Thyroid Fine needle biopsy??
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Thyroid Fine needle biopsy??

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Thyroid Fine needle biopsy??

  • Post
    • December 21, 2012 at 1:48 am
    NYKaren
    Participant
    Hi everyone,
    I had my pre-Zel PET this morning (as soon as it was done I took my first dose).
    Results were as expected however I have a nodule on my thyroid (I’m on synthroid, FYI) so Dr. Wolchok said an ultrasound & FNB are advised.
    I must admit, I’m a little scared.
    Have any of you had one? Does it hurt a lot? Can they put me out? Not kidding–after all the painful stuff I’ve been through, pretty stoically, the thought of a FNB in my throat scares me. I guess if there’s Mel there its a good time to be starting Z.
    All sharing of experience welcome.
    Thanks,
    Karen

    Hi everyone,
    I had my pre-Zel PET this morning (as soon as it was done I took my first dose).
    Results were as expected however I have a nodule on my thyroid (I’m on synthroid, FYI) so Dr. Wolchok said an ultrasound & FNB are advised.
    I must admit, I’m a little scared.
    Have any of you had one? Does it hurt a lot? Can they put me out? Not kidding–after all the painful stuff I’ve been through, pretty stoically, the thought of a FNB in my throat scares me. I guess if there’s Mel there its a good time to be starting Z.
    All sharing of experience welcome.
    Thanks,
    Karen

Viewing 8 reply threads
  • Replies
      • December 21, 2012 at 1:59 am
      awillett1991
      Participant
      Karen,

      I have several thyroid nodules. Biopsies weren’t fun, but less painful than others I’ve had. I doubt they would knock you out but maybe ask for something to calm down like Ativan? I remember it being pretty fast.

      Good luck!
      Amy

      • December 21, 2012 at 1:59 am
      awillett1991
      Participant
      Karen,

      I have several thyroid nodules. Biopsies weren’t fun, but less painful than others I’ve had. I doubt they would knock you out but maybe ask for something to calm down like Ativan? I remember it being pretty fast.

      Good luck!
      Amy

        • December 21, 2012 at 2:10 am
        NYKaren
        Participant
        Thanks, Amy.
        What did the nodules turn out to be?
        After I posted I realized I sound slightly hysterical and thought Ativan might be a good idea.
        • December 21, 2012 at 2:10 am
        NYKaren
        Participant
        Thanks, Amy.
        What did the nodules turn out to be?
        After I posted I realized I sound slightly hysterical and thought Ativan might be a good idea.
        • December 21, 2012 at 2:40 am
        lhaley
        Participant

        Karen,

        They discovered that my thyroid was enlarged in 06 when I was entering a trial. Have now had 2 biopsies.  Have to admit that it was a bit painful.  The good news is mine was just inflamation.  Now they do a scan on the every 6 months.  They call mine hashimoto's.  I had a sore throat for a few days.  The last time I was in the hospital for the biopsy for this and another one for a node that was lighting up behind the clavicle.  By the time they were finished with that fna – which ended up being mel – my thyroid was easy.

        Linda

        • December 21, 2012 at 2:40 am
        lhaley
        Participant

        Karen,

        They discovered that my thyroid was enlarged in 06 when I was entering a trial. Have now had 2 biopsies.  Have to admit that it was a bit painful.  The good news is mine was just inflamation.  Now they do a scan on the every 6 months.  They call mine hashimoto's.  I had a sore throat for a few days.  The last time I was in the hospital for the biopsy for this and another one for a node that was lighting up behind the clavicle.  By the time they were finished with that fna – which ended up being mel – my thyroid was easy.

        Linda

        • December 21, 2012 at 2:40 am
        lhaley
        Participant

        Karen,

        They discovered that my thyroid was enlarged in 06 when I was entering a trial. Have now had 2 biopsies.  Have to admit that it was a bit painful.  The good news is mine was just inflamation.  Now they do a scan on the every 6 months.  They call mine hashimoto's.  I had a sore throat for a few days.  The last time I was in the hospital for the biopsy for this and another one for a node that was lighting up behind the clavicle.  By the time they were finished with that fna – which ended up being mel – my thyroid was easy.

        Linda

        • December 21, 2012 at 5:44 pm
        awillett1991
        Participant
        Karen – when I had them biopsied 2 1/2 yrs ago they came back as benign. Just went a few rounds with an endocrinologist thanks to Ipi, and now they’re saying “Findings compatible with multinodular goiter with hypofunctioning primarily cystic nodule ” and wants to biopsy again – thinking its Mel or its thyroid cancer. My oncologist says its very unlikely to be Mel, and even if it is we are treating it, and if its thyroid then we deal with it later. Doesn’t even want to biopsy it – really thinks its Ipi although thyroid has always lit up on my PETs. Thyroid is one of those “good” kind of cancers! Lol!

        I totally know what you mean, I am the first to throw up my hand and ask for help. I’m just so gun shy for anything medical after the last couple of years. As someone told me once “You don’t get extra points for suffering”!

        Take care – Amy

        • December 21, 2012 at 5:44 pm
        awillett1991
        Participant
        Karen – when I had them biopsied 2 1/2 yrs ago they came back as benign. Just went a few rounds with an endocrinologist thanks to Ipi, and now they’re saying “Findings compatible with multinodular goiter with hypofunctioning primarily cystic nodule ” and wants to biopsy again – thinking its Mel or its thyroid cancer. My oncologist says its very unlikely to be Mel, and even if it is we are treating it, and if its thyroid then we deal with it later. Doesn’t even want to biopsy it – really thinks its Ipi although thyroid has always lit up on my PETs. Thyroid is one of those “good” kind of cancers! Lol!

        I totally know what you mean, I am the first to throw up my hand and ask for help. I’m just so gun shy for anything medical after the last couple of years. As someone told me once “You don’t get extra points for suffering”!

        Take care – Amy

        • December 21, 2012 at 5:44 pm
        awillett1991
        Participant
        Karen – when I had them biopsied 2 1/2 yrs ago they came back as benign. Just went a few rounds with an endocrinologist thanks to Ipi, and now they’re saying “Findings compatible with multinodular goiter with hypofunctioning primarily cystic nodule ” and wants to biopsy again – thinking its Mel or its thyroid cancer. My oncologist says its very unlikely to be Mel, and even if it is we are treating it, and if its thyroid then we deal with it later. Doesn’t even want to biopsy it – really thinks its Ipi although thyroid has always lit up on my PETs. Thyroid is one of those “good” kind of cancers! Lol!

        I totally know what you mean, I am the first to throw up my hand and ask for help. I’m just so gun shy for anything medical after the last couple of years. As someone told me once “You don’t get extra points for suffering”!

        Take care – Amy

        • December 21, 2012 at 2:10 am
        NYKaren
        Participant
        Thanks, Amy.
        What did the nodules turn out to be?
        After I posted I realized I sound slightly hysterical and thought Ativan might be a good idea.
      • December 21, 2012 at 1:59 am
      awillett1991
      Participant
      Karen,

      I have several thyroid nodules. Biopsies weren’t fun, but less painful than others I’ve had. I doubt they would knock you out but maybe ask for something to calm down like Ativan? I remember it being pretty fast.

      Good luck!
      Amy

      • December 21, 2012 at 2:42 am
      Tina D
      Participant

      Karen,

      I had a thyroid nodule some years back and had a biopsy done. I do not recall the procedure being painful, but I agree with Amy that you should ask for something ahead of time. I can SO relate to what you said… I was just telling my husband, that I have  had numerous surgeries, needle pokes for this and that, all kinds of procedures, etc, that I find I think I have saturated my stoic-ness! I had a VERY painful ingrown toenail a month or so ago, and could not believe how VERY MUCH I dreaded letting a podiarist anywhare near it! The thought of volunteering for pain – well, I just wasn't going to do it!! 

      BTW.. my thyroid nodule was nothing serious & Dr said most arent.

      In this day and age of sedatives and pain control ( all those things I used to refuse until absolutely positively necessary) , there just is no need to be too uncomfortable for such a procedure 🙂

      Just my two cents 🙂

      Tina

      • December 21, 2012 at 2:42 am
      Tina D
      Participant

      Karen,

      I had a thyroid nodule some years back and had a biopsy done. I do not recall the procedure being painful, but I agree with Amy that you should ask for something ahead of time. I can SO relate to what you said… I was just telling my husband, that I have  had numerous surgeries, needle pokes for this and that, all kinds of procedures, etc, that I find I think I have saturated my stoic-ness! I had a VERY painful ingrown toenail a month or so ago, and could not believe how VERY MUCH I dreaded letting a podiarist anywhare near it! The thought of volunteering for pain – well, I just wasn't going to do it!! 

      BTW.. my thyroid nodule was nothing serious & Dr said most arent.

      In this day and age of sedatives and pain control ( all those things I used to refuse until absolutely positively necessary) , there just is no need to be too uncomfortable for such a procedure 🙂

      Just my two cents 🙂

      Tina

        • December 21, 2012 at 3:03 am
        NYKaren
        Participant
        The last time I had a biopsy, I was fine until I looked at the chunk of my skin in the tweezers. Same with watching a blood draw. I must be getting queezy in my old age. This is the same person who was so proud of the fact that I took every bag of IL-2 they threw at me! But then again, I also took all the sedating antihistamines and Atavan they could throw at me too!
        Thanks for the replies…you all made me feel better.
        • December 21, 2012 at 3:03 am
        NYKaren
        Participant
        The last time I had a biopsy, I was fine until I looked at the chunk of my skin in the tweezers. Same with watching a blood draw. I must be getting queezy in my old age. This is the same person who was so proud of the fact that I took every bag of IL-2 they threw at me! But then again, I also took all the sedating antihistamines and Atavan they could throw at me too!
        Thanks for the replies…you all made me feel better.
        • December 21, 2012 at 3:03 am
        NYKaren
        Participant
        The last time I had a biopsy, I was fine until I looked at the chunk of my skin in the tweezers. Same with watching a blood draw. I must be getting queezy in my old age. This is the same person who was so proud of the fact that I took every bag of IL-2 they threw at me! But then again, I also took all the sedating antihistamines and Atavan they could throw at me too!
        Thanks for the replies…you all made me feel better.
      • December 21, 2012 at 2:42 am
      Tina D
      Participant

      Karen,

      I had a thyroid nodule some years back and had a biopsy done. I do not recall the procedure being painful, but I agree with Amy that you should ask for something ahead of time. I can SO relate to what you said… I was just telling my husband, that I have  had numerous surgeries, needle pokes for this and that, all kinds of procedures, etc, that I find I think I have saturated my stoic-ness! I had a VERY painful ingrown toenail a month or so ago, and could not believe how VERY MUCH I dreaded letting a podiarist anywhare near it! The thought of volunteering for pain – well, I just wasn't going to do it!! 

      BTW.. my thyroid nodule was nothing serious & Dr said most arent.

      In this day and age of sedatives and pain control ( all those things I used to refuse until absolutely positively necessary) , there just is no need to be too uncomfortable for such a procedure 🙂

      Just my two cents 🙂

      Tina

      • December 21, 2012 at 12:16 pm
      akls
      Participant

      Karen,

      I have a 4 cm nodule that has been biopsied 3 times.  The first one hurt quite a bit the second two didn't hurt much at all.  If they get the numbing shot in the nodule good and deep you really don't feel much.  I think that was the differnece between the painful one and the other two.  My nodule is an overgrowth of thyroid tissue.  I didn't have it until after interferon.  They are removing mine this summer (I'm a teacher and it will just be easier) just to make sure it isn't thyroid cancer because when they are large they can't totally rule that out even with biopsy.  They did rule out Mel which was my main concern.

       

      Good luck I hope yours is easy as my last two.

       

      Amy S. in Michigan

      • December 21, 2012 at 12:16 pm
      akls
      Participant

      Karen,

      I have a 4 cm nodule that has been biopsied 3 times.  The first one hurt quite a bit the second two didn't hurt much at all.  If they get the numbing shot in the nodule good and deep you really don't feel much.  I think that was the differnece between the painful one and the other two.  My nodule is an overgrowth of thyroid tissue.  I didn't have it until after interferon.  They are removing mine this summer (I'm a teacher and it will just be easier) just to make sure it isn't thyroid cancer because when they are large they can't totally rule that out even with biopsy.  They did rule out Mel which was my main concern.

       

      Good luck I hope yours is easy as my last two.

       

      Amy S. in Michigan

      • December 21, 2012 at 12:16 pm
      akls
      Participant

      Karen,

      I have a 4 cm nodule that has been biopsied 3 times.  The first one hurt quite a bit the second two didn't hurt much at all.  If they get the numbing shot in the nodule good and deep you really don't feel much.  I think that was the differnece between the painful one and the other two.  My nodule is an overgrowth of thyroid tissue.  I didn't have it until after interferon.  They are removing mine this summer (I'm a teacher and it will just be easier) just to make sure it isn't thyroid cancer because when they are large they can't totally rule that out even with biopsy.  They did rule out Mel which was my main concern.

       

      Good luck I hope yours is easy as my last two.

       

      Amy S. in Michigan

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