ANA Discussion Forum
AN Community => AN Community => Topic started by: lholl36233 on December 14, 2011, 08:10:19 am
-
Hi,
Due to the successful outcome I had with Dr. McKenna at Mass Eye and Ear for my temporal bone hemangioma and being directed there by all my friends on this board, I decided to go back to Mass Eye and Ear when told I needed thyroid surgery. I found another Best of Boston otolarnyngolosit, Dr. Randolph to do the procedure. I amazed myself at how easily I got in and out of Boston.
Thinkk of me on February 10.
Happy Holidays!
Laura
-
Hi Laura .....
Sorry you are having to go through yet another surgical procedure, but grateful you have found a good doctor. Peace over the holidays and many thoughts and prayers for February!
Clarice
-
I had 2 thyroid surgeries this past year--piece of cake compared to brain surgery, no? Hope you have a good outcome and easy procedure
Capt >:D Deb
-
Me again Laura,
If they take your whole thyroid, which I hope they didn't--well then, welcome to the world of being kept alive by a little green pill!!!!
CAPT DEB(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee60/Captdeb_photos/pirate-4.gif)
-
good luck with your thyroid surgery Laura,, it is nothing compared to brain surgery, so I hope you do well. I had mine removed due to thyroid cancer in 2004, , one radioactive iodine treatment and on to a life of synthroid pill every morning... but very easy surgery as surgeries go... best of luck and our thoughts will be with you.. Happy Holidays in the meantime... Jane
-
I too had thyroid cancer some years ago. Does it strike anyone else on here as strange that there appears to be a much higher occurrence of Thyroid Cancer in our AN community than in the general population?
In fact one of the reasons I was so hesitant about Gamma Knife was a concern I had (my AN being my second tumour) that I was somehow extra prone and as a result stood a higher risk of brain cancer as a result of GK.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
-
I too had thyroid cancer some years ago. Does it strike anyone else on here as strange that there appears to be a much higher occurrence of Thyroid Cancer in our AN community than in the general population?
In fact one of the reasons I was so hesitant about Gamma Knife was a concern I had (my AN being my second tumour) that I was somehow extra prone and as a result stood a higher risk of brain cancer as a result of GK.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
YYZAN ~
I don't have any statistics on hand but I have serious doubts that there is any correlation between developing an acoustic neuroma and developing thyroid cancer. Of course I'm not a doctor and could be wrong. So, If you or anyone else can find statistics to support that speculation, it would be appreciated. Until then, I'll adhere to my belief that thyroid cancers have no relation to acoustic neuromas or the radiosurgery procedures used to destroy them.
The concerns over developing brain cancer after undergoing Gamma Knife treatment for an acoustic neuroma are unsubstantiated by statistics showing this risk as infinitesimal.
Jim
-
The funny thing is I've had an underactive thyroid for 24 years now. The only question will be what color my little pill will be after surgery. Right now it is purple.
Thanks for the well wishes.
Happy Holidays!
Laura
-
Hi,
Due to the successful outcome I had with Dr. McKenna at Mass Eye and Ear for my temporal bone hemangioma and being directed there by all my friends on this board, I decided to go back to Mass Eye and Ear when told I needed thyroid surgery. I found another Best of Boston otolarnyngolosit, Dr. Randolph to do the procedure. I amazed myself at how easily I got in and out of Boston.
Thinkk of me on February 10.
Happy Holidays!
Laura
Laura
1/2 my thyroid removed by Dr. Mark Ott at MGH (I think he is now out west). I KNOW you are in fantastic hands! Will absolutely be thinking of you and without traffic, only 15-20 mins from MGH :)
xo
Phyl
-
Interesting, as I was reading Laura's post I too was wondering if there is any correlation between thyroid problems and AN. I too have been being monitored for the past three years for thyroid problems and have noticed several members mentioning thyroid problems.
Good luck Laura I will keep you in my thoughts.
Karen
-
I had my thyroid out in 2006. I have had MANY surgeries & this is definitely the one I'd recommend - piece of cake!!
BTW, I take the hot pink pill (as does my sweet little mama)!
Good luck!!
K ;D
-
I still have my thyroid but it has been underactive for many years now - currently taking the hot pink pill. I heard in the news that there has been a recent spike in thyroid cancer without a known cause. Anyways...good luck Laura!
-
Laura,
Another aspect of the thyroid issue/possible correlation, is the incidence of a parathyroid adenoma occurring. When I had my thyroid removed due to cancer in one of several nodules I had had for several years, the Dr found an enlarged parathyroid on the same side. I was not even aware of what the parathyroid was ,, we each have 4 , two on each side of neck behind thyroid gland that are unrelated to thyroid but related to calcium levels in body..(I am not the Dr here,, just what I remember him telling me). upon research for AN I found on the Mayo Clinic website under "risk factors" a history of parathyroid adenoma, a benign tumor of the neck...... interesting even though it did not mention the thyroid cancer or thyroid itself.. it is very close in proximity to it.. also, both the cancer and the parathyroid tumor were on the same side of neck as AN was in my head!! Hmmmmm.............
Just food for thought here,, have a great Holidays..
-
Alabamajane, I wonder if it's more related to calcium levels & how the body deals with calcium. I, too, have thyroid nodules. Other medical problems I've had over the years have also mentioned calcium levels & the lack of the body to be able to metabolize calcium correctly. Makes me wonder then, should I be taking all those calcium pills?
Karen
-
Hi Karen,
I really don't know much about the calcium issue as I never research the parathyroid much after they took it out. I was more concerned with beating the thyroid cancer, , the parathyroid tumor was just a "side show"..... no Dr has ever suggested I need take more calcium other than GYN,, due to HRT.. and I still don't take them,, I hate pills.. I hope you visit with your endocronologist regularly to keep track of the nodules.. I dealt with them for about 25 yrs though before one calcified and was cancerous..and like I said, Drs. did not know about parathyroid until he got in there to remove thyroid.. maybe a question to ask Dr next visit,, about your calcium levels and need for additional calcium pills.. let us know if he says anything about correlation.... Happy Holidays, jane
-
Hypo thyroid ism for about 12 years. I am having trans lab in 2 weeks. Anyone have weightless surgery 10 plus years ago too? You never know until the facts all start adding up! What are the common threads if any? Always pondering.
Stephsf
-
Jane - keeping on top of the thyroid issue, have ANOTHER ultrasound scheduled first part of April. Have had one fine needle aspiration but luckily they found nothing so hopefully it will stay the same. I don't see an endocrinologist, my ENT who discovered the AN, is the one monitoring the thyroid. So far three ultrasounds and one FNA and still have all my parts and pieces. My internist regularly checks my TSH3 (?) level and so far that's right in the middle so guess my weight issues boil down to eating too much. ;D
It would be interesting, if I ever had the time, to do research to see what if any correlations there are. Like StephSF said, "What are the common threads if any?"
Karen
-
Hypothyroidism for 12 years for me too!
-
Was the Thyroid surgery a result of the AN ? I have thyroid issues as well, have been taking 2 little brown pills for a long time, years. My AN surgery is scheduled on 2/10/12 w/Dr. McKenna MGH - counting the days now - some days I'm fine and anxious to get it over with, others all I do is cry!! I suppose that's normal - I've been feeling some pulling on the left (AN) side of my neck - almost like I have a stiff neck, has anybody else experienced this? Also, I've had a really bad cold, and a hard time getting over it, still have the sore throat/glands and the "ahems in the throat"...is this normal as well!! Good luck to all of you who are scheduled before me, I'll see you on the other side - I hope !!
Patti
-
I'm certainly not a doctor or scientist but I do know that thyroid dysfunction is very common (approximately 27 million Americans suffer with it - half are undiagnosed) especially in females (women are 5 times more likely to develop thyroid issues than men) and thyroid dysfunction (hypothyroid is diagnosed in 80% of thyroid dysfunction patients) can and often does lead to all sorts of medical issues, including diabetes, obesity, heart problems and depression. It's a serious problem for many. However, I'm skeptical of the theory that thyroid dysfunction is correlated with the development of an acoustic neuroma as I have not seen any scientific evidence of this. Like the cell phone-AN correlation, I think it's an interesting possibility but needs far more research before we can start making any firm conclusions.
Jim
-
Patti,
My thyroid surgery was 4 yrs before diagnosis of AN so unrelated in that aspect although it is entirely possible I HAD the AN then and just did not know it yet. I developed cancer in a thyroid nodule I had so had to have thyroid removed.. I did start a thread a while back about parathyroid correlation wondering if anyone else had had a parathyroid adenoma removed.. the Mayo Clinic website lists this as a "possible" risk factor of AN and I had had that removed during thyroidectomy. all three "things" were coincidentally on the right side of my head/neck.. strange,, huh?? but as Jim says, I know of no other "studies" etc. concerning this issue,, just kinda strange occurrences.. best of luck with your surgery! by the way, I did develop a sore throat/sinus issue the week of my surgery and called my surgeon to make sure he did not want to put off surgery ( as I had totally psyched myself up to "get on with it") and he did put me on an antibiotic for the few days before surgery. .. so if you don't get feeling better, you may just want to call and ask if meds are needed before surgery... again, good luck
-
I am home from yesterday's thyroid surgery. The doctor could only remove the left side because it was so large. I will find out 2/27 when he wants me back for the smaller right side. I found out anesthesia makes me nauseous but felt much better when a nurse gave me a shot of morphine and nausea medicine. Could have been worse with a less experienced surgeon. Just tired with a sore throat.
Laura
-
congrats Laura for coming through thyroid surgery so well.. any surgery sucks, but that one is not one of the most horrible.. hope you will continue to improve over these next few weeks and get back to yourself soon.. thanks for updating us.. so sorry you have to go through it again though.. take care Jane
-
Hi. I have to go back for the right side on 4/6. The doctor did not give me the option to wait. He is the boss. Wish me luck.
Laura
-
Good Luck Laura Keep us posted.
-
Good luck to you , Laura ,, I am sure you will do fine.. I hope you are feeling much better from first surgery already too.. we will be thinking of you. thanks for keeping us in the loop,,, Jane
-
I had a growth and one of my parathyroid glands removed about seven years ago. I am also hypothyroid. It does seem like a growing number of people with an AN also have some type of thyroid or parathyroid problem.
-
If I can remember :D I'll ask my ENT next month when I go for my annual thyroid check up if he thinks there is any connection.
My guess is he'll say no but we'll see. :)
Karen
-
Had a tumor on my thyroid removed in 1998 (left side only). Thyroid functions fine now. AN discovered in 2005, treated 2006. Sister had tumors removed with most of parathyroid 2 wks ago. No AN for her. My parathyroid being checked in 2 wks due to issues noted on lab results. Belief is due to genetics with osteoperosis (Mother) since my sister and I both have osteoperosis. Will have to see.
Phyl
I had a growth and one of my parathyroid glands removed about seven years ago. I am also hypothyroid. It does seem like a growing number of people with an AN also have some type of thyroid or parathyroid problem.
-
Home from my second thyroid surgery. Hopefully I won't need more surgery anytime soon but if I do, MEEI/MGh is the place to be. Follow up is 4/19. My 18 month MRI for my ear is 6/27. I just love going there... ;D
-
Glad things went well for you. Good luck with your follow-up MRI. (There's always something, isn't there?)
Sandy