I have a very, very small isolated nodule described as isoechoic in the lower right pole of my thyroid that is not even palpable. It was found during an ultrasound 9 months ago (the u/s was ordered because of constant hoarseness of voice and my PC at the time felt my thyroid seemed enlarged - u/s showed it was not, but did discover the small nodule).
9 months ago the nodule was 5mm and now it is 7mm. Is this a normal rate of growth over 9 months? 7mm still seems very small to me, but I'd hate to have it keep growing and end up being some kind of visible goiter. And of course I want to be thorough as thyroid disease runs very prominently in my family. My doctor is recommending FNA to be safe, though it is almost definitely benign.
Also, could this nodule, small as it is, be causing my voice troubles? I get hoarse throughout the day, and by the end of the day my voice feels "strained" as though it's been overused, even if I've barely talked all day. (I also tend to get food stuck in my throat that makes me choke or cough, no matter how small a bit I take or how careful I am, and a feeling of "thickness" in my neck, but this has been going on for several years, where the hoarseness is only within the last 10 to 12 months or so.)
Also, nine months ago my TSH was normal at 1.17 (a year before that it was 1.79 and a year before that it was 2.1) - I do have many symptoms of thyroid disorder, which I know can also be attributed to many other things (though all my blood work has been normal, including the usual suspects like iron and B12). My main symptom is unrelenting severe fatigue, for which we've not been able to pinpoint any cause. (depression has definitely been ruled out) Is it possible that although 1.17 falls within the normal range it's just not quite an optimum level for me? Or would this just be impossible to tell?