NED

Adman,

Keep those Ned's coming. Try not to worry until there is something to worry about.

Icemantoo

icemantoo said:

Sounds good to me.

Adman,

 

Keep those Ned's coming. Try not to worry until there is something to worry about.

 

Icemantoo

Had the same situation in the fall test of 2011.  CT showed nodules in the thyroid-mainly because the CT had never started that high for the chest part of the chest-abdomen-pelvis CT.

A week after getting the results, I was sent in for an ultrasound, which only confirmed that I had some enlarged nodules in the thyroid.  By then I was only slightly freaking...because the seat belt strap put pressure on that area and made me more aware of everything.

Then I went on the net...chances of it being more mets from RCC were extremely rare to non-existent; but there was the remote chance that I had developed thyroid cancer. Ah..sh...

The next test would have to be a nuclear scan of the thyroid, but it would have to be scheduled no sooner than 2 (twom) months after the CT, to allow for the contrast dye to have cleared my system and not contaminate the results on the scan.

Had the scan.  Yes, there were enlarged nodules.  Let's do a biopsy.

(Just me)Little exam room in the ultrasound department, then ultrasonographer(second person) Next a nurse (third person) sign papers in the dim light, go over procedure.  Then a very large DR.-radiologist (4th person).  Second Nurse (fifth person) and they do a "Time Out" to double check everything for safety purposes.  Start procedure-sonographer tilts your head back over a pillow, pushes on your throat with the wand and he and the Dr. say hold still and do not swallow as he probes the thyroid gland with a sharp needle.  I would recommend that this room and proceedure have the same tools as a dentist office to suction saliva as you soon begin to gag---but "don't swallow"  it'll screw up the test.  Lo and behold, (number 6) a lab tech comes into to pick up the samples extracted from the nodules and pooped out onto a slide.

Everyone says good bye, and the last one out hands you a towel to wipe the KY jelly off your throat and chest.  Then go to your favorite coffee shop and indulge in coffee and a donut.

Wait for results. No cancer, just enlarged nodules.  Nothing should be done.  They are not big enough or interfering with swallowing, breathing, eating, etc. so they will be left alone.  For an extra dose of security, I got an appointment with an ENT, and he confirmed that the Dx was accurate, and surgery was not needed.  Geez-I was really looking forward to gaining weight with artificial thyroxine!!

Here I am, a year and a half later. No change in nodules.  Every once in a while it feels like something is stuck in my throat -don't try to swallow without chewing.  The last tests for the old nemesis-Stage IV RCC- have been NED and I'm coming up on 7 years since the first diagnosis.

The above comment from iceman is good, but the trying not to worry is hard to do.  Maybe reading this will make you laugh and encourage you that others have had to go thru the extra tests.  Truly a pain in the neck.  And I would hope that your results will come out like mine did. More NED.

Sorry, I bounce around between past tense and present tense.  Have to keep you on your toes, guys and gals.

So to the new patient who is concerned about the thyroid, be of good cheer, someone has been there, and you, too will come out fine.  Keep us updated on what happens.

donna_lee

Texas_wedge said:

NED

Good stuff MG.

Donna, it's a pleasure to see you writing more lately - I always read your postings with keen ancicipation and I've never been disappointed yet.

There may be other reasons for the delay prior to the nuclear scan?  I thought that the dye from the CT scan is cleared in a matter of hours, or days at most - is this not so?

My comment { Don't worry until you have something to worry about) was directed at one of our Stage 1 members, Too many of them worry too much. It would be inappropriate to direct it to those members who have a more difficult journey. I hope I have not offended anyone with that comment.

Icemantoo

Texas_wedge said:

No offence!

iceman, I feel qualified to respond to your message, as one of those with, as you aptly and sensitively expressed it, "a more difficult journey".  I don't think any of us at the less favourable end of the spectrum would think it inappropriate for us to worry or would take your remark as applying to them. 

adman is a chap who gives himself an unduly hard time by worrying more than his situation justifies (and he's not alone in that). Funnily enough, anxiety almost seems to be in inverse proportion to its justification.  Maybe that's because those of us with more cause to worry employ a defence mechanism which you can regard as denial or as a 'positive attitude'.  'Denial' can be a failure to face the facts or it can be full recognition of the odds but a determined refusal to allow them to sap our morale. 

For some of us - the older ones - age confers an advantage.  We don't have a sensible expectation of living another 50  years, unlike those unlucky enough to be caught much younger and who may feel that they stand to be robbed of a large chunk of the life they should have been able to expect.  We also have spouses who didn't expect to be sharing a life with us for a long time ahead.  Nor do we have young children as dependents and whom we want to see grow up in happy, productive lives.  We have far less to worry about because the chips are down, with less uncertainty - no occasion to worry about some things that can happen if they've already happened to us - we just need to accept that and make the best of it.  Even the sheer number of things may be reduced as our perspective changes.  There's not much point in worrying excessively about coachwork starting to look a bit tatty if we know that our engine and gearbox are going to give out before the aesthetic aspects are too scruffy.

Nonetheless, that's no reason to just acquiesce - we can still tidy up our bodywork and we can try to maintain our mechanical parts as best we can.   Your advice  "Don't worry until you have something to worry about"  remains very good advice. 

My turn to apologise - I hope this musing over the human condition doesn't seem too out of place here but I guess trying to stand back a bit and keep things in proportion can't do anyone any harm.

Well done my friend...well done

adman said:

UPDATE -

Met w Dr this morning ref my ultrasound test for my thyroid - all clear. Apparent false alarm from CT Scan. No futher follow up needed. 

T3 & T4 thyroid blood test were also normal.

DR has advised me to stay off the 'online' boards due to anxiety issues - Told her, "No can do - these are my peeps"

Thanks everyone for the support.

 

thats great news adman.....

eims x

adman said:

UPDATE -

Met w Dr this morning ref my ultrasound test for my thyroid - all clear. Apparent false alarm from CT Scan. No futher follow up needed. 

T3 & T4 thyroid blood test were also normal.

DR has advised me to stay off the 'online' boards due to anxiety issues - Told her, "No can do - these are my peeps"

Thanks everyone for the support.

 

Hi Adman,

That is fantastic news.. You must feel that the sun is shining on you at last.

Best wishes,

Djinnie