hoarseness in voice

[pinki2210]

Sir,
My TSH is 4.82 with thyroid nodule. I am feeling hoarseness in voice for the last 2-3 months. please guide me what to do.
regards
purnima

[TamraW]

First of off, how big is this nodule? While Manmom makes a valid point, please also remember that many of us have benign nodules as well. If it is under 2,0 cm to about 8mm, then a biopsy is recommended. My biopsy was less painful than a trip to the dentist. They novacane your neck. If it is over 2.0 cm then some docs recommend removal of the nodule.

While the solitary nodule has a slightly higher chance of malignancy, this does not mean you have cancer. My mom had a 7.0 cm nodule. It was removed and benign. Better safe than sorry.

Don't panic about the nodule or sore throat. Many of us with Hashimoto's have nodules and sore throats. The soreness comes from the antibodies attacking the thyroid. I take one Selenium pill (200 strength) daily and that helps soothe the antibodies. Motrin helps as well.

You need to get your TGab and TPOab tests to determine if Hashi is to blame for your high TSH and nodule. 90 percent of people with hypothyroidism have Hashi, so it is very likely your case.

The doctor should also test your FT3/ FT4 levels. Measuring the frees is the most direct route of assessing thyroid levels, as the TSH, a pituitary hormone, is not  always reliable.

If, on the slight chance, this nodule is cancerous, then remember that thyroid cancer has a VERY high cure rate.

Take care and let us know your nodule size, TGab and TPOab results and FT4/FT3 results when you get them.

:) Tamra

[MANmom]

Pumima, please get it checked out.  I am a singer, and I started getting hoarse after singing, or when I talked too much or yelled at my kid's sporting events.  It steadily got worse.  I had four nodules and Hashi's.  Biopsy showed "benign follicular clusters" but they could not rule out cancer, so I had one side removed with the three nodules, it turned out to be cancer, so I had a TT.  That was only one of the symptoms, I was also loosing some weight, had wacky periods, had hot/cold spells, night sweats and diffuculty swallowing.  The recurrent laryngeal nerve (controls your vocal function) runs through your thyroid, so a nodule pressing on it could be the cause.  It may or may not be cancerous, but hoarseness is something that needs to be followed up on.  I would start with an FNA biopsy if the nodule is over 1 cm, although my sister, who also had thyroid cancer, had her 8 mm nodule tested due to my diagnosis.  Then if you don't get an answer, you could have half removed, that might just cure the hoarseness.