Second Goiter - Needle Biopsy

My thyroid needle biopsy was yesterday. They called me from the waiting room and I followed the nurse back. She opened a tiny closet that had a bench and some gowns hanging on the wall. She stood there for several seconds before concluding she didn't have a gown for someone 6'4", 285 pounds. So, she had me take my shirt off. I laid down on the table and she covered me with a towel.

She did some ultrasounds to see what she was working with, then left to go get the doctor. The doctor arrived several minutes later. First thing first! Paperwork. He asked me to sign a consent form.

The doctor did a quick ultrasound of the thyroid to decide his approach. Then he wiped my neck with byodine. Once that dried, he got to work.

I stairs at a dot on the ceiling or closed my eyes through the procedure. The most difficult thing for me was: where do I rest my hands so they don't fall over the table edge. All through the procedured I did regular "body checks" to make sure I didn't have any muscles unnecessarily flexed and if I did? I would relax them.

The doctor biopsied two nodes and each went the same way. First, a tiny prick to administer the numbing agent. Many people describe this prick to be like a bee sting, but for me it was just a prick. After the prick I felt nothing expect for some pressure as the doctor worked. I don't really know what he was doing because I had my eyes closed and I don't think I could accurately describe the pressure I was feeling. I can just report there was zero pain. The procedure was over in just a minute or two - very fast.

I understand they took whatever they gathered and put it on microscope slides. The nursed showed me one slide after the doctor left... and I really would have been OK with not seeing that!

The nurse washed off the biodine. She then asked me to sit up and asked if I felt light headed. I lied and said I felt fine. She had me put my shirt back on and then showed me to the exit.

During the procedure I noticed my left ear felt a little numb and my jaw hurt a little. I assumed I must have had my jaw clenched. Also, the back of my head ached. Again, I assumed I must have had a muscle that was tense during the procedure.

Other than the two pricks for numbing, there was no pain.

My wife drove me home. On the way home it kinda felt like a sore throat whenever I swallowed. I was unable to yawn even through I tried several times. And coughing hurt. It was very mild and all that went away a several hours after getting home.

When I got home, I took two aspirin for the headache - it was behind my left ear (the one that previously felt numb). That seemed to help my sore jaw too. Around an hour or so later, I laid down and iced the side of my throat. The throat had a slight burning sensation and when I turned my head I would feel a prickly feeling. None of this was major - just a little discomfort.

This burning and prickling returned around 4 or 5 hours later so I iced it again and took more asprin.

This morning there was a very very mild burning sensation on the side of my neck and a very very mild prickly feeling, so, I took some more aspirin.

Second Goiter Ultrasound Results

It was March 2014 when I went through my first Thyroid check. They compared the 2014 pictures to the new 2016 pictures and found the nodule had increased in size. Now they are arranging for a needle biopsy. That means they will stab me in the throat with a needle, take some cells from the thyroid, and look at them under a microscope.

I did some research. 90% of the time the needle biopsy comes back fine. If it finds cancer? 95% of the time they cure it with surgery. So, the chance I have a problem at this stage is 5% of 10%. I actually do think there is something wrong with my thyroid: depression, overweight, chronic cough, etc. I just don't think it is cancer.

I try not to worry about the possibility of cancer, but sometimes I do worry about it. Then I research on the internet to make myself feel better. I don't worry that I will die of cancer because i think that is unlikely. We all die of something - eventually something will kill me. But I don't think I will die of thyroid cancer. I worry about all the procedures, pain, and those kinds of things - fairly minor issues.

Mostly, I feel this is a hassle and just want to get this done - especially with leaving for a vacation in 16 days. I just want to hurry up, do whatever needs to be done, and don't let it interrupt the vacation.

Doctor Check-up Results

Two years ago, around March 2014, my doctor said my thyroid was enlarged. I got really worried as I went through an ultrasound and some radiation test only to determine everything was fine. The doctor was puzzled during a checkup in the fall of 2014 because he found the thyroid to have returned to a normal size.

During today's doctor visit, I asked the doctor to check moles and thyroid. The doctor felt around my throat and told me the left side of the thyroid was enlarged. He told me he wanted to get a new ultrasound to see what was going on.

Luckily, I was able to get a same day ultrasound appointment. I am less concerned this time because I have been through all this before. The ultrasound experience was identical to the one I have two years ago.

Doctor Check-up Tomorrow

Tomorrow is my doctor appointment for my six month check-up. The purpose is to make sure the depression medicine is still OK. I had to go on depression medicine two years ago, shortly after my first goiter was detected. During this visit, I also want to get a mile check to look for skin cancer. Dad just had skin cancer removed from his chin and that is a good reminder for everyone to get checked regularly. I also want to get my weight gain checked - I have added 45 pounds since going on the depression medicine. Some of it is my fault for eating the wrong things - but even when I do everything right, I am not seeing results. I have been hitting the gym every day for an hour and eating right and the scale just isn't moving.

Dad's Cancer Surgery

Dad's (my step father) cancer surgery was a success - they cut out all of the skin cancer out of his chin. They closed the wound with stitches and now he will heal for the next several weeks. He said he didn't feel anything - no pain at all.

Dad's Skin Cancer Appointment

My Dad (step father) has a growth on his chin. His primary doctor said it looked like cancer and sent him to a dermatologist. The dermatologist appointment was today. The doctor took one look at it and said "Yep, that is Squamous".

The dermatologist then removed the lump and cauterized the wound. He said he would send the lump to the lab and if the lab determined he didn't get all the cancer? My Dad would have to go to a surgeon for a deeper cut on his chin.

Catfish in the fish tank

Back in the old days they tried to ship codfish from the west coast to the east cost and it always arrived mushy. So, they tried sending live codfish and they arrived dead. So they sent the mortal enemy of codfish: catfish, in the same tank. The codfish arrived alive because they spent the entire trip trying to swim away from the catfish. So often we wonder why God put a catfish in our tank: someone we don't like at work, our neighborhood, our family, or our health. He does this to keep you on your toes. To keep you challenged. To keep you alert. So you don't become complacent in paradise and die of boredom.