Took me forever to remember the name of the test (I also recommend never getting a TT at the same time you're entering menopause), but it's called AFIRMA and you can read about it here

http://www.veracyte.com/afirma/

::: update :::

I don't need my thyroid out. My nodule was benign. I am so flipping happy! I was so panicked lately and worried that I would need to get it removed. I was making myself sick really.

Thank you to everyone who posted though you really made me worry less.

Regardless I still felt like I wasn't alone. :flowerforyou:

So happy for you!! What fantastic news!

Wow, am I happy to have found this board. I too need advice on whether or not to have my thyroid removed. My Endo presented it as an option, and at the time (about 18 months ago), I was totally freaked out at the idea. But as time passes, I have to wonder if I made the right decision, and if I should reconsider.

Here's my situation. I don't have cancer, nodules, or any of the other conditions mentioned above that make the surgery "necessary." I have been battling this condition for probably going on 5 years now. It started as hyper (later diagnosed as Graves disease), and my levels were like a roller coaster as my Dr. attempted to control it with meds. He once commented to me that he didn't know how I managed to get out of bed every morning. This caused a large amount of muscle breakdown throughout my body which has created some other issues that I'm dealing with. I was finally referred to an Endocrinologist who recommended I do the iodine radiation, which I did... so now I'm hypo. The meds, over time, are leveling things out better for the most part, but I still don't have near the energy level that I should. Losing weight is only part of the problem. What really bothers me is the goiter, which is visibly much smaller since the radiation, but feels like I have a walnut in my throat much of the time. Whenever I so much as tilt my head down, I feel as if I can't swallow, and it's a slight strangling feeling. But worse than that, sleeping has become very difficult. I can't turn my head more than a few inches in either direction or that strangling feeling gets me. I can't sleep on my back or it's even worse. I've begin to snore, which sometimes wakes me up (and my husband isn't crazy about it either). I have to prop my body into a very specific position in order to get any sleep at all, and I wake up with shoulder and back pain and numbness in my arms from always sleeping in the same position.

So I'd love to hear from those of you who have been through the surgery. If you were me, what would you do?

::: update :::

I don't need my thyroid out. My nodule was benign. I am so flipping happy! I was so panicked lately and worried that I would need to get it removed. I was making myself sick really.

Thank you to everyone who posted though you really made me worry less.

Regardless I still felt like I wasn't alone. :flowerforyou:

Yippee Skippy! Glad to hear it!

Wow, am I happy to have found this board. I too need advice on whether or not to have my thyroid removed. My Endo presented it as an option, and at the time (about 18 months ago), I was totally freaked out at the idea. But as time passes, I have to wonder if I made the right decision, and if I should reconsider.

Here's my situation. I don't have cancer, nodules, or any of the other conditions mentioned above that make the surgery "necessary." I have been battling this condition for probably going on 5 years now. It started as hyper (later diagnosed as Graves disease), and my levels were like a roller coaster as my Dr. attempted to control it with meds. He once commented to me that he didn't know how I managed to get out of bed every morning. This caused a large amount of muscle breakdown throughout my body which has created some other issues that I'm dealing with. I was finally referred to an Endocrinologist who recommended I do the iodine radiation, which I did... so now I'm hypo. The meds, over time, are leveling things out better for the most part, but I still don't have near the energy level that I should. Losing weight is only part of the problem. What really bothers me is the goiter, which is visibly much smaller since the radiation, but feels like I have a walnut in my throat much of the time. Whenever I so much as tilt my head down, I feel as if I can't swallow, and it's a slight strangling feeling. But worse than that, sleeping has become very difficult. I can't turn my head more than a few inches in either direction or that strangling feeling gets me. I can't sleep on my back or it's even worse. I've begin to snore, which sometimes wakes me up (and my husband isn't crazy about it either). I have to prop my body into a very specific position in order to get any sleep at all, and I wake up with shoulder and back pain and numbness in my arms from always sleeping in the same position.

So I'd love to hear from those of you who have been through the surgery. If you were me, what would you do?

Obviously none of us can accurately suggest what you do/don't do (especially since we're not doctors), but I'm trying to clarify your story. You had iodine radiation, but still have a thyroid? Did you kill partial thyroid tissue?

Also, having a goiter is kind of right up there with cysts and nodules! I had a very noticeable cyst (they thought it was a goiter until they did an ultrasound, so make sure your doc isn't just diagnosing by eyeballing... since they discovered SEVERAL cysts on my thyroid after doing the ultrasound) that made it difficult to swallow, etc.

There is the option of, er, lancing cysts and such (if it is... mine just grew back tremendously fast, hence the doctors going, "Eek! This 13 year old has cancer! Take it out!"), if it happens to be one.

Your meds could very well still need to be adjusted (or your body needs more time to adjust) to reduce the goiter/other symptoms.

I'm just trying to figure out what you had radioactive iodine for!

Thanks for taking the time to respond. Yes, I had iodine radiation because my Graves was so out of control hyper. Now it is hypo, and the goiter swelling has gone down a lot to the visible eye. My Dr. has done the ultrasound a 2 different times and found no nodules or cysts. It's just so darned uncomfortable still.

Really, after doing alot of reading on the boards, I feel terrible about complaining, as so many others have much worse symptoms than I. I truly feel blessed that I have come this far and am doing as well as I am. I'd just really like to be able to sleep/relax without that strangling feeling...