About Karen Brawner Expertise I will answer any questions you have regarding the thyroid whether it be cancer, cysts (types), hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, blood tests for thyroid problems, surgery, fine needle biopsies etc...
Experience My complex cysts on my right thyroid gland and the isthmus were found my accident when my doctor thought I was having a TIA. The ultrasound found a complex cysts the size of a golf ball (which turned out to be the size of a tennis ball when it was surgically remove). Doctors were totally surprised because for 5 years, including the day I went to surgery, all of my thyroid blood work was "within the normal range". So much for blood work being conclusive..
February 2004, my diagnosis was Hyperthyroidism. I was put on tapazole. January 2005 I changed insurance with my job and got a new doctor. She took me off the tapazole around June 2005 and said my blood count was good. Around August of this year I started to gain weight in October 2005, I took another blood test and I was told that the T4 and T3 test came back okay. January 6, 2006, I had a sonogram of my thyroid and this is the finding:
The right Lobe is 4.7 x 1.3 x 1.9 cm. The echotexture of the right lobe is normal. The isthmus is 0.5 cm. The left lobe is 4.8 x 1.5 x 1.9 cm. There is a hypoechoic area in the left midpole measuring 0.2 x 0.3 x 0.5. There is a hypoechoic area in the left upper pole periphery measuring 0.5 x 0.3 x 0.6 cm.
My questions are:
1. Is this a big problem and should I have it remove?
2. Can this be treated with medicine?
3. Will I continue to gain weight?
4. Does this affect your vision?
5. If not remove will I continue to have this problem?
I am scheduled to have an Iodine Uptake Scan, February 2, 2006.
Help me please. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you in advance for your assistance.
My email address is: cddavis@acf.hhs.gov
Answer Dear Cynthia, You will have to wait until the iodine uptake scan if done and any other tests that this doctor wants to do before you know for sure if this is a big problems and if it needs to be removed or not.... Depending of what this hypoechoic area turns out to be will determine if you need surgery or simply medication and CLOSE follow-up examinations... If no treatment is given, it is possible that you will continue to gain weight, but often even people on medication continue to gain weight, so proper diet and exercise along with medication are needed... Thyroid problems can effect your vision.... If this hypoechoic area is a solid mass or complex cysts further investigation is needed and whether it is removed or not you will always have a thyroid problem.. The main thing here is to find out exactly what this hypoechoic area is and what it means...
