The Queen of Optimism

So you went for your thyroid biopsy and it wasn’t what you expected!

The only previous biopsies I have had were when moles were removed from my skin to check for

View from my hospital bed. For anyone following my neuromuscular problems you can catch a glimpse of my left foot in it's non-working condition.

cancer.  With that being my biopsy frame of reference, I pictured myself sitting in a chair, leaning my head back, and a quick needle going in and quickly going out.  It wasn’t quite like that.  It wasn’t awful either.  Here’s what it was like.

When I arrived:

I registered by giving my insurance card, ID, and referral from my doctor.  I was directed to the surgical department where I waited and then was sent back to the Women’s dressing room.  I was asked to change into a hospital gown but could keep everything on waist down.

Biopsy prep

I was called back by the nurse and to my surprise, I had my own hospital bed.  Where was the chair I thought I was going to sit in?  It was clear – what I expected was far different than the reality.  The reality wasn’t bad, just surprising.  I was greeted by several nurses and a physician’s assistant who all went over my medications list, took my pulse/blood pressure, and listened to my breathing.  They gave me some of my discharge information and let me know that I’d be going back to an ultrasound room for my FNA biopsy.  I would need to stay very still as the needle would be inserted several times in order to get enough cells.  I was told that after they test the cells, my Endo will determine whether it was a sufficient test and  if not, I may have to repeat the test.

The Fine Needle Aspiration Thyroid Biopsy 45 minutes to 1 hour

I was brought into an ultrasound room that doubled as the room for the procedure.  The hospital bed reclined so that my neck was far back enough to get to the area.   The sonographer located my goiter/nodule, took my blood pressure, and called the doctor.  The doctor cleansed my neck area with a ton of alcohol and let me know I would need to stay perfectly still. While she was using the needle, I could not swallow or talk.

I was numbed with Lidocaine, a local anesthetic.  It took me three injections.  The doctor then began extracting cells from my nodule.  She extracted cells 8 different times in order to get to each area of the nodule.  I had a needle stuck in my neck 8 times and the extraction process lasted about 3-5 minutes each time.   It didn’t hurt as much as it felt very weird.  I could feel the nodule moving as the needle was inserted.

A BandAid was placed and I was wheeled away.

Me, my goiter and my BandAid.

Recovery

I was given an ice pack and told I will have pain with swallowing.  Yes, I definitely already did.  This should subside in 48 hours.  I can’t lift anything heavier than 2 pounds for 24 hours.  No Ibuprofen or aspirin for 48 hours.

It’s been 5 hours since I was released and I feel tired.

Results

They will send a report to my doctor by the end of next week.

There you have it! Everything you wanted to know about getting a thyroid biopsy and more.

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: | fine needle aspiration biopsy, goiter, thyroid adenoma