Thanks for the info. I had been poking around, but didn’t see this…don’t know how. I fit one of the criteria on the second list…maybe two. Ick! I didn’t have an uptake scan (I think that’s the one you are referring to) because my hormone levels are normal. I guess that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a cold nodule, but it was said that tis a complex cyst from the ultrasound. I know that being a diabetic should make me less scared of needles, but the biopsy on the neck just grosses me out? Was it relatively painless and simple? I know…lots of questions. Just let me know if you get sick of them.
I think you need to have a good chat with your doctor. I had benign nodules for many years before my thyroidectomy; if they weren’t bothering me, there was no need to do anything about them. On the other hand, if the doctor suspects cancer, it’s a whole nother story! Of course, that’s why you’re having the biopsies. Fortunately, thyroid cancer is usually slow-growing and doesn’t metastasize all that easily, but still, cancer is nothing to mess around with.
Hoping for a good result from the biopsies!
I’m happy to help!
If I were you I’d go ahead and get the needle biopsy (or biopsies) and the thyroid scan as soon as you can schedule them.
It’s obvious that this is making you feel anxious and there’s no time like the present to get some good, solid information to assist in your decision-making.
They can give you pre-op meds (something like Valium): one for the night before (to help you sleep) and one to take an hour before the procedure. Unless you have a history of addiction, two itty-bitty Valiums are not going to send you over the cliff. You’ll laugh when it’s over because both of them are so minor and over so quickly. Honestly, checking my BG’s on a chilly day hurts more than the biopsy did. Draining the cyst was more exciting (took longer) but I don’t remember feeling much of anything except eager for him to be finished so I could go back home and crawl into my bed. There was a lot of pulling back and forth as he turned the syringe and kept draining until he was sure he got enough fluid. I’m sure it would look horrible on YouTube (LOL) but from my position, I wasn’t feeling any pain.
Just be sure that you have a designated driver; you don’t want to drive while loopy.
I took the day off when I had mine done and treated myself to a nice, warm nap after it was over.
The worst part of any of this is the waiting. I’m all in favor of getting that over a.s.a.p.
I have been relatively fine until the doc said that my repeat blood draw didn’t indicate that my hormone levels were affected by the cyst. So the uptake scan was nixed. I am definitely going to have a conversation next week and ask if this indicated that it is a cold nodule. I had a core biopsy on my breast before as well as a fine needle. The fine needle one was not bad, but it wasn’t on my neck. Don’t know why it grosses me out. Will keep in mind the Valium! Lol
We forget sometimes what things like Valium are actually for. They weren’t invented as “party” drugs. They were invented to deal with extreme anxiety – and the anxiety a person might feel before strangers stick needles in her neck (however nice these strangers might be) seems like the perfect time to use it. ;0)
Hahah!! Thanks for making me laugh.
You’re very welcome.
I have my fingers and toes crossed for you – it’s hard to walk this way, but you’re worth it. ;0)
@JeanV I see you have a great sense of humor! Made me laugh again!
I have Hashimotos but there is also a large nodule that continues to grow. I have not had the biopsy yet, but the doctor is now of the mind that if she determines it is vascular we should just take it out because of the likelihood of a malignancy. It’s also pressing on my larynx and sometimes affects my voice and breathing. I’m concerned about my voice. My voice is essential to my work and my prior career was as a singer (although I don’t use it like I once did, it’s sill a big part of my sense of identity). I have two friends who have had it removed due to thyroid cancer. They both came out fine with no complications to their voice. My appointment is tomorrow morning.
I hope everything goes well today. Your decision is more complicated because of your ability to sing. I am here if you want to talk and encourage each other along. Good luck, will be sending you positive thoughts.
Hi Christine,
I had a problem with Toxic nodules and after researching all I could I opted for Radioactive iodine therapy vs surgery.It shrank the nodules which were causing some swallowing problems. Brought my thyroid level back to a normal range slowly over a few months.My only problem was for some reason as my thyroids levels came down … my Blood sugars continually climbed. After 3 months the Endo said he had no choice but to diagnose me as Diabetic and start me on medicine. It strange to see how many Diabetics also have had thyroid problems. The Dr said the endocrine glands are closely in tune with each other. Which we can see here with all the people that have had problems with both. I still get routinely tested every 3 months when I do my A1C etc. But the following year I ended up with a Stage 0 DCIS breast cancer but that was in 2005 and I have been good since the lumpectomy. I wish you lots luck in whatever you decide. I just know I opted not to have the surgery and try the treatments first.
Thank you for responding. I have been away from here for a little while. I have since had mine biopsied. (came back benign) Having the treatment you described wasn’t really offered, but I am definitely going to double check. I am thinking it’s because it is a complex cyst with some solid portions, not to mention 5 cm big. From my understanding in cases like mine anything over 3 cm they recommend surgery. I have an appointment with a surgeon next month and will be bringing a huge list of questions, but after your response, I just might give another call to the Thyroid specialist. Glad you are healthy again and best wishes. 
I’m really glad it came back benign! Now you can deal with it as just a cyst, and not worry about things like metastases.
Radioactive iodine therapy has its own risks, so be sure to research both options very carefully.
Thank you. Good points as well. 
Met with the surgeon this past week. He was really good and very informative. His recommendation was to remove the complex cyst because of it’s size and other risk factors even though the biopsy came back benign. However he recommended removing only the half with the cyst. It seems that my previous surgery didn’t remove the entire left lobe, but the lump and surrounding tissue. We are hoping that the remainder if the thyroid will produce enough hormone for me and avoid taking Synthroid. So I am scheduled for May 31st. It should take about an hour with a 6hour post-op recovery and if all goes well, I can go home. Will be meeting with the anesthesiologist prior to surgery to discuss my pump and what is the best solution during surgery.
If anyone has tips for surgery and recovery care, please post your thoughts. All advice would be appreciated.
Turn down your basal just a bit, and let your BGs run a bit high – you don’t want to have a low in the middle of the surgery, nor during recovery! And some people DO react to stress by going low – I don’t know if you are one of them, but better to play it safe. When I had my angiogram, which was an all-day procedure much like what yours sounds like, my endo told me to turn down the basal by 0.2 per hour. I ran in the 180 - 200 range for the day, but that was OK; I turned it back up the next day and was fine.
That’s a good idea. Sometimes I go low when I am under stress, but sometimes I go high. It’s a mixed bag. But better to be safe. I hope you are ok after the angiogram.
Thanks for asking! I had it because I was having chest pains for 6 days, but it turned out to be completely clean – clear arteries, normal cardiac wall movement, and excellent ejection fraction. So the pains were due to spasms, which I have had before. What a relief – after 20 years of diabetes, the story doesn’t always turn out so well. Now I have to talk to the doc about having something on hand for pain relief, i.e. dilating the arteries, if it happens again.
Am so glad everything turned out ok!