Goiter anyone?

[3princesses4us]

No I'm not offering you one, I have one! What does this mean? Surgery? My doctor hasn't filled me in yet. Which leads me to my other question. How long should it take to get iodine scan test results from a hospital? It's been 9 days now and I've heard nothing. I called the Dr. on Tuesday and she seemed kind of annoyed that I was asking already.
Anyone know what's in store for me?

 

[Christine]

They are probably checking the goiter to see if any specific "hot" or "cold" nodules show up within it (these could possibly be cancerous). Personally, if I had a goiter, I would have it removed. They generally get bigger and the compress your vocal chords, breathing apparatus, etc., not to mention they make your neck look funny.

Nine days is way to long for your result. This is not a "test". Your results after a scan are there immediately, it is just a matter of the doctor writing up the report and sending it over to your doctor. Most radiology places have a policy of getting stuff out within 72 hours. It could just be sitting at your doc's office.

 

[3princesses4us]

Thanks for replying Christine. I called the doc back this afternoon and they said the hospital had some kind of "glitch" in it's computer system and they wouldn't have my results until Monday. Hmm, well that explains today. How about the last 8 days?
Anyway, that's pretty much what I thought. I'm sure I'll end up getting it removed. Ironically it's not noticeable yet but I just don't like knowing it's there. I appreciate the input!

 

[Felicia]

I'm with Christine on the theory of "if it isn't supposed to be in there, get it out!" The hospital stay for surgery is generally 1 night. You should have had your results read to you by now. Call them again Monday morning. Good Luck!

 

[goofy's friends]

Hi again, 3 princesses for us!!!! I just wanted to say that I had this surgery (or very similar). They removed 1/2 my thyroid. No matter what they say, don't get worried. They were certain mine was cancer and took it out the next day with oncology in the surgery room and it was benign. He said it was the ugliest benign thing he's ever seen!!!!!!! (glad it wasn't on the outside, then, right?) The hospital stay was one night and about a week recovery. My DH says my scar looks like Fankenstein, but I wear it with pride!
PM your Dr.s names and I can tell you if I had the same ones.

 

[FreshTressa]

I have a very large thyroid mass that is slow growing. It is non cancerous and not noticable even though it is HUGE. I don't want to get it out. It doesn't bother me at all. It is 'cold', meaning it produces no thyroid hormone.

I got my results the next day on my scan. They were pretty worried about cancer though.

 

[Christine]

I have a very large thyroid mass that is slow growing. It is non cancerous and not noticable even though it is HUGE. I don't want to get it out. It doesn't bother me at all. It is 'cold', meaning it produces no thyroid hormone.

I got my results the next day on my scan. They were pretty worried about cancer though.

FreshTressa,

Just have to ask--did they biopsy this cold nodule? You know a scan won't tell if it is cancerous or not. I had one cold nodule. Mine turned out to be cancerous (didn't find out until after the thyroid was out).

 

[3princesses4us]

Thanks everyone~ I should find out something on Monday hopefully. I'm definately going to have it removed though. I have all the thyroid related issues to go along with it (weight loss stalled annoying me the most) so I'm hoping this will help those things too. You all are a wealth of info, my DH is almost impressed with the DIS. He keeps saying "Where are you finding this stuff out?".

 

[crz4mm2]

I have a very large thyroid mass that is slow growing. It is non cancerous and not noticable even though it is HUGE. I don't want to get it out. It doesn't bother me at all. It is 'cold', meaning it produces no thyroid hormone.

I got my results the next day on my scan. They were pretty worried about cancer though.

Did you have a needle biopsy? My endo told me a needle biopsy was useful only for the area that the tissue was obtained from. SO, if Cancer were found in another area that the biopsy was not obtained from, then you would not find the cancer... I had several nodules, for several years. I finally opted to have them removed. All were benign (thank god!) but I am glad they are gone.

 

[Christine]

Did you have a needle biopsy? My endo told me a needle biopsy was useful only for the area that the tissue was obtained from. SO, if Cancer were found in another area that the biopsy was not obtained from, then you would not find the cancer... I had several nodules, for several years. I finally opted to have them removed. All were benign (thank god!) but I am glad they are gone.

Not only are needle biopsies somewhat inaccurate, actual surgeries are too. I had my thyroid out because of a cold nodule. While on the operating table, they did a "frozen section" biopsy (this is where they slice open the nodule and take a look at it right in the operating room). What they saw in the operating room was benign. They then sent my thyroid gland to pathology where they spent hours going over every cell. That's when they found the cancer. So you are right in that if the needle biopsy doesn't hit the right spot, you can get a false reading.

 

[3princesses4us]

Well I found out today that my goiter isn't cancerous (can they know this for certain without a biopsy?) and they don't even think it needs to be removed. She's putting me on Synthroid for 6 weeks and then wants to recheck my blood. Anyone taken this path? Will Synthroid just supress my goiter or will I also reap the benefit of weight loss, less fatigue, etc.?
All in all, good news I guess.

 

[Christine]

Well I found out today that my goiter isn't cancerous (can they know this for certain without a biopsy?) and they don't even think it needs to be removed. She's putting me on Synthroid for 6 weeks and then wants to recheck my blood. Anyone taken this path? Will Synthroid just supress my goiter or will I also reap the benefit of weight loss, less fatigue, etc.?
All in all, good news I guess.

They can never tell if something is cancerous or not using scans/ultrasounds/x-rays, etc. What they *may* have seen was that you have a simple goiter with no nodules. No nodules=99% no cancer (not all thyroid cancer forms a lump, but thyroid cancer doesn't cause goiters either).

Yes, Synthroid should help control the goiter and my shrink it, but it may not either. Just depends why you have the goiter.

 

[Nevergrow'nup]

Levoxyl shrunk my goiter. I've been on meds for 4+ years now. Same dosage until this year. Now my blood levels are going up and down.
They didn't do a biopsy of my goiter but were able to determine from the iodine scan that it had the "good" nodules. My Mom has a goiter as well has had it for 25+ years. Thyriod issues seem to run in my family.

Not sure if this has helped, but I've BTDT too!

 

[3princesses4us]

Thanks, this info has helped a lot. I found out more from you guys than I do from my own nurse. Sad, but true. Christine, you are a wealth of knowledge on this subject and I thank you!

 

[Christine]

Thanks, this info has helped a lot. I found out more from you guys than I do from my own nurse. Sad, but true. Christine, you are a wealth of knowledge on this subject and I thank you!

Well, I'm just happy that my obsessive hypochondria can help someone else!!

 

[3princesses4us]

I just thought you all might like an ironic update. On Monday I was very excited to be given my Synthroid and not need surgery. On Tuesday my 11 month old Boston terrier puppy ate the entire pill bottle!! Actually, she really just licked & disintegrated most of them and chewed up the bottle while we were gone. I felt like such a druggie calling the doctor the day after getting my prescription filled and asking for another one.
She's fine by the way.