Radio Frequency Ablation. Has anyone had this? ... - Thyroid UK

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Radio Frequency Ablation. Has anyone had this? RFA may be my best option instead of removal. hoping NHS will start treating Goitres w RFA.

Rachelvc profile image
19 Replies

Radio Frequency Ablation. Has anyone had this? RFA may be my best option instead of removal. hoping NHS will start treating Goitres w RFA.

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Rachelvc profile image
Rachelvc
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19 Replies
Clutter profile image
Clutter

Rachelvc,

There have been a couple of posts about RFA in

healthunlocked.com/search/r...

Scoobyslayer2003 profile image
Scoobyslayer2003

I had this done just yesterday. I've written a post on it just now. Any questions, ask away.

in reply to Scoobyslayer2003

Hi there

Did the radio frequency abalation affect your voice in anyway? I am a singer and am very worried about vocal change.

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Rachelvc profile image
Rachelvc in reply to

Hi I have Just come from the UCHL in London and cannot praise them enough. My goitres are mostly a 2 but one they thought maybe a 3 was tested and not. This means I can go in on a Wednesday afternoon to have RFA. Dr Susan Jawad was very knowledgeable and told me this would be much safer than op. They have done over 1500 RFA’s there and none so far has touched the voice box nerve. My RFA will happen end of May. Can’t wait to tell unhelpful so called specialist who wanted to give me an unnecessary op.

Will be able to get Train home straight after too.

in reply to Rachelvc

Thank you for your reply!

I would love to know how your RFA turns out. I have a 7cm benign nodule on one side and do not want surgery. the NHS specialist wants to operate but I am against it.

I wish you all the best for your treatment and hope you can let me know the results later on...especially the effect on your voice/singing voice

Rachelvc profile image
Rachelvc in reply to

Hi if you email me on <personal email address> I will send you the pdf the hospital gave me about the treatment. It takes about 30 mins to 1 hour. I will be awake and it will be just like having a needle biopsy in my thyroid. I’ve had 3 or 4 of those so I’m not worried and it will be brill not to have to have a scar and 5 days in hospital. I have been lucky because my nodules are a 2. One of them they thought had become a 3 proved with biopsy to still be a 2. If it hadn’t been I wouldn’t be able to have the RFA. So don’t leave it too long like my Endo did giving me annual appointments etc. They have been doing it for 18 months now and have successfully done 1500. I asked my Dr to refer me to UCHL.

[ Edited by admin:

For you own safety your personal email address has been removed. The Private Message system should allow communication - including exchange of email addresses, if needed - without posting your email address effectively in public. ]

anma profile image
anma in reply to Rachelvc

Hi, how did the procedure go? I will have mine in three days from now with the UCLH team just like you did and I am super excited. I there anything that I should prepare/know in advance other than what they provide in the letters they send for the patient? Thank you, wishing you all the best!

PS I wrote a complaint about my ENT that almost put me through the knife, just to make him/them aware of the fact that better treatments are there and it shouldn't be our duty, as patients to be the ones informing them on it but the other way around.

Rachelvc profile image
Rachelvc in reply to anma

I go in on 27th for RFA. might see you there. Rachel

anma profile image
anma in reply to Rachelvc

Do you have 2 different accounts here? Another user has replied to me on another thread just earlier saying they're having their second round of RFA at UCLH today, haha! Good luck with your procedure, mine should happen around noon time.

Rachelvc profile image
Rachelvc in reply to anma

Not sure but I do have 2 email addresses. Here at UCHL and this will be my first treatment today. Good Luck xx

Thank you will email you now.

I have a multinodular thyroid goitre on one side. I wonder if I will be eligible for RFA? It says that my left lobe has largely been replaced with a mix of nodules...part cystic/part nodule. Measuring around 7cm.

The right side is normal. -also I have had fna's too

Rachelvc profile image
Rachelvc in reply to

I would definitely tell my Dr to refer me to UCHL. BEST thing I ever did. And so easy to get here from St Pancras or Kings Cross Station.

in reply to Rachelvc

How did your RFA go? I’m interested on an update. Thanks

Rachelvc profile image
Rachelvc in reply to

It all went very well and I’m very pleased with the results. Next week I will know the full extent of the RFA results. I’m feeling I have much more air in my lungs so much more energy and a chance at last to exercise. No longer chocking on my food either. The whole treatment on two goitres took less than an hour during which time I was able to talk to the Dr doing the treatment. I am very pleased that I escaped full thyroid surgery. Cannot recommend it enough.

Thank you and brilliant news. Please update me with your results. I’m very interested.

jyh1104 profile image
jyh1104 in reply to

Seeing your post 3 years later...but was wondering if you managed to get RFA on your nodule?

Centella_blue profile image
Centella_blue

Hi Rachel vcI was wondering how you are getting on after the radio frequency ablation?

I’m due to have mine very soon and am a little nervous about after effects. Have made a post about it.

Wishing you all the best in health

Many thanks in advance

jyh1104 profile image
jyh1104 in reply to Centella_blue

Hi, I've been trying so hard to push for RFA for my nodule. What was your nodule size and do u know what classification? I am a U3, which basically means unclassified, on the fence. But i'm still holding on for a glimmer of hope for RFA.

Centella_blue profile image
Centella_blue in reply to jyh1104

Hi I don’t know what the classification was. I had my procedure and feel as if I am getting symptoms of fatigue which I’mplanning to do bloods for.

Keep trying to get it if you can. Wishing you all the very best

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