7 Causes of Thyroid Goiter + Treatment & Symptom Guide

7 Causes of Thyroid Goiter + Treatment & Symptom Guide

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Evidence-Based

This guide will teach you everything you need to know if you have a Thyroid Goiter in plain simple terms including how to approach diagnosis, what treatment options are available, the types of conditions that cause goiters, and natural therapies.

What is a Thyroid Goiter?

A thyroid goiter is simply a way to describe the size of your thyroid gland. 

The term goiter literally means an “enlarged thyroid” gland (1).

It’s important to realize that the term goiter is ONLY a description, and it is NOT a diagnosis by itself. 

So if you’ve been diagnosed with a thyroid goiter your next and immediate question should be:

What caused my goiter? 

Because that is the question that really matters.

In some cases, the reason for your goiter may actually be reversible and in other cases, it may not be (2).

Goiters are routinely found by doctors during a physical exam

causes of a goiter in hypothyroid patients

During a physical exam, your doctor may feel your neck and notice that your thyroid is enlarged or simply does not feel normal. 

If this occurs then a workup should be started to identify if your goiter is actually causing problems or if it is considered “silent”. 

Another important point about Goiters is that they can manifest in all sorts of shapes and sizes. 

Traditionally we think of an enlarged thyroid gland caused by a goiter to be completely uniform or equally enlarged. 

You can think of this as basically hitting the supersize button on your thyroid gland so that it grows equally in all directions. 

While some diseases may cause your thyroid to enlarge in this way, many other causes of thyroid goiter may actually result in a lopsided or unequal growth of your thyroid gland. 

Conditions such as thyroid nodules (3), thyroid cancer (4), and thyroid cysts may result in an enlarged thyroid gland and therefore a goiter but these conditions certainly do not result in equal growth all over the gland. 

Most of these conditions result in an odd distribution of growth throughout the gland which can also be felt during a physical exam. 

Because thyroid goiters can come in all shapes and sizes it’s important to discuss the various symptoms that may be associated with this condition.

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Does a Goiter Result in Symptoms?

What’s interesting about goiters is that many people who have a thyroid goiter may not actually experience any symptoms (5).

These patients are often told, much to their surprise, that their thyroid gland is enlarged during a routine Doctors appointment. 

On the other hand, some causes of thyroid goiter may actually result in apparent symptoms that will lead you to the doctor’s office looking for answers. 

The reason for this major difference between presentations among patients has to do with the CAUSE of the goiter

Let’s say you have thyroid goiter which is the result of the autoimmune condition Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

If this happens to you, you may present with symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, and constipation along with an enlarged thyroid gland. 

Compare this presentation to someone who has a thyroid nodule that is palpated on a routine physical exam during a Doctors visit. 

The patient with the thyroid nodule is probably not experiencing any symptoms and has no idea that they even have a thyroid nodule. 

The main difference between presentations has to do with the condition which caused the goiter to begin with. 

So with that in mind let’s talk about the various ways that you may present if you have a thyroid goiter. 

Symptoms caused by the Goiter itself include: 

Most people will not experience side effects relating to their goiter unless the goiter is sufficiently large enough to cause problems in the neck region. 

If it gets to that size then it may cause certain issues almost always relating to compression of anatomy in the neck. 

These symptoms include: 

These symptoms tend to be rare because most thyroid goiters are caught before they end up large enough to cause these symptoms. 

More often patients tend to be what is considered “asymptomatic” (8) which means that they don’t have any symptoms at all. 

If they do experience symptoms they may be related to changes in thyroid function or thyroid hormone in their body…

Symptoms relating to poor thyroid function include:

Some causes of goiter also result in a condition known as hypothyroidism. 

This is a condition in which your body is not producing enough thyroid hormone. 

Conditions that cause both goiter and hypothyroidism include Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (9) and Iodine deficiency (10) (both of which we will discuss below). 

These conditions are important because they may help to explain some of your symptoms. 

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include: 

  • Weight gain
  • Fatigue
  • Depression
  • Constipation
  • Muscle pain
  • Hair loss
  • Cold intolerance
  • Infertility
  • Menstrual irregularities

Hypothyroidism may also cause many other symptoms which you can read more about in this guide.

Symptoms relating to excess thyroid function include: 

In the exact opposite fashion, some other conditions may result in both goiter and excess thyroid hormone which cause different symptoms. 

Conditions that cause these symptoms include Graves’ disease (11) and some toxic nodules. 

These conditions often result in the release of excess thyroid hormone into the bloodstream and characteristic symptoms of hyperthyroidism

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include: 

  • Weight loss
  • Heat intolerance
  • Fatigue
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Palpitations
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Chest pain
  • Fatigue
  • Insomnia
  • Menstrual irregularities (such as shorter periods)
  • Anxiety

The bottom line is that conditions that cause a goiter may also disrupt normal thyroid hormone function in the body. 

This is yet another reason why it is so important to identify the presence of a goiter but also continue your search for the CAUSE of the goiter. 

7 Causes of Thyroid Goiter

With that in mind, it’s important to discuss what actually causes goiter in your body.

Believe it or not, the exact reason that your thyroid enlarges under all circumstances is not well understood. 

We do know for sure that certain conditions result in enlargement of the thyroid gland through inflammation, but other conditions are less understood. 

Studies have suggested that the cause of thyroid enlargement is most likely the result of multiple different actions. 

Take for instance the case of iodine deficiency:

Even though we know that iodine deficiency can result in thyroid goiter that doesn’t mean that everyone who is iodine deficient will develop this condition. 

Instead, we see that certain individuals are more likely to develop a goiter if they also have a genetic predisposition and may be influenced by other risk factors such as pregnancy, other nutrient deficiencies, and so on (12).

The most common causes which predispose patients to developing goiters

This makes the development of this condition multi-factorial – which means that multiple factors are at play. 

Even though we may not understand each condition completely we still have a really good idea as to what conditions may predispose patients to develop a goiter: 

#1. Iodine Deficiency

The first condition that we are going to discuss which causes goiter, and perhaps one of the most important, is Iodine deficiency. 

This condition is important because it is a known and reversible cause of goiter (13) (not many conditions fit into this category). 

Iodine deficiency may result in a uniform enlargement of the thyroid gland which may cause a protrusion of the gland. 

Iodine deficiency is a condition in which there is insufficient iodine available for the creation of thyroid hormone

Whether you realize it or not iodine is required for proper thyroid hormone synthesis and an insufficient amount of circulating may lead to both goiter AND hypothyroid symptoms. 

The only way that humans can get iodine is from their diet. 

And the main source of iodine in food is from sea vegetables and from iodinated salt. 

How often are you eating sea vegetables such as seaweed or kelp? The answer is probably not very likely. 

And when it comes to salt many of the “specialty” salts such as Himalayan pink salt and Celtic sea salt may not be fortified with iodine. 

This sets up a situation in which iodine deficiency is probably much more common than we realize, even in “iodine-replete” areas (14) such as the United States. 

In fact, studies support this idea and show that even people in the developed world may have moderate to severe iodine deficiency (15).

Other studies have suggested a link between recommendations for reduced salt intake (16) (for the benefit of your heart and blood pressure) and a decrease in iodine intake which may also be contributing to this increased risk of iodine deficiency among certain patients. 

The bottom line here is that iodine deficiency is a potentially reversible cause of goiter and should be seriously looked at if you have a goiter. 

Even if it isn’t the primary cause of your goiter it may be contributing to some degree. 

You can learn more about supplementing with iodine and how to determine if it’s appropriate in this guide

#2. Thyroiditis

Another common cause of goiter among patients is thyroiditis. 

Thyroiditis is another non-specific term that is used to describe a state in which there is inflammation in your thyroid gland (17).

This is very easy to conceptualize:

Imagine what happens to your ankle if you twist it or imagine what happens to virtually any part of your body if you undergo minor trauma.

The first thing that happens is that it swells up due to inflammation which in this case is actually a normal response. 

Now imagine this process occurring in your thyroid gland from either an infection, trauma, or an autoimmune disease. 

It’s easy to see how inflammation may result in “swelling” and, therefore, an enlargement of your thyroid gland. 

The difficult part about thyroiditis is that it is a non-specific condition and many diseases may result in inflammation of the thyroid gland. 

For the purposes of this article, it’s important to focus on the autoimmune diseases of Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. 

These conditions are important because they may result in goiter and result in lasting damage to your thyroid gland either through treatment or as a result of time. 

Some other causes of thyroiditis may be temporary and completely fade away without any treatment such as postpartum thyroiditis

If you suspect you have thyroiditis then make sure that you read this article which outlines all of the causes of thyroiditis and various treatment options

#3. Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer may also lead to goiter. 

Thyroid cancer is the result of abnormal cell growth which may stem from the benign condition of a thyroid nodule. 

The growth of cancer tissues in your thyroid gland may result in increased “thyroid mass” and therefore a goiter. 

Fortunately, thyroid cancer is often caught early and boasts a 5-year survival rate of around 97 to 98% (18).

Thyroid cancer is often treated with a condition known as thyroidectomy which results in the complete removal of the thyroid gland. 

The best way to treat thyroid cancer is to get monitored for thyroid nodules and then monitor those nodules: 

#4. Thyroid Nodules

Thyroid nodules are actually INCREDIBLY common and may account for a large percentage of patients with goiter. 

It is estimated that up to 7% of the world’s population may have a thyroid nodule (19) and many of these patients are completely asymptomatic (meaning they don’t experience any symptoms). 

Thyroid nodules are an important cause of thyroid goiter because they may progress to thyroid cancer over time. 

Because of this, it’s important to identify their presence and then monitor them closely with certain tests with some regularity. 

Most of the time doctors will monitor thyroid nodules with Ultrasound but sometimes a biopsy may be necessary. 

#5. Medications

Another important cause of goiter is secondary to certain prescription medications. 

This is especially important considering the role that modern medications play in the treatment of many chronic diseases such as hypertension, cardiac problems, cholesterol, and so on. 

It’s not an uncommon occurrence if you are over the age of 50 and you are taking multiple medications (20).

What may surprise you is that certain medications are considered to be “goitrogenic” meaning they may induce the formation of a goiter. 

Thyroid function is complex and from start to finish includes the production, activation, conversion, and cellular function, all of which are required for proper thyroid hormone signaling in the body. 

Prescription medications may interfere with 1 or more of these important points and may, therefore, result in decreased thyroid function in the body (21).

Medications that may lead to a goiter

Medications that fit into this category include steroids, amphetamines, beta blockers, diabetic medications, antiseizure medications, and so on. 

Very few medications result in complete and irreversible thyroid damage but many medications may cause a low-grade dysfunction in thyroid regulation. 

If you suspect that your medications may be contributing to your goiter then it may be worth looking into alternative medication options.

#6. Goitrogenic Foods

Goitrogenic foods are foods that may increase your risk of developing a goiter. 

Goitrogenic means goitrogen forming, so it makes sense that consuming goitrogenic foods may increase your risk of developing a goiter. 

But what kinds of foods fit into this category?

It may surprise you to find out that many foods that may impair thyroid function are actually vegetables. 

Consumption of large amounts of these goitrogenic foods may block the absorption of iodine into the thyroid gland (22) and may lead to a decreased production of thyroid hormone. 

This is something that should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis though. 

The reality is that most people are not consuming anywhere near enough goitrogenic foods (or vegetables) to impair thyroid function

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It is more likely that certain individuals are more susceptible to developing a goiter when consuming these foods but only because of other risk factors. 

If you have known thyroid disease and a known thyroid goiter then it may be wise to limit your consumption of brassica vegetables (23) but it doesn’t mean that you have to completely avoid eating them (which may not be a healthy alternative). 

#7. Thyroid Cysts

Thyroid cysts, although not necessarily common, may result in thyroid goiter as well. 

Thyroid cysts are usually benign (meaning they don’t cause any issues) and tend to stem from an overproduction of colloidal fluid in thyroid tissue. 

Thyroid cysts are usually identified with ultrasound imaging and can be monitored in the same way. 

Risk Factors for Developing a Goiter

Have you heard the saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?

This holds true for goiters as well. 

In many cases, the best “treatment” for a thyroid goiter is to prevent its formation in the first place. 

So is it possible to prevent? 

Maybe. 

The best way to prevent the formation of goiter is to limit or reduce risk factors that are known to increase your risk of developing a goiter in the first place (24).

The following factors have been known to increase your risk of developing a goiter: 

  • Pregnancy – Pregnancy puts an increased demand for iodine usage in the body and may exacerbate mild deficiencies. 
  • Breast Feeding – Breastfeeding, like pregnancy, also increases the demand for iodine in your body and may exacerbate mild deficiencies. 
  • Diet poor in iodine – A diet that follows the “Standard American Diet” and one which is limited in sea vegetables such as seaweed, kelp, and iodinated salt may increase your risk for developing a goiter. 
  • Diet high in goitrogens – We’ve discussed this briefly but it may not be wise to consume massive amounts of goitrogenic foods, especially if you have a family history of thyroid disease or if goiters run in your family. 
  • Medications
  • Radiation Exposure
  • Smoking history
  • Age
  • Other nutrient deficiencies such as Zinc and Selenium

Not all of these risk factors can be avoided (for instance if you’ve been exposed to radiation there isn’t likely a way to fix that), but if possible you should attempt to avoid known risk factors. 

Treatment Options

Treatment for your goiter really depends on what caused it to begin with. 

Having said that there is a certain sequence of events that should unfold after you are identified as having a goiter…

All patients with suspected or known thyroid goiter should undergo the following evaluation:

  • Comprehensive physical exam and medical history – A medical history can give you the insight to help determine the cause of your goiter. 
  • Complete thyroid lab testing: TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Total T3, Reverse T3 – Thyroid lab testing will help determine if your thyroid function is in jeopardy. 
  • Thyroid Antibodies (Thyroglobulin antibody, TPO antibodies, and Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulins) – The presence of thyroid autoantibodies will help you to determine if your goiter is due to autoimmune disease or thyroiditis. 
  • Thyroid Ultrasound – Thyroid ultrasound can help determine if you have a thyroid nodule, assess your risk of thyroid cancer, and help determine if your goiter is secondary to a cyst or something else. 
  • Other Blood Tests – Other blood tests such as those that check for nutrient deficiencies or inflammatory markers may help determine the cause of your goiter. 
  • Iodine Testing – A simple way to assess for iodine deficiency is to check for iodine status in the body and this should be ruled out as a cause of goiter. 

Undergoing these basic tests will help you discover the underlying cause and may also help direct treatment. 

Even after these tests are accomplished (and the results are in) there are several ways that your doctor may approach treatment. 

The “Wait and see” Approach

If the cause of your goiter is due to something like a thyroid nodule, a thyroid cyst, or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis then the best approach to treatment may be what is known as the “wait and see” approach (25).

This is an approach where the size of your thyroid and your thyroid lab tests will be closely monitored on a regular basis. 

This will help determine if anything is changing or if your condition is worsening. 

This type of approach isn’t the most proactive approach but it may be necessary, especially if you are simply monitoring a thyroid nodule or a cyst. 

Even if the approach to treatment does not include active therapies it still may be a good idea to consider alternative therapies (more on these below) such as dietary changes and the use of certain supplements to see if you can impact your goiter. 

As long as these therapies are not harmful to your existing condition then there is very little risk and potentially a lot of benefit to them. 

Radioactive Iodine Ablation

Radioactive iodine ablation is a therapy that results in the destruction of part or all of the thyroid gland

This damage occurs through the use of radioactive iodine ablation which is given to the patient. 

Radioactive iodine ablation (also known as RAI) is typically used to treat Graves’ disease or other conditions which result in the overproduction of thyroid hormone and hyperthyroidism (26).

Because some of these conditions may result in a goiter it’s important to discuss them. 

Surgical Removal

Complete surgical removal, otherwise known as complete thyroidectomy, is a surgical procedure in which a surgeon completely removes your entire thyroid gland. 

Thyroidectomy is usually used to treat conditions such as Thyroid cancer, Graves’ disease, and some causes of thyroiditis (27).

The complete removal of your thyroid gland results in a state in the body in which you can no longer naturally produce thyroid hormone. 

Patients who undergo this operation are therefore required to take thyroid hormone replacement therapy indefinitely. 

Thyroid Hormone Replacement Therapy

Thyroid hormone replacement therapy may be used to help treat patients whose goiter is limiting thyroid function in their body. 

This condition is referred to as hypothyroidism and may be the result of patients who experience goiter secondary to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Iodine deficiency, and those who may have undergone a complete thyroidectomy or RAI. 

Medications that are used to treat hypothyroidism caused by a goiter include: 

The use of thyroid hormone replacement therapy is a comprehensive and complex topic and if you are currently taking medication you should look at the links above for more information on these topics (depending on which medication you are currently using). 

Alternative and Natural Therapies

Aside from conventional therapies and treatments, there is also a demand for alternative or complementary therapies to treat goiter. 

As with many alternative therapies, there are less data supporting its use, but the data that exists does tend to show positive results. 

The key to using natural therapies is to capitalize on those therapies which are not likely to be harmful in the long run and those which have been well-studied. 

For instance, let’s discuss diet: 

Diet

We know that it’s not a good idea to eat the “Standard American Diet” because it leads to an increased rate of chronic health disease in major categories (28) ranging from heart attack to cancer rates. 

It is, therefore, a really good idea to “clean up” your diet and focus on consuming healthy foods that are rich in nutrients. 

You can take it one step further and exclude those food groups which may be goitrogenic (or at least limit the amount that you consume in this category). 

Consuming a healthy diet that is rich in natural food sources such as healthy nuts/fats, fruits, and non-goitrogenic vegetables is something that may potentially impact your goiter and one which is very unlikely to cause any harm to your body. 

This should go without saying and should be the first step you take if you are pursuing natural therapies. 

The next set of therapies, in the alternative world, includes the use of nutritional supplements. 

Supplements

There are good arguments to be made for the use of targeted supplementation, especially for those who reside in the United States. 

Due to soil depletion, the distance that fruits and vegetables have to travel to make it to the supermarket, and the decline of nutrients in foods that are not picked “ripe” there are plenty of reasons that you may not be consuming adequate nutrients in foods. 

This doesn’t take into account the reliance upon processed foods which may also promote inflammation and various gastrointestinal disorders such as IBS and IBD. 

With that in mind it may be beneficial to consider the use of these supplements: 

#1. Iodine

We know that iodine is critical for the production and synthesis of thyroid hormone (29).

In the absence of adequate iodine consumption from sea vegetables and iodinated foods, it may be wise to consider the use of iodine supplementation. 

Supplementing with iodine may improve or reduce your goiter IF the cause of your goiter is from iodine deficiency. 

As I’ve discussed previously it’s much more likely that your goiter is the result of multiple conditions that are “stacked” on top of each other and one in which these conditions all create the “perfect storm”. 

Even in this scenario it still may be worth considering the use of iodine to help improve thyroid function. 

#2. Zinc

Zinc is an essential trace mineral that is also very important for thyroid function in the body. 

Studies have shown that elderly individuals who are zinc deficient (30) show an improvement in thyroid hormone function with supplementation. 

Zinc helps convert T4 into the active T3 thyroid hormone (31) and also acts as an inflammatory agent in the body. 

Many patients may have sub-optimal zinc levels in their bodies due to the same reasons they may be iodine deficient. 

#3. Selenium

Selenium is another important nutrient, especially as it relates to thyroid function. 

Selenium is important in that it is an important component of several enzymes that help convert thyroid hormone, promote the formation of antioxidants and help promote proper metabolism. 

The use of selenium has also been shown in studies to help reduce autoantibodies in Hashimoto’s (32) in certain patients. 

#4. Iron

Iron is another nutrient that plays an important role in thyroid function. 

Like the other nutrients, many people may also have sub-optimal iron levels even though they are not necessarily anemic. 

Testing ferritin (and other iron markers) can help identify an early iron deficiency. 

If you have a known thyroid problem or a goiter then evaluating your iron status may be very important. 

You can learn more about the interaction between iron and thyroid function in this post

Final Thoughts

The bottom line?

Goiter is a non-specific condition that refers to an enlargement of the thyroid gland. 

The title of goiter says something about the size of your thyroid but it doesn’t say anything about the CAUSE of this condition. 

People who have a known or suspected thyroid goiter should, therefore, undergo testing and evaluation to help determine that cause. 

Once they have further information they can make an informed decision about treatment (either conventional or alternative). 

If you are concerned about developing a goiter or if you have a strong family history of this disease then make sure you try to avoid the risk factors that were discussed in this article. 

Now I want to hear from you:

Do you have a thyroid goiter?

What is the cause of your goiter?

How are you treating it?

Leave your questions or comments below! 

#1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23145396

#2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2379312/

#3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2879398/

#4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16916491

#5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4876491/

#6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2903838/

#7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3313566/

#8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21543434

#9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459262/

#10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18053275

#11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3474632/

#12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11507648

#13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3074887/

#14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2634852/

#15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10615339

#16. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16522926

#17. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25251231/

#18. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/thyroid-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html

#19. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19041821

#20. https://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/health/rx_midlife_plus.pdf

#21. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20578900

#22. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3496161/

#23. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4740614/

#24. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12487770

#25. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK83492/

#26. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23678656

#27. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2637645/

#28. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21139124

#29. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4049553/

#30. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3746228/

#31. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8157857

#32. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20883174

what causes thyroid goiters and how to treat them

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About Dr. Westin Childs

Hey! I'm Westin Childs D.O. (former Osteopathic Physician). I don't practice medicine anymore and instead specialize in helping people like YOU who have thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss resistance. I love to write and share what I've learned over the years. I also happen to formulate the best supplements on the market (well, at least in my opinion!) and I'm proud to say that over 80,000+ people have used them over the last 7 years. You can read more about my own personal health journey and why I am so passionate about what I do.

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12 thoughts on “7 Causes of Thyroid Goiter + Treatment & Symptom Guide”

  1. Hi Dr Childs,

    I was in my early 20’s when I had my goiter removed. I have actually just bought your book 30 day Thyroid Reset – I am very familiar with the Whole30.

    I moved from South Africa to the UK 2 years ago, and I was on Levothyroxin 2 100mc a day, the Dr in the UK said my TSH levels were too high and literally halved my dose! Needless to say, I am 10kg’s heavier, suffering from exhaustion and all the other under active thyroid symptons.

    I have moved onto 1.5 grains of NP Thyroid, but my T4 levels are too low, so I take 50mc of levothyroxine and have seen an improvement, am yet to have my levels re tested.

    I have found that synthetic thyroid replacement medications effects my moods, I have no patience, quick to anger and rage and have extreme PMS symptons. What are your thoughts on this and how to address them?

    I have just been put on an antidepressant to try assist, this has helped with uplifting my mood in general, I still have patience and rage issues – which Dr is suggesting a mood stabilizer, Lamictin.

    I am keen to hear your thoughts and hope to hear from you soon.

    Regards,
    Sam.

    Reply
    • Hi Samantha,

      T3 therapy has been shown to be effective as an anti-depressant and a mood stabilizer even if the patient does NOT have thyroid disease. It may be worth looking into in your case given your history, but you will most likely need to find a psychiatrist to prescribe it to you.

      Reply
  2. Hi Dr.Childs
    Not sure what to do, my latest labs…11-1-2017
    TSH. .144
    T4. 7.1
    FREE T4. 1.5
    T3. 1.27
    ANTIBODIES
    thyroglulin 1225
    peroxidase. 144.2
    URIC ACID. 4.7
    LIPTIN. 15.3
    FASTING GLOCO 95.

    prolactin 31.45
    RT3 18 tested (Nov 2016)
    2 copies mthfr
    Possibly estrogen dominant, taking DIM.
    Very high streess from death of my dad and marriage issues. I gained 20# since dad died in September and still rising no matter what I do.
    What should I request from my functional doctor. More T3(but it affects my heart)
    Or LDN? Or what I don’t know if she knows how to help me. I’m a mess.
    The test results are all from november(3 weeks after my dad died) and 1 year after starting treatment with functional Dr. Using T4-T3 compounded perscription. Anti bodies are same after 1 year. Im on about 20 supplements.

    Can you suggest anything. And have you written a book?

    Reply
  3. Hi Dr. Childs,
    Is it possible that taking iodine can cause a goiter?

    I have a very large goiter which developed over approx. 6 years before I began addressing it two yrs ago, and I recently realized that its growth coincided with my being prescribed iodine for a couple of years about 8 yrs ago.

    I am now w a new doc and on methimazole since July with the tachycardia mostly resolved, tho still w some hypo/hyper symptoms. The goiter seems to have shrunk though it sometimes seems to enlarge and then shrink again.

    I am also starting new supplements and etc protocol designed to address/reduce inflammation.

    Reply
    • Hi D,

      It’s possible that taking iodine could exacerbate other deficiencies such as selenium deficiency which may cause inflammation and result in thyroid gland damage.

      Reply
  4. Dr. Childs,

    I have recently been diagnosed with a goiter. Hashimoto’s runs in my family I have been tested several times and it came by negative. I am getting ready to have a fine needle aspiration done in the next couple of weeks. The nodules on my thyroid were found in 2010 and nothing was done regarding them. No follow up or anything. I appreciate your above information and I will definitely do more research.
    Thank you,
    Julie

    Reply
  5. Dr. Childs,

    I have Hashimoto’s and for the most part, my TSH, T4, and T3 levels are in functional ranges. However, I have a goiter (on my right side) that is quite uncomfortable. It affects my ability to swallow, my sinuses, and the right side of my face always looks swollen (especially my eye). I notice the swelling occurs generally after I eat or if I am very stressed. It feels like a quarter is stuck in my throat. I was wondering if my goiter could be connected to a food sensitivity of some sort? I eat a very clean diet. I am already taking a supplement that contains iodine, selenium, and zinc and I have also gotten two thyroid ultrasounds – no nodules. Is it possible that an ultrasound would not detect a cyst/nodule? This sounds vain, but I am tired of having facial swelling. I don’t look myself. I would also just to love to be able to comfortably swallow again.

    Reply
  6. Hi Dr. Childs,
    I have recently received all the standard blood work to test for thyroid disease and again I am told that everything is in normal range. I the underwent an ultrasound and the results show thyroiditis and a goiter.Thyroid nodules have also been detected in previous ultrasounds.I am not able to get in to see an endocrinologist until November and I am concerned about having to wait so long. I experience throat pain, coughing,choking,fatigue, low tolerance to both hot and cold, unsteadiness while standing or walking and an inability to lose weight in spite of eating a sensible diet. Are there other treatments, blood tests, etc. that I should request? Will a seaweed supplement make a difference?

    Reply
    • Hi Marcie,

      It’s obviously ideal to get in sooner because you don’t really know much at this point. About all you’d want to do right now is improve your diet, exercise, reduce your stress, get more sleep, etc. It will be hard to do more until you know what you are dealing with.

      Reply
  7. Hello,
    apparently I have an extremely large thyroid with (cold) nodules. It hangs below my collarbone? Is that possible? The endocrinologist checked for Hepatitis B and C, Epstein Barr Virus and antibodies to thyroid, all negativ. My TSH is .57, my free T3 is 2.92, my free T4 is 11.90. According to your data that seems high, correct? My reverse T3 was not checked. Is that an important one? Should I request that it be done? I am currently being treated with iodine and that’s it. No one seems too concerned about the size of my thyroid. I am cold all the time but can’t stand heat either. I am tired all the time but I can’t sleep at night with lots of weight gain, even though I eat pretty healthy. What else should I do to find the cause of my goiter?

    Reply
    • Hi Biggi,

      Yes, some people have thyroid glands in various locations in their body which are thought to be caused by issues during fetal development.

      Reply

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