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Original poster

Thyroid nodules, scared, help

18 replies

scaredyMumof3 · 20/06/2014 16:40

A few days ago I was found to have thyroid nodules. And I have to have a fine needle aspiration (FNA). I noticed my thyroid was enlarged, went to gp who suggested a scan

So I had ultrasound the other day (I paid privately as was freaking out and couldn't wait) and 3/4 nodules were found inside each "lobe." I have the report which says the following "soft diffuse mild enlargement" (of thyroid) "there is no dominant or atypical nodule" "there is no adenopathy" in the neck (which apparently means my lymph nodes look normal). It then says "ultrasound appearances are in keeping with multi nodular thyroid" and FNA is "suggested". I also had a blood test and have normal serum TSH levels apparently.

So I have been referred for an FNA but not urgently. I suffer from awful anxiety and am scared and fearing the worst. I don't know whether to arrange the FNA privately too but that (and to see an endocrinologist, which apparently I'll need to) will be about £700. But I can't bear waiting, I feel sick, Im tearful, can't eat and I'm struggling to sleep and function.

Some other info too: I'm 33, recently had a baby (11 weeks ago) and also my mum and 3 of her sisters all had a similar thing, theirs were benign but my mum had to have her thyroid removed. (She's fine though, just has to take thyroxine. )

Sorry for the essay and also hope makes sense as I'm posting on my phone. I would be so grateful for any advice from anyone who knows about this kind of thing or anyone it's happened to (please tell me you're ok!!! Sad) Thanks

OP posts:
apermanentheadache · 20/06/2014 19:52

Thyroid nodules are so, so common. Many people have them without knowing. If they had any suspicion it was cancer they would have referred you on fast. And even if you did have thyroid cancer it is usually completely treatable Wine

Have had a miltinodular goitre for years. We rub aling just fine :)

Original poster
scaredyMumof3 · 21/06/2014 09:58

Thanks for posting Thanks

Did you have to have the FNA? If so do you mind me asking how long did you have to wait for results? I'll be worrying myself sick waiting!

At the scan, I asked the radiographer if anything looked sinister and he said, in his words, he "couldn't see anything that screamed cancer" ...but I'm still panicking. Feel like my life's on hold Sad

OP posts:
apermanentheadache · 21/06/2014 10:27

yes I had a FNA. I think it's routine. I honestly can't remember how long I waited for results but suspwct it wasn't long as I don't think they have to grow anything from it.

Original poster
scaredyMumof3 · 21/06/2014 18:06

Ah ok thank you

Did you get a letter / phone call with the results or did you get called back in to the hospital?

I'm sorry for all the questions btw, I'm just so scared, I wish I could relax about it a bit

OP posts:
napoleonsnose · 21/06/2014 18:34

At about your age, so about 10 years ago, I ended up in A&E with a cyst on my thyroid which was the result of a thyroid nodule. It was singularly the most painful experience of my life - far worse than childbirth! I was told there was a possibility it could be cancer and worried myself stupid. Ended up on Valium to calm me down.

Anyway, it was fine. I had to have regular outpatients appointments for about 2 years afterwards to check it was all OK and then I was discharged and have never had problems since. I was told I had nodules, and looking back now, I remember feeling something pressing on my windpipe when I was lying down but didn't think much of it at the time.

You'll be fine and even if it does turn out to be something more sinister, thyroid cancer is one of the most treatable ones there is with a high cure rate. Try not to worry. If the consultants were really worried about it, you'd be treated pretty quickly.

paddyclampo · 21/06/2014 23:55

I had nodules on my thyroid. FNA came back all clear but the ENT doc wasn't 100% happy with the ultrasound so I had half my thyroid removed - came back benign :)

I thought the worst when I was waiting for results I agree with Napoleon that even if it is cancer - which it's unlikely to be - it's very very treatable!

Original poster
scaredyMumof3 · 22/06/2014 20:08

Napoleon - that sounds awful. Mine isn't painful at all. I'm glad you're ok now, must have been so scary

Paddy - I'm so glad to hear you're ok as well

I am seriously thinking about paying to get it over and done with quicker as I'm just in such a state. But dh thinks I'm being silly and we don't really have much spare cash, it would pretty much wipe out my (meagre) savings ....but the waits doing me in

I keep going over it all in my head. The fact I have no enlarged lymph nodes and the fact the nodules don't look "atypical" (ie abnormal) must be a good sign right? Also I have read that if there are multiple nodules it's less likely to be cancer, does anyone know if thats true? I don't want to google Sad

Sorry I'm prob really annoying anyone reading this now Sad

OP posts:
napoleonsnose · 22/06/2014 23:30

Don't Google. I did that and I managed to convince myself I has a really rare and far more aggressive form of cancer, despite the fact that this one tends to only be found in the elderly and I was 31 at the time. In situations like this, Google is NOT your friend.

The fact that the consultants do not feel the need to see you urgently is good. I know it seems that the wheels of the NHS move very slowly when you need answers, but trust me, if there was something to be concerned about you'd be seen to already. To give you an idea of timescales, when I had my problem, I was scanned on the Monday following my hospital admission, sent home as a wait and see case for two weeks (this was the worst bit and when I went into panic mode), saw a consultant at the end of the two weeks who arranged another scan and potential FNA which took place about a week later. All in all I think I waited about 5 weeks from initial problem to it being diagnosed and sorted.

I hope you are able to relax a bit. It is stressful, particularly if you have a young family, but do try not to worry. Thyroid nodules are really common, especially in women and most are completely harmless.

Original poster
scaredyMumof3 · 23/06/2014 10:02

Thanks Napoleon

Bloody hell that must have been awful having to wait esp with how worried you were

I have made an appointment to see my own gp later today because of how anxious I am, and see if there's anything she can prescribe to calm me down. I think if I don't feel any better for seeing her I will have to arrange it privately. Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
scaredyMumof3 · 24/06/2014 09:18

Update

Saw gp yesterday and she hadn't even started the referral process! She said she'd do it this week but I can't wait so have decided to have the FNA privately. Its today. I'll still have to wait about a week for the results

Gp did also say it was a good sign that the consultant who scanned me last week didn't think it was urgent. And she also discussed my blood results in more detail and said that usually if there's something more going on, something shows up high in the bloods (can't remember what!) but apparently mine was normal. So I'm trying to cling on to that and keep positive. But I'm honestly ill who worry and fear, I've lost half a stone in a week as I can barely eat and there's nothing on me anyway. I look and feel a wreck and I just want this nightmare to be over. I mean bloody hell if I can't cope with this how would I cope if it WAS cancer? Sad

If anyone else has any other positive stories or wise words id really appreciate it please x

OP posts:
napoleonsnose · 25/06/2014 15:03

Hope it all went well yesterday. It's good that the consultant doesn't think it was urgent. Fingers crossed for you OP.

Original poster
scaredyMumof3 · 25/06/2014 16:05

hi napoleon thanks for checking up on me Thanks

it actually went ok

it didn't hurt and was barely even uncomfortable and didn't take long. the consultant who did my scan said he doesn't think I have anything to worry about (same one as I saw for the scan last week), that It just looks like ordinary thyroid nodules and he said again how common they were...I would like to hope that he wouldn't say that if he didn't think it!

so am feeling much more positive

I have an appointment with an endocrinologist a week today to discuss the results so will come back and update then

thanks again for the posts x

OP posts:
apermanentheadache · 25/06/2014 22:19

Consultants (or in fact any doctors) do. not. lie. to make you feel better Smile. If he says he thinks it's OK, he meant it. Glad you are feeling positive. Hopefully you can put this all behind you very soon. Flowers

Finola1step · 25/06/2014 22:31

I have a thyroid nodule. It's on the front so can be seen and felt. When I first found it (Sept 2012) I panicked and thought the worse. Especially as my dc are so young.

Had the ultrasound. Was told it looked non suspicious. Had the FNA, results came back clear.

Fast forward to Sept 2013 and it felt like the nodule had grown. My GP agreed that it may have so referred back for ultrasound. Had ultrasound and FNA. Was told that it hasn't grown. It just felt different for some unknown reason. FNA results all clear.

Thyroid nodules are so common. It's v scary when you first find one or are told you have one (or more). But they are almost always harmless. And as they can be quite soft, they can change how they feel somewhat. The cheeky buggers.

Good luck with your FNA results.

Original poster
scaredymumof3 · 01/07/2014 19:40

Hi all just an update

I got an earlier appointment, for today instead of tomorrow, as was stressing so much and luckily they had my results

And all fine!! Benign!! So so happy Smile

OP posts:
DoristheCamel · 01/07/2014 20:13

Thats such good news. What a relief for you.

DiddyFace · 01/07/2014 20:26

Great news scaredy.

I was just coming on to say that I found a huge lump in my neck a few years ago. I'd just had a haircut and happened to swallow in front of a mirror and saw a huge bulge in my neck.

Anyway, my GP said it didn't look like cancer but she referred me to the hospital just in case. I had 2 sets of FNA, about a year apart, just to be sure, but it was all benign. Just a multi-nodular goitre.

Good thing was that it got me looking at my relatives necks. My nan had had a goitre for years and it never affected her, but my mum's had gone unseen all this time. She went through the same procedure as me and is fine too.

I think loads of us have it but just haven't noticed it.

paddyclampo · 01/07/2014 21:54

Glad to hear it scaredy :)

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