Lump on thyroid should I have another op or can it be monitored

[Mickhall]

Hiya

I found a lump near my Thyroid gland, a biopsy found it was not cancerous but consultant all but recommended I have a partial Thyroidectomy op to remove the lump. It has been tried twice now both times the op was stopped due to high heart rate, I have AF, the first time I was taken to A&E from my pre opp appointment, the second I had been taken down to the theatre, but the anaesthetists couldn't get a vein, they worked on me for 29 mins and then the senior one after consulting with Thyroid surgeon told me we must stop due to your heart rate 147 as it's to dangerous to continue with operation

My question is what next, one of the anaesthetists said to me when he was cleaning me up if it was me I would not put myself through this again, I would just have the lump monitored periodically to make sure it has not turned cancerous. Can anyone tell me if his advice is a viable option. I have an appointment to see Thyroid consultant next month, and it would pre arm me if I heard others opinions about this.

[Nanaedake]

I have no medical knowledge so can't comment from the medical point of view. As someone who has had a partial thyroidectomy, if I didn't absolutely need it I wouldn't subject myself to the surgery either. You've got a choice as it's not cancerous.

The next thing I would do is check your vitamin D levels and make sure they are sufficient. It's said they are best mid-range which in the UK is around 100nmol to 150nmol. Have you got thyroid antibodies as that might affect your decision too.

Low vitamin D levels and low magnesium intake can lead to low calcium levels which may not show up in blood tests and this can cause heart problems so you should ensure you have excluded this as a cause of rapid heart rate. Poor vitamin D synthesis and poor nutrients absorption are common in people with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimotos) which causes 90% of thyroid disease.

[Mickhall in reply to Nanaedake]

Nanaedake

Thanks for your reply it is very informative you mention checking whether I have low vitamin D levels and Low magnesium levels, for me this is easier said than done as I mentioned the anaesthetists spent 29 min attempting to fit cannula into my arms and hands without success so blood test are nigh on impossible for the same reason as my veins are in a very poor condition due to another condition. Almost all NHS pathology departments have guidelines which say blood can only be taken from arms and hands. The problem is most doctors never believe a word I say when I tell them even with a Doppler scana they are unlikely to get blood out of arms/hands, they then poke away like deranged idiots despite me telling them between them telling me “a sharp prick,” to go into my groin for bloods and neck for cannula, they ignore what I say and return to being deranged idiots until they stop when my heart rate hits the roof. (The neck was out for thyroidectomy) I’m sure you can sense my frustration here. Thanks again for replying.

[LAHs]

My vote would be the same as the anaesthetist, if it's not cancerous, breath a great sigh of relief and leave it alone. If your anxieties are needles for blood tests from your arms, hands or wherever you will still need blood tests if you have no thyroid than if you have one with a "bump" on it.