What does an enlarged thyroid gland feel like?
Sometimes a nodule can appear in a healthy gland. It may feel like a lump in the throat, or cause tenderness or pain in the front of the neck. A large nodule might be visible at the front of the neck. Some kids with thyroid nodules have pain in the front of the neck or feel like they have a lump in the throat.
Can you feel your thyroid swell?
You may feel the nodule rolling underneath your fingertips or see it move when you swallow. A goiter (swelling) can be found on one side of the thyroid or on both sides. If you find any lumps or swelling in this area, talk to your doctor.
Why would my thyroid gland be swollen?
The most common cause of thyroid enlargement is the nutritional deficiency of iodine required to produce thyroid hormones. If there is not enough iodine available, the thyroid gland reacts by becoming enlarged.
Why is there a noticeable swelling in the front part of the neck of a person who has goiter?
A goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland, which is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of the neck. A goiter often causes a noticeable swelling in the neck. A goiter can be caused by a lack of iodine in the diet, a tumour or nodule on the gland, a thyroid disease, or, in rare cases, cancer.
How can I make my thyroid swelling go down?
Treatments for an enlarged thyroid include:
- Thyroid hormone replacement pills if the goiter is due to an underactive thyroid.
- Small doses of Lugol’s iodine or potassium iodine solution if the goiter is due to a lack of iodine.
- Radioactive iodine to shrink the gland if the thyroid is producing too much thyroid hormone.
Can you feel your thyroid gland in your neck?
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that sits low on the front of the neck. Your thyroid lies below your Adam’s apple, along the front of the windpipe. The thyroid has two side lobes, connected by a bridge (isthmus) in the middle. When the thyroid is its normal size, you can’t feel it.
