multinodular goiter

[teacher40]

I have been diagnosed with a multinodular goiter.  On right side, my thyroid scan showed hyperactive 1.3 cm nodule.  I test normal tsh.  I am going for a FNA next week and I am a nervous wreck.  I also have general anxiety disorder and some depression. Dr. said it had nothing to do with my thryoid.   I take a little ativan sometimes to help with anxiety.  I am very tired.  Seeing an endo and she wants me to have a blood test to test free hormones and the FNA and another Thyroid Scan in 3 months.  One dr. thinks I should just have my right side removed and then I won't have to worry about it every 3 months.  Any ideas, suggestions

[littles]

I just had an FNA.  Whoa.  Not a good feeling but luckily it goes fast.  They did three needles into the neck.  Don't worry too much about it - your anxiety will only get worse.  Just take a half ativan before the biopsy if the thought of the FNA is making you so uncomfortable.  Because you want to try and be relaxed for the procedure, I know I wasn't.  I could have used a little help.   :)

[Thypatient]

Wow.  That's a tough one.  Perhaps yet another dr from a different office might help (I know that's a lot of dr jumping though).  Maybe an ENT specialist might give a different perspective on things.

Hope you get more feedback here.

Good luck.

[ThyroidAvenger]

Hi!  I have three nodules (i've named them) and they've leveled off growing I believe.  I've had them for...about 5 years.  I just had a biopsy done too, and it does hurt, but they're not cancerous, yay!  Now, I've had hypothyroidism since I was 8, and I'm almost 22.  When they test your hormones, they may put you on synthroid, which does help with the fatigue and necessary but oh so inconvenient afternoon naps.  I've recently begun taking cytomel, which is T3.  Sythroid should help your thyroid make its own T3 (pretty sure, someone back me up) and I've found that helps with the tiredness.  Also, an apple (low glycemic) helps around 2:30 or at least an hour or half hour before you know you get tired.  
Now, as for surgery, I'm considering that now.  Two Docs have recommended it only if the nodules bother me.  I figured they're just hanging out in my throat, but I have noticed some strange things:  When I swallow a a normal size pill, I need food to push it down, or I'll cough it up (ouch).  When I lay on my stomach to study I feel a pressure in my neck that makes my head spin.  If I swallow and turn my head to the side I can feel the nodule pop and that hurts very much.  And most of all, my voice.  I've taken years of voice lessons and got pretty darn good at musicals and opera.  But now when I go to scream or sing, I have to go an octave lower because, and I don't know this for sure, my vocal chords are stopped and a really harsh squeak comes out.  This began around the time I began growing my nodules.  If you have anything like this then MAYBE consider surgery.

My mother had her side removed many years ago, actually when I was 9.  The doctor looked at my throat and then checked everyone else's.  She had a small nodule and had it removed.  But the doctors didn't put her on sythroid.  If you do go under the knife, make sure you ask about synthroid, or thyroid hormone therapy.  It helps with the side effects.  My mom just got on synthroid and she definitely feels better.

Hope this helps!  Sorry I got a little carried away.  Thyroids are one of the topics I can go on about.