I am going nuts...
 

Today, my Internist called me... That was NOT a good sign. My CT Scan of the lungs showed a nodule or something like that. This may require a Bronchoscopy. The scan was done because the pulmonary doc saw something on my X-Ray, hoping it might be the end of a rib-NOT...

Secondly, he said in reviewing the CT Scan, they noticed that my thyroid is enlarged and there is a something or other on it, in it or whatever...

Then I remembered that I had forgotten to tell him of my history of nasal radium treatments as a child for nosebleeds and ear, nose and throat problems... Gulp... Some of these people are showing up late in life with strange head, neck and thyroid cancers... They used to put these tubes up your nose and you got several minutes of radium.... This was done when I was in the first grade...

I didn't tell him, but I couldn't even remember why I had the CT Scan to begin with, because all of this crap is running together...

Cathie

Hi Cathie

You don't know me but I understand your fear! My dad died from lung cancer. When I was at the same age he was when he died, they found a nodule in my lungs. I panicked of course. But just so you know, it does turn out to be harmless in many cases. Mine did and I pray that yours will to.

To Cathy
 

Dear Cathy:

I can see why you are worried. I hope everything turns out all right. Please keep us posted.

Shirley H.

Hi Cathie,

When all my nonsense started a year ago, my thryoid was enlarged...3x normal size. In the end, the thyroid was a side problem but I learned alot about thryroid.

The good thing...is that the thyroid is a very slow organ (takes years for anything to develop there which makes it highly curable if it is cancer. Get a good thryoid doc to consult before they do anything.

I'll be thinking about you, let me know how it turns out.
Shelley

Hi Cathie---Just what you need, another worry. Did he give you any more information or refer you to a pulmonologist? I do hope this turns out okay. I don't know what to say. You've always been kind and helpful to me, and I want to write you something helpful and supportive, but I'm feeling totally "used up" , depleted. So, please just accept my good wishes for you.

Thanks guys...
 

Liza Jane: He ordered a thyroid sonogram for tomorrow and told me that whatever is to be done with the lungs is up to the pulmonary doc (a diagnostician) at the med school-maybe a bronchoscopy and biopsy. I couldn't find out anything from him today, because he is home sick... By the way, this is the doc who told me I see too many doctors and am on too much medicine... I would LOVE to NEVER see another one again in my life...

The problem on the radium has been blown off by several doctors. One scientist, who worked in public health, has tried to bring this issue to the forefront to no avail.

I never imagined in my whole life that so many things could go wrong with one body...

Zayne: I was wondering if they had to do a bronchoscopy to check out your lung nodule.

Shelly: Did you have a nodule on your thyroid too? Did the enlargement go down w/medication?

And to all of you, thanks for your kind comments and support. I am trying to decide if I need fuzzies, but I think a Valium would probably be more appropriate... :)

Cathie

Cathie, are you still online and do you take pm? I am searching for my records but will have to stop soon for sleep. I will get back to you as soon as I can. I want to tell you exactly what they did and I really can't remember the name of the procedure as I've had a lot of procedures done in the last few years. And every time, it has been ok.

Cathie, Thyroid issues from all ...
 

I have read is usually an easy thing to check out and treat...
I understand your fears tho. Almost ten years ago as I was in the process of being diagnosed with hypothyroid, I'd had the sono done, and a nodule was found. They did a 'needle aspiration', basically a biopsy, and it was determined to be a non-issue. I do admit tho, for the first 2 years after my onset, I was always asking my docs: IS it my thyroid? And the answer has consistently been NO. Tests were easy and relatively painless.

I've had pneumonia three times in my life and have had distinct scarring show up on my films and scans from that. It's good that your docs are being super cautious tho, as it sure beats a 'not to worry' and then do nothing attitude.

Soo about your lungs, do you remember ever having a really bad cold, flu or pneumonia in the past?

It's better to have the tests, and then have them come up negative! That's the news I'll be waiting to hear from you!

Sending heaps of good thoughts your way to help you thru it all - j

Best wishes...
 

for a benign result.

You know Cathie, you were on long term prednisone, and this suppresses
the immune system. You could have a low grade infection in the lung.
You could have sarcoid. There are alot of things other than the big C.

So we will hope your issue is explainable and easy to deal with..with all of us
rooting for you, you have a good chance!

Thanks again...
 

I appreciate the input and information.

I have had full blown pneumonia twice and early pneumonia several times. You would think they would have caught this though on a recent chest X-Ray after another nasty bout of early pneumonia a 2-3 months back. It was not seen though until I went to the med school here and they did their own X-Ray.

Sometimes, I can't even remember what I am supposed to take care of next, because there is so much. I wish I could take something to help with this, but even pediatric doses of anti-depressants ramp up my PN.

Of course I take PM's and would be happy to hear from anyone.

MrsD: I will read on Sarcoid-can't remember what that is. One thing that happens, is that every time I get my Prednisone dose down low, I get a really nasty, productive cough that ends up with a trip to the Urgent Care Center-usually diagnosed as early pneumonia... I have assumed that this might be a part of Sjogren's, but no one has gone there yet, because no one associates lung problems w/Sjogren's...

Cathie

I know many people who have multiple nodules in their lungs (occupational hazard), and what they usually do with them if it is not too big already is to have them repeat cat scans every 6 months and wait to see if the size changes.

Sending warm wishes!!!
 

The odd thing is when I read your post about your thyroid problems, I remember my mother had a tumor on her thyroid when I was 14. She had it removed and was fine after that.

Years later, my father used to always wear a scarf around his neck and no one knew why. One day my mom's friend Florence walked up to him, grabbed the scarf and said "Frank why on earth are you wearing this on a hot day and then we all saw this big lump on the side of his neck". He had been too scared to tell anyone. My mom went nuts, He went to the doctor, I believe they said it was a goiter, it was removed. All went well after that.

Then I find out that for 30 years he had this lipoma sticking out of the side of his waist. I said "what on earth is this thing". He said "oh it's a fatty tumor, it's nothing".. We got him to the doctor, he had it removed, all was good after that.

I have had one lipoma removed from my knee almost 20 years ago. I had a fibro ademona removed from my breast after I had my first mamo at the age of 40.

Later in life, my mom had breast cancer, (in her late 70s), got emphysema, she was a heavy smoker all her life). I'm a non-smoker, thank goodness. My father got diabetes at the age of 80, had congestive heart failure at 78, .

I guess as we age and if our parents had certain things, we probably have a predisposition to get these things but thankfully in this day and age, things are caught earlier and treated more efficiently and we get to live longer.

Now I am going for a mammogram on Saturday. Haven't had one in a few years. I know, stupid on my part but dealing with my son made my mind go numb for a few years. Just now getting my mind back.

I know that Dr. Fred will haunt me to get a colonoscopy. Lets see him accomplish that one!!!!!

Mel

Hi Mel
 

I know that Dr. Fred will haunt me to get a colonoscopy. Lets see him accomplish that one!!!!!

Mel

They are not so bad. The prep is the worst, hubby and and I just had one. The easiest prep was 4 ducolax followed by half of the stuff you would normally drink for the prep-I want to say 2 liters-far better than the 4 liters we had before.

Cathie

Hi Cathie,

I have been dx with hashimotos's thryoiditis in the end, but I had a lot of swelling in the neck and thryoid area so they were worried when they saw the thryroid was so enlarged.

In the end all of the swelling was due to an injury that resulted in TOS. But there was an underlying thryoid issue all along. I had multiple nodules that were enlarged (lymph nodes) and we did several small needle aspirations and all was fine.

MY enlarged thyroid did go down to normal size with the medication which was easily taken and tolerated.

I also had a nodule in my left lung but eventually disappeared. They said it might have been a clacification,

And once we addressed the larger issue of the TOS, my thyroid has actually normalized and I have gone off the meds although I will probably have to go back on it someday when it starts to slow down.

Great thryoid site is http://thyroid.about.com. Somewhere on there is a list of great thyroid docs. Take the time to learn a little about thyroid. I have some great books that also helped me if you would like the names.

Wishing you good luck
Shelley

Colonoscopies...Not as bad as ...
 

they are expected to be...The worst part is the PREP! They knock you out for the 'procedure' and you wake up, and are just super gassy as normal 'stuff' is out of the system' and replaced by the air! At least you don't have to do it every year! Small favors? Bluntly put, they go in w/a scope, take a look around, maybe a 'sample or two' then leave. Since they put you under a 'general' you're a bit wonky for a day or so, but, nothing like major surgeries? It's a no-brainer compared to not finding some 'condition's on a timely basis!
MELODY!!!!!!!!! No mammo in a 'few years'?????? My last one well, IT was gotten early!????? Cancer does 'run' in various forms in my family tho... Best to get that evil out, should it be there ASAP!

This is one quarter where YOU have to take care of yourself so's you can take care of ALAN!!!

Hugs - j

Dear Cathie,

Early last year, I got pneumonia. A CT scan showed a large lesion (3.5 cm across) in my upper right lung. In the process, I also discovered that I have moderate emphysema from all the years of smoking. What a hoot. I ran daily for about 15 years with the emphysema, including 10 marathons.

Two biopsies were inconclusive, but one cell in the second biopsy, "raises the question of adenocarcinoma, but it is difficult to make a definitive diagnosis with one cell." We had plans and hopes for when my wife retires, and all became iffy. It's like your entire future comes crashing into your face like a locomotive. I looked at my wife and felt like I was going to desert her. On top of that, I felt lousy from the pneumonia, couldn't work, had lost almost 30 lbs. of weight, and looked a thin, wan, cadaverous grey green.

My wife and I started making plans for if I didn't survive. As the saying goes, "Hope for the best, but plan for the worst."

To make a long story short, a subsequent PET scan was normal, with no bright areas that would indicate cancer. The latest CT scan shows the lesion has shrunk to about scar tissue proportions. I've regained about half of the lost weight, and am working on a part time basis. There is no guarantee that I don't have cancer, but that is the likely situation from all the testing. My pulmonary specialist said it would take over a year to completely heal from the necrotizing pneumonia.

Get your biopsy, further testing as indicated, and hope for the best. As others have noted, the thyroid enlargement may have nothing to do with your lung and most thyroid conditions are treatable. If the radium were implicated, you would have probably had problems long ago. I'd guess your body eliminated any abnormal cells from your thyroid years ago in your youth.

One day at a time, each precious moment at a time, you'll see this through. Meanwhile, take good care of yourself, get plenty of sleep and rest, be sure to continue exercising as appropriate, and eat well. Be strong, laugh a lot (seriously, it helps healing), and know that all of us here are hoping and praying for good news from you.

Thyroid Sonogram today
 

The radiologist came in talked with me and then took a look for himself. He said there is a solid mass in 1 area about the size of a quarter. In another area, there are two tiny masses about the size of bb's. He recommends a needle biopsy because of the history of nasal radium treatments.

I don't know what is going on with the lung issue. The Pulmonary Doc, for some reason, had not seen the CT report yet. I imagine I will have to have a bronchoscopy, or that is what the Internist said. I hope it is nothing more than what Joe mentioned above.

Thanks for the advice, David. I had not thought about the radium in years. The Radiologist has seen several cases of what was believed to be radium linked thyroid cancer-usually showing up late in life. I am going to start walking this weekend and see if I can build up my strength and lose some weight.

Shelly, I will check out the site you sent. Years ago, they thought I had Hashimotos Thyroiditis. For a short while I was on Synthroid, although my testing was within normal limits.

Dahlek, I thought the first prep was awful, but this one wasn't so bad. On the way home from the "procedure", we stopped and ate, so I felt a lot better overall this time. Neither of us had that hangover feeling I had the first time.

Mel. I do hope you will change your mind about having one done. Listen to Dr. Fred... You won't even know what is going on and it is over quickly...

Cathie

Listen, it took me till I was 58 to go and see a phobia dentist. Oh sure, I went during the years but the visits were far and few between. Since i took extremely diligent care of my teeth (my new dentist told me this), only because he was a phobia specialist did I dare go to him.

I've gone 3 times since last year for routine cleanings. I take a xanax before each visit. He serves gourmet coffee and juice and fruit in his waiting room.
My first visit (which I never thought I would keep), well all my inlaws met up with me there and Alan came with me. There they all were in the waiting room, drinking gourmet coffee from this special machine that uses Cofee pods. There was a refrigerator in the room, You never saw such an office and such nice people in your life. And the dentist was a specialist in phobic people.

Now about my colonoscopy. I'll get there, I'll get there, give me time.
Today's the mammo. Got to get through that.

mel

Melody, you will be just...
 

FINE!

It's just the stuff that plain old HAS to be done, is all.

I guess keep telling yourself it could be a root canal? For a basis of comparison, of course. - j

Got the Mammo
 

Just came back. Interesting experience.

Never had one done on a mobile mammogram bus before.
It's all free. Sponsored by the Woman's OUtreach Program.

There are different sections of the bus.
First you go in and they show you different variations of fake breasts and they make you feel what a lump feels like. Never did that one before.

Then you go into the mammo room where they do their thing.

THEN, you go into another room where a nurse examines you and in my case, she said "I want you to feel all these little nodules". I said "Yeah, that's what it says in my reports, they're not cancerous are they?"

She said "no, I think you have cystic breasts, which is very common. I said "most of friends have cystic breasts" and they're just fine"

She said "don't worry, from my standpoint, you're fine, but of course the films have to be read by the radiologist".

Then they asked me how come I haven't gone since 2001 and I said "well, we found out our son has Aspergers and we've had a lot of stuff going on and this kind of went out of my mind".

The nurse says to me "Oh my god, my girfriend's son is being evaluated for Aspergers, so that got the aspergers discussion going on.

It's absolutely amazing how many people are being diagnosed with ASpergers today. I have no idea why.

Anyway, wish me luck. Will find out in two weeks. I'm putting it out of my mind because otherwise I'll drive Alan bonkers.

mel

Mammogram
 

Hi Melody:

Hope everything is OK with your chest, there, girl. Sounds to me like it might be just cystic like many of your friends have.

I am sure all of us women hate those darn mammograms but our doctors want us to be faithful in having them - and more so as we get older - but you are not "older" yet! All these tests do cause us a lot of anxiety though, till we find out the results. We all share that worry, too.

Good for you for taking such diligent care of your teeth. Wish everyone did -and bet your hygienist is proud of you.

Try to do something fun so you can relax about all these worries, Melody.

Hugs to you.

Shirley H.