So, two weeks ago, I was at my physical, and the doctor says she's noticed on my history that I've had some odd thyroid test results in the past, and that she wanted to make sure to check them out.

I said that in addition to that, I now have a brother that's gone through radiation for Graves Disease, and so we probably should.

She does, and notes that my thyroid is quite enlarged. She asks me if I ever have problems swallowing, getting overly winded when I shouldn't be, or anything like that. I said that in fact, I notice both of those, alot. I can make it through a dance class no trouble, walk up my stairs and I gotta take a break.

So going on the enlarged thyroid, she orders an ultrasound of my thyroid, and a blood test to check for thyroid stimulating hormone.

Did both of those Friday. The ultrasound shows a "multinodule goiter" and the blood test showed "elevated levels of thyroid stimulating hormone".

Now, I'm not dumb. I googled, I knew this was pretty well what was bound to happen. So I'm not surprised, and I'm not even really nervous. I'm just...swimming. I feel like there's just so much information in my head.

And I feel like this makes so much make sense - I feel like I've been fighting for my life to lose 10 pounds - a malfunctioning thyroid would explain why losing this weight has been so hard. It's also explain why my weight shot sky high in the last few years, with seemingly no changes to my eating habits.

The doctor has reordered the bloodwork, that I'll probably go do in the morning, and they're working to get me in with the Endocrine Surgeon as we speak. So that's the biggest thing that leads me to believe I'm having surgery - you don't generally employ a surgeon unless you're sure you need one, you know?

So...yeah. I just wanted this in the world somewhere, I guess. I'm not particularly religious, but feel free to pray if you're so inclined, or just think good thoughts if you're not.

I'm sending you positive thoughts and vibes and mental hugs...I was petrified when I had surgery last month and it all went totally fine! Being under anesthesia was some really great sleep. Keep us updated!

^Haha! I didn't think about the sleeping, lol! Oddly, being the emetophobe that I am, my biggest fear is (outside of how long it's going to take me to pay for this...aah, being an adult!) being intubated. I've got a horrible gag reflex, and from what I've googled, intubation seems pretty common, and that's the scariest part.

I've even got it all planned in my head - schedule it on a Friday so James can go to my aunts house for the night/weekend, and I'll have Jim home with me for two days. I'm far to business like for my own good sometimes, haha...

I'm kind of expecting a call in the next couple of days telling me if they got me in with the surgeon, and we'll go from there I guess. :/

When I had surgery to remove a cyst I was intubated while I was asleep. But they actually did everything internal including the IV while I was asleep because I'm totally needle phobic and was having a panic attack. They actually never flat out told me I was being intubated. It crossed my mind when they asked if I had any loose teeth but I thought they were asking in case of an emergency . My mom didn't even tell me (she was in the OR with me since she's a doc at the hospital too and I wouldn't do it without her there.) until days later when I kept complaining of a sore throat and figured any irritation from the gas must have worn off by then. I'm glad I didn't know though, it would have been one more thing to worry about, but I do understand your fear. I hope everything goes well and smoothly. Ask if they can do it while your asleep and don't be afraid to ask for xanax or something before. I'll pray for you too.

Needing surgery of any type is a bummer. But I don't think you need to worry about the intubation if it is part of the procedure. You'll be out cold and won't feel any gag reflex. Maybe a slightly sore/hoarse throat later after you wake up.

Of course I've heard of the thyroid and goiter but didn't know too much about it; so I, too, did a Google search about possible operations. Well, the medical articles I pulled up concentrated on combating all the things that MIGHT POSSIBLY go wrong, making the reading a bit scary. But, really, the various kinds of surgery and treatment generally do what you need and make you healthier.

It sounds like your doctor is really on top of things and will coordinate getting the right things done in a timely manner. Hopefully soon you'll not only be recovered but feeling better than ever.

Hang in there! Let us know how things go with the surgeon.

Best wishes!

Don't worry about the tube. They won't intubate you without sedating you first. I've never heard of anyone in a hospital who had an endotracheal tube put in whilst fully conscious. A naso-gastric tube, yes, because they need you to swallow to help that go down your oesophagus, but never an endotracheal tube.

Also, in all the surgical procedures I've ever had, I have NEVER woken up in recovery with the tube still in. They always take it out first before bringing you out of general anaesthesia.

Erin.
::righteous babe::

Not for nothing, but both of my parents had their thyroids removed
(dad fully, mom partial) within the last 3 years and both were extubated while conscious. Intubation is always done sedated, but extubation depends on the doctor, procedure, etc. There's a good chance they will wait til you're conscious to extubate you, but thankfully, you won't likely remember much of it, if any at all. I've watched hundreds of extubations, and they're really not a big deal, so don't stress too much. I know that's easier said than done, trust me. I'm having major surgery in January myself and I'm petrified of being consciously extubated.

Anyway, will you have to take Synthoid after the surgery?

Welcome to the world of thyroid disease! Both my maternal aunt and my mum have (had) over active thyroids. Slightly different to yours - think extreme weight loss, hair thinning, not being able to sit down etc. They both had radio-iodine treatment which kills off the thyroid. They both had to see a surgeon to see which was the best treatment (surgery was the other option). My Aunt was probably ten times worse than my Mum and she had the iodine.

My Aunt on my Dad's side has an under active thyroid and all the problems associated with it. They have been able to manage hers with tablets. She doesn't have a goitre though.

I'm borderline hyperactive (I haven't managed to get to the weight loss stage yet) sometimes my blood test will be elevated and then the repeat is back to normal.

Please don't worry about surgery - intubation isn't as nasty as it sounds - most of the times (where I have worked) its like a small face mask shaped instrument that sits just behind your tongue (made of a latexy type material) its soft and just slips into the back of your mouth when you are asleep.

Spoiler: Show


Very rarely are people fully intubated for a relatively short operation.

If you are really worried about surgery then try and find another option or find out as much about the various intubation choices. You are the patient, it is your body, you choose what you want and don't want.

As for meds I guess they could work out pretty expensive - here in the UK is a weird system. If your thyroid is underactive and you require Thyroxine then you get it for free. However medication for overactive thyroids is not free. Strange.

((Hugs and luck))

^ That is weird. I feel your pain, Theresa. I'm going through the rounds with the gastroenterologist for my multiple tummy issues right now. I'm lucky my GP is such a calming influence. I would go see him every week just for a pep talk.

Best wishes for you.

kk~

I don't know about meds or anything like that. Still waiting for the call saying I'm in with the surgeon, because I assume s/he's the one that will handle all that stuff.

Both my maternal aunt and my mum have (had) over active thyroids. Slightly different to yours - think extreme weight loss, hair thinning, not being able to sit down etc.

I'm all too familiar. Remember,

I now have a brother that's gone through radiation for Graves Disease,

I've read that once people have their thyroid, uh, downsized for lack of a better way to put it, they won't always go onto medication. That's another thing for me - I'm terrified of taking pills. Can't swallow 'em - the gag reflex is so horrible. I have to take advil in big spoonfuls of pudding, just like I was a little kid first learning to swallow a pill or something. :/ My kingdom for the day they start making chewy pills for adults too. Most of the time, I can sweet talk my way into liquid penacillin for antibiotics, haha. I know it's not helping me get better, but you know..

The extubation is the part of that that's the most scary - once anything goes past about the halfway point in my mouth, that fear sets in. My dentist has told me it's a combination of two things - things hitting the roof of my mouth, and mentally psyching myself out. And while I'm sure that's true, it doesn't help, LOL...

I kind of expected to hear from the doctor today, and haven't yet. So I'm a little surprised.

They extubated me while I was asleep too, I don't know if that was proper protocol or not, but given they didn't tell me I would be intubated I would have totally freaked if I woke up with a tube down my throat. Ask them if then can do that all while your under and tell them about the gag reflex. Make sure they all understand. The pill thing sounds like a bigger obstacle in the long run, but stick with one issue at a time for now.

For what it's worth, I'm on medication for an underactive thyroid and the pill is super tiny. Like maybe half the size of the diameter of a pencil, so not terrible.

Hey T,

I was once referred to a brain surgeon which was absolutely petrifying. When it came to actually going to see him, he did a couple neurological tests on me and then said see ya later. I wasn't even remotely a candidate for brain surgery. Why they sent me to him? I'm not 100% sure, but it could just be to rule out the worst case scenarios. So, just because you are referred to a surgeon, doesn't necessarily mean you will have to have surgery. Either way, I hope you get some answers really soon and get all of this stress out of the way.

Take care!

^She said I was being refered to the surgeon specifically because of my noting that I'd felt like my throat was closed up, and was getting winded when I shouldn't and all that. And from what I've read, multinodule goiters are a risk factor for cancer. Not to say that it's pre-cancerous or anything, but it elevates your risk, if that makes sense.

I didn't get a chance to go do the test yesterday, so I'm leaving early for dance tonight so I can do it today. And I'm going to give her about 24 hours, then I'm going to start leaning on her to do something. I didn't hear from the doctor or the surgeon yesterday, and it's now 1 pm my time, and I still haven't. Come on, people. According to all that I've googled, we could reign in alot of this with medication. So what are we waiting for?

This kind of stuff runs rampant in my family. Three generations ago, surgery was the main treatment. In the last 15 years, my sister and my cousin both had the same thing other family members needed surgery to correct, yet the course of treatment was different, yet accomplished the same thing.

The thyroid was "seeded" with a radioactive isotope of some kind, then radiated. It destroyed the abnormal tissue and carried it away. In many cases, the problem is that it goes too far and destroys the entire gland, but this is easily treated with synthetic thyroxin.

The waiting is the hardest part. Try to tell yourself that if it were life threatening or urgent, you would have heard by now. Take "no news" as "good news". Of course, if symptoms worsen, go to the ER right away.

I hope you feel better very, very soon.

Keep On Dancing*

All 4 of my surgeries, I was intubated, I have NEVER remembered being extubated. They make sure you are good and asleep before intubating you. There are all sorts of reflexes they look for before even ATTEMPTING it. Same with extubating, all sorts of reflexes we look for. I've done OR clinicals, so if you have specific questions, let me know.

Many pills can be crushed. Mix it in a little applesauce and you should have no trouble swallowing it. They sell pill crushers at drug stores. Just make sure your medication can be crushed first!