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Thyroid Surgery.

Posted , 11 users are following.

ophelia123
ophelia123

If anyone has dealt with this or know anyone who has I would love if you would share. Im just curious about how the operation goes (its preperations, and after). I have 2 thyroid nodules and they are pretty big and is causing phleghm, voice changes and other stuff. I have no idea if cancer is present but still hoping. Again, just curious and would appreciate if someone would tell me there story. smile

1 like, 45 replies

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  • hilary61055
    hilary61055 ophelia123

    Posted

    Hi, I had surgery in January this year to remove my thyroid. It went very smoothly with very little discomfort afterwards apart from not being able to sleep on my front! My neck was pretty bruised and the scar was quite puckered and red, but, nearly 4 months on, it is very neat, hardy noticeable. My voice was slightly hoarse and quite quiet for a while, but I'm back singing in tune, again! I've been on calcium supplements since the op as my parathyroid glands were disturbed, but, so long as I take the tablets after food they're fine and my levels are returning to normal. I couldn't fault the care I received in hospital and even the food was ok!! Good luck!!
    • jean34329
      jean34329 hilary61055

      Posted

      HI Hilary

      Are you in the UK?

      If so are you able to advise which hospital you were operated in?

      If you do not wish to share this info I will understand. Jean

  • jean34329
    jean34329 ophelia123

    Posted

    I have just been diagnosed with a multinodular goitre.

    I can fully empathise with you.I have had a bad day with phlegm, hoarseness and a cough plus a feeling of discomfort on the left side of my throat.

    With kind regards

    Jean

     

  • sue71351
    sue71351 ophelia123

    Posted

    My story isnt pleasant.  I also had a large 3.5 cm nodule on my right side causing issues.  I had the right side removed.  All was fine at that point.  However, apparently they found a smal l1cm cancer nodule capsulated within the benign large nodule.  The ENT advised I get the left side removed which has been a 4 year nightmare with severe hypoparathyroididm.  My parathyroids no longer produce pth hormone to regulate calcium.   Most endrocrinologists will tell me that the left side was not nessecary to come out, and most people would have an incidential finding of cancer in the thyroid if you were to biopsy them.  Be cautious!!! Thyroid gland is a master gland that controls  many aspects of your body, and parathyroid which regulates calcium in your blood, effects muscles & nerves.  I am not saying do not go through surgery, as it may be necessary.  Get informed and seek an endrocrinologist before making this decision.  They are the specialists for the endocrine system.  
    • jean34329
      jean34329 sue71351

      Posted

      Hello Sue

      Thanks for this information. I have just been diagnosed with a multinodular goitre as an Incidental Finding.

      I am being referred to an endocrine surgeon.

      Jeanx

  • ophelia123
    ophelia123

    Posted

    Thank you guys for all of your responses! I greatly appreciate it. Im just still hoping and the more and more I listen to people's stories, the more I feel better about my thyroid. Yes it could be dangerous, but it can always be treated. Thanks again. smile
  • jean34329
    jean34329 ophelia123

    Posted

    Hi Ophelia

    I hope you don't mind my asking but how long have you been aware of these nodules?

    I have read that thyroid disorder can exacerbate asthma. I wondered if that had anything to do with the production of phlegm.

    Have you been seen yet by a surgeon? If so then again I hope you do not mind my asking but how long did you have to wait to be seen?

    kind regards

    Jean x

    • ophelia123
      ophelia123 jean34329

      Posted

      Well I had a thyroid ultrasound I believe...in February. I then found out that they were nodules in March. My doctor spotted a lump on my throat. I didn't really realize it until she pointed it out. It's pretty big. And no I have not seen a surgeon yet. But I will be seeing a specialist for further information. I'll be seeing the specialist...on June 16....Ugh
    • jean34329
      jean34329 ophelia123

      Posted

      Hello Ophelia

      Sorry to keep badgering you with questions but are you waiting to see an endocrine surgeon or endocrine physician about this lump?

      If the lump is causing any problems such as swallowing difficulties, breathlessness by pressing on the trachea then you my consider ringing the surgeon's pa and asking if there is any possibility of your appointment being brought forward.

      Most hospitals have joint clinics where the patient sees an endocrine surgeon and an endocrine ohysician on thw same day/clinic visit.

      I presume that your GP sent you for the ultra sound scan due to the lump?

      I suggest thhat you ring the hospital and ask to speak to the specialist nurse in Endocrinology and see what she says about bringing your appointment forward .

      I take it that you live in the UK.

      I am going to ring my dr in the morning too to hurry this referral along.

      Keep positive hun as Jay says.

    • ophelia123
      ophelia123 jean34329

      Posted

      Its ok I love questions. xD

      Well im going to see a endocrinologist.

      And well I have the ultrasound cd if that's what you mean.

      And no I live in the U.S. Yes this website is called patient.info but hey this site is pretty awesome. 

      Do you also have nodules?

    • jean34329
      jean34329 ophelia123

      Posted

      Hi Ophelia

      Thanks. Yes I have a multinodular goitre thhat was diagnosed on April 27 2015 was an incidental finding on a CTPA scan done to exclude a pulmonary embolism.

      My GP has referred me to an endocrine surgeon who works with an endo physician in the same clinic. This means that I will be seen by both on the same day.

      I spoke to the advanced nurse practitioner who urged me to ruing the surgery to ask them to mark the referral s urgent due to some breathlessness and a swallowing difficulty.

      There is another site caled The Thyroid Patients Advocacy .uk.

       

    • elaine14579
      elaine14579 jean34329

      Posted

      Hi Jean,

      My experience so far is similar to yours. I also had a CTPA to rule out a Pulomonary Embolism, only to find a Multinodular Retrosternal Goitre pushing on my trachea and reducing trachea by a 1/3. I have largest nodule of 3cm Left side along with others around 1.5cm / 1.8cm/ 2.5cm etc. on both sides. I have had a dreadful few months with high blood pressure and trying to get meds right for that. Coughing became so bad thought I had broken a rib, then GP sent me for the CTPA. I have had lots of Phlegm problems and for the first time ever, sinus problems. I tried everything to clear my airways as I was coughing so much I burst tiny blood vessels in my eye, I was vomitting and thought I would choke as I couldn't get air in my nose or mouth. I was taking codeine to try and stop the cough. Eventually GP has given me Nasonex - corticosteroid nasal spray and it has settled all the congestion and coughing down (I was having post nasal drip), I still have little cough and feeling of 'something' in my throat. I suffer from depression also. I am to have a Total Thyroidectomy and will see the OutPatients pre-admissions clinic next week and the Anaethetists. I think my op will be next month some time.

    • jean34329
      jean34329 elaine14579

      Posted

      Thank you very much for this info Elaine, it gives me insight into what is/may be going on with myself.

      At times I thought I was going mad. Now with the breathlessness, feeling of something in my throat,phlegm problems, feeling unable to get my breath properly, feeling panic stricken at the slightest thing I thought that I was dying.

      Then thanks to an A and E dr who believed me he sent me for a VQ scan , following this I had a CTPA scan with iodine contrast which showed the multinodular goitre as an incidental finding. The Report just states that they found a multinodular poitre.

      There is nothing written on the Report about the sizes etc.

      I assume that you had further scans to establish the sizes of the goitre/nodules?

      The endocrine nurse I spoke to over the hpjhone told me to tell my GP to mark the referral as urgent because of the breathlessness and cough plus some problem with swallowing.

      Elaine how long did you have to wait to be seen following finding the retrosternal nodules?

      Did the sizes of the nodules show up on the CTPA scan?

      what other tests did you have following your ctpa scan?

      Were they ordered as a matter of urgency?

      What did they classify the nodules as being due to?

      Jean x

    • elaine14579
      elaine14579 jean34329

      Posted

      Hello again Jean,

      Yes, when my CTPA came back and had the findings for Multinodular goitre, it also showed that it was pressing on my tradchea and moved it to the right.My GP sent me for an Ultrasound and I had that pretty much less than a week later. The ultrasound was quite uncomfortable as they are pressing on the goitre as they do it (obviously). However, when the Radiographer said "I don't know why they haven't done anything about this before now" , I knew there was definatley something there! The Ultrasound is what showed up the sizes of the nodules. But the report cannot determine if they are cancerous or not other than they are solid in nature. I do not have to have fine needle biopsy as they will test the whole lot once it comes out.  I have to have it out because there are so many nodules (and their size) and more so because it is pushing my trachea to one side and reducing the size of the airway. I have not been advised as to what has caused them, but I can tell you that I have had a neck injury in 2009 and have had multiple MRI's since then as I ruptured my C6/C7 disk and have bulging disks at other levels. I am also concerned about how much pain I will be in post THyroid surgery because of this underlying issue....quite worried actually! My Neurosurgeon has advised me to get in touch with him if I experience any neuro deficits post- surgery.

    • glennis1947
      glennis1947 elaine14579

      Posted

      I had my thyroid removed at the end of April.  Like you my trachea had moved to the right, but my oesophagas was also bent, so I had a lot of problems with eating.  I had a multinodular goitre which apparently was huge and took some quite complicated surgery to remove.  The after effects are more very uncomfortable than painful, and you are given pain killers to make you more comfortable.  Your throat will feel lumpy and sore, but if you have a bent trachea you will probably be used to that.  My scar looked horrid at first - red and puckered, but it has quietened down now, no redness and just a small scar with a very slight amount of puckering, but considering  I am 68, I think I have to expect the odd pucker, I believe the younger you are the less likely that is to happen.  I am still having a few voice problems, hoarseness mainly, it it gets better each week and I hope with the passing of time I will be back to normal.  I had my op at the end of April, so consider I am doing reasonably well.

      Good luck with everything, you will be fine.

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