Anyone have a cysts on their thyroid?

[DisneyBug1995]

Just wondering what kind of medical treatment you choose to go with. I had a biopsy (?) done a year ago and they were non-cancerous. The doctor just wanted to keep an eye on them. Went back today and the doctor wants to do another biopsy because they have changed some. He said he could remove them if I want them out. Not sure what to do.

 

[Virgo10]

I had my thyroid removed 4 years ago because they found nodules. The biopsy they did was not conclusive so I opted to have it removed. Turns out it was not cancer but even with the medication I have to take daily, I'm relieved that I don't have to worry about it any more.

With no thyroid production, I've found that I'm pretty stable with the meds I'm on. If your doctor doesn't convince you about the need for surgery, get a second opinion.

Good luck!

Roberta

 

[Christine]

I did end up having a cancerous *cyst* on my thyroid. The initial biopsy and even the biopsy they did while I was on the operating table said they were non-cancerous. When they did a full dissection of the cyst, it was found to have cancer as well as some other non-cystic areas of the thyroid. Thyroid biopsies are NOTORIOUSLY wrong. You see, most cancerous cysts on other bodies contain cancer through and through--the whole cyst will be cancerous. Thyroid cancer is different--it can be in only one small portion of the cyst. So when they stick the biopsy needle in to get a sample they can easily miss the cancer part of it.

Now, I'm not trying to scare the daylights out of you. My feeling is--if your thyroid keeps growing nodules and they keep changing, your gland is failing you anyway and you will end up being hypothyroid. It is harder to treat someone for hypothyroidism when they have a gland in there that is working some days and not working on other days. On the other hand, there's a lot to be said for having your thyroid gland. I miss mine!!

Personally, I don't want anything in my body that keeps getting "lumpy". But, it is probably fine--the majority of lumpy, bumpy thyroids are benign.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

i started getting tumors on my thyroid when i was 8...by the time i was 14, i had my entire thyroid removed..--the second tumor, they said was inconclusive, so we removied it

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I had nodules show up about 6 years ago, and after a needle biopsy that showed benign, and about 2 years of monitoring and hormone therapy, it was decided that surgery was best. They were trying to get the size down with drugs and it wasn't happening. I was scared to death, had a 2 year old and a 7 month old at home, but I had the surgery and every thing was fine. I had a great surgeon who managed to hide the very large incision in a crease in my neck that virtually disappeared within a year. It was not cancerous, and now I have to take a little yellow pill every day. The only time it has affected me was when I forgot to take them for 3 days in a row. (duh) I got really tired, and it took me a day to get back to normal. If I miss one day, there is no effect. Not a big deal now at all.

I guess that since I am on thyroid treatment now, bone density is an issue. I will be having a test on that during my next check up.

Good luck with whatever route you choose. It's kind of weird to me that your doctor isn't leaning one way or the other. Mine definitely made it known to me that he wanted it to come out.

 

[DisneyBug1995]

My doctor has mixed feelings. The bigger cysts has gotten smaller, but is starting to solify. The smaller cysts has gotten a little bigger but it is a hot nodule, which means it is still working. My thyroid is working fine and I have no symptoms. He did tell me that if I wanted it out, he would take it out. His gut feeling is that it is nothing to worry about but still wants to keep an eye on it.

What is the surgury like and how is the recovery. I am concerned with some of the complications that could happen with the surgery. Did anyone have any problems?

 

[Chattyaholic]

I had thyroid surgery a year ago this past May. Had a couple nodules on my thyroid and they ended up taking the isthmus and part of one lobe of the thyroid out. I take Synthroid daily now.

The surgery wasn't that bad, the incision in the lower part of my neck is about 4" long, kind of like a "permanent smile."
The surgeon said it should fade into a thin line, but it hasn't. That is the only thing that bothers me. It is still ugly and red, and raised. I wear make-up to make it less noticeable. I was in the hospital overnight, and although it was uncomfortable it wasn't really painful and I was feeling much better within just a few days. I do worry that more nodules will develop so I kind of wish they would have just taken the whole thing out the first time.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Originally posted by DisneyBug1995
My doctor has mixed feelings. The bigger cysts has gotten smaller, but is starting to solify. The smaller cysts has gotten a little bigger but it is a hot nodule, which means it is still working. My thyroid is working fine and I have no symptoms. He did tell me that if I wanted it out, he would take it out. His gut feeling is that it is nothing to worry about but still wants to keep an eye on it.

What is the surgury like and how is the recovery. I am concerned with some of the complications that could happen with the surgery. Did anyone have any problems?

I can tell you from my experience, aside from being terrified (my first surgery), it actually was not a bad experience. I went in, fell asleep, woke up in recovery, was told it was OK (benign) went back to sleep. Spent the night in the hospital, home the next morning. They used staples instead of stitches-a four inch "smile"- (they were a breeze to have removed, too) they were sooooo ugly! They looked like Frankenstein stitches. (I am very laid back about scarring and wounds, so it didn't bother me.) I did not need any pain medication at all. It just didn't hurt! I had a raised red scar for a few months, and it began to fade. Had to rub cocoa butter on it a couple times a day. You can't even see it now, it blends right in with the crease he used! (I guess it pays to have a creased neck sometimes.)

My endocrinologist was a "wait and see" kind of doctor. My thyroid was functioning normally, but since the nodule wasn't going down with the treatments he used after 2 years, he wanted it out for peace of mind. He had told me before (this is goind to sound weird) that thyroid cancer is a very, very slow growing cancer. He said that people normally die of natural causes before a thryoid cancer would take their life. (I guess studies of autopsies show thyroid cancer that wasn't even detected while the subject was alive? I'm not sure..) and that if you were going to have cancer, thyroid cancer was the "best" to have-it doesn't spread as much as others and is so slow growing that you would probably die from something else before the thyroid cancer overtook you. (interesting..)

Anyway, I hope this didn't scare you too much. Surgery of any kind is scary. But for me (in retrospect of course) this was not a bad experience. I see my surgeon once a year to check my levels, always ok, and that's it.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[crz4mm2]

Yes,needle biopsies may miss cancer of the thyroid. A needle biopsy only gets the cells where the needle goes. If you have a solid nodule, it should come out.
Do you see an endocrinologist ? You should. Are you already on synthroid (thyroid replacement meds)?
I had the right lobe and isthmus of my thyroid removed in April of this year. I had several nodules, but one very large solid one. I have had nodules for at least 8 years. I didn't want to have surgery either. I figured with two negative needle biopsies I was probably 'ok'. I was sent to endocrinologist who convinced me to have surgery based on the fact that many needle biopsies miss the actual cancer of the thyroid. Fortunately, mine was all benign. The pathologist did frozen sections while I was in OR, and then did a complete exam of the tissue that was completely benign.
I really had no pain. Didn't even get the pain med RX filled when I went home. Spent the night in the hospital to watch for bleeding/swelling. It was hard to lift my head for several days. And swallowing was a bit sore for a few days. I have a scar that I think will be hidden in a neck fold as time goes on. It looked awful to start with, but is fading some. It is still very red and a bit raised, but is much better than it was in April. If the entire thyroid is removed there is a chance the parathyroid glands might be removed too. That is not a good thing. Most surgeons identify both the glands and work around them. There are also nerves that affect speech and swallowing that can be damaged. Make sure your surgeon is experienced in this surgery. And see an Endocrinologist. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Most common cause of hypothyroidism.
I have been on synthoid for several years, but now need a higher dose. And I don't miss the huge lump in my throat
Best of luck to you.

 

[Christine]

I had my thyroid removed twice!!! The first time they only removed three-fourths of it. When they found out it was cancerous, I had to go back two weeks later to get the rest out. The surgery wasn't that bad. The worst part for me was the emotional blow when I found out I had thyroid cancer.

Basically, I just had a very sore throat for a day or two, but didn't even need to use the painkillers they gave me. I did fine using regular Tylenol. I have a scar but that was a result of the second surgery which created a lot more scar tissue. Still, most people don't notice it.

Last year I had to have a toenail removed and that was much worse than my thyroid surgery.

 

[DisneyBug1995]

Thanks for your advice. I guess I will go in for my biopsy and see what the doctor recommends. It does make me feel better that the surgery isn't has bad as what I thought it would be, Thanks for making me feel better.

 

[Patty3]

I, too had thyroid surgery. My surgery was just about 10 years ago. I had nodules and was being treated and had to have a sonogram every three months. After two years, this Endocrinologist wanted a biopsy to make sure that the tumor was not malignant. My tumor was on the backside of my thyroid, which made my diagnosis even more difficult. I had kidney stones, carpal tunnel and was exhausted all the time. My doctor wanted an needle aspiration and he said that he did not feel comfortable doing it and wanted to send me to someone who had more experience with this. I found my own doctor and have been going to him ever since. He as well had his thyroid removed. He said that he thought that since the tumor was on the backside that it would be a hunt and peck method and he would not want this done to him and would not recommend it for his patients. The left side of the thyroid was removed and I did have to spend a night in the hospital waiting for the results of the frozen tissue sample. At least, that was the reason I was given. My scar looked bad in the beginning. But, now just looks like a fold in the neck and is not even noticeable. Cocoa Butter was recommended and it did the trick. I am on Synthroid even though I still have half it left. I am prone to tumors and the doctor wants my thyroid shut down. Please do not be afraid of the surgery. I was and it really was not bad at all. The trick that I was told was when you sit up from the bed, brace your hands on the back of your head and it really helped.

The problem that I do have now is controlling my weight. It just yoyo's all over the place if I do not exercise regularly and watch everything that goes in my mouth. Does anyone else have this problem? I found it interesting that someone mentioned Osteoperosis, because I jusr found out that I have osteo pina.

 

[always quiet]

I wonder if this is what my DH has. He has a lump on the side of his neck, a little lower than the bottom of the ear lobe. At first, when the lump appeared, we kind of thought it was a blind pimple or something like that. It has been there for at least a month at this point and has gotten larger since we first found it. I called our family doctor a couple weeks ago and he couldn't fit him in til Aug 7th! Seeing how my husband has had more than his fair share of medical problems these last 5 years, I really hope this is nothing................but I can see what will happen next...................we'll leave the doctor's office with nothing more than a referral for a specialist.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Originally posted by always quiet
I wonder if this is what my DH has. He has a lump on the side of his neck, a little lower than the bottom of the ear lobe. At first, when the lump appeared, we kind of thought it was a blind pimple or something like that. It has been there for at least a month at this point and has gotten larger since we first found it. I called our family doctor a couple weeks ago and he couldn't fit him in til Aug 7th! Seeing how my husband has had more than his fair share of medical problems these last 5 years, I really hope this is nothing................but I can see what will happen next...................we'll leave the doctor's office with nothing more than a referral for a specialist.

Of course I have nothing but my own personal experience-no medical degree-but when my surgeon checks my thyroid (I have about 1/2 left) he feels around the base of my neck near my collar bone-never goes up near my earlobes. If this is a small pea sized lump on your DH, it sounds like a swollen lymph node to me. My DS4 has eczema, and he has one on each side of his neck in the area you described on your DH. Does he have a skin condition? Could be the cause..Best to have it checked out, of course. Good luck to your DH.

 

[Christine]

always quiet,
This is too high up to be the thyroid gland. That's a just a swollen lymph node. Since it has been a month and is getting bigger, your DH really should get it checked out.

 

[floridafam]

I had my thyroid removed.

I would opt for surgery. It's pretty painless.

Yes, the biopsy can miss cancer. My first biopsies were inconclusive.

I'm not a "wait and see" type of person so I would get the biopsy and if there is any indication of anything abnormal, I would opt for surgery.

You may have to take synthroid daily after surgery depending on how much of the thyroid they may remove.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

 

[Felicia]

I would opt for surgery also.

I had a nodule that was found by accident while doing an MRI of my c-spine. My ENT did ultrasound (it was solid), did scan (it was cold) and needle biopsy (came back benign). He told me to wait 6 months and then test it again. I did not want to wait and asked for surgery. During surgery he took out my right lobe and isthmus and it was sent for a frozen section and that came back benign. TWO weeks later the final pathology report says it is cancer. SO, I feel, if it doesn't belong in there, then take it out!!!

 

[mom2boys]

Thanks for the post & all of the replies. I am currently waiting until Sept to have needle biopsies done on the nodules in my thyroid. We switched insurance and the needle biopsy & any followup surgery/procedures would be "pre-existing" prior to Sept. I have already decided that I want the entire thyriod removed. I have been on synthroid for 24 years.

 

[momsully]

I have been on synthroid since the birth of my oldest DS. I have never been to an endocrinologist but would love to find one. Any suggestions on how to find a good one?

 

[Christine]

Originally posted by momsully
I have been on synthroid since the birth of my oldest DS. I have never been to an endocrinologist but would love to find

Recommendations from others are the best way to go. Many endocrinologists are very good with diabetes yet not so good with thyroid disorders. It is important to find one that specializes in the thyroid. If you give me you city and state, I can do some checking on my thyroid cancer support board. Most people with thyroid cancer have been through a good amount of search for an endocrinologist who works with thyroid glands.