Goiter issues
I have a goiter that I have had for over 14 years. In the past I have had it biopsied, ultrasounds performed, and had my blood checked. The last time was about a decade ago. Every time, all my levels were 'normal' and I was written a prescription for synthroid. I tried synthroid for a few weeks once, but when I considered that my doctor told me that my blood work was normal, and that the synthroid would not necessarily reduce the size of my goiter, and that I would need if for life despite having no other sypmtoms, I stopped taking it. That was years ago. I still have the goiter. It seems to fluctuate in size, but never gets as big as when I had it examined. It seems be reacting to something when it shrinks, but I can't for the life of me figure out what? For the past few years during my physicals my thyroid numbers have also fallen within the normal ranges, though no specific thyroid screenings have been done.
I have the tendency to be cold more than those around me, especially my hands and feet, and rarely I have heart palpitations that go away if I cough, but I don't have many of the other symptoms of hypo- or hyper-thyroidism. I know that something is wrong with it, otherwise I would not have a goiter, right? Does anyone have any insight into what I may be able to try to help my thyroid? The older I get, the more I worry about the affect it will have on my other hormonal balances, and the more determined I get to improve it.
I had been vegetarian for the past decade, but have begun eating some fish again, mostly wild caught Alaskan salmon. I haven't eaten unfermented soy in nearly a year, and seldom eat fermented soy. My multivitamin has extra
Iodine in the form of kelp, and I drink filtered water. It filters chlorine, but I'm looking for one that will filter fluoride also.
Any advice would really help.