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Unsure if I should have surgery or not? 4+ cm "benign" nodule
To remove a large "benign" thyroid nodule or not - that is the question??? Seems my endo says "it's up to me". I do have slight hoarseness and ear fullness (pop my ears for years now!). FNA showed something along the lines of benign follicular adenoma. That was done 6 months ago after it was first found - just had a f/u ultrasound and it's remained mostly stable (has a smallish cystic area in it - that's remained the same as well). I just don't know if I should go ahead and half half my thyroid out or keep following with u/s every 6 months. I wish there was just a for sure cut-off point (size wise) where surgery was recommended. I find it odd that it's just so very "up to me"......I have no idea how accurate an FNA would be considered for a nodule over 4cm large. Thanks for any insight you can give!
COMMUNITY LEADER
What was your TSH level and can you get your doctor to order Free T4 and Free T3? Those are much more important because TSH is a pituitary hormone, whereas Free T4 and Free T3 are the actual thyroid hormones.
I learned a long time ago, that age should not be an excuse for fatigue or other symptoms. A demanding job can make you tired, but once you've slept, you should be rested and ready to go again. If you're staying fatigued in spite of adequate sleep, something else may be the problem.
As for the smaller nodule, typically, nodules < 1 cm aren't biopsied so it's not surprising that they didn't do anything with that one.
How long ago was the TSH test done? I'd try to get it done again and try to get the doctor to test the actual thyroid hormones, along with the antibodies I mentioned above. If the antibody tests are positive, that means you have Hashimoto's, which is autoimmune in which the body sees the thyroid as foreign and produces antibodies to destroy it. If this is the case, eventually, the thyroid produces no hormones. TSH does not correlate well with actual thyroid hormones and often, we have symptoms long before it gets high enough for doctors to be willing to medicate.
If it were me, I'd ask for a second opinion, along with the additional tests.
I learned a long time ago, that age should not be an excuse for fatigue or other symptoms. A demanding job can make you tired, but once you've slept, you should be rested and ready to go again. If you're staying fatigued in spite of adequate sleep, something else may be the problem.
As for the smaller nodule, typically, nodules < 1 cm aren't biopsied so it's not surprising that they didn't do anything with that one.
How long ago was the TSH test done? I'd try to get it done again and try to get the doctor to test the actual thyroid hormones, along with the antibodies I mentioned above. If the antibody tests are positive, that means you have Hashimoto's, which is autoimmune in which the body sees the thyroid as foreign and produces antibodies to destroy it. If this is the case, eventually, the thyroid produces no hormones. TSH does not correlate well with actual thyroid hormones and often, we have symptoms long before it gets high enough for doctors to be willing to medicate.
If it were me, I'd ask for a second opinion, along with the additional tests.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Is this the only problem you have with your thyroid?
What are your actual thyroid hormone levels? Sometimes if we're taking a replacement thyroid medication, nodules will shrink on their own. Has your endo discussed this as a possibility?
Do you know if you have Hashimoto's? Nodules are quite common with Hashimoto's and again, if one is on replacement medication, nodules may shrink...
If you have lab reports showing test results for Free T4, Free T3, and TSH, please post them along with any results you may have for antibody testing, such as Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb), which would determine if you have Hashimoto's.
Also, please tell us about any symptoms, other than the hoarseness and ear filling you've already mentioned.
What are your actual thyroid hormone levels? Sometimes if we're taking a replacement thyroid medication, nodules will shrink on their own. Has your endo discussed this as a possibility?
Do you know if you have Hashimoto's? Nodules are quite common with Hashimoto's and again, if one is on replacement medication, nodules may shrink...
If you have lab reports showing test results for Free T4, Free T3, and TSH, please post them along with any results you may have for antibody testing, such as Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb), which would determine if you have Hashimoto's.
Also, please tell us about any symptoms, other than the hoarseness and ear filling you've already mentioned.
1 Comments
All that’s been tested is TSH which was in normal range. I do have a smaller than 1cm solid nodule on other lobe that was not biopsied. I have fatigue but that may be my age and job:)
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