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thyroid

i just had a thyroid untrasound done and it said i had 2 nodules on my upper left lobe that measures 1.7cm and 1.5cm. are they big enough to worry about
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Avatar universal
Did the report say what characteristics they had?  Were they solid, cystic, mixed, vascular, irregular, smooth and/or round??  Lots of factors, but you should keep searching for an answer.  You may want to get a FNA if they are not cystic, generally solid or mixed nodules need to be checked for cancer.  You should also ask exactly what the tests revealed, some doctors consider "normal" range that is not what we thyroid sufferers would consider "normal".  The optimal TSH is between 3.0 and 3.5, but doctors will say anything from 1 to 5 is normal.  Try to get the exact results, then post them.
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Avatar universal

Dear wawee,
Like many of the forum members, I have HAD to become informed because of continuing symptoms after treatment with Synthroid/T4 only and inadequate and even hostile medical care. I read this forum all the time because I have continuing issues, and defer to some of the members who have been dealing with their own thyroid problems longer than I and who generously volunteer their time, personal experience, and research to help the rest of us. Because I have received their help, I try to volunteer my own when I can. One of the members recently drew my attention to the button on the top right of this page that says  "HealthPages" , where papers on topics of interest can be found. there are also archives of "Live Chats" , where the recent discussion with Dr. Kent Holtorf is especially informative.

That said, before I found this forum, I did as much research as I possible could, through Google. For the most part I ignored patient chat rooms and focused on as many scientific papers and records of clinical trials that I could find. The European Journal of Medicine seems more advanced than our own, but I also read JAMA, the Thyroid Association archives, and Dr. Holtorf's own  associated sites: drholtorf.com and NAThyroid.org, as well as articles from Mayo Clinic, Johns-Hopkins, and NIH. Mary Shomen's website also has valuable links.

As it is not always possible to get into these websites without membership, I access articles by reading about aspects of this disorder on Wikipedia and looking for links at the bottom of the pages. I also plug  my symptoms into Google and sift through the results, trying to concentrate on science. For instance I type in "hair loss and hypothyroidism", or "  
myxedama and hypothyroidism" "low TSH low Free T4 hypothyroid symptoms" etc.etc. It's surprising how keeping it simple gets you to valuable information.  Sometimes I print pertinent studies and take them to my doctor.

Many members have patiently pointed out, over and over, the proper tests for diagnosing hypothyroidism and that it is not enough for doctors to rely solely on TSH. I'm sorry to say that the search for health has required that I practically go to endocrinology school in my own body, as many top research scientists have stated their opinion that practitioners are often 10-20 years behind the current research, and that an entrenched teaching establishment clings to the status quo.

One more important resource has been the book "The Thyroid Solution" by Dr. Ridha Arem, who teaches at Baylor University in Houston and has a thyroid clinic there. His book is full of excellent (and comforting) information, and his credentials are impeccable.

I am sorry to hear about your bout with cancer, and that you are still experiencing symptoms. I encourage you to become proactive, and hope this forum will provide you both comfort and information.....and that you too will try to help others by "passing it on" !

I wish you the best of health.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
the report that i recieved from the u/s was that the thyroid isthmus demonstrates normal echotexture and size with a width of 3 mm. the right thyroid lobe demonstrates normal echotexture and a size with a length of 4.6 cm. the left thyroid lobe is heterogeneous in echotexture. there are two prominent left upper pole thyroid lobe nodules. these measure up to 1.7 cm and 1.5 cm respectively. thats what the findings said.the impression part of it said that two left upper lobe pulmonary nodules, as described above.
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Avatar universal
You are very knowledgeable about the use of T3 and T4; how did you learn about  the use of the combination? The endocrine system is so complicated with so many variables involved!  I've had thyroid cancer and my goal of treatment is different.Synthroid 125 is still not alleviating my symptoms, and I refuse to go up any higher because of the side effects. How  did you know to raise your free T3 and T4? Best of health to you ! Thanks for sharing knowledge with us
wawee919            
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Avatar universal
I have a multi-nodular thyroid. As Manmom said, the need for aspiration and biopsy depends on what kind of nodules they are. My TSH was low-normal, as was my Free T4,  so I was told I was "not hypo" and they would just "watch" them and do another ultrasound in a year. They could tell from the ultrasound that they were not likely to be cancerous. I already had hypo symptoms and they became MUCH worse. I was finally put on a low-ish dose of Synthroid to "control the growth of the nodules, not for hypothyroidism". My symptoms grew even worse and I insisted on adding T3 to the T4  and the usual fighting with endos ensued while I insisted on raising my Free levels. My nodules shrank and have been stable for several years on my current combination of T4 and T3. It appears I have some kind of conversion problem. I wouldn't let anyone do any kind of surgery unless it is absolutely necessary, and the type of nodules will determine that. My TSH is below .04, btw, with NO indication I am hyper, so don't let them rely on your TSH alone. All the endos say I am killing myself taking unnecessary medication, but my PCP sees what happens when my meds are lowered and works with me. All my metabolic labs have returned to normal, my blood pressure is back to it's previous low norm, my hair has stopped falling out and I've lost a little weight after getting my Free T4 to mid-range and Free T3 into the upper 1/3. My heart stress test is excellent and my bone density is a little better than it was, so PPOH to the endos. Don't be scared, you may not need to be. Focus instead on becoming informed and pro-active for your health !
All the best.
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Avatar universal
THANKS ALOT FOR REPLYING BACK SO FAST. IM 29 YEARS OLD WITH THREE LOVELY CHILDREN AND I FEEL SO BAD AT TIMES IVE GAINED ALOT OF WEIGHT, TIRED ALOT. IVE WENT TO MY PRIMARY DOCTOR AND HAD THE BLOOD TEST RAN AND THEY COME BACK WITHIN NORMAL RANGE, I JUST DONT UNDERSTAND WHATS GOING ON, SO THATS WHY HE SCHEDULED ME FOR A U/S THAN I JUST HAD THE SCAN DONE IM WAITING ON THEM RESULTS. I HAVE A QUESTION DID YOUR DOCTOR PRESRIBE YOU ANYTHING FOR YOUR NODULES EVEN WHEN YOUR BLOOD TESTS WERE NORMAL?
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Avatar universal
I'm not a doctor but I have a history of thyroid problems (my immune system turned on itself) Hashimotos thyroiditis. The growth(tumor)  became larger and larger over a period of time. Make sure your doctor keeps track of it on a regular basis and can tell you why it is occuring (never ignore a growth)
wawee919  
Helpful - 0
1744282 tn?1314065299
yes you need to have the nodules biopsy asap. Make sure not cancer. The percentage of the cancer is small I would still make sure any growth is something to worry about. Tell your Dr. you want that done as soon as you can to make sure it is not cancer of the Thyroid. Early prevention is the key in curing cancer now. Good Luck I have eight nodules and had a biopsy and pet scan because I had breast cancer. They were not cancer but are causing  my metoblisim to slow down and getting harder to lose weight. I am having them removed. They can turn to cancer and cause you swallowing problems as the increase in size they grow. good luck hope I helped you. Oh ya my cancer was three tumors less than one cm. and I did not have to have radation nor chemo because I got it early.
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