January 7, 2013
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Niggler
You know those little messages that lurk at the back of your mind that you tend to ignore, but they remain and continue to harass you? Some call it instinct, but they are those little niggling doubts or messages. So I’m wondering if I should really pay attention to this one (or, maybe I should have titled this “Waiting for the other shoe to drop.”)
I’ve been very lucky over the past year in my quest to get my weight down and my diabetes under control. My weight is nowhere near where it should be, but I have lost 30 pounds. And although my A1c still is in the diabetes range, it’s considered good at 6.2 (American College of Endocrinologists recommend < 6.5 to prevent complications, while the American Diabetes Association recommends < 7.0).
On the other hand, my thyroid is all whacko. I am taking 100 mcg of Levothyroxine and it seems to be working (I’m not tired all the time and my metabolism seems to be working correctly.) But at my last endocrinologist appointment, my endo told me the results of my thyroid ultrasound. He said I have three ‘nodules’ – one was 1.5cm. He said anything over .5 cm and they recommend a biopsy. (That’s another issue – his office was supposed to get it set up and it’s been 3 months and I still haven’t heard anything so I’m not sure if they wanted to wait until my next thyroid test results came in, which were scheduled to be done in late Dec but which I didn’t get to until today.)
So this keeps sneaking into my thoughts. I sometimes feel like there is a skin from a popcorn seed stuck in my throat and when I’m lying in bed, sometimes it feels like something is pushing on my throat right above my breastbone. I keep thinking that my thyroid is swelling up to ginormous proportions and that some night in the middle of the night it’s going to choke me to death. Then I wonder if the big nodule is malignant and what I’m feeling is throat cancer spreading. Or that the nodule has doubled or tripled in size. But there is no pain, so I’m going to assume not. I am hoping when my test results get to my doctor I will find out for sure about when I’m supposed to have the biopsy. The girls in his office are not at all helpful. I have an appointment tomorrow with my GP so I’ll talk to her about it, too.
So that is the little niggler in my mind.
Comments (6)
You are way more patient than I would be! I would have demanded to have the biopsy scheduled (but then again….when I call my doctor, I hear the “Oh God, it’s her again” tone in their voices….I wouldn’t recommend that either!). I’d be going through the same thoughts as you are. I think it’s a good idea to talk about it with your GP – the sooner you get it done, the sooner you dispel all those worst case scenarios from your mind.
That’s a scary little niggler! Definitely speak to your GP about it…maybe she can get your endocrinologist moving!
It’s hard not to obsess, when you have health issues.
I totally understand how this has been niggling away at you! It’s good you have now had the next tests done, and you can harass your doctor if necessary to get the biopsy done. And perhaps the endo will have to jump through some hoops to get it done faster because of the lapse in getting it done sooner.
You might feel better after talking to your GP. Let her know all the thoughts you are having.
I think someone dropped the ball and you’re really wise to push on whoever needs pushed on to get this biopsy done. It seems to me if you’re experiencing anything at all you should have it looked at asap….marilyn
@maggie70 - @ItsSuze - @Inciteful - @songoftheheart - @Tyche - Thanks to all of you for your comments! My GP suggested I call my endocrinologist and ask what happened to the test order. I’ll be calling him today.