Wife Diagnosed with Thyroid nodules (2)
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Wife Diagnosed with Thyroid nodules (2)
| Sun, 09-17-2006 - 4:09pm |
My wife, 52, was just diagnosed with 2 thyroid nodules. The Doctor has scheduled a thyroid scan with uptake. We asked what the results of the ultrasound was but where only told not to worry,(YA RIGHT)its probably nothing. I don't want to sound stupid but if it's nothing why are we doing this. I feel like I'm jumping out of my skin, my wife is totally freaked and nobody seems to want to answer her questions. We have looked online and found websites that tell you what questions to ask, like does it have smooth edges, it's own blood supply etc, but the Drs don't seem to now the answers. Are they hiding something? Was the ultrasound so incomplete that they don't know? It would be great if someone could tell us something before we both loose it

Hi Bobchrisa,
It can be scary when you are told you have "lumps" or nodules and it doesn't seem as though you're getting the answers to your questions.
Maybe it will help you and your wife to know that many of us on this board have been through a similar experience.
To begin with, not all nodules are bad nodules. If you happen to be told "cold" or "hard" it could mean a problem, but don't go jumping the gun. Even if there is a problem, thank goodness they found it now and not later. You don't sound stupid at all wondering what is going on, and your reactions and your wife's is exactly what many of us have gone through. When I went through this 10 to 12 years ago, and even before that the nodule was found 14 years before that and they told me not to worry, and then 14 years of not worrying and them wham, bang, boom, all broke loose and my nodule kept swelling up and then had to have it out. How were her nodules discovered--by herself, by swelling up, by noticing in the mirror. Like I said, not all nodules are bad, but it's best to have the tests and have it all checked out. If your going to a regular PC it might be time for you to consider an endocinologist who is a specialist in this field, and your own dr. might even suggest it if he thinks it's beyond him. Even ask him if you can go to an endo, and would he get you in on a referral if you need one? His answer will be interesting as many PC's think they can take care of this problem, but they aren't as thorough in examining as the endo would be.
Don't get out of sorts, and try to support your wife with some positive input. Yeah, sure, if it's nothing than why go through all this? Well, the answer to that is quite simple--they want to be sure that it is "nothing" and if they find out otherwise they will take the measures that are needed to correct the problem. Be happy that they are on top of this and not just letting it go.
Wishing your wife the best, I was a little older than your wife when my problem was finally being taken care of, but I should have been more adament about having it taken care of when first discovered 14 years before that. We all learn as we go along, and just want to tell you and your wife that your not alone with this problem, there are so many people that have thyroid issues and we are all different so can't really say what is coming up for her in her case. Bea
Ok here's what we found out so far.
TSH level is 1.50
Free T4 1.22
Every other blood level is within normal range.
Ultrasound says:
Right lobe measures 4.69 x 1.6 x 1.8 cm. The left lobe measures 4.5 x 1.34 x 1.56 cm. A 5.3 x 4.5 x 4.6 mm nodule is noted in the midportion of the right lobe. The right lobe is otherwise unremarkable. A 1.38 x 1.13 x 1.04 cm heterogeneous nodule is noted in the mid to lower portion of the left lobe. The left lobe is otherwise unremarkable in appearance. The isthus is unremarkable in appearance measuring 2.75 mm in maximum AP diameter.
IMPRESSION: Bilateral nodules. A followup study is recommended.
Anyone out there able to take a shot at interpreting this into normal people language?
Uptake with scan scheduled for Oct 2&3
Thanks
Bob and Chris
Hi Bob & Chris,
Translating into "normal people language" is what you need and I'll give it a shot but this is only my opinion - I'm not a medical anything.
It looks as though her TSH is at a fairly good "normal" level at 1.5.
you have good reasons to relax a bit anyway- my opinion.
I'm 38 and just went through thyroid surgery because of cancer. They can tell nodes from scans and they can tell you if they are hot cold or warm- warm and hot mean they produce thyroid hormone, cold they don't. It helps determine if you might have graves or hashimoto's or if cold can be goiter or cancer. Then they try fine needle biobsy and most come back inconclusive, but if it's inconclusive they still have a better idea than if they didn't do the fine needle- it doesn't hurt - the dentist hurts you more.
This is one of the better cancers to get - usually but you know this if you've done your reading, if you have the most common 2 types.
Wish you well- and oh- if she does end up needing thyroid removal - just remember she may become real irritable- just be nice to her - she's tired and well... irritable.