I have a Thyroid Nodule

[tattooyu]

Hi everyone. I know it's been a long time since being involved on here.

Within the past few months I have developed a lot of left-sided neck pain and some pain during inhale (left side also). It turns out that I have a nodule on the left side of my thyroid. When the tech was performing the ultrasound (u/s), I saw it there and confirmed it when she outlined it and also made notes on the images (I always get a CD of my health scan images). Even though I know nodules are mostly benign, she also noted in the images that there was Bilateral l/n (lymph nodes?), which may indicate some time of cancer frmo what I've read. I'm waiting this week on the official word from my doctor (and the radiologist report) as to what we have to do next.

The good news is that most nodules are benign. Those that are not, the cancer is usually totally curable. I just hope the chest pain doesn't mean it's spread to my lungs. Could be unrelated. I also had some neck/back/chest x-rays done so we'll what those say.

Could my sleep apnea be related to the nodule? I have had two thyroid blood panels, both of which were normal. However, I can't help but feel that this has something to do with why I've been swinging from sluggish to hyper--and also the pain in my neck. Could a nodule be causing sporadic surges of hormones, explaining the episodic nature of my symptoms?

Thanks everyone!

BTW, Jonah (my son) is almost a year old and is doing great! He's crawling really fast and can pull himself up to standing now!

[howkim]

Try to wait patiently. I know it's hard. Please don't borrow trouble. ::fingers crossed:: It's possible that it's nothing - I understand that 50% or more of folks have nodules and most don't even know it.

{{{{{{{{{{Tattooyu}}}}}}}}}}

[nanwilson]

I have a nodule on my thyroid too, its about the size of a quarter and has been there at least 40 years. I take thyroid hormone daily and have had no problems.
I can't believe that Jonah is almost one, I can so remember all the problems you and your dear wife had before he was born. Congrats to all three of you...by the way the terrible two's are coming

[tattooyu]

Try to wait patiently. I know it's hard. Please don't borrow trouble. ::fingers crossed:: It's possible that it's nothing - I understand that 50% or more of folks have nodules and most don't even know it.

{{{{{{{{{{Tattooyu}}}}}}}}}}

Thanks Kim. I have a dear friend who just had a nodule removed and also has Hashimoto's. She is helping me through this process, too.

I have a nodule on my thyroid too, its about the size of a quarter and has been there at least 40 years. I take thyroid hormone daily and have had no problems.
I can't believe that Jonah is almost one, I can so remember all the problems you and your dear wife had before he was born. Congrats to all three of you...by the way the terrible two's are coming

Oh wow really? The only thing that concerns me is I'm also having some left-sided chest pain, but we'll see what the doctor says. I'm sure she'll want to do a fine-needle biopsy.

I can't believe he's almost one either. He's such a sweet little boy! Everyone at his school--staff and custodians--say, "Hi Jonah!" when they see him.

[2flamingos]

Be cautiously optimistic! From my limited experience and much research, the overwhelming majority of Thyroid Nodules are are benign. I had/have a mixed or complex nodule - consisting of both solid matter and fluid. A biopsy was done almost a year ago and the fluid drained. Biopsy came back negative - which was as expected. I was however surprised at how much fluid was drained (not that I can remember the amount today). Even the Tech's were surprised since I was not having any symptoms.

Keep good thoughts! WIsh you well.

[SleepingUgly]

I hope it's benign.

The primary relationship I've read about between thryoid and OSA is in people who develop goiters. I don't know anything about nodules. Also I once read a tiny study suggesting a higher incidence of OSA in people with Hashimoto's who were euthyroid (=normal TSH), which was interesting. I probably posted the citation at some point, although that post may be in purgatory right now. It was a very small study, though.

[tattooyu]

Be cautiously optimistic! From my limited experience and much research, the overwhelming majority of Thyroid Nodules are are benign. I had/have a mixed or complex nodule - consisting of both solid matter and fluid. A biopsy was done almost a year ago and the fluid drained. Biopsy came back negative - which was as expected. I was however surprised at how much fluid was drained (not that I can remember the amount today). Even the Tech's were surprised since I was not having any symptoms.

Keep good thoughts! WIsh you well.

Thanks 2flamingos. I am doing just that. My dear friend, Mara, is guiding me through this process since she just went through it. I think the nodule was small on the u/s, but I am definitely having neck pain/pressure issues. Maybe it's pressing a nerve or something.

I hope it's benign.

The primary relationship I've read about between thryoid and OSA is in people who develop goiters. I don't know anything about nodules. Also I once read a tiny study suggesting a higher incidence of OSA in people with Hashimoto's who were euthyroid (=normal TSH), which was interesting. I probably posted the citation at some point, although that post may be in purgatory right now. It was a very small study, though.

Me too SU! Me too! I don't think I have a goiter, but I haven't spoken with my doctor yet. I've always been euthyroid, and the one time I had an thyroid autoimmune panel run, it was normal. I just read about your posts being deleted. What a horrible thing to do! I hope Johnny and Caroline are helping with that.

[avi123]

Even if your Thyroid is cancerous, as long as it has not spread then there is no problem in excising part or whole of it in which case you'll be taking thyroid pills by mouth. Excising a thyroid or part of it are done to those suffering from Grave's disease = hyperthyroid. By removing a part of a thyroid it cuts down on the T3 and T4 hormones secretion which plague those with Graves disease. The other treatment for overactive thyroid is taking propil thiouracil as I did.

Are you hyperthyroid = fast heart rate +sweating+ weight loss?

Those who were raised in areas of lack of iodide in their food get a goitrous thyroid which usually is not malignant.

A relation between OSA and thyroid problems?


Yes:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15689305.

SEE AN EDOCRINOLOGIST MD FAST!

[jromano]

tattooyu,

The idea of some connection between thyroid nodules and OSA is interesting... I'll keep an eye out for articles.

Just wanted to let you know that you've got one more person crossing their fingers for you.

Best to you and your family,
Jess

[Emilia]

I have hypothyroidism, and my mother had a nodule many years ago that was removed surgically. I don't think they do that as quickly today because they are almost always benign. I also have a niece who had thyroid cancer. I cannot recommend more highly the information and resources available at the American Thyroid Association. I get their email newsletters and their downloadable patient materials are excellent. The ATA has been in existence since the 1920's and is an amazing source of information on all aspects of thyroid health. http://www.thyroid.org/

Best of luck! I am sure you will be fine...

[tattooyu]

Even if your Thyroid is cancerous, as long as it has not spread then there is no problem in excising part or whole of it in which case you'll be taking thyroid pills by mouth. Excising a thyroid or part of it are done to those suffering from Grave's disease = hyperthyroid. By removing a part of a thyroid it cuts down on the T3 and T4 hormones secretion which plague those with graves disease. The other treatment for overactive thyroid is taking propil thiouracil as I did.

Those who were raised in areas of lack of iodide in their food get a goitrous thyroid which usually is not malignant.

I can't imagine a relation between OSA and thyroid problems.

Yeah, I understand all that, and I thank you for the info. Nothing will put my mind at ease as much as a doctor saying the word "benign" you know?

I was doing some research, and I read that even if it does spread, it's still quite curable.

[M.D.Hosehead]

Fingers crossed here, too.
Don't forget to update us.

[tattooyu]

I won't forget.

[bailachel]

I hope you hear from the Dr. quickly. I'm sure the suspense is terrible.

Baby Jonah is almost one? Wow, that year went fast.

[ozij]

Hi Kenny,
You may find this interesting:

Catnapper's diagnosis:
viewtopic.php?p=519174#p519174

I was having an ultrasound of my thyroid by an endocrinologist when she told me I have sleep apnea. I was wide awake, mind you. She told me to have my pcp consider sending me for a sleep study. (Apparently I had difficulty breathing or made suspicious sounds while lying on my back to do the ultrasound.) The pcp doctor, a doctor of internal medicine, told me that every person she had sent to have a sleep study had sleep apnea. She interpreted that to mean that she should send more people. I interpreted it to mean that maybe more people were confirmed to have OSA than actually did. However, I was convinced that, at least for me, it was an accurate study when I saw that my pulse ox went to 71 and my AHI was in the severe range. I could not deny the other symptoms, either. Some people do have OSA.

That endo doc told me that thyroid nodules, sleep apnea and diabetes all went together. Sure enough, she was able to prove that I was diabetic, too. She had to do several tests, but there it was. Who knew? Here I am, 4+ years later. I wish I had known years earlier. I was always glad the treatment was only air. No side effects from drugs. I like that part. The mask and machine turned out to be another story. It took a while for me to find the right combination.

Catnapper - Joanie

Good luck
O.