[kmoll]

#1058758

Hello, I am new to this BB. A quick history, I have been living with Grave’s for a little over 3 years. I have been taking antithyroid medications and a beta-blocker. I have a "heterogeneous" multinodular goiter. It is large, sometimes I will feel as if I am choking on my food. Not always but often. I am currently trying to decide what my next step is, RAI or surgery. I hate the thought of surgery, but I don’t want to live with this goiter for the rest of my life either. How many people have had results of large goiters shrinking with RAI? I have been at normal thyroid levels for some time now and my thyroid has not shrunk, so I am wondering if the RAI will have any success. My endo says it will not likely shrink. I want to be as done with this as I can be. I have searched possible natural therapies, some of them may work, but I don’t think I have enough discipline for them to get me into remission permanently. Antithyroid medications definitely aren’t getting me to remission. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Bobbi]

#1169828

Basically, all a "goiter" is, is an enlarged thyroid gland. So there is typically some shrinkage through either surgery or RAI. Whether or not, in your case, you will get the amount of elimination that you want, as quickly as you want, with RAI, is something none of us here can tell you. Your endo’s estimate is perhaps the best one to go by.

Wishing you good luck with your decision.

[MNMama]

#1169829

Hi:
I had a large goiter before my first RAI in January of 2011. I would say my goiter shrunk 75 % after the first RAI. This reduction did not happen overnight by any means, but within 2 months there was a major difference and it just got smaller and smaller after that. I did have to have a second RAI, because the first one did not quite get me to the normal range, and now (6 weeks after the 2nd RAI) I can feel my trachea bone on each side and can hardly feel my thyroid at all. I hope this helps. Also, keep in mind that I did not have any cysts or nodules, just a large, diffuse toxic goiter my measurements from the ultrasound were right lobe 5.2 x 2.3 x 2.3 cm. Left lobe 4.7 x 2.2 x 1.8 cm. The isthmus was thickened and measures 7 mm.

[kmoll]

#1169830

Thank you for the responses. I have been told that I have a large diffuse toxic goiter and also a multinodular goiter. I don’t know if it both or what, but I will have to check with my endo. I am the most indecisive person in the world, so I am having a really hard time deciding what to do. I would just stay on the ATD’s, but I am really concerned about what they might be doing to my other organs, even though I have been tolerating them well as of now. Once again thanks for opinions and responses. It really helps to hear other experiences other than just a doctor’s answer:)

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