Posts by neonmason82

Hello there. It might sound a bit paradoxical, but I have been eagerly waiting to read through your experiences and insights regarding thyroid issues. Your perspective has been incredibly useful for me—not just practically, but also mentally soothing and encouraging for what lies ahead. This is especially important given that I am only at the very beginning of my own journey dealing with thyroid disease. I don't have much firsthand experience with this condition yet; when I was first diagnosed, I honestly felt like the hammer had dropped. In fact, on the day of my biopsy, I was even spiraling into the worst-case scenarios, mostly due to the size of the nodule and its "cold" status. However, looking at my family history gives me a different lens to view this through. I recently learned that my grandmother passed away back in 1961 from what was believed to be choking/asphyxiation, and a relative of mine in Chicago—who shares my exact genetic makeup—has been struggling with thyroid issues for about 15 years now. That is all I have for the moment, but if I encounter any new developments or lessons along the way, I will be sure to share them. I am also more than happy to answer any questions you might have. Thank you truly for sharing your stories.

Hello everyone. I want to express my gratitude to silentnomad23 and Bakica for sharing their personal experiences regarding thyroid diagnoses. Reading your stories is incredibly helpful for me, especially since, until December 19, 2006, I didn't really understand much about the thyroid beyond knowing it was somewhere in the neck and generally considered a "woman's issue." Everything changed when a routine CT scan of my cervical spine—ordered after a car accident—unexpectedly revealed that I have a thyroid issue too. It turns out these problems don't discriminate based on gender. As I mentioned previously, I had blood work done about twenty days ago showing my hormone levels were within the normal range, but the ultrasound and scintigraphy told a different story. They found what they call a "cold nodule": one measuring 5 cm on the left lobe and another at 5 mm on the right. A biopsy indicated a follicular tumor. Fortunately, an ultrasound performed at the nuclear medicine department in NYC showed no other suspicious nodules. Consequently, I have surgery scheduled for January 24, 2007, with Dr. Škaro. To be honest, I never experienced any symptoms that would suggest anything was wrong. I stay active with sports, I don't drink or smoke, and I try to maintain a pretty decent diet. I truly thought I’d be cruising toward a healthy old age, but clearly, life had other plans.
I would be very grateful if you could share your own experiences regarding the surgery itself. Specifically, how many days is a typical hospital stay following the procedure, how soon can one realistically return to work, and are there any significant post-operative complications or specific things I should be watching out for?
Thank you all for your responses.

I really appreciate the responses from silentnomad23. It turns out I did indeed get the name of my surgeon wrong in my previous post. Since I’ve only just joined this forum recently, I’m still getting a feel for how everything works here. I have quite a few questions brewing, so once I figure out the ropes and get settled in, I’ll try to post them. If you all wouldn't mind sharing your insights then, I would be very grateful for your help.

Hello everyone, I’m currently in Chicago and just finished an ultrasound of my thyroid. The results show no new suspicious nodules beyond what was already identified through previous ultrasounds, scintigraphy, and biopsies—specifically, there's a 5x3x3 cm nodule on the left lobe and a 5 mm one on the right. Following this, I visited MD Anderson Cancer Center for a consultation with Dr. Ante Škorić, who has scheduled me for surgery later this month. I would truly appreciate it if the members of this group could share any personal experiences they might have, whether regarding the surgical process itself or working with Dr. Ante Škorić. Thank you very much.

John Adams4, thanks for the heads-up. I'm heading over to that link now—it sounds like exactly the kind of positive energy I need right about now.

Hello to everyone in this group. Unfortunately, it seems like the conversation around this topic has quieted down lately, but I find myself really needing more information and personal stories regarding follicular thyroid cancer. I was diagnosed back on January 5th, 2006, following an ultrasound, a scintigraphy scan, and a biopsy. My next step is a consultation at Johns Hopkins Hospital, but the prognosis is already clear: surgery is necessary. I have a 5x3x3 cm tumor on my left lobe and a smaller 5 mm one on the right. Interestingly, I’ve never had any symptoms or issues with my thyroid, and there was nothing visible externally; it was actually discovered by sheer accident during a CT scan of my cervical spine after a car accident. I'll admit, I'm feeling pretty anxious about all this. If anyone could share their own experiences—especially those who have gone through the surgery itself—I would be incredibly grateful. I am 46 years old, and I have a 20-year-old child and a 7-month-old baby girl waiting for me at home. For them, I am more than ready to fight this. Thank you so much for any help you can provide!