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Can thyroid nodules become hypoechoic after being normal?
Hi I’m new here. I’ve recently had an ultrasound done showing my two isthmus nodules that were previously normal nodules became hypoechoic, they both shrunk by a little less than a mm, this year they both grew 3mm, and became hypoechoic. Also my gland which was normal is now heterogenous. Can it be cancer??
COMMUNITY LEADER
I'm not really a tough cookie... it's just as you said - it takes perseverance to make get the right treatment and we don't always get it. A lot of the time, I've felt like death warmed over, but the doctors just look at my labs and say "all is well; there's nothing wrong with you" or "it's not thyroid related..."
No, the right dosage doesn't "really" damage my heart - my endo just *believes* it will... What she's basing her belief on is my TSH, which is suppressed when I'm on adequate amounts of thyroid hormones and that puts her in a panic because she, automatically, thinks I'm hyper, when I'm not. Even my cardiologist has said it's normal for that to happen, but she won't listen, because it's contrary to what she was taught in med school...
You're right about the weight gain; it gets pretty depressing, since I'm quite short and was always very petite prior to becoming hypo. I never weighed more than 100 to 105 and suddenly, I gained 30 lbs in less than 2 months. I had managed to stop the gain, but my pcp, thinking he was helping me, put me a diet, consisting of replacement protein shakes, low fat, etc and I ended up gaining another 20 lbs... turns out the shakes were full of added sugar, etc. I ended up ditching his plan and started my own with full fat dairy, coconut and olive oils, lots of veggies, etc and managed to lose 26 lbs, but then I stalled again.
I held steady for a long time, but recently gained about 6 lbs again, when this nodule was discovered and I had to go off my medication for a nuclear medicine scan that requires radioactive iodine. The nuclear med scan was my pcp's alternative to the biopsy he refused referral for, but now he hasn't bothered to address the results. It's time for a whole new set of doctors, I think...
No, the right dosage doesn't "really" damage my heart - my endo just *believes* it will... What she's basing her belief on is my TSH, which is suppressed when I'm on adequate amounts of thyroid hormones and that puts her in a panic because she, automatically, thinks I'm hyper, when I'm not. Even my cardiologist has said it's normal for that to happen, but she won't listen, because it's contrary to what she was taught in med school...
You're right about the weight gain; it gets pretty depressing, since I'm quite short and was always very petite prior to becoming hypo. I never weighed more than 100 to 105 and suddenly, I gained 30 lbs in less than 2 months. I had managed to stop the gain, but my pcp, thinking he was helping me, put me a diet, consisting of replacement protein shakes, low fat, etc and I ended up gaining another 20 lbs... turns out the shakes were full of added sugar, etc. I ended up ditching his plan and started my own with full fat dairy, coconut and olive oils, lots of veggies, etc and managed to lose 26 lbs, but then I stalled again.
I held steady for a long time, but recently gained about 6 lbs again, when this nodule was discovered and I had to go off my medication for a nuclear medicine scan that requires radioactive iodine. The nuclear med scan was my pcp's alternative to the biopsy he refused referral for, but now he hasn't bothered to address the results. It's time for a whole new set of doctors, I think...
COMMUNITY LEADER
My endo came very highly recommended, as well, so one of us has to luck out... I didn't, so I'm sure you're going to... lol
Yeah, 10 years, I've been fighting with this stuff and about the time I get to feeling half way decent and losing my hypo weight, they pull the rug out from under me and decide I'm on too much medication!!
My current endo cut my dosage because I'm "at risk" for heart disease... duhhh, I'm "at risk" for a car accident every time I drive my car, too, but that doesn't make me stop driving, so why should being at risk for heart disease make me want to stay hypo. I'm still at risk, no matter what and besides that, being hypo is hard on the heart, as well. That's just how crazy it gets sometimes...
As for your results, I'm not sure. You could have them back in a couple of days, but I'd expect a week, at least.
Yes, pregnancy can change a lot of things in your body, thyroid included. A lot of women have postpartum hypothyroidism or postpartum thyroiditis. Sometimes postpartum hypothyroidism resolves on its own, sometimes the patient has to remain on thyroid medication from then on. Thyroiditis is a swollen/inflamed thyroid. Postpartum Thyroiditis is a lot like Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. It often starts out with hyperthyroidism, but you may not have any symptoms at that point; it then, reverts to hypothyroidism. Like postpartum hypothyroidism, it, often resolves on its own, but if the thyroid is damaged the condition can be permanent.
It's important to note that nodules are very common with thyroiditis and they can, often, be shrunk with thyroid medication.
Obviously, none of this would apply if your nodule turns out to be cancer, since pregnancy, would not be involved in that.
Yeah, 10 years, I've been fighting with this stuff and about the time I get to feeling half way decent and losing my hypo weight, they pull the rug out from under me and decide I'm on too much medication!!
My current endo cut my dosage because I'm "at risk" for heart disease... duhhh, I'm "at risk" for a car accident every time I drive my car, too, but that doesn't make me stop driving, so why should being at risk for heart disease make me want to stay hypo. I'm still at risk, no matter what and besides that, being hypo is hard on the heart, as well. That's just how crazy it gets sometimes...
As for your results, I'm not sure. You could have them back in a couple of days, but I'd expect a week, at least.
Yes, pregnancy can change a lot of things in your body, thyroid included. A lot of women have postpartum hypothyroidism or postpartum thyroiditis. Sometimes postpartum hypothyroidism resolves on its own, sometimes the patient has to remain on thyroid medication from then on. Thyroiditis is a swollen/inflamed thyroid. Postpartum Thyroiditis is a lot like Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. It often starts out with hyperthyroidism, but you may not have any symptoms at that point; it then, reverts to hypothyroidism. Like postpartum hypothyroidism, it, often resolves on its own, but if the thyroid is damaged the condition can be permanent.
It's important to note that nodules are very common with thyroiditis and they can, often, be shrunk with thyroid medication.
Obviously, none of this would apply if your nodule turns out to be cancer, since pregnancy, would not be involved in that.
3 Comments
Wow you never know what dr your going to get, I matter how many recommendations lol wow your a tough cookie, I can only imagine how hard it is to deal with that for so long, especially with the weight gain. My sister is hypo, Once she found out and got medicated she lost a good amount of weight. You can’t win, out either stay on a
Dosage that’s actually helping you or have a bad heart lol that’s horrible!
Thank you for being so informative, your a great help!
COMMUNITY LEADER
Don't worry too much about them wanting to see you in a week, instead of 3 months. Perhaps they just figured it best to get the FNA done sooner rather than later, just to be on the safe side.
I've had hypothyroidism for 10 yrs and have always had to struggle/be persistent in order to get proper treatment. Unfortunately, not all endos are good thyroid doctors. So far, the worst treatment I've had is with my current endo. I hope you do better with yours.
Please let me know how your FNA turns out.
I've had hypothyroidism for 10 yrs and have always had to struggle/be persistent in order to get proper treatment. Unfortunately, not all endos are good thyroid doctors. So far, the worst treatment I've had is with my current endo. I hope you do better with yours.
Please let me know how your FNA turns out.
1 Comments
Yes these days you have to be. And so far I hear nothing but great things about this dr, guess I’ll find out. Lol, wow 10 years! And yes I will definitely let you know, do you know how soon you normally get results? I just had a baby 6 months ago, so I’m wondering if that has anything to do with the changes in my nodules.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Since you're scheduled for a FNA, you'll find out soon if it's cancer. You're lucky your doctor agreed to one.
I have solid hypoechoic nodule that's 1.1 X 1.0 X 0.8 cm and my pcp refused to refer me to ENT for FNA because he said the nodule isn't large enough for biopsy, even though it's solid. There was no score on the ultrasound report.
Anyway, just remember that most thyroid nodules are not cancer.
I have solid hypoechoic nodule that's 1.1 X 1.0 X 0.8 cm and my pcp refused to refer me to ENT for FNA because he said the nodule isn't large enough for biopsy, even though it's solid. There was no score on the ultrasound report.
Anyway, just remember that most thyroid nodules are not cancer.
2 Comments
Omg that’s crazy! I called around and some endocrinologist’s had a 3 month wait time. I’m worried after the doctor had seen my ultrasounds that maybe there was something that was really suspicious, that’s why they wanted to see me within a week. Just hoping everything’s fine with both of us. :) thank you again for answering my post.
Sometimes you have to be very persistent,last year when my nodules were stable my pcp told me I didn’t need to see an Endo, but if I wanted one he would refer me. At the time I was very addiment about being seen by one since I had symptoms of hypothyroidism but all my blood test were normal. But now I guess I have a reason to be seen by an Endo.
COMMUNITY LEADER
It's not unusual for the characteristics or size of nodules to change over time. Less than 5% of all thyroid nodules are cancer. Whether yours are suspicious depends on other characteristics and overall size. An Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) is the only way to tell if a nodule is cancer or not. Was an FNA suggested as follow up on the ultrasound report?
It might be more helpful if you provide further information from your ultrasound report - such as the actual dimentions of the nodules or other things in the report.
It might be more helpful if you provide further information from your ultrasound report - such as the actual dimentions of the nodules or other things in the report.
3 Comments
Thank you for responding”, I am due for an FNA this coming Thursday. Towards the left of the midline in my isthus I have a 1.3x0.3x0.5cm hypoechoic nodule that previously measured 7x2x4 last year.
Also my triads score was 4-6pts, moderately suspicious.
Tirads*
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