Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
417682 tn?1253249057

substernal thyroid

I was just wondering is anyone out there has had experience with their thyroid growing into their chest cavity and compressing their airway.  I have known I had a multinodular goiter for years but have just found out it is in my chest and that it has to come out.   One side of my thyroid is already gone....I just have the right side.
I wanted to ask how easy is it for the surgeon to locate the parathyroids and preserve them during the surgery.  I am worried about that and also my airway maintenance during the surgery as well as possible detubation complications...because I think it would be really hard to wake up with that breathing tube still in there.  Anything anyone can write would be helpful.  My Cat scan showed quite a bit of compression to my trachea.  
SaraFL
7 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Found this thread. My thyroid nodule just slipped down into my chest tonight. Where does it "land?" This is an awful feeling! Surgery isn't even scheduled yet! Thanks for any help you can give.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Found this thread. My thyroid nodule just slipped down into my chest tonight. Where does it "land?" This is an awful feeling! Surgery isn't even scheduled yet! Thanks for any help you can give.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've actually been pretty lucky with mine. My surgeon said she's surprised I haven't had more symptoms, but I don't seem to have had nearly the trouble most people who post here have had. I sometimes get out of breath easily, and I've sometimes had problems feeling as though I can't get a deep enough breath. My doctor told me it was asthma (did no testing), but I think now that is may be from displacement of various things in my neck and chest. But it doesn't happen a lot, so it's easy to dismiss. I don't generally have trouble swallowing, either, though I can't eat quickly and I do have that "something is pressing on my throat" sensation. But the intensity and frequency of that feeling ebbs and flows (more flow than ebb lately). I don't have problems sleeping, either. I do have a bit of a problem with GERD, but that's mild, too. (Well, I think it is. My surgeon wants me to see my ENT next week, so I guess I'll find out then how irritated things really are.) There are certain head positions that seem to reduce blood flow/raise the pressure in certain areas, but I don't usually have to keep my head in those positions for very long. :)  So all in all, I'm either very lucky or almost totally unaware of how uncomfortable I really am. My surgeon says swallowing is going to be a whole new thing for me after the surgery. I've had this goiter for at least twenty-five years, so I've probably just gotten accustomed to it as it grew and pushed on things.
Helpful - 0
417682 tn?1253249057
Hello MN,

Hi Thank you for writing...yes it sounds like we are going through the same thing!  I am probably worrying about things that arent even that relevant so dont let anything I write get your worried!  Its probably because I havent actually gotten to speak with the surgeon yet and my DR just didnt have time to really talk to me about it..

Its nice to know that you spoke with yours and she didnt even mention the intubation stuff...It must mean its pretty routine for that to go smoothly.  Also,  I am sure it will help once my surgeon explains what he is going to do and I get to ask him lots of questions.  Thank you for telling me about what your surgeon said though because that makes sense that they would see  how the thyroid is growing and base their approach on that.  

Im sure they are prepared for the airway maintenance stuff I just tend to worry too much about things!  I need to have a positive attitude.....

so what symptoms have you had with your thyroid and how did the DR figure out what was going on?  Have you had trouble breathing/swallowing/sleeping?  do you have any pain etc?

I cant believe how much trouble my thyroid has caused me!  Anyway,  My surgery might be as soon as 2 weeks away.....if so I guess I would be able to tell you how it went before you go in for yours...

Anyway,  Thank you again!                        PS are you in Minnesota?  I am in Florida
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm in a similar situation: thyroid growing substernally and compressing my trachea. I'm scheduled for surgery in a month. My surgeon plans to leave a sliver of my right lobe to preserve those parathryoid glands. As far as I know, my parathyroid glands aren't substernal. I would expect the same is true for yours. My surgeon is expecting the surgery to go longer than the normal, but she hasn't mentioned anything about possible problems with intubation/extubation. Thanks for giving me something else to worry about. ;)  Actually, the reason she sent me for a CAT scan was so the anesthesiologist would know what path the trachea took. It was only after she got those results that she/we realized how big the substernal component is and that the thyroid should come out sooner rather than later. Your CAT scan should help your anesthesiologist plan how to approach your particular situation and be prepared for the narrowing and curving. (I hope so, anyhow, for both our sakes!)
Helpful - 0
212753 tn?1275073111
I sent message glad to be abole to help.
Love Venora
Helpful - 0
168348 tn?1379357075
Venora Moonwind .... last year ... had similar .. maybe check of archives and/or when she ck's on board she'll post I am certain!!!!  She recently posted an update last week about a great endo appt .... maybe do a search and message her ..

cheryl
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community

Top Thyroid Answerers
649848 tn?1534633700
FL
Avatar universal
MI
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.