Advised to have half of thyroid out....

[NealF]

Afternoon,

Posted a few times in last year.

Had a bit of a bad year in 2016. Found a thyroid nodule last spring, and after returning from Cornwall in Sept, fell ill with something, which has yet to sort itself out either - I'm guessing Lymes, but nothings clear cut in Lyme world, so difficult to tell.

Anyway, when nodule first found in May 16, had biopsy, couple of iodine scans and ultrasound. Everything came back ok, and I felt fine. No other symptoms other than nodule which was measured about 2.2cm.

At the start of this year I had another ultrasound and biopsy. This endo is saying that biopsy is inconclusive, its now marginally bigger at 2.3cm, but the ultrasound showed increased blood flow, and apparently they now rate 1-5, with 5 bad as can be, ad I'm at 3. She has advised to have half removed and take from there. She did say I could leave, and she filled out forms to have tested again in 6mths if I decide to wait.

Now stuck in rock and hard place. Don't want to leave if its bad, but in same respects dont want out if it ends up ok. Especially as with potentially Lymes, its going to really take its toll on my immune system, which I suspect is already suppressed.

I'm a 38yr old male, so I know my risks are higher. Does anyone have any thoughts? Obviously not asking for you to make choice for me, but would appreciate any advice.

Thank you in advance.

Neal

[Clutter]

NealF,

If the nodule isn't causing you any discomfort or problems with swallowing or breathing you could wait another six months and see what another biopsy and scan shows.

Many members have 2-3 inconclusive FNAs before having hemilobectomy and histopathology of the larger sample is found to be benign. The remaining thyroid lobe is expected to provide the thyroid hormone required. If it doesn't Levothyroxine will be prescribed but not until TSH level is abnormal.

My nodule 2.5cm was compressing my trachea so hemilobectomy was scheduled to relieve it without repeating the inconclusive FNA. The tumour was malignant and I had completion thyroidectomy 3 months later.

[Hidden]

you have a single nodule and you are not hyper.

my edno said that having a single nodule that cause no hyperthyroidism is more suspicious than having multiple of toxic nodules.

i suggest you have regular tests and scans so you can control it so when a problem comes out you will be able to fix it

[NealF]

Can it become worse after waiting 6 months, if it does turn out to be bad? I guess at least that way I would know for sure.

When iodine tested in June/July 16, it came up as a warm nodule, and would assume the same as minimal symptoms still.

Originally when scanned last year my endo said it was multi-nodular, which I had heard was less risky. However the ultrasound this year said it was one nodule. So who knows, NHS not my favorite people at the moment....

[NealF]

Now had letter back from Endo, and the FNA actually showed thin colloid and epithelial cells without any malignant cells. Which is good i guess?

I have also been for a private ultrasound this morning, which is where I was first scanned last year, using the same lady to scan, to really compare since it appeared in May 2016. Change in size is marked as today 25.7 x 14.5 x 22.6mm vs last May of 22 x 14.3 x 25.2mm. Does this mean that its actually changed shape, rather than changing size?

Bit of niggling neck pain, but nothing serious.

Still undecided as to whether to go under the knife or not?? If I go for it now, with it not being the biggest nodule, would the chance of my thyroid coping be higher, than leaving it to get bigger?

TIA

Neal

[NealF]

Going for Private Consult tonight, with same endo that has referred me to herself on Private. Still unsure of what best to do, have out or leave alone until certain. I think my wife would prefer to have half removed, just in case it proves to be malignant.