Thyroid lesions

[CCSP-27]

Hello Thyroid folks - I need a bit of info and advice

In brief - last week in Turkey mother admitted to hospital. Place and services looked fab so I decided to have my T3 done (forgot that I needed the antibody ones done too 🙄) GP here refused all of course !

Saw a surgeon (no less) who carefully examined my throat at length and sent me for bloods and ultrasound (all a one stop shop over there - fantastic !) Results of everything back in an hour and I'm sitting back in Surgeons office .!!!! UK could learn a few lessons from this finely tuned structure ......serving 70 million people countrywide !!!

Bottom line - I've two large lesions on each side of Thyroid - the one on the right needs a biopsy and regardless of result needs out its so big ! The one on the left needs watched but also biopsied just in case

GP of course had dismissed all idea of a problem because guess what "TSH and T4 all within normal range "

My Q's are - do I need a General surgeon or an ENT one ?

Will they take the Turkish findings seriously ? I have it translated my Sis is fluent.

How do I research who's good in my area - I've a few names lined up but nothing more.?

Do I need an ref to an Endo now, or that being the medical side of it all should I wait until after surgery ? Should I build up a relationship with an Endo first and let them refer me to a surgeon - keep it all in the system so to speak ?

GP will be clueless and I've learned with Neuro and Cardio (other conditions exist although research suggests not unrelated to Thyroid ) it's best to keep it all under one roof as such.

Anxious about surgery but glad I've discovered this before time let sinister things develop !

Any help would be great folks

Susan

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[Hidden]

You have just got to fight and insist that they do something when you get back to the UK. If your doctor is rubbish ask to see someone else. It's important to get them removed so don't be fobbed off. If you hit a brick wall, kick up a big fuss and bug the hell outa them. They should refer you to an endo in conjunction with surgery.

[CCSP-27 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Katie

Don't you ever wonder why things have to be so complicated 😩

I'm home and have an appointment on Thurs - my surgery has only 2 docs and far far too many patients !

She is useless and he's not much better .Proactivity is not a word they know ....nor is reactivity for that matter. They use misplaced positivity for everything Oh it's so wearisome !

Anyway enough complaints !

You think I should see an Endo first and let him ref to surgeon ?

I've one in mind - ref from a post another kind Thyroider sent me ....so I'm armed and ready 😏

S x

[Hidden in reply to CCSP-27]

You do wonder yes. It's crazy. I've never found a good doctor. I think most GP surgeries are really difficult to get into now. I can't say about Endos sorry. I would assume they would do the opp at the ENT section of your hospital.

I am hypo but self medicate as my Gp refused to 're test my thyroid. I tested private and my hormones were way off the scale low. Was so Ill going in and out of consciousness. Couldnt function with 3 kids and just thought I have to self medicate. So never had an official NHS diagnosis. Try and stand your ground and don't let them play it down. It's important for you to get it done. If not you will just worry constantly about it. Try not to over analyse either just go in and do it, easier said then done I know.

[Clutter]

Susan-mac,

My GP referred me to a maxillo facial surgeon experienced in thyroid surgery when ultrasound scan showed a nodule 2.5cm. Some GP's refer patients to ENT surgeons.

Cold thyroid nodules do not usually affect thyroid blood levels. Nodules >1-1.5cm are usually biopsied via fine needle aspiration.

I would copy your GP the Turkish medical reports and ask for referral to a thyroid surgeon or ENT.

[CCSP-27 in reply to Clutter]

You must have a good GP !

Maxillofacial - I didn't think of that area At any rate whoever it is needs to be someone experienced in Thyroid surgery.

Now ....don't laugh but I choose my Doctors very carefully - it's almost like I'm interviewing them ! If I don't feel we'll get on I'm outta'there - I've had a couple of bad experiences in the past !

The "lesions" are 2.6 x2.6 x 4.5 and 1.2 x 1.2 x 2.4 so I guess they do need to come out !

The surgeon did say that. He's keeping an eye on one of his own actually but it's only 5ml at the min.

No, my bloods aren't affected but I think the blood ranges are so wide they couldn't possibly relate to everyone. It doesn't make sense !

What does the 'fine neddle aspiration' involve or is it self explanatory ? I've been through a lot the past 5 years - not keen on more !

Did you have surgery with a GA or can it be more simply done ?

Many thanks

Susanmac

[Clutter in reply to CCSP-27]

Susan-mac,

The FNA involves inserting a needle into the thyroid nodule to withdraw cells for analysis. It's not painful as local anaesthetic is applied first but it is a little uncomfortable lying with one's throat thrust upwards. There will be some bruising and soreness for a few days after and paracetamol will take care of any pain.

General anaesthetic is required for thyroidectomy.

The blood ranges are very broad, certainly broader than many other countries.

[Marz]

Here in Crete we too have excellent facilities. Yesterday I took my step-daughter for blood tests - and yes we were allowed to choose which ones. Afterwards we walked a few paces for a thyroid scan for 25 euro - seen instantly and left with the results and report in our hands. All this happened in the next village to our home. Results tomorrow - all typed out beautifully.

This was the same for my daughter a few years back and she had a node which was suspicious. Her GP in the UK refused to look at the scan and the test results. He insisted on doing his own tests and declared her normal. My heart sank. 3 months later the same. We persuaded her to see someone privately and this involved her having to go through her GP - not easy. FNA's revealed thyroid cancer. Her thyroid was removed and RAI followed due to affected lymph glands. We have often wondered what if - what if she had been seen earlier than the six months that were wasted.

Really sorry I am not able to help with the correct sort of surgeon - am just glad you saw good people in Turkey and you are on your journey. I wish you a full recovery.

What is going on in the UK ? How is it suggested it has the best Health Care system in the world ? Am not so sure

[JGBH in reply to Marz]

Hi Marz,

The UK has a health service but in name only nowadays. It is so scary... One does not feel safe regarding one's health. Everything is a battle and patients who push to get diagnosis are for ever hitting a brick, no actually a concrete wall! It leaves one feeling downhearted, scared, exhausted and totally unsupported , very alone.

I had noticed, quite a long time ago, that the doctors usually wait till it is so obvious that you're are not well before they did anything.... thus the patients suffered a great deal more, and often their recovery was not always complete, or some just died. Now the situation is much worse: GPs ignore patients' symptoms completely AND they are paid so much money to do so!! That is where the NHS waste so much money... money to pay GPs who in turn do not help patients.... It is what it looks like when you're a patient who has to fight for the right to treatment and does not get any.

You are lucky to live in Crete.... and what luck for your daughter! Here, they wring they hands saying "how very sorry they are (once a person's life has been lost through negligence) and that they will learn through their mistake"... but that's just words... nothing really changes .I do wish I could feel differently... but one has to look around and see what is happening, the reality is very worrying.

Frankly I do not know whether the NHS can carry on like this for much longer, but it offers a poor service and patients are paying with their lives.

Of course, there may be some good and caring GPs.... who will do their job as they should, but this is very rare and one is lucky to find such a doctor! Naturally they have pressure put on them by the government... The future for health services is looking rather bleak.

[Marz in reply to JGBH]

Hi - have just sent you a PM The arrogance of my daughters GP in the UK was breathtaking - she returned with beautifully typed out results - perfect scan pictures showing the very unusual node - and it was all SNUBBED by her GP. Why would he want to look at what he perceived to be 3rd World country results. Perhaps he did not understand from whence the Hippocratic Oath sprang When her FNA showed thyroid cancer the letter from her GP said he was sorry about the diagnosis but that she was in good hands .... WHAAAAAT ! It all caused a rift between us as she thought the Greeks had missed her cancer - sadly that was not the case ....

[JGBH in reply to Marz]

Hi - seen PM and replied.

The arrogance of GPs in UK is incredible: they suffer from the "God Complex" thing... since they are taught when starting their studies they are "special supreme beings deserving much respect"... of course their egos are bursting. So how is your daughter now, and what is she doing about situation? Either PM me or send me an email as usual.

[CCSP-27]

Thank you Marz - our health service is appalling !

The practitioners in it aren't - most are caring competent professionals

The problems are the systems and the funding!

With a lot of good management one could be fixed and the other could be found !

That's my belief !

Susan

[Marz in reply to CCSP-27]

Yes of course. I know of many good people working in the NHS who are good and yet so depressed at the way things are going. Losing their motivation to do good things as they seem unable to help others due to restrictive Guidelines.

[CCSP-27]

My very good friend is doing a PhD and her Thesis is on Patient Empowerment ! Good eh !

She's in very senior management in the NHS and feels compromised and frustrated at the lack of integrity shown day and daily 🙁