my left thyroid gland has been swollen for almost a year?

Question

why is this? is it bad? i can feel it a little bit when i swallow

Answer 1

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You need testing for thyroid ANTIBODIES as well as TSH. TSH ‘norm’ should be .3 – 3 (w/ most feeling best at < 2) but, for diagnosis, may not mean much if ANTIBODIES are present which is indicative of Hashimoto’s Autoimmune Thyroiditis (cycles between HYPER & HYPO at start)…it is the main cause of eventual HypOthyroidism but worse (...OR Graves Disease – HypERthyroid from beginning).

You will have to INSIST they test for the antibodies. [anti-TPO and TgAb] They can code so that ins will pay.

WARNING: Doctors seem not to want to find/treat thyroid disease. You may have to go to more than one doctor before you get the right tests, interpretation, and treatment. Best wishes.

Ck these:

http://thyroid.about.com/bio/Mary-Shomon-350.htm

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

http://www.thyrophoenix.com/index.html

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/newsinfo/l/blguideline...

ALWAYS GET COPIES OF YOUR LABS.

God bless you

Source(s): Hashimoto's Autoimmune Thyroiditis sufferer

Answer 2

You have only 1 Thyroid gland that has a LEFT LOBE and a RIght LOBE. If the Left LOBE is enlarged, you may have a Cyst or a Thyroid Mass. Don't know your Age and how do you feel overall as the Gland is involved in Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) that deals with your body HEAT. Are you hot? (overactive gland) OR are you "Cold" (Hypo-active gland). See a Doc if you have any overall problems like: Shaking hands/fingers; Increased heart beats (palpitation); gaining weight or losing weight etc..

Answer 3

The best thing you can do is see your GP, who can examine you and ask you questions.

Source(s): Life experience.