A Beginner’s Guide to Thyroid Nodules: What You Need to Know

A Beginner’s Guide to Thyroid Nodules: Causes, Treatment, Symptoms

Photo of author

Evidence-Based

Have you been recently diagnosed with a thyroid nodule?

Do you have a thyroid nodule and you are wondering what it means or how to treat it?

Are you looking for treatment options, including natural and conventional, for your thyroid nodule?

All of these and more will be discussed in this beginner’s guide to thyroid nodules designed specifically for patients. 

Learn the basics of thyroid nodules including symptoms that may be associated with your nodule, how to diagnose and manage your nodule, and more in this guide

What is a Thyroid Nodule?

Put in simple terms a thyroid nodule is a piece of tissue in your thyroid gland that is different from the surrounding tissue (1).

This “unusual” tissue is often in a defined area or mass which is referred to as a “nodule”.

These nodules vary in both size and consistency and it is these features that make them worrisome (or not). 

Your thyroid gland is a small endocrine (hormone) gland that sits at the base of your neck. 

Under the influence of your brain (both the pituitary and hypothalamus), it produces some of the most important hormones in your body: T3 and T4

thyroid nodule treatment and evaluation algorithm

The thyroid gland is a spongy, glandular organ that should be uniform in consistency and to the touch. 

Nodules represent a change in the structure, look, or feel of that tissue. 

Doctors (and patients) tend to identify thyroid nodules either through routine physicals (by simply touching the gland and feeling an inconsistency) or through imaging studies such as a chest CT scan or neck ultrasound. 

These nodules are INCREDIBLY common among the entire population with an estimated 4 to 7% of the population having one (2).

Female patients and patients who are older tend to get thyroid nodules more often than other populations. 

If nodules are so common why do Doctors get so worried about them?

Several reasons: 

One reason has to do with the fact that SOME thyroid nodules are potentially malignant (or can turn into cancer). 

Another reason is that thyroid nodules themselves may actually cause thyroid gland damage and impair your ability to produce thyroid function

The inability to produce thyroid hormone adequately is referred to as hypothyroidism. Patients with hypothyroidism often present with fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, and many other symptoms. 

Other thyroid nodules can actually produce excessive thyroid hormone leading to a condition known as hyperthyroidism (you can read more about that here). 

And lastly, but rarely, thyroid nodules can cause issues in your neck which include compression of your vocal cords and other neck structures. 

DOWNLOAD FREE RESOURCES

Foods to Avoid if you Have Thyroid Problems:

I’ve found that these 10 foods cause the most problems for thyroid patients. Learn which foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease of any type.

DOWNLOAD NOW

The Complete List of Thyroid Lab tests:

The list includes optimal ranges, normal ranges, and the complete list of tests you need to diagnose and manage thyroid disease correctly!

DOWNLOAD NOW

Are thyroid Nodules Dangerous?

The short answer is probably not, the longer answer is maybe. 

Most thyroid nodules (more than 94%) are benign (3).

Benign means that they really don’t pose any harm or threat to your body. 

But, just because most don’t turn into cancer doesn’t mean that all nodules are benign. 

It is estimated that up to 4.0 to 6.5% of all thyroid nodules (4), when biopsied, will come back positive for malignancy or cancer. 

And it is this small percentage (about 1 in 20) that we get worried about. 

What makes thyroid nodules cancerous and others benign is not clear. 

It is felt that some thyroid nodules may turn into thyroid cancer over a long period of time (years to decades) and this is why thyroid nodules are monitored so closely. 

So how do you know if your thyroid nodule is benign or dangerous?

By looking at the characteristics of the thyroid nodule with ultrasound (5) and on physical exam. 

The following findings may increase the likelihood that you have thyroid cancer (6):

  • Very large nodules (those which are larger than 4cm in size) – The bigger the nodule the more likely it is to be cancerous
  • Firmness of the nodule when feeling it (nodules which are hard and not “squishy”)
  • Fixation of the nodule to surrounding tissues (it may look like the nodule is pulling other tissue towards it)
  • Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or near the nodule
  • Changes to vocal cords or hoarseness
  • Microcalcifications (seen on ultrasound)
  • The absence of a “halo” (seen on ultrasound)
  • Hypoechoic (seen on ultrasound)
  • Increased intranodular flow (seen on ultrasound)
the apperance of thyroid nodules on ultrasound imaging

These findings, if present, may increase the risk that your thyroid nodule is more than just a regular thyroid nodule. 

Please notice that they are not 100% specific, however, so further testing such as a biopsy should be the next step! 

And, on the flip side, it is still possible to have a thyroid nodule that has none of these findings still be cancerous (it’s just much less common). 

Note: You can find these “keywords” or “buzzwords” on the radiology report in the impression section of your ultrasound report.

Do Thyroid Nodules cause Symptoms?

Most thyroid nodules are actually asymptomatic (7), which means that they do NOT cause symptoms. 

The majority of these nodules are often found by accident, usually during a routine physical exam where your doctor may feel or palpate your neck/thyroid gland. 

Occasionally, however, patients may experience changes to thyroid function which prompts a visit to the doctor. 

Those patients who experience symptoms can either experience the symptoms of too much thyroid hormone or the symptoms associated with too little thyroid hormone. 

join 80,000 other thyroid patients who have used dr. westin childs' thyroid support supplements.

The way that you present largely depends on the size of your nodule, co-existing medical conditions, your personal history, and so forth. 

You can use the guide below to help determine if you may be experiencing symptoms related to your thyroid nodule. 

Symptoms you may experience if your nodule produces thyroid hormone:

These nodules can produce thyroid hormone outside of the normal regulatory loops that exist in your body. 

These nodules are often considered “hot” or active and patients who have these nodules may experience the symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism. 

Symptoms such as: 

  • Heart palpitations
  • Excessive sweating
  • Insomnia
  • Tremors
  • Weight loss
  • Hot flashes/warm flushes
  • Diarrhea

Symptoms you may experience if your nodule reduces thyroid function or damages the thyroid:

Other patients may experience a reduction of thyroid hormone from their thyroid gland from thyroid nodules. 

Sometimes the nodules themselves may become large enough to interfere with normal function or they may be the result of inflammation from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. 

In either event, patients with these types of nodules may experience symptoms such as: 

These symptoms are usually the result of DECREASED thyroid hormone production which may be secondary to a thyroid nodule or the result of some OTHER cause. 

If you are suffering from these symptoms (you can see the complete list here) be sure to check your thyroid lab tests in addition to a thyroid ultrasound (more on testing below). 

Symptoms you may experience if your nodule is large or cancerous

Rarely, the thyroid nodule can cause symptoms itself simply due to its size. 

This tends to occur more frequently with very large thyroid nodules and with thyroid cancer. 

These symptoms are usually caused by local compression of important neck structures or from cancer cells which cause pain or lymph node enlargement. 

Symptoms that fit into this category include: 

  • Enlarged lymph nodes
  • Pain when swallowing
  • Difficulty with breathing
  • Hoarseness or changes to your voice
  • Pain in the thyroid gland

What causes Thyroid Nodules?

Believe it or not, we aren’t exactly sure what causes thyroid nodules.

In some cases, the cause can be identified, but in many cases, it’s not clear. 

Known causes of thyroid nodules include: 

  • Overgrowth of thyroid gland tissue – This is perhaps the most common cause of thyroid nodules among patients. We aren’t really sure what causes this overgrowth of tissue but it may have something to do with a combination of genetics, diet, nutrient deficiencies, and environmental triggers. Some patients, especially those with a positive family history, are more likely to develop thyroid nodules. This cause may be the most concerning because it isn’t clear what causes just a regular growth of gland tissue versus cancerous growth of the tissue. For this reason, it’s always important to monitor your nodule size over time. 
  • Iodine deficiency – Another known cause of thyroid nodules is iodine deficiency. In the United States, a place considered to be iodine “replete”, this cause is felt to be uncommon. A closer look at this topic suggests that perhaps many patients are not getting adequate iodine from their diet. Iodine is primarily found in sea vegetables and iodinated salt, but if your diet is lacking in either of these sources there’s a high chance you may be deficient. In addition, pregnant women and lactating women have a higher demand for iodine than normal adults. 
  • Chronic inflammation/ThyroiditisAny condition which results in chronic and low-grade inflammation may result in tissue overgrowth, scarring, or cancer (8). This mechanism may occur with conditions that cause inflammation in the thyroid gland, known as thyroiditis, such as Hashimoto’s or Graves’ disease. These conditions cause inflammation through antibodies produced by the body and are known as autoimmune diseases. These disease states are VERY common and may be one of the reasons for the high incidence of thyroid nodules. 
  • Thyroid cancer – While some conditions listed above may result in thyroid cancer over a long period of time, some patients present with thyroid cancer much more quickly. Therefore, thyroid cancer is a potential cause of thyroid nodules and must be diagnosed and treated quickly.
  • Radiation exposure – Radiation exposure has been known to cause cellular damage and may precipitate thyroid nodule formation in some patients. Radiation dose and exposure increase the risk of both thyroid cancer and thyroid nodules (9). The thyroid gland is exquisitely sensitive to radiation which is why iodine (in high doses) is recommended if you’ve been exposed to it. 

These are the known causes of thyroid but just realize that there are probably many other causes that we aren’t aware of at this time. 

It’s important to try and identify the cause of thyroid nodules in your body because some cases may be preventable and/or reversible. 

Take for instance iodine deficiency:

Supplementation with iodine, if you are deficient, will reduce thyroid gland size and may eliminate any thyroid nodules in your body. 

Other causes, such as inflammation, while difficult to treat, may still be worth exploring therapies and treatments which can help reduce inflammation and balance immune function (therapies such as stress reduction, dietary intervention, exercise, and so on). 

Thyroid Nodule Treatment

There are 3 ways to think about thyroid nodule treatment:

  • Removing the nodule – In most cases, you will NOT need to remove the thyroid nodule as it often requires removal of functioning thyroid gland tissue. This therapy is usually reserved for nodules that are cancerous or which are producing thyroid hormone (causing hyperthyroidism). 
  • Monitoring the nodule – This is probably the most common way to “treat” thyroid nodules. Monitoring your nodule usually includes regular visits to the Doctor for physical exams and routine ultrasounds at regular intervals. If your nodule changes over time your Doctor can order a biopsy or recommend removal if necessary. 
  • Attempting to shrink the nodule – Another way to manage thyroid nodules is to attempt to shrink them through various therapies. This treatment may be difficult but worth exploring in certain situations. The problem with attempting to shrink or eliminate thyroid nodules is that this can’t be done reliably and it often depends on the cause of the nodules in your body. 

Removing and monitoring thyroid nodules are by far the most recommend therapies, so I won’t focus on those in this section. 

Many patients, however, are interested in trying to shrink their thyroid nodules and often want to know if this is even a possibility. 

The answer is that this may be possible in some cases and in some patients (but not all). 

Determining if your nodule can be reduced in size likely has to do with the cause. 

Certain situations, such as iodine deficiency (10), can be treated relatively easily with iodine supplementation. 

But what about other causes of thyroid nodules such as the overgrowth of thyroid gland tissue?

This is less certain, but may be possible. 

Understanding how we can shrink the tissue involves understanding the physiology of the thyroid tissue itself. 

We know that thyroid tissue is stimulated to grow by a certain hormone known as thyroid stimulating hormone. 

High levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone may be STIMULATING to thyroid gland tissue and may increase the growth of nodules and thyroid cancer (11).

For this reason, some Doctors recommend suppressive doses of thyroid hormone to help reduce the TSH (12).

Taking thyroid medication (of any kind) will block TSH production from the pituitary by helping supply your body directly with thyroid hormones. 

This therapy is often employed in thyroid cancer but it isn’t routinely recommended for patients with run-of-the-mill thyroid nodules. 

But we can still use some of this information to help approach natural therapies and treatments for thyroid nodules. 

If we can increase normal thyroid hormone production then we may be able to naturally reduce TSH levels in the body. 

This is the idea behind natural therapies for thyroid nodules. 

It isn’t always possible but it may be worth exploring if the “wait and see” approach is not appealing!

Natural therapies that may help treat thyroid nodules include:

If you opt to use natural therapies just realize that they may not work for each person and be sure to discuss these options with your Doctor. 

Lab Testing & Ultrasound Testing

If you have a known thyroid nodule, or if you suspect a thyroid nodule, then the next step is to undergo testing. 

Testing, in this case, takes the form of 2 different modalities:

The first is lab testing which helps to assess how well your thyroid is working. 

And the second is to directly assess the thyroid itself through ultrasound imaging. 

Thyroid lab tests give you an idea of how responsive your thyroid gland is and if your thyroid nodule is causing any impairment in the ability of your gland to produce thyroid hormone. 

Thyroid ultrasound, on the other hand, will directly image the thyroid gland and give you key information about the size and other characteristics of your nodule and thyroid tissue (13). 

These characteristics are important because they can help your doctor determine if your nodule looks suspicious or if you are at increased risk for thyroid cancer. 

If your nodule looks suspicious on thyroid ultrasound then your Doctor will likely order a fine needle aspiration (FNA for short) (14).

FNA is the best way to determine if your nodule is cancerous and if it needs to be removed, but not everyone should get an FNA unless absolutely necessary. 

The reason is that up to 25% of all FNA biopsy results come back as “indeterminate” which means it could be cancer or it could be benign, it’s medical terminology for “I’m not sure”. 

Having an indeterminate result on your biopsy can be stressful and may require further imaging studies and biopsies over time. 

More recently, newer tests (such as genetic testing) have come out which can be combined with biopsy results and ultrasound imaging (15) to give you a better idea as to the risk of your nodule turning malignant. 

Your doctor should help you through this process and help you determine what your next steps should be. 

As the patient, you just need to make sure that you get both your ultrasound AND thyroid lab tests at the beginning of this workup (if your physician doesn’t order them automatically). 

Conclusion

Thyroid nodules are important to understand because they have the potential to be cancerous and/or damage or alter thyroid gland function. 

The good news is that the vast majority of all thyroid nodules are completely benign and will NOT require further work-up beyond monitoring them. 

Most patients who have thyroid nodules will not experience symptoms associated with the nodule, but it’s still important to assess thyroid lab tests if a nodule is identified.

Once identified you may need further testing such as a thyroid ultrasound or a biopsy. 

Now I want to hear from you:

Do you have thyroid nodules?

Are you trying to naturally treat them?

Do you have symptoms of low thyroid function or high thyroid function?

What has worked for you?

Leave your comments below! 

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

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

#3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3575959/

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

#5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4729706/

#6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3973781/

#7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3419864/

#8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5385456/

#9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2847020/

#10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10480705

#11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29145466

#12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4737508/

#13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4729706/

#14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3811719/

#15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27557410

dangers of thyroid nodules: what you need to know

picture of westin childs D.O. standing

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.

P.S. Here are 4 ways you can get more help right now:

#1. Get my free thyroid downloads, resources, and PDFs here.

#2. Need better symptom control? Check out my thyroid supplements.

#3. Sign up to receive 20% off your first order.

#4. Follow me on Youtube, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for up-to-date thyroid tips, tricks, videos, and more.

36 thoughts on “A Beginner’s Guide to Thyroid Nodules: Causes, Treatment, Symptoms”

  1. Hi I just wanted to let you know that I had nodules a few of them on my enlarged thryoid and tried T3 only for 2 months and went for an ultrasound to see if I had parathyroid and it showed no nodules, I’ve had these nodules for years, I also stopped napping 4 hours daily and losing less hair but my doc refused to put me on natural piggy thyroid and had switched me to synthroid without talking to me about it and when I saw her told her of what cytomel did and she didnt like my lab work and insisted on synthoid and I told her it doesnt work for me I’ve tried it couple times and she said my levels werent consistant with NDT and I said they won’t be cuz’ of hashimotos. She told me I can find another doc if I want! I ordered the Cytomel online and tried it myself and was tested after almost a month and my TSH was 10.60 and Free T3 6, Free T3 9.5…I had the cytomel in my system at the time of blood test and assume my body was attacking at the time possible reason for high tsh. But she ignored not losing hair, not napping 4 hours daily, nodules gone, go for short walks daily (I have 46% lung capacity with asthma so walking is a bit hard) and sometimes do 2 flights of stairs (I’m up to 280 so that’s not fun lol)…Instead of retesting me to see where my levels are at after being on T3 for 2 months or even suggesting reduce my 25mcg to 2 split doses throughout the day she insisted Synthroid. I won’t take it. I have osteoarthritis and synthoid can cause that. I still feel the Cytomel only helped with symptoms. I assumed t4 low as the body didn’t need to make it.

    Reply
    • Hi Sherbear,

      T3 is definitely a great medication which I’ve personally seen help plenty of patients. In some cases, it’s preferable over Synthroid and it sounds like that may be the case for you.

      Reply
  2. hi, thanks for the reply. I cant find a doc who will prescribe me piggy thyroid and want me on Synthroid. My doc said if I don’t take thyroid meds with high TSH and low t4 etc like in my above results that its dangerous for me and I can get sick. I thought of fasting to try to heal my immune/thyroid and don’t have blood pressure or diabetes etc and did 4 days water fast and was fine. thought of 14 days and just keep on 12.50mg cytomel. I won’t go on Synthroid. Is it possible to heal the thyroid and immune or at least put Hashi on remission? tired of the weight and docs who don’t listen.

    Reply
    • My feeling is that it is possible for some people but not possible in all people with Hashimoto’s, it really depends on the trigger or cause of your disease. If that trigger or underlying cause is treatable then you have a good shot.

      Reply
  3. Hi again 🙂 I was wondering if my T4 was low and T3 higher as was taking T3 Cytomel 25mg a day for about month if that and if getting the T3 from a pill meant the body didnt need to make as much T4? Also was my TSH at 10.60 that bad and did they maybe just catch a attack and so tsh gets high then? free T4 6, free T3 9.5. Thanks for all replies and hopefully my questions help someone else.

    Reply
  4. Hi! I read this whole section about thyroid nodule, but would still like some help. My sister has been having a bump/lump in her upper neck right below her chin for almost 3 months now. Some days she feels like it is choking her or she isn’t able to breathe normally because of the lump.
    The lump is also medium sized and a little hard.
    Which doctor should we visit and what do you think would help her?

    Thanks for your help 🙂

    Reply
    • Hi Krish,

      The best place to start is with your primary care physician and he/she can order an ultrasound of your neck/thyroid gland to figure out what is going on.

      Reply
  5. Hello! I just discovered your site and have learned SO much from your informative articles!! Thank you so much for sharing what you’ve learned and passing it on to us.

    In an attempt to be concise, my nodules are larger than ever before and pressing on my esophagus. I plan to have a sono done, but want to continue trying to shrink my nodules with natural methods. Interestingly, I’ve been working out and eating a much cleaner diet, so therefore I don’t think that the nodule growth is related to food sensitivities.

    I have high reverse T3 levels, so would you recommend I try the Thyroid-Adrenal Reset and T3 booster supplements?

    Thank you for your time and help! 🙂

    Reply
    • Hi Mai,

      You’re welcome! And it seems if your reverse T3 is high you may benefit from T3 conversion booster more than Thyroid Adrenal Reset Complex. But using both together would probably be your best bet. Do keep us updated on your progress!

      Reply
  6. Hello!

    It has been discovered by way of ultrasound that I have a multinodular goiter. 5 nodules all less than 1cm each. The report says they are consistent with being benign and none are suspicious. My blood work showed signs of hyperthyroidism…tsh low and free t4 high, and I’m experiencing mild symptoms of hyperthyroidism as well. Iron and Vitamin D are low, and I’m taking supplements for those. My dr likes to treat naturally if possible…essential oils, supplements, etc, but isn’t opposed to conventional medicine either. She referred me to an endocrinologist to find out the exact diagnosis and said I may have to have surgery.

    I’d like to treat this naturally, but I honestly get overwhelmed. I have looked up so much information including natural ways to treat this, and there are some conflicting ideas including that if you’re hyperthyroid then raw veggies such as broccoli and cauliflower are better than cooked. The differences in food are confusing. Also, I don’t see much about my specific condition being treated naturally. Can you help?

    Reply
  7. Hallo, first, my English is not so well to write a whole story. But I will try. My daughter is diagnosted with beninge nodules, on one side of the thyriod a small one, the other side a big one about 40x29x60mm. She is still euthyriod. But for how long? Maybe she will get voice or lymphoid problems, as a result of the big nodule. The nodules are probably caused by serveral radiation exposures for a mandibulair hypoplasie treatment. She did some therapy with suppletion of minerals for the thyriod; liver cleaning; and metal cleaning. Suggestions are welcome.

    Reply
  8. I have a multinodules goiter it’s been now five years I have been doing blood test n ultrasound every six months my nodules size has not changed. How long do we need to do ultrasound

    Reply
  9. Hello, I have a nodule on the left side of my thyroid. It’s 14 mm. Biopsy is abnormal. Genetic testing showed abnormal = risk of cancer >40%. Is it mean that I need surgery? If so, what kind of surgery it would be?

    Reply
    • Hi Yuliia,

      Not necessarily, it comes down to your risk tolerance and whether or not you are okay monitoring the nodule over time.

      Reply
  10. Thank you very much this article was very interesting. My TSH was 5.11. I had another draw last Thursday. I will find out the results this Tuesday. I do have some symptoms but I thought they were menopausal. As of 2014 I am now highly allergic to anything that swims. This not only includes seafood but fresh water fish as well.3 ER visits.I am 65 and have been on Estradiol 1 mg since I was 42 (total hysterectomy ) Could this have caused my TSH to go high? Should I cut the dose in half ? Can I bring my TSH down through a stricter diet and more exercise . I’m very scared. I do eat healthy 75% of the time. I walk 4 days a week. 4 miles. Can I reverse this?

    Reply
    • Hi Dawn,

      Are you talking about reversing your thyroid problem? If so, the answer is maybe as it depends on what the cause was.

      Reply
  11. Regarding what causes thyroid nodules, recently I read somewhere about mononucleosis causing them. It said that after infection with this virus, some people developed thyroid nodules about one year later. If true, this would certainly describe mine. To think that all this time (about 40 years) I never knew why I had them. I caught mono way back when I was in college (in 1982), and a year later my doctor discovered them. They were diagnosed as “cold nodules” (no activity), and back in the day they were treated with radiation. Unfortunately, this caused me to be hypothyroid for the rest of my life. Now, the practice is to let them be, as long as they aren’t doing anything. Needless to say, now I am very cautious about viruses as you never know what long-term effects they will have (yes I’m talking about you covid!).

    Reply
  12. Your articles are very informative. My TSH results have always been in the normal range (.45-4.5), but my TSH dropped from 2.32 last year to 1.49 this year. I noticed a nodule on my neck and I have some symptoms of hyperthyroidism (rapid/irregular heartbeat, weight loss, osteoporosis , eye problems and Graves runs in my family. I may have a thyroid condition and would appreciate your opinion.
    Thanks.

    Reply
  13. I was just diagnosed with a 1cm nodule and going in for a FNA on Tuesday. I have all the symptoms of a low thyroid fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, constipation, low muscle tone. Working out makes me heavier and more tired. I tried you Adrenal/Thyroid in the past, didn’t seem to do much. The doctors keep saying my TSH is normal, but a functional doctor said my numbers were not in the range she would like to see. I am on no thyroid medicine. Maybe now the doctors will listen. What do you think of possibly going on T-3 converter?

    Reply
    • Hi Kim,

      When it comes to supplements it may take some trial and error to figure out what works for you. Between all of the supplements that I provide, I am sure that there is some combination that will help, it’s just a matter of figuring out which ones will work! Please also note that you will probably require more than 1 supplement to see results. Most people use somewhere between 3-5 of our supplements all at once and that’s really when we see the best results. I would try either T3 conversion booster or Thyroid Glandular+ next.

      Reply
  14. I had the left side of my thyroid removed in the 90’s and have been on Synthroid ever since. (I am 67). Recently i have had some issues with insomnia and fatigue and went to my Endo Doc. I had not had my thyroid checked in a long time so she sent me for a needle biopsy. They did it twice because they found something on the side where my thyroid was removed and did genetic testing. (Could be scar tissue they said). It came back stating that I had a 20-45% cancer risk. My Endo doc sent me to a surgeon and he wants to do surgery. I’m not sure of what I should do?

    Reply
    • Hi Kristie,

      In general, it’s always ideal to keep your thyroid gland if at all possible. I would ask your doctor about the risk vs rewards of monitoring it over the next few years. You can ask whether or not the biopsy shows signs of an aggressive type of cancer and whether or not it would be okay to do a repeat biopsy in something like 6-12 months. I can’t give you personal advice but that’s the kind of thing I would do if it were me.

      Reply
  15. I’m not sure what I need, my doctor says that the products are bogus and I don’t have to treat my nodules in my thyroid’s. So I’m confused on what I need to do

    Reply
    • Hi Tammy,

      Unfortunately, supplements don’t always help thyroid nodules so your doctor is right in that regard. Thyroid support supplements are great for helping with thyroid function but they typically don’t have a huge impact on thyroid nodules. This supplement can sometimes help with thyroid nodules but not always: https://www.restartmed.com/product/thyroid-daily-essentials-thyroid-multivitamin/

      If you are looking to support thyroid function, though, to help with symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, low energy, hair loss, etc. then supplements can be effective at managing those type of things.

      Reply
  16. Hi Dr. Child’s,

    What does thyroid ultrasound report mean when it says TR 4 thyroid nodule?

    My report states the following
    Thyroid ultrasound 08/09/2022
    INDICATION: Nontoxic single thyroid nodule
    TECHNIQUE: Multiplanar gray scale and color Doppler
    images of the thyroid were obtained
    COMPARISON: 9/20/2021
    FINDINGS: Right lobe: 5x 1 × 2 cm. Normal thyroid
    parenchymal vascularity and echogenicity. Isoechoic right
    thyroid nodule measures 6 × 8 × 8 mm. Hypochoic right
    thyroid nodule measuring 6x 6 × 4 mm.
    Left lobe: 4 × 2 x 2 cm. Hypochoic left thyroid nodule
    measuring 7 × 3x 5 mm. Additional hypoechoic nodule in
    the left thyroid lobe measuring 1 x 0.4 x 0.6 cm. No other
    parenchyma echogenicity and vascularity.
    Isthmus measures 0.3 cm.
    IMPRESSION:
    Overall stable TR 4 thyroid nodules measuring up to 1 cm.
    Recommend follow-up thyroid ultrasound in one year.

    I don’t have my follow up with Endocronlogist till September 19th.
    Is this something that needs attention asap?

    My labs are as follows:

    *TSH – 1.520

    *Thyroxine (T4) – 8.0

    *T3 Uptake – 24

    *Free Thyroxine Index – 1.9

    *Thyroglobulin Antibody°
    504.7

    *Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO)
    Ab°1
    149

    Endocronlogist does not have my taking any thyroid medication. I been seeing same Endocronlogist for almost 2 years.

    Thank you for your time.

    Reply
  17. If you are hypothyroid, diagnosed at 4 months old as thyroid gland not functioning at all. Can you still have these nodules. Being hypothyroid does it decrease chances of cancer.

    Reply
    • Hi Ann,

      That’s an interesting question, I’ve never seen any data regarding nodules in those who have been born with an atrophic thyroid gland. There could be a situation in which these patients have a reduced chance of developing nodules due to thyroid inactivity but that’s just speculation on my part.

      Reply
  18. I have hyperthyroidism and nodules. The endo talks like it is dangers and wants me to take Methimozole to prevent a thyroid storm and get it ready for surgery.
    I tried to take it and it really bothered my stomach. Plus,I don’t want to take it as it has some side effects. I would prefer to try to get it doing better naturally. I know you have supplements for hyperthyroidism but is it ok to take with nodules and what do you recommend I take?

    Reply
  19. Hi – I’m feeling a bit fed up. I’ve had nodules for years and 2 negative biopsies in the past. New report says the biggest one is 3.1 cm Tirads 4. Probably another biopsy.
    I keep asking for a more extensive blood panel besides TSH and I keep hearing I don’t need it. I’ve had symptoms of Hypo for years including weight gain, hair loss, constipation, etc.
    Any suggestions?
    Thanks!

    Reply
  20. Great article! I have just had an ultra sound of my thyroid as am trying to find out the root cause of my hypothyroidism (diagnosed last March from a TSH of 11) Have bilateral frozen shoulder, weakness in quads and hips – feel ancient!! The prescribed levothyroxine gives me leg cramps and my knees are so stiff and sore on it, even though my blood results are now normal (though not optimal). Any increase in Levo makes me feel awful. US showed – features of the right thyroid lobe nodules are suggestive of U2(benign) nodules. No sign of Hashimoto’s on scan and my anti-bodies are fine. Do have heterozygous in DIO1 & DIO2; my father has a thyroid issue. Am stopping the Levo and trying Metavive thyroid support (only thing I can get without a prescription in the UK, hard to get T3 prescribed), knees already feeling slightly better off the levo though now so tired. Do you think an iodine deficiency could have caused this? Am taking various supplement that you recommend to try and support my thyroid and reducing my fluoride intake. Any suggestions you have I would be very grateful. Thank you.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

0
Your Cart
Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop
Calculate Shipping