Wife Diagnosed with Thyroid nodules (2)

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-17-2006
Wife Diagnosed with Thyroid nodules (2)
10
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
Avatar for cl_calley7
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Sun, 09-17-2006 - 8:42pm

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.

 

Calley7

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-17-2006
Thu, 09-21-2006 - 8:32am
Hi Bobchrisa! I got your e-mail a few days ago. I went to respond to it today and I realized that I had deleted by mistake. What your wife is going through and what I'm going through does sound very similar. Has your wife gotten her scan and uptake done yet? What were her results? I have had blood tests, T4, T3, and TSH that all came back normal. Then I had an ultrasound that showed a solid nodule of 2 cm in diameter. Then I had the uptake and scan which showed a cold nodule and now I have an appointment with an endorcrinologist on Oct. 25th. I'm curious to hear how your wife is doing. The doctors and nurses seem to be dancing around the issue for me as well. When I asked the nurse what a cold nodule could imply, she just told me that it was a foreign mass on my thyroid. When I asked what that could mean, she went right into meeting with an endo. I just would like a straight answer, even if it is Cancer. I'm sure you and your wife are feeling the same way. The waiting and not knowing are the hardest. Please stay in touch and let me know how you and your wife are doing and the next steps she is taking in diagnosing her thyroid issues.
Avatar for daggs170
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 09-22-2006 - 11:28am

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

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-17-2006
Fri, 09-22-2006 - 9:08pm
Thanks for your reply. Sorry haven't been able to get back till now. She has the scan 10-2/3. Then sees an endoc... on the 12th. Blood tests aren't back yet. but will keep you posted. Thanks again.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-17-2006
Fri, 09-22-2006 - 9:16pm
Thanks, she will be seeing endoco.. Doc on 10-12. When I said nothing I meant they seemed as if they where trying to hide something. I figured it obviously was SOMETHING or they wouldn't have ordered more tests. Simply meant they appear to be hiding something, or at the least aren't being up front with all the facts they have so far.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-17-2006
Sun, 09-24-2006 - 8:47pm
Thanks for responding! Keep me posted as to the test results of the blood work and the scan. When do you expect the blood test results? The waiting is definately the hardest part.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-17-2006
Thu, 09-28-2006 - 7:01pm

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

Avatar for cl_calley7
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Thu, 09-28-2006 - 9:03pm

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.

 

Calley7

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2006
Fri, 09-29-2006 - 8:44pm

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.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-30-2006
Sat, 09-30-2006 - 5:53pm
I feel your pain. this just happened last week 9-25-6 i had a C scan done on my neck for neck problems and look what showed up something i'd never heard of before Thyroid Nodules. i have many.. a couple as big as 2.5cm. i went back to read over what they said and i got nothing from the Dumb Dr. they took blood and told me to come back in two weeks.ya right well i'm going back on tuesday with what i've learned online and mad. this is something that needs to be taken care of and not put off. please tell your wife to get mad and take charge. it may sound harsh but this is no joke of what i've read and we need answers.don't stop till she is ok with it, I'ts her body and her call. i wish her well and hope for a good out come. feel free to write back talking with someone is always a good thing Berber1468@aol.com