Thyroid Nodules - Shrewsbury,PA

I've known people who have had biopsies before, said it was pretty painless. I've known one person whose benign modules shrank after getting on right dose of thyroid meds.

I've found http://thyroid.about.com/ a good source of thyroid info & support.

Good luck!

I like www.stopthethyroidmadness.com, personally. Everything I know about my condition, I learned from that site. I have an underactive thyroid - it was finally diagnosed about a year ago (though I've probably had an underactive thyroid my whole adult life), and they've been tinkering with my medication levels ever since. Here's the thing. An untreated underactive thyroid is a bad thing. The fact that you've been diagnosed is a good thing, and things WILL get better from here. You may be absolutely shocked at how much better you start to feel once the meds kick in. I do know a few people who've had nodules, and medication will often times cause them to shrink. Even people I know who have had their entire thyroid gland removed, it's not as big a deal as you'd imagine. Truly, out of all the things in the world to be diagnosed with, this isn't a bad one. Just read up on it as much as you can, because many doctors (even endocrinologists, surprisingly) don't know as much about treating an underactive thyroid as they should. For instance, a lot of doctors will only test TSH levels to diagnose thyroid function, and a lot of them still think that any TSH level up to 5.5 is "normal" (I was practically dead at 5.0, no joke). I'm happiest when my TSH level is around 1.2, but my body doesn't process T4 only very well. I'm trying to get them to put me on dessicated thyroid, which provides the whole spectrum of thyroid replacement rather than just T4. Anyway, check out the website I linked to above - it will put your mind at ease, and you'll be armed with some good information about this condition.

I have a few...had them biopsies and all good! And the biopsy isn't that bad...just close your eyes and go in your happy place.

Please don't panic. I was in the same boat as you a couple of years ago. My doctor explained that a large percentage of the population has nodules and 99% of the time when they're found, they're benign. I had a biopsy also (not a terrible procedure, by the way) and they were benign. I've been on meds for underactive thyroid for a while and the last time I had a sonogram, the nodules had gotten smaller.

My sister had a similar scenario and hers were fine too. Common condition, don't make yourself crazy.

I have several nodules on my thyroid, my TSH levels are normal. I went to an endcrinologist who, after looking at the ultrasound, wanted to do biopsies of 3 of them...because they were over a certain size. The biopsy was no big deal and barely hurt, it just takes time while you lie there. You only have one so it won't take too long. They all came back benign and now I go back once a year where they do an ultrasound and review them to make sure nothing's changed. Mine actually all got smaller. Don't be nervous, it's a good thing that they are monitoring it.

I also had to have a biopsy on several nodules. It was not painful but it was uncomfortable to have to lie still for so long. I rubbed some numbing cream on my neck about an hour before the procedure that the endocrinologist had prescribed. To keep calm I did slow breathing (kind of like childbirth classes) counting to 10 in my mind and then back down. That way I had to concentrate on the counting and not the procedure. I also drew imaginary lines on the ceiling tiles with my eyes so i could remain still. I now go in for an annual recheck with a sonogram. Good luck