Enlarged thyroid gland....anyone else have this...

I am 16 months out and am doing fine...went to the doctor today for a follow-up on a mammogram and I have an enlarged thyroid gland in the front of my neck...I am going next week for more tests....anyone else had this or heard of this....any info would be greatly appreciated

I had this prior to my surgery, but mine was due to polycystic ovarian syndrome. They weren't too concerned because it wasn't overly enlarged. Good luck

I had a thyroid CT and biopsy yesterday. My thyroid has three very large nodules in it and one small one. Most people have nodules. However, mine are causing coughing fits at night when I am sleeping and sometimes feel like a big hand is around my neck, not to mention it looks like my neck is fatter than it is. So, now that we know it is not cancer (which is VERY rare) I will be seeing my doctor for her recommendations. Now, if they decide the thyroid or the nodules need to come out, I am going for a neck remodel, too. I mean, while in the neighborhood and all........ tee

Thanks for your response....was the biopsy painful?....I know...I am a weanie...just curious to what I may be facing...any insight and updates you could give me would be appreciated. Dana

No updates yet. The CT was easy, like any gooy CT. The biopsy is usually done after they freeze the neck with lidocaine. I figured if they are going to give a needle of lidocaine, they might as well just do the biopsy. So, I opted for no numbing. The truth is that it is a little painful. I have a high pain threshold and am not a weenie about this stuff. They take several samples from the nodules and give them immediately to a pathologist. I had three nodules. They took roughly six samples. Then they give you a cold pack to put on your neck to help with swelling. I did not swell up. My neck was a little stiff in the evening. That's it. I would not consider it painful, but it was somewhat uncomfortable. The results were worth it, though.........NO cancer! tee

Yeahhhhh!! NO cancer is GREAT!!! Didn't know you were going through this - glad cancer was ruled out. You is crazy not getting numbed girl! I'm such a weenie I have to get help (as in Valium or laughing gas) just to get the novacaine. I actually have a fairly high pain threshold, but it's my hold still and stop fretting problem that drives me and the docs to drugs. The worrying is the horrible part about getting tests done, and I'm glad you got your good news. What's with the thyroid gods? Dr. Hong called and mine is really low, despite being on a fairly whopping dose of thyroxine? We are going to start with seeing if I am not absorbing it as well as a post-op. I'm going to start taking it on an empty stomach and switch to the non-generic brand. Hope that does the trick. Hope your throat troubles are on the retreat. If you are in S.W. any time let's have lunch and I'll drive you around and show you which houses I am lusting for. Our's is officially for sale now. Patty

Dana, About 2 years out, I discovered a knot under my arm. Several tests and scans later, the surgeon decided to just take it out, so he did with a biopsy that showed no cancer, not even a cyst, just a knot of blood vessels (???); meantime, during the scans, they noticed my thyroid was enlarged. I guess before I lost 100+ lbs no one noticed it before. More tests showed hyperactive thyroid, which was weird because all my symptoms pointed to hypo (or under active) thyroid. After watching the levels go up for many months, endocrinologist decided to nuke the sucker. Yep, he gave me radioactive iodine to kill off the thyroid. Now I am underactive, which means I'll have to take some kind of thyroid meds for life, probably. Of course, an enlarged thyroid can be caused by many things, this was just my saga. Good luck, Carole