Guest guest Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 Hi, I'm new here. I was just diagnosed with a goiter. Its small, and was scanned. I've suffered Thyroid problems since I was young and gained weight. I'm taking levoxyl and other meds, but this is the first I've gotten a goiter. I'm scared, and uncertain as to my future, and I've made an appointment with an endo doctor but don't know what they are going to do when I go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 A goiter is a thyroid gland that has increased it's size as it tries to produce more thyroid hormone. Goiter is also used in some cases when the gland is enlarged due to nodules that have formed within the gland. They will most likely do blood tests to get an idea of what is going on, then possibly a scan of the gland itself. It's scary to not know what is going on, most of us have been where you are now, waiting to see what's up. A handy thing to do is to bring a notebook with you and jot down what the doc says, so that you don't forget. Take along a list of your symptoms so that you don't forget to mention something. Request a hard copy of your labs, if they ask why just say you want to be able to keep track. Later, if you'd like, you can share the lab results with us, posting your levels and the lab's ranges and we'll help you to better understand what the numbers are saying. Welcome to our little family... Topper () On Fri, 20 Jan 2006 22:36:23 -0600 "My Group" writes: Hi, I'm new here. I was just diagnosed with a goiter. Its small, and was scanned. I've suffered Thyroid problems since I was young and gained weight. I'm taking levoxyl and other meds, but this is the first I've gotten a goiter. I'm scared, and uncertain as to my future, and I've made an appointment with an endo doctor but don't know what they are going to do when I go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 Hi and Welcome, In order for us to get a better picture of what is going on in your body would you mind answering a few questions??? What Thyroid problems have you been living with for many years? Have you been diagnosed with anything else? What meds and how much and when are you taking these meds? Do you have a copy of your last blood work up? Would you mind posting the results, at least the TSH, the Free T4 and the Free T3 along with the lab ranges? When I went in to have my Thyroid " checked out " They did a sonic wave graph test, kinda like what they do when they want to see the baby when its still in the womb. (guys, cover your eyes here- if you are large chested, suggest to the nurse that is going to run the test to place a pillow under your shoulders/neck, arch your neck back a bit and with the slope from the pillow the tissue from the chest will let gravity move it away from the base of the neck area, kinda like a low pyramid with the point being right at the base of your neck/where it joins the shoulders. Okay guys you can uncover your eyes now) Took a tiny tiny needle sample..nothing to it...Some people have problems seeing needles, if this is the case let the nurse or doc know this ahead of time. They did quite a bit of blood lab work. Raised my meds, changed my meds and told me to get more sleep...I was not sleeping well at the time...too much stress in my life. hope this helps a little bit... Looking forward to seeing your answers to the questions... Gossimer (we might take a little while to answer this weekend...please be patient... with us.) > > Hi, I'm new here. I was just diagnosed with a goiter. Its small, and was scanned. > > I've suffered Thyroid problems since I was young and gained weight. > > I'm taking levoxyl and other meds, but this is the first I've gotten a goiter. > > I'm scared, and uncertain as to my future, and I've made an appointment with an endo doctor but don't know what they are going to do when I go. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 Hi and Welcome, In order for us to get a better picture of what is going on in your body would you mind answering a few questions??? What Thyroid problems have you been living with for many years? Have you been diagnosed with anything else? What meds and how much and when are you taking these meds? Do you have a copy of your last blood work up? Would you mind posting the results, at least the TSH, the Free T4 and the Free T3 along with the lab ranges? When I went in to have my Thyroid " checked out " They did a sonic wave graph test, kinda like what they do when they want to see the baby when its still in the womb. (guys, cover your eyes here- if you are large chested, suggest to the nurse that is going to run the test to place a pillow under your shoulders/neck, arch your neck back a bit and with the slope from the pillow the tissue from the chest will let gravity move it away from the base of the neck area, kinda like a low pyramid with the point being right at the base of your neck/where it joins the shoulders. Okay guys you can uncover your eyes now) Took a tiny tiny needle sample..nothing to it...Some people have problems seeing needles, if this is the case let the nurse or doc know this ahead of time. They did quite a bit of blood lab work. Raised my meds, changed my meds and told me to get more sleep...I was not sleeping well at the time...too much stress in my life. hope this helps a little bit... Looking forward to seeing your answers to the questions... Gossimer (we might take a little while to answer this weekend...please be patient... with us.) > > Hi, I'm new here. I was just diagnosed with a goiter. Its small, and was scanned. > > I've suffered Thyroid problems since I was young and gained weight. > > I'm taking levoxyl and other meds, but this is the first I've gotten a goiter. > > I'm scared, and uncertain as to my future, and I've made an appointment with an endo doctor but don't know what they are going to do when I go. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 > > Hi, I'm new here. I was just diagnosed with a goiter. Its small, and was scanned. > > I've suffered Thyroid problems since I was young and gained weight. > > I'm taking levoxyl and other meds, but this is the first I've gotten a goiter. > > I'm scared, and uncertain as to my future, and I've made an appointment with an endo doctor but don't know what they are going to do when I go. Can you say what kind of scan ? Was it ultrasound ? Was it a Thyroid Uptake Scan to see what parts of your thyroid are working (warm) and if there are parts that aren't (cold)? You would have had to go radioactive for the latter. Get copies of every test done on you, bloodwork included. You say you've made an appt with an endo dr. Do you mean you have not been under the care of an endo ? If so, you have time to dr shop and find an endo that you are comfortable having. If you are thinking cancer, there's a yahoo group called Thyca that is just about thyroid cancer and can give excellent advice about the dr care to get along the way. There's also a group called Thyca Mental challenges, that is just about the emotional side to all of this. Need not know you have cancer to be in either one. If you are thinking cancer, thyroid cancer grow very, very, very slowly. Taking months to educate yourself and make sure you get the advice and care you need, most of the time will not make a difference in how much the cancer grows. jane goiter found 9/05 every test known to humankind done 9/05 to 11/05 <g> thyroid removed, dx as papillary cancer 11/05 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 > > Hi, I'm new here. I was just diagnosed with a goiter. Its small, and was scanned. > > I've suffered Thyroid problems since I was young and gained weight. > > I'm taking levoxyl and other meds, but this is the first I've gotten a goiter. > > I'm scared, and uncertain as to my future, and I've made an appointment with an endo doctor but don't know what they are going to do when I go. Can you say what kind of scan ? Was it ultrasound ? Was it a Thyroid Uptake Scan to see what parts of your thyroid are working (warm) and if there are parts that aren't (cold)? You would have had to go radioactive for the latter. Get copies of every test done on you, bloodwork included. You say you've made an appt with an endo dr. Do you mean you have not been under the care of an endo ? If so, you have time to dr shop and find an endo that you are comfortable having. If you are thinking cancer, there's a yahoo group called Thyca that is just about thyroid cancer and can give excellent advice about the dr care to get along the way. There's also a group called Thyca Mental challenges, that is just about the emotional side to all of this. Need not know you have cancer to be in either one. If you are thinking cancer, thyroid cancer grow very, very, very slowly. Taking months to educate yourself and make sure you get the advice and care you need, most of the time will not make a difference in how much the cancer grows. jane goiter found 9/05 every test known to humankind done 9/05 to 11/05 <g> thyroid removed, dx as papillary cancer 11/05 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 > > Hi, I'm new here. I was just diagnosed with a goiter. Its small, and was scanned. > > I've suffered Thyroid problems since I was young and gained weight. > > I'm taking levoxyl and other meds, but this is the first I've gotten a goiter. > > I'm scared, and uncertain as to my future, and I've made an appointment with an endo doctor but don't know what they are going to do when I go. Can you say what kind of scan ? Was it ultrasound ? Was it a Thyroid Uptake Scan to see what parts of your thyroid are working (warm) and if there are parts that aren't (cold)? You would have had to go radioactive for the latter. Get copies of every test done on you, bloodwork included. You say you've made an appt with an endo dr. Do you mean you have not been under the care of an endo ? If so, you have time to dr shop and find an endo that you are comfortable having. If you are thinking cancer, there's a yahoo group called Thyca that is just about thyroid cancer and can give excellent advice about the dr care to get along the way. There's also a group called Thyca Mental challenges, that is just about the emotional side to all of this. Need not know you have cancer to be in either one. If you are thinking cancer, thyroid cancer grow very, very, very slowly. Taking months to educate yourself and make sure you get the advice and care you need, most of the time will not make a difference in how much the cancer grows. jane goiter found 9/05 every test known to humankind done 9/05 to 11/05 <g> thyroid removed, dx as papillary cancer 11/05 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 Thanks for the info. I was concerned. Does a goiter mean you have to have surgery to have it removed or have a nodule removed? They just said I have a goiter at this point. I know nothing more. Radiation scares me, was yours cancerous? Re: Re: Goiter I had my thyroid killed off 15 years ago.. with radiation.... it was twice normal size but didn't really show, just looking at it.... so it was all inside.... after the gland is killed it just shrivels up, I've been told it's like a grape shrinking down to a raisin..... my neck hasn't collapsed.... There are others here that have had their glands removed surgically... I don't remember anyone saying that they had littler necks...... Topper () On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 10:34:43 -0600 "My Group" writes: I don't know if its cancer. I read 95% are non-cancerous, or 80-95%. Thyroid removed? Can you survive without one? Doesn't that hurt? Wouldn't your neck like collapse? The type of test done was a ultrasound. Then I was told to go to an endo, so I'll see one of those. BTW I've had thyroid problems since a kid, but symptoms of numbness throughout my body didn't start until around 99. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 Thanks for the info. I was concerned. Does a goiter mean you have to have surgery to have it removed or have a nodule removed? They just said I have a goiter at this point. I know nothing more. Radiation scares me, was yours cancerous? Re: Re: Goiter I had my thyroid killed off 15 years ago.. with radiation.... it was twice normal size but didn't really show, just looking at it.... so it was all inside.... after the gland is killed it just shrivels up, I've been told it's like a grape shrinking down to a raisin..... my neck hasn't collapsed.... There are others here that have had their glands removed surgically... I don't remember anyone saying that they had littler necks...... Topper () On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 10:34:43 -0600 "My Group" writes: I don't know if its cancer. I read 95% are non-cancerous, or 80-95%. Thyroid removed? Can you survive without one? Doesn't that hurt? Wouldn't your neck like collapse? The type of test done was a ultrasound. Then I was told to go to an endo, so I'll see one of those. BTW I've had thyroid problems since a kid, but symptoms of numbness throughout my body didn't start until around 99. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 Many goiters and nodules shrink after adding thyroid replacement hormone.. it all depends on what is causing the enlargement.... Radiation should be the LAST choice.... only if medication and surgery aren't gonna do what needs to be done. My gland wasn't cancerous... I'm one of the few with a genetic defect.... without getting into tons of detail.... my gland didn't have instruction for when to go fast and when to go slow... and the peddle got stuck in fast... by the time I got a doc that knew what was up... they had to stop it before it stopped me.. .so they zapped it and killed it.... Cancer of the thyroid is not very common... most often it's an autoimmune disorder.. where the body gets confused and thinks that the gland doesn't belong anymore..... don't worry... once they get more tests done to determine what's up... we'll help you to understand it better. Topper () On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 14:13:46 -0600 "My Group" writes: Thanks for the info. I was concerned. Does a goiter mean you have to have surgery to have it removed or have a nodule removed? They just said I have a goiter at this point. I know nothing more. Radiation scares me, was yours cancerous? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 Many goiters and nodules shrink after adding thyroid replacement hormone.. it all depends on what is causing the enlargement.... Radiation should be the LAST choice.... only if medication and surgery aren't gonna do what needs to be done. My gland wasn't cancerous... I'm one of the few with a genetic defect.... without getting into tons of detail.... my gland didn't have instruction for when to go fast and when to go slow... and the peddle got stuck in fast... by the time I got a doc that knew what was up... they had to stop it before it stopped me.. .so they zapped it and killed it.... Cancer of the thyroid is not very common... most often it's an autoimmune disorder.. where the body gets confused and thinks that the gland doesn't belong anymore..... don't worry... once they get more tests done to determine what's up... we'll help you to understand it better. Topper () On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 14:13:46 -0600 "My Group" writes: Thanks for the info. I was concerned. Does a goiter mean you have to have surgery to have it removed or have a nodule removed? They just said I have a goiter at this point. I know nothing more. Radiation scares me, was yours cancerous? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 Anything related to the thyroid should be monitored by an endo, or ENT. Primary care docs just know the basics and that's not enough. Once we educate ourselves, we probably know more than them. If a primary care doc has been treating you all these years, most likely it hasn't been top treatment. When you go for any test, ask them to send a copy to you. You can also ask the doc for a copy, either receive it there or sent to you via snail mail or fax. What is your thyroid diagnosis? Hypothyroid is a symptom, not the diagnosis. You want to find out why it is hypo. If I understand, with an u/s all they can differentiate is whether it's a solid mass in the goiter or a cystic (fluid filled)mass. If it showed solid, most likely more tests will be done to figure out better what it is, and rule out cancer. Having a thyroid removed does hurt, it varies. Some only need Tylenol, I used pain meds for 3 days. Wasn't the incision that hurt, but the muscles in the neck where the thyroid used to be. And no, head isn't wobbly or collapses cuz it isn't the thyroid that's keeping it stable, but all the muscles in the neck, front and back. When a thyroid is removed, we are on replacement thyroid meds for the rest of our life. Same as you already take, but probably higher doses. jane > > I don't know if its cancer. I read 95% are non-cancerous, or 80- 95%. Thyroid removed? Can you survive without one? Doesn't that hurt? Wouldn't your neck like collapse? > > The type of test done was a ultrasound. Then I was told to go to an endo, so I'll see one of those. > > BTW I've had thyroid problems since a kid, but symptoms of numbness throughout my body didn't start until around 99. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 Anything related to the thyroid should be monitored by an endo, or ENT. Primary care docs just know the basics and that's not enough. Once we educate ourselves, we probably know more than them. If a primary care doc has been treating you all these years, most likely it hasn't been top treatment. When you go for any test, ask them to send a copy to you. You can also ask the doc for a copy, either receive it there or sent to you via snail mail or fax. What is your thyroid diagnosis? Hypothyroid is a symptom, not the diagnosis. You want to find out why it is hypo. If I understand, with an u/s all they can differentiate is whether it's a solid mass in the goiter or a cystic (fluid filled)mass. If it showed solid, most likely more tests will be done to figure out better what it is, and rule out cancer. Having a thyroid removed does hurt, it varies. Some only need Tylenol, I used pain meds for 3 days. Wasn't the incision that hurt, but the muscles in the neck where the thyroid used to be. And no, head isn't wobbly or collapses cuz it isn't the thyroid that's keeping it stable, but all the muscles in the neck, front and back. When a thyroid is removed, we are on replacement thyroid meds for the rest of our life. Same as you already take, but probably higher doses. jane > > I don't know if its cancer. I read 95% are non-cancerous, or 80- 95%. Thyroid removed? Can you survive without one? Doesn't that hurt? Wouldn't your neck like collapse? > > The type of test done was a ultrasound. Then I was told to go to an endo, so I'll see one of those. > > BTW I've had thyroid problems since a kid, but symptoms of numbness throughout my body didn't start until around 99. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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