional and alternative treatments offer varied methods to restore hormone levels to their proper balance. Conventional treatments rely mainly on drugs and surgery. Alternative treatments attempt to relieve some of the discomfort associated with thyroid problems, or to improve the function of the thyroid gland through a variety of approaches ranging from diet supplements and herbal remedies to lifestyle changes and special exercises. You should always receive a professional evaluation for any thyroid disorder; most of these conditions require a course of treatment beyond the scope of home care alone.

Conventional Medicine
Treating hyperthyroidism requires suppressing the manufacture of thyroid hormone, while hypothyroidism demands hormone replacement. Conventional medicine offers extremely effective techniques for lowering, eliminating, or supplementing hormone production. Before deciding which treatment is best for you, your doctor will make an evaluation based on your particular thyroid condition as well as your age, general health, and medical history.

Thyroid hormone production can be suppressed or halted completely with a radioactive iodide treatment, antithyroid medication, or surgery. If your doctor decides that radioactive treatment is best, you will be asked to swallow a tablet or liquid containing radioactive iodide in amounts large enough to damage the cells of your thyroid gland and limit or destroy their ability to produce hormones. Occasionally, more than one treatment is needed to restore normal hormone production, and many patients actually develop hypothyroidism as a result of this procedure. This is the most common therapy for hyperthyroidism in the United States.

If you start using antithyroid medications such as propylthiouracil or methimazole, which are usually administered in tablet form, your hyperthyroid symptoms should begin to disappear in about six to eight weeks, as hormones already in your system run out and the medication starts to impair the thyroid’s hormone production. However, you will need to continue taking the medication for about a year. After that time, you will also need to receive periodic medical exams to make sure that the condition has not returned.

Surgery is often recommended for people under 45 when their hyperthyroidism is due to toxic adenomas, since these nodules tend to be resistant to radioactive iodide. Once the tissue is removed surgically, hormone levels typically return to normal within a few weeks.

Although subacute thyroiditis can bring on temporary hyperthyroidism, this condition usually does not require medical treatment. Any pain associated with the inflamed thyroid can generally be relieved with acetaminophen or aspirin. If over-the-counter drugs don’t help, a doctor may prescribe prednisone or dexamethasone — powerful anti-inflammatory drugs — for a short period of time. Since both of these drugs may encourage the development of stomach ulcers and the loss of bone mass, however, ask your doctor if you should also be taking calcium supplements.

Hypothyroidism calls for a lifelong regimen of thyroid replacement. No surgical techniques or conventional drugs can increase the thyroid’s hormone production once it slows down. Although hormones from animal extracts are available, doctors generally prescribe synthetic forms of thyroid hormone, such as levothyroxine. Side effects are rare, but some people experience nervousness or chest pain while taking these drugs; usually, adjusting the levels of medication will alleviate any unpleasant effects. However, if you are also taking tricyclic antidepressants, estrogens, the blood thinning drug warfarin, the heart drug digitalis, or if you have diabetes, make sure that you and your doctor discuss any possible interactions or other complications. If you take calcium supplements, it is also recommended to take it 4 hours apart from levothyroxine, as calcium inhibits its absorption.

Thyroid cancer is usually treated by surgically removing either the cancerous tissue or the whole thyroid gland, a procedure known as a thyroidectomy. If the cancer has spread beyond the thyroid, any other affected tissue, such as the lymph glands in the neck, will also be removed.

Alternative Medicine
Thyroid problems are usually easily corrected with conventional medicine. Consult your endocrinologist about complementing your conventional treatment with alternative therapies, which aim to cleanse the system, restore immune function, and balance hormone production and release.

Naturopathy and TCM
A naturopath may treat your thyroid condition with homeopathic mixtures, herbs, preparations based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and acupuncture.

TCM considers thyroid disease to result from emotional distress and frustration. These block the life force energy (qi) in the liver and spleen; herbs and acupuncture release the qi. Acupuncture can reduce palpitations, irritability and insomnia.

Naturopaths are authorized to treat thyroid disease in some states; in others it is illegal. Check with your doctor or local health authority to see if your state allows naturopathic interventions.

Body Work and Nutrition
Chiropractors and osteopaths use spinal manipulation to treat thyroid disorders by reducing muscle tension and improving blood circulation.

A diet rich in protein, calcium, magnesium, and iodine supports thyroid function. You want to be sure you are receiving enough of all the B vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin C and selenium.

Avoid these products if you suffer from thyroid disease:

* The herb ephedra, found in herbal formulas, and its extracts ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, found in over-the-counter cold remedies, which can cause nervousness, insomnia, headache and high blood pressure.
* Alkaloids, including substances such as caffeine, morphine, and quinine, which increase blood pressure and heart rate.

Medically reviewed by Tracy Shuman, MD, August 2005.

SOURCES: American Academy of Family Physicians. The American Thyroid Association. EndocrineWeb.com, The Norman Endocrine Surgery Clinic. Community Health Care Medicial Library. Johns Hopkins University. US Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Mary Shoman, patient Advocate – About.com. T WebMD