Appointment with Endocrinologist

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-17-2006
Appointment with Endocrinologist
19
Fri, 09-22-2006 - 8:51am
Hi everyone! I have an appointment with an endocrinologist at the end of October and I was wondering what I can expect. Here is what I have been through so far (I have been on this board before, so some of you may know - I thank you for all the help I've had so far) for those that don't know, here it is:
TSH, T3 & T4 - all normal range
Ultrasound - showed a solid nodule of 2 cm in diameter, with other smaller nodules throughout my neck
Uptake & Scan - showed cold nodule(s) - I'm not sure if they used the plural or not
So, I'm just wondering how may others have been through this same set of tests with the same results and what your trip to the endo was like.
Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2006
Fri, 09-29-2006 - 9:25pm
sorry for all the typos- it's alot for my typing skills- please do let me know-I am having difficulty tasting still after the iodine pill- everything tastes bad- and it was really bad the first 3 days after I am 16days after the iodine and 6 days after the scan. My surgon was great- I had to get a second opinion- the first doctor I did not feel had enough experience removing thyroids- in my area had trouble trying to find help finding a doctor to get a second opinion from - so I used my husbands doctors recommendation - adn when talking to this doctor he did at least 12 a month he said and had another 10years experience over the first doctor- don't be afraid to get a second opinion- yes they will both recommend the same procedure but who do you feel comfortable with is important- I didn't have an endo doc before surgery- never even heard of one. had hashimotos too come to find out after the biobsy- I'd never have guessed.
My doctors didn't give me very explicit directions when it came to quarntine- so I decided it was easier to stay at a cheap hotel fri-sunday night just to be safe and had different visitors on sat and sunday-no small children though- and no hugs and kisses- but can sit across from other for an hour or so.
My body scan was exactly 28mins.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-17-2006
Mon, 10-02-2006 - 8:45am
Thank you for all of that info! I know that I definitely want to have this nodule and whatever else that is causing problems removed no matter what it turns out to be. Have you or has anyone else been in that situation? Is surgery covered by insurance if the patient elects to have it? I'm just not sure how to go about this. Thanks!
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2006
Mon, 10-02-2006 - 9:36am
I have a feeling with the size that yours is they will want to take it - I wouldn't sweat it :). My first surgen gave me the option of the fine needle biobsy, do nothing, or schedule surgery right then and there, being the fine needle almost 50% of the time comes back unreadable. If they don't want to do surgery they have to watch it close and give you meds to prevent it from growing.
Wait and talk with surgen - my surgen was the one who did the fine needle biobsy, then for an answer on the biobsy - will take about 3 days- they need to freeze it to look for a certain type of cancer cell. If it comes back inconclusive they usually want to do surgery to be 100% sure it's not cancer, it's the only way to know for sure at that point.
Also as I said if you don't like what this surgen has to say a second opinion is always an option. Let me know how the biobsy test goes. Then we can talk some more.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-17-2006
Mon, 10-02-2006 - 10:56am
Well, that makes me feel better. I wish I was given the option of juts having surgery and no biopsy since I know that the biopsy is not 100%. Oh well. Maybe the HMO makes the doctors take all these steps...I'm not sure. I will let you know how it goes.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2006
Mon, 10-02-2006 - 11:08am
most doctors still do the biobsy even though they know it's not 100%or even 75%, it's usually a step and if there is an opportunity to go into surgery with an idea of what's going on it's probably better for them.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-17-2006
Mon, 10-02-2006 - 2:08pm
That sounds reasonable. I'm glad I have a little bit of a better understanding of this whole before going there on Wednesday. Thanks!
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-17-2006
Wed, 10-04-2006 - 4:00pm
Hi tlandon - I had my biopsy this morning. My neck is pretty sore right now and it hurts to swallow. My voice is just above a whisper without pain. They took 4 aspirations with a fine needle. The first one hurt a little and then just pressure. The second one brought me to tears and the third and fourth ones pinched at first and then just pressure. The worst part was feeling the needle moving around inside the nodule. I'm just glad it's over with. The samples were sent to the lab today and I should know the results by the middle of next week. Now it's just a waiting game again...
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2006
Wed, 10-04-2006 - 5:31pm
wow they didn't numb you well- just a question- do you have red or redish hair- they have found people with red hair usually need more numbing agent then thoughs with other color hair- has to do with the genes and the way they process the numbing agents.
sorry to hear they hurt you - they took three from me to make sure they got all representives of the nudles none hurt like you said on the first one and the others I felt the needle move around but no hurt- went right to work.
Did your possible surgen do the biobsy? Let me know - should only be a few days now though you might not find out till monday.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-17-2006
Wed, 10-04-2006 - 5:42pm
No, I don't have red hair. My hair is dark blonde. So, I don't know why the numbing agent didn't work that well. Although, when I have had to have teeth pulled the same thing has happened and was put under in order for them to successfully extract my teeth without me being in complete pain. So maybe it's just me.
My potential surgeon was not the one who performed my biopsy. The doctor who did works at a radiology clinic by my house. It's where I had all of my tests performed - ultrasound, uptake and scan, and now the biopsy. It's basically an outpatient place so that not everyone has to go to the hospital. Unfortunately, it makes patients have to go through more steps in the process to recovery since I still have to meet with an endocrinologist and then a surgeon.
I hope I can find out the results on Monday or in the middle of next week. I'd like to find out on Friday, but I don't think that will happen.
Thanks for responding and helping me get through this. It's nice to talk to someone who understands.

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