Really scared - Hand holding needed.

[Twirlwirlywoo]

Just back from GP to collect neck scan results. Enlarged thyroid (left lobe) with several nodules/masses. One mass 3cm diameter - quite sizeable. Off to hopsital this afternoon to see the ENT people - just coincidental thatmy appointment came through the same day I got my USS results.

Not been feeling terrific for 18 months. Generally feeling old and tired. Foggy headed, achey etc.

12 months ago my thyroid results came came borderline overactive but the follow up tests said I was normal. At the same time they found my ferritin was 7 (V low). Been on evil ferrous Sulphate ever since and my levels are now in the 20's but that is still low.

We moved house (200 miles) at start if year and about then I started to get problems swallowing food and a bit of reflux. I felt I had a hair/flap of skin or thick catarrh blocking my throat so took myself along to new GP.

Thyroid retested and the same results - borderline overactive initially but antibody?? test coming back normal. Referred for neck scan which I had done last week.

I am off to hospital this afternoon almost 30 miles away in a strange city I have never driven in before. I dont know how to get there at all - relying 100% blind on sat nav and have no idea what parking will be like or cost. I have no support here as I know absolutely no one here. Hubby is working away and so far has not even called me today to wish me luck - think he has forgotten as so busy with work. I am so scared and so alone. I am really frightened. I am trying to get a grip. I am frightend of driving there and more terrified of seeing what they say. I am worried about DD letting herself into our new house for the first time today (silly I know but my knickers are well and truely twisted - she is 13). My appointment is not until 3.45 and the letter says to allow 2 to 3 hours for the appointment.

tbh - I am frightened this maybe cancer.

Just pissed off, fed up and lonely. Been a bit fed up about living here for a while this is the final straw - having to face this alone with no one to support me at all!!

Oh poor you. A very stressful day!

Which city is it? Maybe someone could give you an idea of the practicalities (parking, driving ect) which would help ease those worries a bit?

Can you call your husband, just a quick message to tell him you're going to the hospital today and wanted to hear his voice.

It will be fine, make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to find parking and workout the payment etc. Try and spot a coffeeplace maybe (they might have one at the hospital)
ActuallyI would call the hospiital to check what the parkingsituation is like and if they have refreshments. That will give you an idea. The sat nav will take you there don 't worry.

Good kuck and report back here

Hi, don't be scared. I have several nodules on my thyroid and have been told it's not a problem. My mum had a bigger one which needed biopsy and was also ok. I think you may feel very unwell with "bordeline" normal
results.
Driving will be fine if you have satnav I have to drive for work to new places and always manage ok if I have my sat nav. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Good luck.

Thank you. Its Peterborough I am going to.

Its all so new here and I have not ventured that direction alone yet.

Thats a good idea about calling the hospital about parking etc.

I intend to leave ridiculously early partly because I will be doing something other than trying to find things to do at home to keep me busy and partly because half the stress is getting there - I can take one sigh of relief once I am parked up and hopefully find somewhere for a cuppa.

Good luck Twirl Will keep you in my thoughts today

duende - your post is reassuring!

I actually have the printed USS report in my bag. GP gave it to me to take with me to make sure they have the info. She explained it to me and left the envelope unsealed so I could read it myself - I am too terrified to even look at it properly.

I am steering clear of Dr Google as well!

I've just googled Peterborough Hospital and got this up- maybe the wrong one , but worth a go www.nhs.uk/Services/hospitals/MapsAndDirections/DefaultView.aspx?id=3232

Good luck will be thinking of you. Most hospitals seem to have a Costa now ! Get driving there nice and early and slowly .
Let us know how you get on . Everything crossed for you.

Fingers crossed. Leaving early is a great idea. Good Luck.

Thank you everyone! Your messages are appreciated.

agoodbook - thanks for the link. I am hopeful with almost 2000 parking spaces there will be one for me!

Its horrible going somewhere you don't know - gets me in a right flap even when I'm not worried about other things. I always set off really early, and find it only takes half the time.... But better that than panicking-
Good Luck [flowers}

pah !

Good luck OP. You poor thing having to go alone. Try and just get into a zone of dealing with it one hour at a time. Even if the prognosis is your worst fear, don't forget the wonders of modern medicine. The likelihood is they can sort you out well and good.

Do you like books? Maybe treat yourself to something nice at the hospital charity shop if they have one.

Take care you're not alone in Mumsnet land.

No advice twirl but hand holding.
Good luck. I hope it goes okay.

Multi nodular thyroid almost certainly NOT cancer. Single thyroid nodules are the worrying ones.

You can go to your appointment, based on statistics expecting a good outcome.

Hope it went ok Twirlwirlywoo

Thank you.

I am literally just back and feel drained.

I left 2 hours early and its just as well I did.I got there in 40 minutes but then spent 50 minutes trying to park. I can only describe it as Parking Hell!! I was on the verge of tears at one point because I was just stressed out and people were being really rude and aggressive because there were loads of people looking for non existent spaces!

I then waited and waited and waited. Even the reception staff went home and left just me and one other lady waiting to be seen switching the lights off and leaving us in semi darkness as they went.

Had a camera up the nose and down the throat - not a wonderful experience. Dr didnt say much really and I was too scared to ask much and also taken back from the nose camera experience! They are not sure what is going on. They are doing an urgent barium swallow - she said within 12 days. I am not sure if that is 12 days for my letter and then a date some time off or I will have the procedure in the next 12 days! Either way - its not something I am looking forward to much! No idea what it involves yet as no-one explained! Perhaps ignorance is bliss at this stage. Dr said they will probably take a sample from the thyroid gland at the same time and then get me back to see one of the main consultants and make an action plan from there. I was feeling really odd and dizzy after the nose thing (I think I panicked a bit) so didnt really take in too much.

Anyway - when I left the other poor lady in the waiting room was sat there all alone in semi darkness as the lights had been turned off (they were before I was called in) and she was in tears. I wanted to go over to her (because frankly I had sat there all afternoon fighting back the tears too) but they called her in just as I walked through.

Thank you so much for helping me today. I did break it down into small slots and it did help me cope and on the plus side I now know my way to Peterborough - well more less, think I may prefer the shops another time!

Goodness! You've been through the mill. A brave soul having to do all that on our own. Strangely enough, speaking as a veteran of countless hospital visits of varying degrees of scariness, I almost prefer going alone as it feels somehow like being out of my daily routine, I can then come home and switch off more easily.

Sorry I can't help explain the barium thingee, never experienced it, I hope tomorrow's easier.

As for leaving you in semi darkness. That's awful. Shame on them.

Wishing you all the best and hope your DC was ok on their own.

Well done for getting through today Twirl or . I hope you will have a good rest this evening. Good luck with the other test

hi, im going through the same thing, had an Ent appointment with the camera down my nose, today had an ultra sound and Fna, It seems i have a multi nodular side and a large nodule on the other, my thyroid is double what it should be and is pressing on my thorax, i feel like i have a lump constantly in my throat. Anyway, get the results in 2 weeks, the Dr was lovely but he can't say what it is, he did say he doesnt think its too worrying. My neck is sore tonight from the Fna.Hope you are ok Op and that this helps, you are not alone!

You did brilliant considering the circs I would say. You poor thing though how blimming stressful . hope you have had a debrief with your dh/p

hi i had a hemi thyroidectomy (spe?) in 2009. I had a single nodule and was crazy with worry prior to op. Ds was born in septe 2008 and i found the lump around xmas had it removed in the june/july. despite having a good fna and good bloods I was still convinced i had cancer and I spent ages googling it. From what i remember single nodules are the issue and even wihtin those that are cancerous, there are several different types of which one was virulent.

i found it very stressful but was fine once the op was done. i didn't get the camera though. Is that because they aren't planning to remove it.?

manechanger - Did they remove your thyroid or part of it? or just the lump? The Dr did say to me that multi nodular are mainly benign, he took the Fna from the single nodule (i have both)And he said he doesn't think its anything to be concerned about, easy for him to say! He said nodules/goitres are very common in young women (sarcastic? i'm 44) and generally didn't seem that bothered, he said he didn't think he would see me again, i think its the not knowing that's worse. I don't think that i could have driven after the Fna though my neck was quite sore, i think if the Op is having this she needs someone with her?

I've had a barium swallow. It's nothing to worry about. You just stand in front of a screen thingy & swallow some thick liquid stuff that tastes like fruity chalk. It's not painful. The barium stuff isn't the best tasting stuff but it's not hideous.
I hope you get this sorted out soon op, you're doing well so far. And you found some new shops to investigate!
for you.

As per Germ, barium swallow is fine.

It tastes yuck - not so much taste but texture - and it will be over quickly.