What does an enlarged thyroid gland mean?
I went to the doctors this week for bronchitis. He mentioned that I had an enlarged thyroid gland. What does this mean? What causes this? How can it affect me? I have an appointment for a physical at the end of the month. I will ask my doctors these questions as well. I just wanted to see what others had to say about this.
The medical term for this is a Goiter. This can be cause by a generlized enlargement or asymmetric ( nodular)
There are a number of factors which may cause the thyroid to become enlarged. Common cause of goiter is an increase in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in response to a defect in normal hormone synthesis within the thyroid gland. The thyroid stimulating hormone comes from the pituitary and causes the thyroid to enlarge. This enlargement usually takes many years to become manifest.
Your doctor will probably run a variety of tests on you. Starting with Blood work. They will measure your T4 T3 and TSH levels (thyroid hormones)
He may choose to send you for a ultrasound as well. Depending on the results of those tests, it could lead to others.
Alot of times people have goiters and not even know it.
Educate yourself on the thyroid and disease of it. I’ve provided some links that might aid you in this.
Best of luck to you…
Something is out of whack, hopefully your doc can tell you the proper way to deal with this, but it is probably not too serious or he would have admitted you to the hospital, good luck:)