FNA Biopsy

[MJ62]

I am a little freaked out by this procedure.  Can you tell mw what it is like?  How long does it usually take to get the results of the test?

Thanks

Mary

[cody12]

Hi,
They sprayed my neck with a numbing spray. The actual FNA was very uncomfortable but I did not really feel any pain. The doctor took 4 samples from two nodules for a total of 8 samples. For two weeks after the procedure it hurt to swallow. Mine was also US guided. That is how they usually do it today, so that is not unusual.

[shannon828]

The FNA was uncomfortable, I had to have mine done twice because we didn't get enough tissue the first try.  The second time I pre-numbed with ice and that actually worked really well.  I had my FNA on a Tuesday and had my results on a Thursday night.

My results were positive for papillary cancer, so you can bet I wanted that sucker OUT stat.  I'm a month out from the surgery and 5 days post RAI and I feel like I'm turning a corner towards putting all this stuff behind me.

As you've likely heard the odds that your nodule is anything to worry about is very slim (less than 5%).  Best of luck!

[ChitChatNine]

If it goes smoothly it will be more mind over matter ... I freaked based on the location of it alone!  Not really freaked but was uneasy.  But when I put that thought out of my mind it wasn't really bad at all .. a root canal needle was worse .. C~

[MJ62]

Thanks for the input.  My test will be performed by the radiologist with guidance from the ultra sound.  Not sure why - its large enough to see.  I will be sure to ask for some drugs as I am a wimp with needles - so if I can't see it or feel it too much I think I will be fine.  

My GP says that if the test is neg she will do nothing.  I still want it out - is that a bad thing to want?  Plus, I hate the waiting game - do they ever have an idea right after the FNA?

Urg!

[Carolyn1128]

I was numbed before the procedure. I also took a Xanax about an hour before and I highly recommend doing so. He took 5 samples from each lobe ....it was not painful but uncomfortable. I was actually more uncomfortable the following 10 days. My endo recieved the results in 2 days and I went in to pick up a copy but I don't see the doc until tomorrow to have him explain.  I was told not to swallow or talk when  the needle was in.
But in between samples I could .N.ow that I look back on it ....it was not bad at all.
Good Luck and be sure to post about your experience
Carolyn

[revins]

Hi, sweetness!
I'm sorry you have to go through the FNA, but if you get a good doctor it's honestly not that bad.

My first Endo thought he was god and could do anything... plus he doesn't like to hear a peep out of anyone I guess.  It was the worst thing I'd ever been through and I finally told him enough is enough.  It felt like he was going to puncture my throat.  He actually almost did, which I found out when I dumped him like a bad habit and found a new doctor.

My new doctor is actually and Ear, Nose and Throat but has done extensive research and treatment on the Thyroid.  He had the trained Radiologist at the hospital do the FNA.. in his words "The radiologist does hundreds if not thousands of them a year, and I want you to be totally comfortable in it... plus, I want you to always enjoy coming in my office" LOL!  Sure enough, he numbed the area and went straight in and the thing collapsed on itself and the whole thing ended up being sucked into the syringe.

It all came back cancer-free.  The good thing is, in the worst case scenerio, that Thyroid cancer is very self-contained and the success rate of getting it all and it not spreading is close to 100%.  Just relax, and you'll be fine.
Will keep you in my prayers.

Private message me if you need to talk... I know how much help support can be!

[laura1967]

Hi Mary.....My FNA was a totally diff experience. I was sent to hospital outpatient radiology dept here in ft myers florida. The doctor there (radiologist) numbed me perfectly and waited to make sure I was totally numb. I didn't feel any pain at all, just a strange pressure. I had 2 nodules biopsied, and one of them was a complex nodule which means solid/cystic combined. He actually ended up taking tissue from that one almost like a core biopsy. I never felt a bit of pain only pressure again. Afterwards you lay there for a little while with a pressure bag, then they send you down to a recovery room with a nice nurse who has you sit with an ice pack for a period of time to make sure you dont have a bleed out from the thyroid tissue. I was then told to go home and rest for 48 hours with no activity. Scariest part is not knowing what is going on at the time....and then waiting for results. I hope your experience is like mine and not like these other poor people! That is aweful that they had to endure that type of pain and treatment! Endos don;t do those procedures in office here. Make sure you tell them you expect to be numbed!! Let me know how it goes!
Laura

[octbride]

i know that people have all different experiences, but mine was done with no numbing or valium or anything, and it was not a very nice time :(   i had a hard time not swallowing when the needle was in, so that made it worse and i was sooooo nervous that i kept moving.  it came back inconclusive, so my endo let me wait it out for a little to see if synthroid would shrink the nodule, but when it got larger, he wanted either another FNA or for me to have it out.  After seeing that i could get a false negative, or the chance of it being inconclusive again, i opted not to do it again...it wasn't worth it to me, so i had the surgery last week.  i would find out if u could be numbed or get valium or something because i think that would have helped me.  good luck!!!!!!!


kelly

[dscoochie]

I did not have freezing with mine and it was slightly painful, but very uncomfortable.  I could hear the needle cracking its way through the tissue - ewww.

However, it needed to be done and it wasnt that bad.

My FNA was inconclusive, and my final pathology came back as Pap Thyca which is almost always picked up on FNA, so I was one of the 2% false negatives.    Apparently it happens, but rarely.

My FNA took about two weeks to come back.

Good luck.