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.
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.
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.
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
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!)
I sent message glad to be abole to help.
Love Venora
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