Substernal Goiter

[emmymatt]

Got my biopsy results yesterday and met with surgeon today.  Wow, what an emotional roller coaster!!  Yesterday the Endo called to say the biopsy results "looked good."  Whatever that means.  But, it made me feel better, untill I met with the surgeon today.  I knew I was going to end up having surgery, just because of the size of the nodule - 7.7cm according to the ultrasound.  Well, the surgeon scared the hell out of me today.   After her exam she told me that the nodule/goiter appears to be much bigger than everyone else thought.  She said it is substernal, and is probably more like 8cm x 12cm.  She also said it is pushing my trachea way over to the side of my neck.  Also looked at my vocal cords with a little camera, and said they are damaged already.  Sending me for a ct scan.  Surgery before the end of the month.  Said because it's substernal, they will probably have to do a vertical incision and crack the sternum as well the the normal thyroid incision.   Oh, and just for giggles she tells me because of the size of the nodule, the biopsy results will probably not be accurate.  So now I'm really freaked out.  I would love for anyone who had large nodules or substernal nodules to share their stories with me.

Thanks,

[Gene52]

I just found out on Friday from a call from my ENT specialist. I was told I too now have to go in for a contrasting X-ray of my thyroid due to the size of the tumors on it. Said due to the position of my thyroid, said they would most probably have to go in through the chest. Scared doesn't begin to describe what I am feeling. I don't even know if there is a word to describe this daze I am in. Can anyone shed some light on this for me. I would apprecfiate it.
***@****
Gene

[j92]

Have you noticed a difference in your breathing or swollowing?  My trachea is also pushed to the right.  Would not have noticed, but now that I know I notice it now and again (mostly when I lay down).  No problems swallowing that I can tell, but do get hiccups easily.

[j92]

So glad everything went well for you.  The waiting seems to be about the worst part for most people.  It will be nice just to get it over with.

[emmymatt]

My surgery went very well.  They were able to get all of it with just a regular thyroid incision.  I was worried that they might have to crack open my chest to get to it, since it was substernal.  But, everything went very well.  Healing very nicely.  I had my surgery on July 3rd.  The recovery was very quick.  The only trouble I had was just trying to find a comfortable sleeping position, but that only lasted a few days.  I have pictures of my incision on my page, take a look at them.

[j92]

Curious as to how your surgery went.  I also have a substernal goiter close to the size of yours.  Meeting with a surgon on Monday. -okej92