ENLARGED THYROID? CONFUSED

[APENNOCK]

I am so confused! I got post partum thyroiditis about 4 years ago, they did radioactive iodine to kill it. I have been on synthroid ever since and I am currently taking 200mcg per day. I went to the doctor for just some routine blood work and my tsh came back at 12.8 and my t4 at 0.78. He called me back to the office and felt of my thyroid and agreed that it was enlarged and he wanted to do another Ultrasound. The tech who did my ultrasound couldnt tell me much but she kept asking if I had problems swallowing. She said that it was enlarged and multinodular heterogenous. She also said that the isthmus was 2x as thick as it should be.. Is that a problem?  They are sending the results to a surgeon to read it and it may take 4 weeks to get the results.. Should I be worried.? I thought the point of killing the thyroid was for it wouldnt do this.. I am so confused

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

The radioactive iodine does not always shrink the goiter.  The current high TSH may be contributing to the enlarged thyroid.  Would make sure this is controlled and determine why the TSH is high now on 200mcg -- ie, decreased absorption, generic medication, interfering other meds/supplements -- best to talk to an endocrinologist about these.

In terms of the ultrasound, it s important to make sure there are no suspicious nodules, but overtime the goiter may shrink with proper TSH levels (0.5-2.5).

[APENNOCK]

MY DOCTOR WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND INCREASE MY SYNTHROID TO 250MCG BEFORE THEY GET THE RESULTS BACK FROM MY ULTRASOUND.. IS THIS A SAFE DOSEAGE. LAST TIME HE INCREASED IT TO 200 HE SAID THAT IT WAS A HIGH DOSE?

[APENNOCK]

I know and I did start having symptoms of hypothyroidism and they put me on synthroid and has been increased upto 200mcg.All my levels have been fine up until this month.The us tech said with iodine radiation the thyroid should be almost non exsistent.

[hurtingrightnow]

Nearly 50 percent of individuals who receive radioactive iodine for the treatment of hyperthyroidism will develop hypothyroidism within a year, and 65 percent will develop it within five years. Hypothyroidism can cause this swelling/enlargement.