Get Recommendations for Biopsies

I'm negotiating with the hospital who performed my botched thyroid biopsy a couple years ago - yup, still haven't paid off that bill!  That was awful - too much anesthetic in my neck AND he hit something he wasn't supposed to with the needle. I was in pain for weeks afterward through my neck and arm.  I walked out of their real dopey - totally unlike my first biopsy that went so smoothly and was relatively stress-free (as stress-free as you can be thinking about  needles going into your neck) where I walked out of there and drove myself home.  My husband had to drive me home after the botched one and take over total car of our four children for a couple days - that's how bad it was! I can give birth to a child and have less pain than what this hacked biopsy did to me!  Then the doctor said he missed something and wanted me to come back for another one.  Are you kidding me? Pfft!

Who the provider is doing the biopsy makes a HUGE difference.  My first biopsy was easy! Definitely get references (other than the one doctor referring you).

Read more...

Thyroid Biopsy

How often do you get your thyroid biopsied?  I've had two thyroid biopsies in the last nine years.  It seems like I should have more than that but after my last one, where the doctor messed up, I'm not too anxious to crawl back up on one of their exam tables and let them stick needles continuously in my neck again.

The first time I had it, it was SO easy. It really depends on the person doing it I guess. I'm just wondering if I should have them more often to make sure I don't develop thyroid cancer.

Read more...

Doc still wants to stick needles in my neck!

I contacted my endocrinologist back about some of the lab results they'd sent me. My T3 was at the low end of normal and so was my cortisol. I asked that he prescribe me something with T3 in it (either Naturethroid or Cytomel) to bring my T3 level up (to still be within the "norm" range though) and for some adrenal support for my cortisol (again, still keeping the levels within "normal" but to raise it a little).

I got the response I expected...don't want to do that because it might have long-term consequences (why would it if I kept them within "normal" range?) and he wants me to schedule a biopsy (because the one in June wasn't bad enough). I'm so tired of this stuff. Like I want to have people in medical scrubs sticking needles in my neck again? Why do something so invasive AGAIN when there are other things that can be tried first (like Iodine) to shrink the nodules? Why choose to biopsy and remove the thyroid (which the endo is talking about doing) when there are other avenues less invasive that could be tried first? It might not work. I know that, but I want to try!

Read more...

Thyroid Biopsy Results Here

Yesterday, I finally received my thyroid biopsy results. The doctor has only had them since MAY 20TH. Nice of her to hang onto them so long while ignoring my phone calls and emails asking for the results.

Anyway, the results for cancer are negative so the cells they took from my thyroid were not cancerous. From what another doctor told me, biopsies aren't accurate because they only take a small amount of cells out of many, many cells so they could be missing it, but it is a relief anyway.

Read more...

Doctor Doesn't Give Biopsy Results

Why do doctors not give results of tests (labs, ultrasounds, biopsies) in a timely manner? Don't they know that in cases like a biopsy, where they are testing for cancer, that the patient is probably waiting anxiously for the result? My results were supposed to be in. My doctor's nurse was supposed to call me today. They told me it would be today (I specifically asked when I called this morning). I was told, "yes." I wasn't called. I also sent an email through the patient portal asking them to provide the results of the biopsy by today so I didn't have to wait through the weekend.

I know they results are there because the receptionist checked when I called. When they aren't there, they tell me they aren't in yet. She tried to get the doctor's nurse, who was busy at the time. They told me she would call me TODAY. I am so unhappy with this doctor and her staff.

Edited to add: I just called the hospital where the biopsy was done. They sent my doctor the results on May 20th. She's had them over a week and yet she, her nurse, or anybody else in her office couldn't find the time to give me the results?

Read more...

48 Hours After the Thyroid Biopsy

It's been 48 hours since my thyroid biopsy. I am a bit sore, especially when I try to lift anything with weight to it for very long. My neck is still swollen. My husband says it looks like I have a golf ball in my neck (sweet huh?).

Compared to Monday afternoon though, I feel a lot better. The first afternoon was a bit on the miserable side (headaches, brain fog, pain in neck and shoulder, discomfort at incision site). Yesterday was better than the day before. Today is better than yesterday. Tomorrow should be great.

Read more...

Video of Fine Needle Biopsy

This isn't my fine needle biopsy of my thyroid. This woman is entirely too happy for this to have been me at my biopsy this past Monday. I was like her with my first biopsy but this second one was a bit rough compared to the first. I'm not sure if they're all supposed to be rough and was just spoiled by the first doctor who did it so well.

Read more...

Thyroid Biopsy is Done

My thyroid biopsy is done. I am trying to keep my mind off of it but blogging isn't doing the job. This biopsy was worse than the first one I had. My neck and shoulder feels sore. Since they biopsied the right side, and I am right-handed, well...it's a little sore to move. Laughing is sore. Swallowing is sore. My neck is swollen, my head hurts and I feel just "icky". I didn't feel this bad after my other biopsy.

The results will be back in 7-10 days.

Read more...