| "Hypothyroidism" is a condition in which a person's | | | | or "curve to the side" if you will. |
| thyroid gland does not produce enough "Thyroid | | | | My goiter was so large, that I had difficulty swallowing |
| Stimulating Hormone" or "TSH". | | | | most foods without drinking immediately afterwards to |
| The thyroid gland is located in the front of your neck, | | | | literally wash the food down my esophagus. Also In |
| near your voice box, or larynx. The thyroid has been | | | | my case, I became unable to sleep on a pillow |
| described as being shaped like a butterfly that wraps | | | | because it would bend my neck enough to flatten my |
| around the inside of the front of your throat. The | | | | airway and cause me to stop breathing. For over a |
| thyroid gland is part of your endocrine system, and | | | | year I slept on the floor, flat on my back so I could |
| produces hormones that control your metabolism. The | | | | breathe at night because I had no idea what was |
| treatment of any condition to do with your thyroid or | | | | happening to me. |
| endocrine system should be overseen by a type of | | | | My endocrinologist did a biopsy on my thyroid to |
| doctor called an "Endocrinologist". | | | | determine if I may have thyroid cancer. Although the |
| Your family physician can determine if your "TSH" | | | | test came back negative for cancer, the goiter had |
| levels are in the normal range by ordering a simple | | | | started to develop "Nodules", or small growths if you |
| blood test during a normal routine physical. If your | | | | will. There was also an ultrasound done to determine |
| family physician determines that you do indeed have a | | | | the size of my thyroid, and at that time it was |
| problem with your thyroid gland, you should be referred | | | | discovered there were 52 nodules located on the |
| to an endocrinologist for a second opinion and for | | | | goiter. Once the endocrinologist saw how large the |
| follow up treatment. In many cases thyroid conditions | | | | goiter had become, and that it was deviating my |
| are treatable with medication and can be easily | | | | esophagus, it was decided that I needed to have my |
| managed. | | | | thyroid surgically removed. |
| In my case, my thyroid had started to grow in size as | | | | Thyroid surgery for most patients is done as a "Last |
| a result of being inactive for a very long time. The | | | | Resort". The surgery itself can take from 2 to 6 hours, |
| thyroid itself had quadrupled in size in an effort to try | | | | and is now normally done as an outpatient procedure. |
| to produce the required level of TSH to maintain my | | | | Your physician would let you know if they felt that |
| metabolism. As my thyroid was growing, it was | | | | surgery was needed. And remember, you can always |
| actually causing damage to the cellular structure of the | | | | get a second opinion, and ultimately the surgery is your |
| thyroid and morphing into what is known as a "Goiter". | | | | decision. Once your thyroid has been removed, you will |
| When your thyroid gland grows in size and becomes | | | | be required to take "TSH" hormone replacement drugs |
| damaged, you can develop a condition called | | | | for the remainder of your life as you would no longer |
| "Hashimoto's Thyroiditis". If you develop Hashimoto's | | | | have the gland that produces it, and your body |
| Thyroiditis, your endocrinologist would then need to | | | | depends on it for normal function. |
| keep a closer eye on your TSH levels to ensure that | | | | Life for me without a thyroid has gone back to normal. |
| there are no other complications occurring, including but | | | | I do take the required drugs daily without fail, but now I |
| not limited to cancer. | | | | get to sleep in a bed and on a pillow. A small thing I |
| In my case, I did develop Hashimoto's Thyroiditis , and I | | | | know, but being deprived of it for a year, it became a |
| developed a goiter. A goiter is actually when the | | | | huge deal to me. |
| thyroid gland itself has grown so large that it then | | | | I hope that you never have to endure a thyroid illness, |
| begins to cause other health problems. A goiter can | | | | but now if you do, I hope you have a little insight into |
| appear as a swollen neck in most people. In my case, | | | | what you might expect. |
| the goiter began to cause my esophagus to deviate, | | | | |