Anyone had Thyroid Nodules?

Posted by kcg @kcg, Oct 26, 2019

Has anyone delt with a nodules in the thyroid?

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I learned enough tonight to know why things happened in the past and what led to the metabolic syndrome that led to the diabetes. I know now why my sister was given insulin shots in the hospital when she was in a hypoglycemic state and she couldn't speak or tell them to stop. That was technically the treatment for her condition and it didn't work at all and they almost killed her. My doctor knew that I was headed to diabetes and he never mentioned it to me when I complained of the neuropathy, so when I exercised and the burning went away, I delayed the development of the disease. He was looking for swollen ankles and I didn't have swelling, so he said nothing. Shortly after that my blood test showed 126 on the blood sugar and he mentioned it. I learned tonight that hypoglycemia is associated with thyroid problems as well as hyperglycemia and I should have been aware that I was flipflopping to hyperglycemia but I thought after the hypo went away and I felt well, I was cured. I learned that elevated blood pressure is a part of the problem as well, and I could have been working on that as well. Bottom line is that I must work harder and get more exercise even with my back surgery limitations, and I know I can work on that.
I also could benefit by staying out of the kitchen a little more. We can do more at home if we continue to support each others' efforts. Go team! Dorisena
Not much we can do about the genes, however. I loved my parents.. My father had diabetes but we did not take it seriously.

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I have been diagnosed with thyroid nodules 8 years ago. They have been monitored every 6 months. The past couple of months, I have had one that grew and is measured at 2cm. I had a biopsy and it came back benign. There are times I feel the nodule in my throat. I have had hair loss, weight gain, fatigue, depression, however my TSH levels are low but come back in the normal range. I meet with the endo dr next week. I am wondering if anyone has been in this similar situation. I wonder if I can take thyroid hormone to reduce the nodule even if I'm in the low range of the thyroid normal range. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

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@slherman

I have been diagnosed with thyroid nodules 8 years ago. They have been monitored every 6 months. The past couple of months, I have had one that grew and is measured at 2cm. I had a biopsy and it came back benign. There are times I feel the nodule in my throat. I have had hair loss, weight gain, fatigue, depression, however my TSH levels are low but come back in the normal range. I meet with the endo dr next week. I am wondering if anyone has been in this similar situation. I wonder if I can take thyroid hormone to reduce the nodule even if I'm in the low range of the thyroid normal range. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

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Hello, and welcome to the Mayo Connect community. We are people living with a wide variety of diseases and conditions, who try to help one another along the way. We each strive to be informed medical consumers, and our own best advocates in our care. We are not medical professionals, so not able to provide medical advice. We can tell you what has worked for us (or not) and provide you with information and conversation about your question.

It sounds like you have been dealing with this for a long time, but the good news is that it is, like most thyroid nodules, benign. Here is some information about thyroid nodules and their causes :
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thyroid-nodules/symptoms-causes/syc-20355262
I have thyroid nodules that are monitored annually - for 11 years now. At one point my TSH levels were off-the-charts high, at other times they have been normal or low - it's annoying never to know where they are at. The high levels were the only ones we chose to treat, but every body is different.

As to whether treatment is indicated, that is a question for your endocrinologist. It will be interesting to know what you and your endo decide next week, will you llet us know?
Sue

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@sueinmn

Hello, and welcome to the Mayo Connect community. We are people living with a wide variety of diseases and conditions, who try to help one another along the way. We each strive to be informed medical consumers, and our own best advocates in our care. We are not medical professionals, so not able to provide medical advice. We can tell you what has worked for us (or not) and provide you with information and conversation about your question.

It sounds like you have been dealing with this for a long time, but the good news is that it is, like most thyroid nodules, benign. Here is some information about thyroid nodules and their causes :
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thyroid-nodules/symptoms-causes/syc-20355262
I have thyroid nodules that are monitored annually - for 11 years now. At one point my TSH levels were off-the-charts high, at other times they have been normal or low - it's annoying never to know where they are at. The high levels were the only ones we chose to treat, but every body is different.

As to whether treatment is indicated, that is a question for your endocrinologist. It will be interesting to know what you and your endo decide next week, will you llet us know?
Sue

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Yes, I will post back as to what she recommends. They really have not caused me problems until the last few months. Thank you for your response.

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@slherman

Yes, I will post back as to what she recommends. They really have not caused me problems until the last few months. Thank you for your response.

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I am also curious to read... 2008 a surgeon dr. was seeing about a bowel issue for first time said; do you have a goiter? By the time I realized what that was he had his hand on my neck and said yes you do...then we went on to discuss a possible colonoscopy.
His report of my visit to my family dr did not mention the goiter. A month later I went to GP as had heard new Gastro in town and asked if I could have him do colonoscopy instead of surgeon.. and during conversation I said to him: oh the other dr said I have a goiter. My GP felt my neck.. oh I DONT feel anything he said! Well I said, why did he say I did?
Anyway GP sent me for ultrasound and yes goitre on R. thyroid and quite large.
Long story short, had the goiter and right thyroid removed. 2.5 hour operation 2 nights in hospital, and have since been on daily Synthroid.
Left thyroid has small nodules in and I go every year for ultrasound since 2009 and they are just leaving them for now as small. Should they get bigger I am to be referred to an ENT.
Having no family dr for past 2 years, I suppose I am now supposed to keep track of this problem? We have 2 ENTs where Ilive and one is a year wait it not urgent and the other 2 years! (Northern Ontario)

Best of luck and anxious to hear your results.. also, I find they do the one thyroid blood test yearly, whereas there are several blood tests they can and I feel should do - maybe ask for them all, I might. 🙂

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@slherman

I have been diagnosed with thyroid nodules 8 years ago. They have been monitored every 6 months. The past couple of months, I have had one that grew and is measured at 2cm. I had a biopsy and it came back benign. There are times I feel the nodule in my throat. I have had hair loss, weight gain, fatigue, depression, however my TSH levels are low but come back in the normal range. I meet with the endo dr next week. I am wondering if anyone has been in this similar situation. I wonder if I can take thyroid hormone to reduce the nodule even if I'm in the low range of the thyroid normal range. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

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Hi , I too have nodules in my thyroid and get a US every 6 months. My TSH fluctuates and my PA told me that it’s in my best interest to get my tsh as close to 0 as possible, she upped my leveothyroxine to slow the growth. I do have both antibodies for hasimotos and now have lots of health issues with my metabolic system.

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@lacy2

I am also curious to read... 2008 a surgeon dr. was seeing about a bowel issue for first time said; do you have a goiter? By the time I realized what that was he had his hand on my neck and said yes you do...then we went on to discuss a possible colonoscopy.
His report of my visit to my family dr did not mention the goiter. A month later I went to GP as had heard new Gastro in town and asked if I could have him do colonoscopy instead of surgeon.. and during conversation I said to him: oh the other dr said I have a goiter. My GP felt my neck.. oh I DONT feel anything he said! Well I said, why did he say I did?
Anyway GP sent me for ultrasound and yes goitre on R. thyroid and quite large.
Long story short, had the goiter and right thyroid removed. 2.5 hour operation 2 nights in hospital, and have since been on daily Synthroid.
Left thyroid has small nodules in and I go every year for ultrasound since 2009 and they are just leaving them for now as small. Should they get bigger I am to be referred to an ENT.
Having no family dr for past 2 years, I suppose I am now supposed to keep track of this problem? We have 2 ENTs where Ilive and one is a year wait it not urgent and the other 2 years! (Northern Ontario)

Best of luck and anxious to hear your results.. also, I find they do the one thyroid blood test yearly, whereas there are several blood tests they can and I feel should do - maybe ask for them all, I might. 🙂

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Very interesting! I went to the dr. to discuss a colonoscopy procedure. While he was talking to me about the procedure sitting behind his desk, he stopped and said, "Has anyone told you that you have thyroid nodules?" That was the first I was told about it. I had it checked from there and have been on this journey. All the years that doctors would feel my neck and everything was fine, and then a colonoscopy doctor tells me what I have without touching my neck. How was the surgery when your thyroid was removed?

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@jewles63

Hi , I too have nodules in my thyroid and get a US every 6 months. My TSH fluctuates and my PA told me that it’s in my best interest to get my tsh as close to 0 as possible, she upped my leveothyroxine to slow the growth. I do have both antibodies for hasimotos and now have lots of health issues with my metabolic system.

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Has the Levothyroxine kept the nodules from growing? Do you feel the medicine helped and what were the side effects?

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@slherman

I have been diagnosed with thyroid nodules 8 years ago. They have been monitored every 6 months. The past couple of months, I have had one that grew and is measured at 2cm. I had a biopsy and it came back benign. There are times I feel the nodule in my throat. I have had hair loss, weight gain, fatigue, depression, however my TSH levels are low but come back in the normal range. I meet with the endo dr next week. I am wondering if anyone has been in this similar situation. I wonder if I can take thyroid hormone to reduce the nodule even if I'm in the low range of the thyroid normal range. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Jump to this post

I was diagnosed with a thyroid nodule in 1988, it was biopsied and benign. Since then I have taken Synthroid religiously, am monitored and nodule has stayed insignificant. My TSH on Synthroid is always low normal. Before Synthroid TSH was out of range high. Your question needs to be answered by an endocrinologist. I have never had any negative symptoms in all these years.

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@tsch

I was diagnosed with a thyroid nodule in 1988, it was biopsied and benign. Since then I have taken Synthroid religiously, am monitored and nodule has stayed insignificant. My TSH on Synthroid is always low normal. Before Synthroid TSH was out of range high. Your question needs to be answered by an endocrinologist. I have never had any negative symptoms in all these years.

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Thank you. I will have some answers on Monday hopefully.

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