In February, I broke my ankle: and when they xrayed my back and neck as a
precaution to make sure there was no damage there
they discovered 4 thyroid nodules.
I was non weight bearing (using a walker) for 6 weeks thereafter due to my
ankle, but took a cab to the hospital for
a thyroid ultrasound, and then later when I was walking again and back to work,
had an ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration.
They found that: 3 of the nodules were just cysts. One was larger (i.e.
dominant) and partly cystic and partly solid.
Blood work showed my thyroid was functioning normal; not hypo or hyper (actually
this is a worrying sign: because benign
nodules are more likely to make the thyroid not work right).
At first, I was told that the biopsy results showed it was benign: now my
primary care doctor says that it was
"probably benign; benign, but on the top of the range between benign and
indeterminate". So at first, after 3 months of worrying,
I stopped worrying, then with that second phone call I was worrying again. Due
to this, she wants me to have
a? radioiodine uptake test, which I am having?on the 21s and 22nd. I have no
more vacation/sick leave after my ankle injury,
but am going to make up the time by working extra that week, other days. My
worries about this test were addressed in that
they told me it is radioiodone ablation THERAPY that has levels of radiation
that require precautions: on the scan, the levels are
very low: I don't even need to keep away from my cats, one of which is usually
all over my lap.?
I am visiting m doctor for my annual physical this week, before the test: and
maybe I can get more explanation from her on hte
benign or not benign thing: the first phone call, made by my ENT doctor he said
that the biopsy showed colloid cells: and that this
is almost always an indication of a benign nodule: but maybe the results were
more complicated than that?
I think one thing they are worried about is the fact that the nodule is
displacing my trachea a little bit, which can e a worrysome
sign?
It will be interesting to see what the next step is if the nodules are "cold"
(which I am told most are): would it be appropriate
to insist that if so, the next step should be to repeat the needle aspiration
biopsy to see if things become more certain? Do you think
my doctor/s would be okay with this, rather than going right to having my
thyroid out?
What I get from this is that they THINK it is benign, but are not sure, due to
the fact the nodule is a mixture of cyst and solid,
is around 3 centimeters (large), is NOT causing hypo or hyper thyroid, and is
slightly
displacing my trachea: sort of a gut level feeling by them that they have a
"reasonable doubt" so want to make sure.

Laurie


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