Terri Rimmer
Terri Rimmer has 24 years of journalism experience, having worked for ten newspapers and some magazines. Currently she writes for http://associatedcontent.com. She has a daughter, McKenna, whom she placed for adoption in August 2000. Ms. Rimmer published her e-book "MacKenzie's Hope" on http://booklocker.com under the family heading. It's also listed on http://adopting.com. She resides in Fort Worth, TX. In 2007 she won a Media Award from Associated Content and in 2005 she received a grant from Change, Inc.
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Condition Has Various Names


My sister Debbie was just diagnosed with a condition known as swollen thyroid nodules and recently underwent a biopsy.



In this test, a thin needle is inserted into the nodule to remove cells and/or fluid samples from the nodule for examination under a microscope.



She is only 49.



The doctor gave her some medication to help the swelling go down regarding the cysts found in her throat. Hopefully the treatment will help but she has to wait and see. To complicate matters Debbie, a mother and grandma who has no insurance has Diabetes and her vision has been affected by that primary illness.



According to healthbanks.com, thyroid nodules are abnormal growths or cells or lumps in the thyroid gland. The nodules feel round or oval-shaped and differ from normal thyroid tissue. Some symptoms of thyroid nodules include palpitations, insomnia, weight loss, anxiety, and tremors, common in hyperthyroidism, as explained on thyroid.about.com. Some doctor prescribe hormone pills to shrink the size of the nodules which are usually more than one quarter of an inch in diameter that may protrude from the neck's surface or may form in the thyroid gland itself.



The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland that lies across the trachea (windpipe) below the Adam's apple, is controlled by the pituitary, a small gland at the base of the brain that sends out Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). (Source: Healthlink.mcw.edu). The thyroid is part of the endocrine system, the system of organs that secrete hormones into the blood.



Thyroid nodules increase with age and occur in almost ten percent of the adult population, states Endocrineweb.com at http://www.endocrineweb.com/fna.html.



Most nodules are benign or non-cancerous and can be treated with medication, revealed by helium.com. (http://www.helium.com/tm/613012/nodules-small-lumps-found).



According to WebMD.com, most nodules are so small that you can’t feel them and they do not cause symptoms. But if they are big you will feel that your neck is swollen.



The Mayo Clinic dictates that usually thyroid nodules are found by a doctor during a routine medical exam. Large nodules can press against other structures

in the neck. Lymph nodes can also swell in response to any infection or irritation.



The American Family Physician stated in an article dated Feb. 1, 2003 that thyroiditis may present as a nodule.

In rare cases, you may also:

Feel pain in your throat or feel like your throat is full.
Have a hard time swallowing.
Have a hard time breathing.
Feel nervous, have a fast heartbeat, sweat a lot, lose weight, or have other symptoms of hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone).
Feel tired or depressed, have memory problems, be constipated, have dry skin, feel cold, or have other symptoms of hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone).
(Reference: Meritcare.com).

Thyroid nodules usually run in families, according to Cigna.com.