Thyroid Nodule

I was regularly seeing an internist at the beginning because he was the first doctor detecting my hyperthyroidism and goiter. He treated my irregular heartbeat with propanolol and my hyperthyroidism with thiamazole (disclaimer: you shall consult with your doctor with regard to any medicines consumed). However, after about a year I had a little lump showing up from my thyroid gland, it was a thyroid nodule and I had to have a biopsy.

The result of the biopsy was inconclusive whether it was benign or malignant thyroid nodule. I was disappointed with the setback. I consulted with the internist and a surgeon which resulted that may be for the best of my health that I should consider to have it removed. I decided to have it removed. A painful decision with the risk of losing my voice.

Thyroidectomy

The surgery went well because the surgeon is a specialist in removing thyroid nodules. He regularly visited and gave free surgery to the have-nots somewhere in Indonesia as part of his religious charity. I thanked him for that. And I thanked him even more for the comment he made after I saw an endocrinologist who is a professor.

Basically, the internist who I had been seeing referred me (he really should had done that earlier) to see the professor. I remembered clearly the first time I saw the professor, he mentioned that once I had a thyroid nodule, which after the surgery confirmed as a carcinoma, I should completely have my thyroid removed.

I was still in a trauma condition, unable to speak as normal yet because of the surgery and now being told another shocker by the professor. I was not going to accept it at all. I was angry with my overactive thyroid and I was angry with my self so I decided to re-think of what I should do or should have done.

So when I went back to the surgeon to consult with him about my post surgery, I told him what the professor had to say. The surgeon told me with his expereience he would have removed all my thyroid if he saw it that bad, but he only removed the bad part. So I really thanked him because soon I started digging more information about thyroid and its function. I realised without thyroid it means that I would have to take something to replace what the thyroid produces for my body. My brain was telling me it would not be wise. This is only my opinion, though, because I’m no doctor. In fact I had a neighbour who has his entire thyroid removed and he lives well. But, I would rather keep my half thyroid with all the risks.

Endocrinologist

The following month I went to see a different endocrinologist. He is younger and willing to listen about my concern. He agreed to treat me without having my entire thyroid removed.

He is a very popular endocrinologist and it took hours of waiting before I was able to see him. His patients mostly have diabetes problems and I wondered what diabetes and thyroid have in common. There seems to be a possibility of a coexistence for a Thyroid Disease and Diabetes Mellitus². But I have no problem with diabetes. So, I see the popular endocrinologist regularly for a few years to treat my hyperthyroidism.