THYROID DISEASE

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

Q: Does your thyroid gland have to be swollen for you to have a thyroid problem?
I have all of the symptoms of a thyroid problem except a swollen thyroid gland. So does it sound like I have a thyroid problem or does it sound like a different problem?

A: No, it does NOT have to be swollen and you should NOT be diagnosed on a thyroid blood panel only! Especially if the doc only blood tests for TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone). If he/she does then run do not walk from their office. TSH is your body’s thermostat which is secreted by your Pituitary Gland.

I learned the hard way from experience and now due to doctor’s misconceptions I had to have my thyroid surgically removed. I missed thyroid cancer by a hair width. I will be taking 2 pills 3 times per day for the rest of my life because of doctors solely relying on blood tests. I had a sub-clinical thyroid condition (meaning blood tests within the normal to low normal range) which later resulted in a autoimmune disease thyroid condition. I should have been diagnosed based on symptoms, but it takes a doc with a lot of knowledge to think outside the 4-corners of their medical textbook and guts too. My symptoms began 15 years ago and it took 15 years to hit rock bottom for my disease to surface on blood tests but then it became an autoimmune disease and was TOO LATE. Autoimmune disease is where your immune system turns against you and it begins to attack your body.

Also, I found that specialists such as Endocrinologists were the least informed. I found that they were quick to push mental health drugs treating only the symptoms and not getting to the root of the real problem. Go to the library and SELF-EDUCATE, read all books by patient advocate Mary J. Shomon, Doctors Ridha Ahrem and Steven F. Hotze. Once you learn just how important the thyroid is to your body’s well being and how it functions, then you will be able to connect the dots. You know your body better than anyone.

If you can remember one key important fact which is that some/most doctors medicate using the T-4 hormone (a thyroid pro-hormone) only, but a patient’s problem could lie with the assimilation of the T-3 hormone (the thyroids active hormone). After T-4 enters cells it must be converted into T-3 which is the active active form of thyroid hormone (active OUTSIDE of your blood stream) it is what effects your mental health (depression), memory, fatigue, body temperature, muscle strength, cholesterol level, weight, hair, skin, nails, etc. A complete hormone panel is key too (estrogens, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, cortisol,melatonin). I prefer hormone testing using saliva over blood, which unfortunately, the majority of insurance plans do not cover. I feel it is money well spent.

Good Luck and Be Well.

Q: I have a swollen thyroid gland in my neck?
I have a swollen thyroid gland in my neck.?
I dont know how long my neck been swollen i just felt my neck the other day and it was swollen.From the beginning of this year i have been itching,lost weight, lost muscle mass,weakness,nausea, headaches that comes from my neck etc.I have been to the hospital 3 times and no help because i have no insurance.Well i started a new job and i get my insurance in 30 days.Should i wait till then to go back to to the hospital.

A: I wouldn’t wait for 30 days, and I wouldn’t go to the hospital. Medical doctors are trained to drug and cut.

A better bet would be to find a good chiropractor/nutritional specialist to help. Your symptoms could indicate several things. You could have some nutritional deficiency (even though you think you eat well), and you would be surprised what nutritional deficiencies can cause.

Or, you may be coming into contact with something that your body is over-sensitive to, and there are nutritional supplements to help allergies. Some chiropractors can test you for sensitivities. More and more insurance plans are covering chiropractic.

Q: Swollen thyroid gland for 15 years?
Hello, I am 30 and I have swollen thyroid gland ever since I remember. There is no lump protruding or swollen lymph. My neck looks puffy evenly. While doctors always look at my thyroid, they never bothered to test it. My thyroid blood work is normal always. Recently I visited a doc and he wanted to do a scan. I am really worried, keep googling. Can someone share what could be the reason?

A: hi hun well you def have what is called a goiter now what is causing can be a lack of iodine do you ahve iodine salt since your lab is normal then that can be a cause or you can have another endocrin gland not working rite like say maybe the pituitary gland in your brain do you have headaches? because if you thyroid gland is normal levels it can be another gland affected your thyroid you can also have a thyroid nodule that is secreting some stuff to make it enlarge that is def good they are doing a scan is this your first scan of the thyroid becuase 15 years is a long wait but do not worry this sounds like something treatable just sorry for the long wait and dont think its cancer becuase if it was you would be really sick by now after 15 years!!!good luck

Q: Thyroid gland swollen and fingers tremor?
Whenever I move my pinky finger to a certain position it starts to shake or tremor badly. It is only when I stretch it out to the side and my thyroid gland is swollen…Any ideas why this is happening. It just started an hour ago

A: you need to see a doc .your condition maybe hyperthyroidism or execess thyroxine in the blood

Q: Swollen thyroid gland?
When the thyroid gland is swollen and feels hard is it definately cancer? i have two what seems like small balls at the front middle of my neck. the doctor ordered i get blood tests and im really worried.

A: No its not definitely cancer. In October 2008 I found one single lump in my neck, it didn’t go away for 2weeks. Went to the doctors and they told me that it may be something ’sinister’. Blood tests were taken and nothing turned up. So I was sent to a different doctor, still nothing was found out. I was then sent to a thyroid specialist.. I had a biopsy on it. Again they couldn’t tell what the lump was. I was told that the lump was a tumor of some sort and that it was either malignant or benine, they couldn’t tell until it was out what it actually was. I had a choice to make, get it out or keep it in and get it treated. So I chose to get it out. In september 2009 I had my thyroid and the lump removed on the right side of my neck, left a scar, and I found out it was benine wooo it wasn’t cancerous!!

Don’t get scared. It may not be that bad.

On the other hand I know a lady who had the same as me but it was cancerous.. Shes fine now though no more cancer..

If you wanna talk about it e-mail me

blinux@yahoo.com

Hope I helped!!!

Q: swollen thyroid gland?
lately i’ve had the feeling of my the area of my throat where my thyroid is being swollen. when i swallow, feels like there’s something there, that kind of swelling. not a tonsil though, but the same feeling if you’ve ever had swollen tonsils. there is no pain but i do have other symptoms of a slow thyroid. anyone have any info on this before i blow money at the dr.’s office?

A: ask your doc for an ultrasoud and thyroid panel blood test…this would rule out goiter…good luck………

Q: Thyroid Gland Swollen?
Went to my doc. yesturday and he said that my thyroid gland was swollen, should I be worried? has anyone else outhere experienced this? ifso what was the outcome. The doc. says it will take 7-10 days to get the blood results, meanwhile All kinds of thoughts are going throuh my mind!

A: Coming from a family that has thyroid problems, I can assure you that probably nothing is wrong. Additionally if something is “abnormal” it doesn’t mean that it is bad. Thyroid problems are super common especially in women, but if you haven’t been noticing anything else except swollen glands (like hair loss, weight gain, feeling freezing no matter what, etc) then you likely have nothing to worry about. Glands get swollen because of being sick or overtired, etc. Sometimes glands get growth around them also which is often harmless as well. In the case that something is the matter, I also recommend you seek a second opinion– not necessarily to refute that something is wrong but to make sure you get the proper treatment. Different doctors handle things different ways and you want to do your research and get the best available. Good luck and don’t worry

Q: My thyroid gland is very swollen since i was a child, now i am a young adult and it is still swollen.?
Its very uncomfortable when i take pictures, and when i wear sorting clothes. It does not bother health wise so far. But it is still hard for my body to get on birth Control, i feel very sick on it. Does it have to anything with it? And can this deformed gland affect my pregnancy one day?

A: You might have a goiter (enlarged thyroid) or nodule. Your thyroid gland should not be bothering you. I think you should go to your doctor and explain what your are feeling. Also, some thyroid diseases can affect your ability to get pregnant, so it’s best to treat your problem before getting pregnant.

Q: Swollen thyroid?
Just my tentative diagnosis:

Retrosternal goiter pressing on viens to neck and head – in the hole at the top of the rib cage. (Thyroid gland in front of neck swells up to large size and goes down into chest through said hole.) Makes breathing difficult on occasion, especially apparently when stomach large, because the lungs have restricted volume into which to expand?

Feel faint when stand from bending position, especially if worked in bending position. Ditto when look up or, less so, to the side.

Ditto if take deep breath, hold it, release breath – then, after release faintness (mention because had x-ray yesterday).

Ditto if don’t wear glasses, sometimes.

Ditto a bit if talk.

Anybody know anything about this sort of thing?

A: These articles may be of interest:

http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic916.htm

http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFilePath=journals/ija/vol10n1/goiter.xml

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/klu/268/2006/00000030/00000011/00000011

http://lib.bioinfo.pl/pmid:16544733

BUT overall you need to get some medical advice (NOT Yahoo Answers!) as it is possible that to ascertain that something else unpleasant is or iss not there, and or determine whether surgery is necessary, this is the only sensible thing to do.

Q: Dull Headache, Sore Neck, Swollen left thyroid gland?
Hi, I am wondering if someone could maybe help me figure out whats wrong with me. Its nothing too severe, so telling me to go to the doctor won’t help…as I probably will if it persists or worsens…I am not stupid . So onto the symptoms, they are: Swollen left side of neck, assuming thyroid glands as its right under my chin and hurts when I swallow, but I could be wrong…Sore back of my tongue more so than a sore throat, a very dull lingering headache that I feel particularly at the sides of my head and the front, even a bit in the middle, its like a pulsing dull pain…and my neck is also sore. I don’t know if this has anything to do with my problem, or not but I find my vision lately has become a bit more blurry than usual. This could be due to my “ailment” or simply to the fact that I play too much world of warcraft. I’ve also had some strange bumps/rashes arise within the past few weeks as well. Again, not sure if that has anything to do with it.

Thanks for your help, looking forward to reading some answers.
Also having pain behind my ears, forgot to add that
Edit: Thanks to barb for telling me they’re actually my lymph nodes, much appreciated thanks for the input

A: Those are lymph glands, not your thyroid. The thyroid is more toward the base of the throat in the middle (like where the Adam’s apple would be if you were a guy). Probably have a low-grade virus. Push fluids, get plenty of rest, and take medication for your aches as needed (with the advice of an adult).

Q: Can certain foods, like raw spinach or other greens, cause your thyroid gland to swell?
I have been eating lots, and I mean LOTS of fresh produce, especially strong tasting lettuce/greens from my friend’s garden and my thyroid gland in my neck has become swollen, and feels quite uncomfortable. Does anyone have experience re this? Thanks!

A: Yes, eating too many of a certain type of veggie can cause thryoid problems, or it can make you more aware of the thryoid problems you already have.

What you are experiencing is called a goiter.

A number of commonly eaten foods have been shown to interfere with the use of iodine by the thyroid, thus reducing production of thyroid hormone and causing goiter. These foods, known as goitrogens, include vegetables in the Brassica family such as broccoli, cabbage, kale and mustard,17 millet,18 soybeans,19 pine nuts20 and some seed meals used in animal feeds.21, 22 These foods can be safely eaten in moderate amounts by people who consume adequate iodine.23 A combination of low iodine intake and high intake of goitrogenic foods increases the likelihood of goiter.24, 25

Nutrient deficiencies, including zinc,26manganese27 and vitamin A,28, 29 and severe protein malnutrition30 also contribute to an inability to use iodine well and to the development of goiter.31, 32 In the presence of adequate iodine supplies, it is less common for such factors to cause goiter;33, 34 however, when iodine intake becomes deficient, even mild malnutrition can have such a negative impact on thyroid function.35, 36 High levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium, and certain bacteria in drinking water, have also been shown to be goitrogenic.37, 38 Therefore, proper nutrition and a healthy water supply are crucial in the prevention and treatment of goiter.

If I were you, I’d make an appointment with my doctor, and ask him to test your TSH, your Free T3 and Free T4. Then if those come back outside of the ranges (or in the bottom 1/4 of the ranges-low), I’d look for a good Thyoid Doctor.

I believe there is even a Top Doc Thyroid website or something…ah, yes:

http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/

Good luck.

Q: Did Cytomel cause my thyroid gland to swell up?
I have been on Cytomel for about 2 months. Around 2 weeks ago, I thought my double-chin looked a little more doubled. Then 3 days ago, I really noticed my thyroid gland is swollen up!

The soonest appointment I could get with my Endo is in about 3 weeks.

Could the Cytomel have caused this? Is this something I need to be seen for right away?

A: If dose is too small on RARE occasions it can happen.

Q: Question about the Thyroid gland. Is there anything you can do if it is swollen?
My husband got a cold about a month ago now, and just about the time he was getting over it he started getting this kind of lump in his throat. It made it hard to breathe and swallow at times but otherwise was just there. We did some personal research on what it could be and we discovered it was his Thyroid that was swollen.

We went to the doctor to have it checked out. He suggested we do an ultra sound to make sure there are no groiters or nodules, which there weren’t, but it was swollen. Also, at the doctor, he ran a blood test on his hormones and found that all his hormone levels are fine, at least the hormones that would effect his thyroid gland.

So now we are waiting to see a specialist for the thyroid because we don’t know what is causing the swelling.

My question then is: Has anyone ever had swelling in the thyroid? If so what did you do about it or did it go away on its own over time?

Thanks!

A: One of my friends parents had it once they removed part of the gland.
here is a site that might help you.

http://www.patient.co.uk/pdf/pilsL715.pdf

Q: Swollen thyroid means?!?!?
I went to the doctor today for swollen salivary glands and she told me that my thyroid gland was swollen. She made me take a blood test. What am I being tested for? The bottom of my tongue is swollen and extremely painful, was the cause of my concern.

A: I had a swollen thyroid gland after the birth of my daughter. I took antibiotics for 10 days and it shrunk. A swolen thyroid gland could be from infection, hormones or an underactive thyrroid gland. Your doctor did testing to see if the gland is underactiv. Most likely a TSH was done. If the TSH is over 3.0, you should be put on some sort of thyroid medication to shrink the gland.

Follow up testing once started on meds should be in about 6 weeks. Make sure to have this testing done first thing in the morning only, so that the doctor can see your levels when they are near the high point. If possible, also have a free t4, free t3, and an antibody test. These tests along with TSH will provide a clearer picture of what is going on.

Q: swollen thyroid glad? help?
i have only one swollen thyroid gland and my friend made it seem like it’s not a big deal, but its be swollen for many months now and whenever i get sick again, it’s that one that ends up hurting while the other one is fine. Should i go to the doctor or is it something i should just leave it alone?

A: do you have iodine in your diet? because iodine defficiency can cause goiter disease, which is the swelling of the thyroid glands. if you eat iodized salt or stuff, you should be ok, but still, i reccomend that you go to the doctor.