Thyroid Nodule treatment questions
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| Mon, 06-28-2004 - 2:23pm |
My Mom has Graves' disease and my nephew has Hashimoto's.
I just had the RAI scan done last week, and saw my Endo on Friday. Here's what he said:
1. My antibodies are > 70 and should be <2, which indicates Hashimoto's. My free T4 level is 1.1.
2. He forgot or the lab screwed up, and they didn't get a new TSH level, so I had more bloodwork done today to see if it's high or not. (level in March was 3.57)
3. The RAI scan reports said multinodular Goiter with diffuse hot and cold spots throughout. He's not happy with the report, and is going to the hospital to see the scan for himself.
So here's the plan: If, when he reviews the scan, the single larger nodule within the multiglobular mass looks suspicious, then we're going to do a FNA to see if it's malignant. He's going to see if my TSH level is on the high side, and if it is, he's talking about putting me on Synthroid, even though my FT4 is just a little on the low side, but still within normal limits.
Here's my questions -
1. He said he does FNA without local anesthesia, is this typical? He said that it interferes with the pathology if you use locals. How painful is it without a local?
2. It doesn't sound reasonable to me to put me on Synthroid if I'm not even hypo yet. Am I missing something?
3. Does the antibody problem ever resolve itself and go away, or is this something I can just expect to have to deal with forever?
4. I don't really have any symptoms, will high antibodies make me feel sick?
Thanks for listening.

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If all you had were a tsh level of 3.2 and he wanted to wait for 6 months to see what would happen, then you aren't in any risk to wait. But what about your blood pressure, family history and swelling? It doesn't make sense to me to wait. So many doctors are just not well educated in thyroid conditions. You have to be your own advocate in these cases. I know it sounds harsh at times but it's your health at stake, not his. What would he do for himself if he were in your position? Do you think he would wait? I don't think so.
Can you talk to him about it or get an appointment with another endo? Sometimes that takes 6 months as well but maybe you will be fortunate to find someone that can see you quickly. If that's what you decide to do. I have to tell you, that's what I would do. I wouldn't wait. But that's me. You have to do what's right for you. What do you think? Cathy
Cathy in tx
Thanks!
Cathy
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