Thanks everyone! This slow,insidious quality really bums me out. It took YEARS to get a diagnosis for my thyroid issues in the first place. My own internist was sure I had "something" wrong...but the endo was even resistant to testing me and when he finally relented after I told him off...was embarrassed that my gland was so abnormal on the Technicium uptake. I left him after this test, because of his attitude. The progression of this... bothers me. I never had a nodule before, just a simple goiter, that responded to levothyroxine treatment. Around here, doctors opt for surgery rather quickly, and I suspect that will be offered to me eventually. The biopsies can be confusing and not 100% predictive, so with improved surgical techniques, they just might remove my right lobe. I couldn't get the appointment for the ultrasound yesterday ...I have to wait til Monday. My doctor returns from her trip on July 2nd. So there is no time for biopsy if required, until after my vacation. I am feeling better now, after the shock of it all. I heard many stories at work...from it is a piece of cake, a horror story about removing a huge goiter, and one story of a prior employee who was known to a colleague of mine who had thyroid cancer in her 30's. All over the place, the stories were! But I was surprised to find so many. I think thyroid disease is on the upswing (even my doctor has a nodule)...makes one wonder? My old kitty, (prior to the 3 we have now) died of thyroid cancer! How's that?

My history points to a problem...both my mother and her sister had nodules. (both died before they were explored completely).

So I am slowly getting ready for all the hooha involved. Thanks to all of you for your support! I will keep you posted, of course.

We are going to take our new laptop on vacation. There is a free hot spot near the laundromat, and we can run the computer off the car. So I can log on more easily than before at the busy library. We'll give that a try. The hookup cords for that cost $70.

Mrs D
Can't you go WiFi? Too far out for a wireless to connect?
The wireless cards are fairly inexpensive.(...I think ! - My son's
came with his laptop. I think they all are offering them, now.)

at times, make our issues tame by comparison. Usually ignored by docs till patient is near death and FINALLY the standard round of blood work shows the messed up TSH...

Then there's the art of finding a good doc who really knows thyroid and other endo issues...Not all endo's are good-then many GP's or Internal docs are better in some cases than the specialists. Sigh.

Should the docs feel it's a critical issue, you will know rite away. If not, just chill. Surgeries aside [I'm sensing that these are done much less often than 'implied'] most of it is thyroid meds and then, which kinds...debates run rabid about that.

Tweaking synthroid doses is an art in my book. I have been up and down the 'scales', and back up again. I always feel like I want MORE! tho. For me rite now it's more about getting the balances of the right calciums, D's and Magnesiums into me-so it's available for uptake..whether it WILL be asorbed will only show up in next year's density scan [or how many more fractures I get]. For that all the supplement issues, the kinds and quantities - I thank you and Rose...my own last blood work says Those #'s are rite on target [in the blood], only time will tell the rest of the tale. 's - j

WiFi....but picking up a SIGNAL anywhere is the issue! We just got cell coverage there. The only WiFi signal is at the intersection where the store and laundromat are located. That is a 13 mile drive from our island after getting
to shore, that is. We will turn it on to see if the people across the bay have it, but I doubt it. Most have cable up there.
The local tourist association provides the free WiFi for the summer people and tourists to use. I hope it is still there this summer!

Last summer was the first DIGITAL service we could get on Sprint. Prior to that was analog only. Also the tower is near us luckily...many people up there are out of tower range still.

This is the boonies, remember? LOL

Here are the results of my tests:

There is no lump...I don't know what she felt, but it did not show on the
ultrasound. But the test did show an enlarged right lobe. Based on my symptoms I will be seeing a specialist in Sept. But at least the cancer scare is over for now.

I had some improvements in cholesterol, but of course, not enough to satisfy the indoctrinated doctors etc...so we settled on Zetia. I have no qualms about that if it shuts my doctor up...it will be worth it. It is interesting that my cholesterol did go down some, by itself. She did want me to increase by 100% my fish oil... to see what happens.

All in all it was a huge relief... but I have more tests scheduled in the fall. But for now I can go on vacation as planned.... YIPPEEEEE.....

--and we're all glad to hear it.

Yeah, those doctors have all been told "put 'em all on statins!"; if only the drug reps weren't so generous with the free lunches (and, often, with the flirtatious smiles). Glad you'll be avoiding that for now, and that at least the physician knows about fish oil.

Any speculation on what an enlarged right lobe might mean, if there is no lump? (Inflammation? Cyst?)

the right side has been swollen before...and the thyroid hormone shrank it before. I had antibodies run (the lab forgot to do the other thyroid tests-- as usual the crap screw up)--- and my doctor thinks I need a dose increase, but she'd rather a specialist do it.

The antibodies were normal, not elevated. So it is the same goiter with no reason. That is how I got on hormone to begin with. For now it is not cold, and I feel better. When winter comes, that will be another story.

I am really rather bummed about medicine in general. My mail away RX plan, Caremark refused to fill my blood pressure pills, long story ...it was their fault.
So I had her rewrite it and I will get them locally....Caremark was ok until CVS bought them! YUK.... So no one I guess is immune to the screw-ups these days!!! (but very ironic for me).

Oh mrsD this is such good news!!!!

Have a wonderful vacation and take lots of great photos for our album

doing the happy dance for you!