Thyroid Nodules

Hi S.-

Try to relax! I've had nodules on my thyroid for years now. I've had 2/3 of my thyroid removed, but not because of cancer. They removed it because my thyroid was extremely overactive and was causing me way too many problems. Now that I only have 1/3 of my thyroid, I still have nodules, but my levels are fine. None of my nodules have ever been cancerous, and now my blood levels are normal. I don't even have to take thyroid hormone to regulate it, my levels stay fine on their own. I think nodules are a pretty common things, especially from what I've been reading from the other responses. Good luck!

I do ultrasounds and see nodules in the thyroid on almost every thyroid we scan. I would say it is more unusual to see a completely normal thyroid than it is to see nodules. Most of the time they do no cause any problems. Sometimes they are cancerous and need to be treated but most of them are not cancer. I even have 2 nodules on my thyroid that I found while scanning myself in ultrasound school. That was 10 years ago and I have not ever had any problems with them. The size and number of nodules varies from person to person. Sometimes we will see only 1 small one or 1 large one. Other people have so many that it can be hard to tell where 1 nodule ends and another begins. I hope you will be one of the many people that have nodules that don't cause problems for you.

At a gyn visit a few years back the dr. felt that my thyroid was enlarged and bumpy. He referred me to Dr. Dorfman-endocronologist. He did a radioactive scan thing and said from that he could tell it was hashimotos thyroiditis and not cancerous. I've always wondering how they could tell without testing the individual nodules, but he just said it was a classic salt and pepper hashimotos looking thyroid. Anyone else been told that? My blood levels were fine also, it doesn't mean there's not a problem it just means your thyroid is keeping up ok--for now. I'm on synthroid even though my blood levels were fine b/c it helps shrink the thyroid/nodules.

I had the same thing. If your thyroid levels are fine I wouldn't worry yet. Mine were the result of pregnancy. I didn't even know I had them. I went in for an ear infection and the Dr. found them. I had to have thyroid sonograms every 6 months for about 3 years to check for growth. A small amount of change in size (either larger or smaller) is normal. My Dr. finally gave me a clean bill of health and said that the nodules are not a problem. The medical term for the condition is "goiter". My thyroid levels have always been normal and I don't take any medications. Hope this helps!

hi S.!!!!
yes i went thru the same state of mind last year. I got my thyroid scanned then done biopsy.Most of the time the thyroid nodules are outgrowths of the thyroid gland.u need not worry and hope the results come out in ur favour.Even in worst case its easily curable there are many different options and procedures to get the thyroid nodule which is infected removed.dont do the mistake i did see a thyroid gland specialist.I initially took my treatment with a family physician and then two months bk changed to a endocrinologist in dallas medical city hospitals---Dr.Howard Baum is a very good patient doctor and knows in and out abt the thyroid gland.
dont get tensed adn worried i pray results come in ur favour.
all the best
any further talk u want to share with me u could mail me or call me on ###-###-####
regards
R.

yes. I was right there with you a little over a year ago. I have an "active" or functioning (noncancerous) nodule in my thyroid still today.

a couple pieces of advice - who's treating you? An OB? A Family Practitioner? Did you find them? Are they large? Or did a doctor find thme in an exam? Do you realize the results could come back benign, malignant, or not really either (as mine did the first time)? I see an endocrinologist (Stephen Aronoff - Endocrine Assoc of Dallas), but that's because my thyroid levels are all over the place.

Has anyone suggested a radioactive iodine test? Are you breastfeeding? Because my biopsies came back inconclusive but not malignant, the radioactive iodine test was the only thing that conclusively determined it was "active" so noncancerous.

I know this is scary. I was so there. Feel free to email offline. I will say a little prayer for you. Are you a web researcher? Does it help you or make it worse? Good luck! I know some people hate it, but in this instance statistics really are in your favor (with either diagnosis).

Just remember how precious every day of life is. When you are well and stressed out about some silly little thing, be sure to look back at this time and remember how much every day means. I agree with staying busy (and love on your babies - they give us so much strength).

This just happened to my pastor's wife. She had the nodules removed and they were not cancerous.

I have another friend who had some thyroid issues and she took a mexican wild yam supplement and doesn't have problems any more.

My mom and my cousin have both had nodules on their thyroid, and neither case has been cancer. They are just monitoring my mom's with sonograms each year and she goes in every 6 months for the doctor to check her levels, etc. Try not to worry too much!

S.,
You can relax, I have 5 or 6 nodules on my thyroid, and they are fine. Lots of people get them and it shows that you have a thyroid problem, probably early Hashimotos disease, it sounds worse than it is, it just means that your immune system is treating your thyroid like it is a foreign body, likely a result of a pregnancy (mine are). Some thyroid medications may help. You should have your thyroid levels checked, and based on how you feel, push it if your dr says you are fine. Symptoms of low thryoid function, typically seen with nodules, are weight gain, depression, "brain fog". low body temp, dry skin, etc. So, hopefully all will go well, and if in the rare instance it is cancerous, if the thyroid is removed, you can be placed on replacement hormones, and live a great life!Let us know what happens, and feel free to email if you have any other questions ____@____.com bless ~A.~

Hi S.. I read your post and just had to reply. Please don't freak out too much! But, I have to say that I had a similar situation right before my 20th birthday. I had 3 lumps (or nodules) growing in my neck. I felt great and the doctors said that it was probably nothing. But, after my biopsy surgery, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I went through a series of radiation treatments over two months, and have been in remission ever since! I am now 30, have a 2.5 year old, ran a marathon, and am pretty darn healthy! I have to say that my thyroid did completely stop functioning after my radiation treatments and I was diagnosed with hypo-thyroidism, but I just take a pill every day, and am fine for the most part. Hope this all helps. You're definitely doing the right thing in getting it checked out! Good luck. Please feel free to email me if you want to talk. ____@____.com
Sincerely, M. O.
www.mandyolsen.myarbonne.com

Hi S.!Just read your e mail.I have had nodules for about 3 years now.My thyroid tests came back fine also but unfortunatly they say they need to scan .I lost my health insurance a few years ago so cannot afford the scan.I feel fine but they are visible and hard.So hope you are fine but please tell me any other symtoms you have or just tell me how your tests come out.Thank you!

My mother-in-law had them and after she had them removed years ago, she didn't have any problems. I don't remember if hers were cancerous or not. I just remember her always talking about having them removed. She's since past so I can't ask her for sure. But try not to worry too much and good luck!

S.:

I have not heard of nodules on the thyroid but have some experience with nodules(in lungs)and also the waiting for the results. The best advice I can give you is to not search for or look it up on the internet/google. You will freak yourself out. I did not sleep for days after researching online. Try to stay positive and busy until you hear back from the lab. I know it's easier said than done but there is really no reason to worry until you know exactly what you are facing. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers!!

S.

I do not have any personal experince with nodules, however, my brother in law just had his tyroid removed. I don't want to have you thinking worst case, but your doctor is right about it being treatable if it is cancer. My brother in law found out about 3 months ago that his was in the early stages of cancer and they removed it last month. He has to have one radiation treatment, just as a precaution that they cut out every cancerous cell and then take a simulated thyroid medication for the rest of his life. Other than the healing from the surgery ( which was out-patient )and taking a pill every day, he is healthy and this will not affect his life in any way.
Good luck!