Kristie J

hello, I just want to update you that everything is good after six months, my high note slowly coming back. and I will do a whole check up as Dr. Jun recommended in a year time.

So the surgery went perfectly well. I didn’t get any hoarseness after that, a little pain at the neck, but bearable. I didn’t use painkiller either. But reaching high note is a little hard at the moment because it’s too new. Also, the nodules are not cancerous. My surgeon requested multiple tests on it. I didn’t get as anxious as I thought I would in the operation room, because I feel I can rely and fully trust the surgeons, my general anesthesia dr and as well as his team. I feel very well taken care of. now, I’m back home, safe and sound and healthy again. I want to say thank you and I’m grateful for your advices, recommendations and concerns. Thank you so much. I wish I can repay it some days. I hope your nodule is okay and stay benign as it is now. I wish you healthy, happy and all the best in life.

Thank you for the process detailing. Now, I have a clear idea of what to expect or prepare for. Just in case, I will be staying by myself after surgery. My family hasn’t been very helpful emotionally, only triggering, so I really need to keep my distant from them. anyway, I will be doing the open one as Dr. Jun recommended. she said if I was her daughter, she would make me do the open one. But if I am singer, or superstar or celebrity, then I can choose the endoscopy to avoid the visible scar. Also, since the neck has quite an amount of blood vessels, she said open is more recommended. she recommend Dr. Angkoon for endoscopy, and Dr. Watana for open, and asked me to meet Dr. Watana first. I met him, he explained the process and everything, and make me feel like I can trust him. That’s why I just choose to go with open.

is there anything else I should know about? The side effect, the consequences or anything during and after surgery? I scheduled the surgery on Monday morning and feeling very anxious right now.

Yes, the other side has two very tinies nodules. The doctor says it nothing to concern for now, but to do the check up on it every now and then. To put it simply, perhaps i just want to go back to live the way I was without losing any part of my organs, if that make sense to you.

Mortality rate isn’t what concern me, I am more scared of the fact and consequences that I have to live with half thyroid. And I don’t even know if the others nodules on the other side will grow too or not.

do you believe in treating it traditional way? My dad want me to try drinking certain tea made from wood, and use cream for a month to see the result. If it doesn’t work, then surgery. right now, I’m wavering with options.

beside that I don’t have any other symptoms which make me so hesitate in cutting it out. considering it still functions. is it the right way to think? Like right now, I am fill with thoughts of many things.

for Afirma test, the hospital says they will get back to me after they get a clear information which for now I haven’t gotten anything. I didn’t raise the repeat biopsy question because when I first i meet her, I told her that I came with a thought of getting surgery and I want her opinion on it. She said ‘it’s the right and good thought’. My chest X-ray shows the windpipe got pushed a little to the right side because of the big nodule on the left, and that leads to affecting my sleep and breathing sometimes. so she said even if it’s not cancerous, due to the size of the nodule, she still recommend half removal. As oddly as it may sound, I took another scan on my thyroid early august, somehow it nodule shrink a little. Dr. jun think it may shrink a little but not much more than that. The shrinking size make me hesitate the surgery, of course I am hoping it could go back to normal. But it’s unlikely right?

also if you have a good recommendation for a nice apartment nearby, please let me know too. I have searched and been staying at hotel but I don’t think it’s very efficient.

Hi, Yes, I raised the concern to my doc and she told me not to worry about it because they have immigration office at Bumrungrad. By minor effect on swallowing, you mean it hurts when swallow? I am sorry to hear about your other thyroid not working properly. How do you adjust to taking pill everyday? I had to ask because kind of feel a little anxious about the surgery. and did you do the biopsy twice? Mine says indeterminate which make it very hard to decide on surgery. if it’s benign, and it would be unjust to cut it.

By air. I can stay in Thailand for 14days without visa. also, I met with Dr. Jun. Thank you for a good recommendation. she suggested an open surgery, by Dr. Vatana, and I asked about the endoscopy, she recommended Dr. Angkoon. At the moment, I’m in a considering stage. I am anxious in case the other half nodule can’t function properly. Any opinions? Or thoughts?

Hi again, I am now in Thailand. But I have one concern regarding the visa (if you have any information), Right now I don’t have a clear schedule (exact date for surgery yet), but they estimated around 2weeks. But just for any change of schedule that require me staying longer, where can I go to do the visa or requested?

My point of view on the second biopsy is that, if the first one says indeterminate, then within a month time it's unlikely to be spread this fast, unless it's already stated cancerous/suspicious which mean bethsda category V. I think doing another biopsy during that time won't give me different result unless, again, it's cancerous which I am hopefully not. On the others hand, if it's to spread, then I am sure another test, which I will do within 4weeks times, will give me a more accurate result. So then, I can be more determine on doing the surgery or not. At the meantime, I am following up with the blood test of my thyroid in my home country to see if it's growing or any change in form. my family doest have history of cancer, also from doctor's explanation on the ultra sound, they also told me it's very unlikely to be cancerous depending on the shape and what is in it (cancerous normally non liquid and it doesn't look round, mine is round and more liquid). I am aware it could develop, and I don't want to delay it that much, as having this didn't give me much of full rest since I keep worrying, but I do need to look at this in another way than pursing immediate surgery. Also, certain type of nodules could develop or change due to the rapid biopsy, so I think two FNA (if the second one needed) within two months is my best shot. for Afirma Gene Expression Classification, this matter I could email to ask them, or perhaps asking for a direct contact with the doctor to see if they could do it. Otherwise, if they couldn't do it, then going for another trip just to ask that would be a waste. Right now for my next visit, I planned to ask everything, and perhaps another biopsy if necessary, if not I would proceed to surgery if it keeps growing in size or what is in it keep changing. If It seem like keeping it causing a lot more stress than removing it, then I think removing it would be wiser. What I am worry most is it could grow to the other side which would lead to full removal of the thyroid.

Also, I have thought about how switching hospitals for surgery and follow up back and forth could be at disadvantage too, which I agree with you on sticking to just one. For Rama, I have heard of the queue to meet and consult and the long wait and everything, but one thing I have yet to know of is the surgeons' background which make it impossible for me to choose. At least, at the Bumrungrad, there is background to check and learn what surgeons' ability and result we could expect from. About the Endoscopy, I checked and learned that the tubes have to go through from different place (armpit or chest depending on doctor and how big it is) to perform it. So I was wondering if it could, by chance, affect the other areas during the process?

I am delaying the follow up with doctor because as I gathered info regarding biopsy, it says between 1-2month after the first one, and until now it's been only a month, and the result won't be showing any much different below 1month as the first one already said indeterminate (if it says suspicious, than I do believe as soon as one more follow up or surgery is a must). Also, I want to wait until September, due to the fact that I need time to research about the surgery and options available, and to hear from those with history of doing the surgery, to find out what will I be facing. I have also met another specialist doctor in my home country within this one month, for advice and opinions as well. My most likely decision on this will be surgery despite what could the result of next biopsy be since there hasn't been a result on the internet about shrinking nodules. (non standardly, I heard from elders how CBD could shrink it tho, one of the reason I have been hesitating as well) At the moment, I need to be emotionally prepare for the surgery. It's normal to imagine the worst so that when it comes I can be prepare. I was advised by my follow up doctor in here, similar to what you said. He asked about how I feel and what I am afraid of, and to compare (as a way to comfort me) between keeping it(with current indeterminate result) and doing the surgery which one would give more weight/damage on the situation. which by far, I guess the best direct and helpful advice I have heard and want to hear. so Thank You! you know I have met doctors who push me to surgery before the result come out, I have met one who haven't even done any tests push me to surgery too. They just look and says it's best to do surgery. I feel a resistance inside me every time they say that, because despite how small or big the surgery is, surgery always come with consequences and I tried to avoid it unless it really is unavoidable.

yes, it's Ramathibodhi. As I heard they have up to date equipment and skillful surgeons there. You made a point about the beneficial of follow up and surgery at the same hospital, as that's what I am thinking too. it could be the impression from my previous doctor that made me a little hesitate with going to bumrungrad now, but the surgeon he recommended seem to have the background and experiences that needed for this surgery. I had a fatigue and little overwhelmed and anxiety for last several days which is now okay ( I am afraid this could be covd symptoms too, as one of my family members currently have it) But I gain weight a little too fast, and some time itchy throat and cough at night. What do you mean by hot? I feel the inflammation on the nodule area, could be I indulged much sweet recently, because I noticed the hot increase most of the time after eating sweet. I am preparing for another follow up around early September, and then I will decide whether if I should do the surgery asap or it can wait longer, in case (hopefully) there is a change for the good. With honesty, I tried to avoid surgery if possible.

At the moment, I am also considering about doing the surgery at Rama hospital (Dr. Vitchaphan also graduated from there, he still in my option) as I heard many many great surgeon are from there. Do you have another recommendation I should look for? just for the options. With honesty, I want to take a little more time for the surgery, but I am afraid of the growing size, and that the bigger it will be the more damage it could cause. Have you ever heard of anyone with experience of nodules got shrunk? Also, I think I will go with doctor you recommended for the consultation. Thank you!

I am sorry, my knowledge on the issue still limited at the moment, is the thyroid cyst and thyroid nodule the same issue/surgery? and how is yours? How is the post surgery going? and does it affect your voice? I hope you are feeling better now.

I agreed with Sheryl that cyberknife is for bigger and severe surgery (not saying mine is not big, you know what I mean). Also, I have read a little about non surgical method which will be using the radiation to reduce the size of the nodules. what I am afraid of is, shrinking the size only for short term as there is no guarantee it won't grow back. thank you for the recommendation!

The largest one is 5.8cm (from late June ultrasound). Is it possible to go endoscopy for this size? is it safer than the conventional one? I have been anxious about this surgery as I am afraid it will affect my voice. But the symptoms have been growing, that fatigue and anxiety. I don't live in Thailand, but last time I went to check at Bumrungrad Hospital and consulted with Dr. Rachanon (which gave me a weird impression, as to when I asked him about the cause and the change of my nodule from black to white, his response was 'who cares?' and 'he is not a scientist so he doesn't know), think I will change the consult doctor next time I go. However he recommended Dr. Vichaphan for the surgery. About the cost, It's okay. Yet, if compare cyberknife procedure would be a little too high. Right now, I'm looking at other hospital as well, for as long as I can get a great surgeon and proper treatment on this .

Hi guys, I have thyroid nodules for about a few years now, last month I went for a check up and did FNA, result is indeterminate. but the doctor recommended half remove due to the grow size of nodule. Anyone could recommend skillful surgeon who I can trust with this procedure? I would be very grateful. Thanks!