Best Thyroid Specialist Northern Ireland?

[Coilybap]

Hi, I've been earmarked for partial thyroid removal after 2 inconclusive biopsies on a nodule spotted when I was in for something else. I was told this was required even though most nodules are benign and many ppl have nodules on their thyroid. I was also told the other half of the gland can pick up the slack and if I do need a top up its just a simple pill and life as normal. Having looked online it seems like medication requirement is common place and the medication itself has a plethora of unpleasant side effects, and for many life is anything but normal after the procedure. My thyroid function is normal so if I hadn't been in with something else I'd be none the wiser. Can anyone please give me advice and private message me any specialist in Northern Ireland I could ask for a second opinion. Considering the possible side effects of surgery, I thought a monitoring of the nodule size might be a safe option but obviously I am no expert. Thanks in advance .

[Thyroidsam]

Good luck…. I’ll message you

[Jacarilla]

I was in the same situation in 2010 with 3 inconclusive biopsies. I took my consultants advice and had a partial thyroidectomy. One lobe was removed but the centre was left along with the other lobe. I felt quite unwell for 8-10 weeks after surgery whilst my body adapted to the change. My bloods were then analysed and the remaining part of my thyroid had compensated. I happily jogged along for 11 years without any medication until a routine check last year showed 2 nodules in the remaining half. Biopsy followed which gave a result of stage 5 on the bathesda scale, high chance of malignancy. So without further ado my remaining thyroid was taken out. Analysis post surgery proved it to be benign which was surprising, relieving and frustrating. My surgeon then told me thyroid FNA’s are notoriously unreliable! So I’m now embarking on the journey to find the correct level of thyroxine to get me back on track and it’s challenging. Some days I’m fine and others not so. Only you can make the decision based on risk, and it’s a difficult one. I wish you well.

[Coilybap in reply to Jacarilla]

Hi, thanks for getting back to me. I was kind of sold on it was no big deal having it done until I started looking online. Then I see many ppl needs meds and have multitudes of health issues afterwards. I was a but shocked that they wanted to whip it out so casually now that I see what a big deal it can be. I think I need a second opinion but I don't really know where to start or who to ask

[Jacarilla in reply to Coilybap]

It is a big deal and therefore the surgery has to be ‘necessary’. It isn’t a given that you will need meds afterwards, we are all different. A second opinion is a good idea, is there another specialist in your area? However like I said before the analysis of thyroid nodules is somewhat unreliable so you are still left in a grey area when it comes to making a decision.

[Coilybap]

Hi, I'm not sure on specialists, that's why i was looking recommendations on here. I have pre surgery appointment on Tuesday so I intend to ask alot of questions. I would have thought it would be better to leave it 6 months and see if it gets much bigger but again I'm no expert. Also there was a treatment I read about on John Hopkins that can deal with a nodule without removing a lobe.