Goitre?

[Karisma853]

I was diagnosed hypothyroid in May 2013 and diagnosed with Hashimoto's in January 2014. Doctor is absolutely convinced I have no goitre.

I went to my thyroid support group meeting today and one of the ladies felt around my neck and said there was a goitre. Now I'm confused. Why have I been told by a doctor that I have no goitre when someone who has had thyroid disease and had her thyroid removed has said that I do?

Picture is included.

Thanks for any help.

Jo xxx

[Barb135]

No one said your picture clearly shows no goiter. You may have, but it's very difficult to tell from a photo, because other things, including the way you hold your head, can make it look like there's a bulge.

What difference does it really make if you have a goiter now, anyway?  A goiter is simply a swollen/enlarged/inflamed thyroid.  I had a goiter at one time, no longer do, because my thyroid is no longer swollen/inflamed.

[Karisma853]

If my picture clearly has no goitre then I must be making it up. Jo xxx

[Karisma853]

I'm going to give up on this question, sorry for wasting anyone's time.

[Karisma853]

Thanks for your comment.

Doctor has refused to do a repeat ultrasound despite the previous one saying it was mildly enlarged and vascular.

Jo xxx

[Karisma853]

Thanks for your comment.

I have asked my doctor to do an ultrasound but they have refused to do a repeat one.

Previous one states thyroid is mildly enlarged and mildly vascular.

Jo xxx

[898_1]

Even on the thin neck you cannot visually tell the difference between average thyroid size (8 ml (cu cm) volume) and 25 cu cm volume [http://youtu.be/ntMr0dPwCBM] (clinical goiter, 1st degree ), if there is no nodules that making side-to-side difference.
Nodules in isthmus or anterior poles can be visually detected during swallowing.
If you have an ultrasound report please post thyroid dimensions from it.
I have been misdiagnosed as well:)

[goolarra]

Because both doctors and little, old ladies in support groups sometimes don't know what it is they're feeling...

At my last regularly scheduled visit to my doctor, he palpated my thyroid as usual and felt a prominent nodule.  He wanted to do an ultrasound, but I scheduled it for a couple of months later.  By the time I had the U/S, whatever both he and his med student had felt was gone.  I don't know if it had gone away or never there to begin with.

If you want to know more about the physical composition of your thyroid, size, nodules, etc, ask your doctor to order an U/S.  It's hard to tell much from a picture and without anything to compare what your neck used to look like.