thyroid nodules, bit worried, and have anxiety as well :(

[EatinAintCheatin]

11 years ago I was diagnosed with thyroid nodules, I had a scan and biopsy and was told they were benign, I really wasn't worried and I was only 24 at the time so kind of just forgot about it

but then 2 years ago after my youngest dc was born I noticed my thyroid was slightly swollen again, i went to gp who advised a scan and a poss biopsy but i would have been waiting weeks so because I have such bad anxiety particularly with health I paid privately for a check up and a scan and another biopsy (only so I could have the results quicker). to my JOY and relief I was told yeah i still had nodules but they were benign. and also had blood tests which showed normal thyroid function. as it was private I didn't get any follow up appointments at all, (I could have but it would have been more ££££ so I just left it)

I was talking to my aunt earlier who had the same thing literally at the same time as me (hers were benign too) and she worried me by saying she had follow up appointments and she thought I should too. so I rang gp and she agrees and wants to see me next week. not sure what will happen, but cant bear the thought of having to go through scans and tests again and the waiting etc as last time I was terrified it was cancer because of my anxiety.....i made myself ill through it. and I cant go private this time as cant afford it, cost us almost 1k last time

not sure what I am hoping for posting this, I am not googling....guess just hoping for some positive stories,, have had a shitty week have also been having problems with dh urgh I just don't need this extra stress

[scotsgirl64]

you may have overactive thyroid....symptoms of anxiety can mimic tachycardia(fast heart rate-which can be symptom of thyrotoxicosis...hyperthyroidism)
A blood test can detect this and ultrasound of thyroid will help- hope you get some answers x

[HerRoyalNotness]

I have nodules too which are benign. After the biopsy I had a check at 6mths. Now I only have to go back in a year as they hadn't changed size at all. My specialist said it would be very unlikely and unusual if they became cancerous.

I did googling at the time, and from what I read thyroid cancer is very treatable if it came to that.

[EatinAintCheatin]

yeah I wouldn't be surprised if it was slightly over active. even though was normal last time

I just keep thinking all sorts , urgh hate anxiety

[EatinAintCheatin]

and yeah that's my fear herroyalnotness ...even though I know its unlikely

[scotsgirl64]

anxiety is also a symptomwww.nhs.uk/Conditions/Thyroid-over-active/Pages/Symptoms.aspx
extremely treatable

[EatinAintCheatin]

hmmm i dunno I think I am just prone to anxiey anyway, my thyroid bloods were normal last time, but suppose they can change?

I am trying reassure myself that I have had these nodules for 11 years (poss longer, as 11 years ago was only when they were first found) and they have been benign all this time so I suppose v unlikely to have turned nasty in last 2 years :/

[EatinAintCheatin]

well i went to the doctors today (i brought my appt forward as was stressing ) and he was quite reassuring, said was very unlikely could develop into anything nasty. that it felt quite symmetrical which is a positive sign. so I had some bloods taken and when they come back he will refer me to endocrinology (is that how its spelt) . that I probably will have another scan etc.

so feel a bit less panicky now

any more positive stories still very welcome though

[EatinAintCheatin]

just bumping again to see if any one else can share any experiences x

[Ragusa]

I have them and don't have any NHS follow up. They're usually a totally benign and incidental finding. A large minority of people have completely benign thyroid nodules. You're probably one of them. And even if it was cancer, it's usually very very very treatable.

[BloodyDogHairs]

I've got them too, I had one follow up scan and appointment 6 months after the 1st one. All I was told was if I think the lump gets bigger then go back to gp.

I asked if my lump would dissappear on its own and the consultant told me I'd more likely die from a heart attack than thyroid nodules......

[EatinAintCheatin]

thank you

I guess I am just worried as its been so long since I last had them checked ...i feel silly that i just skipped off after seeing the private doc and never bothered going back to my nhs gp. but as i said before my gp didn't seem concerned at all

but that's reassuring, thanks again x

[EatinAintCheatin]

update* if anyone is still reading lol .....had bloods back today and normal, thyroid function normal - have still been referred to endocrinology though due to the fact my thyroid is still swollen

is that a good sign that my bloods are clear though?

[MsMims]

What are your blood test results?

The NHS 'normal' range can leave some people unwell.

[EatinAintCheatin]

oh i don't know msmims I didn't think to ask

other than the anxiety (which I think I would have anyway) I don't have any symptoms of over / under active thyroid so I suspect it probably is fairly normal. will ring and check though tomorrow when they open again.

[EatinAintCheatin]

just a quick bump

waiting for my endocrinology apt, god knows when that will come through :( could do without weeks of worrying