fine needle aspiration

My new (awesome) endo did an ultrasound today of my thyroid. It is enlarged and, I guess, shows signs of early Hashimoto's damage. I also have a 11.3mm cyst on the left side. They're going to schedule a fine needle aspiration for the near future.

Is it really as simple and unpainful (is that a word?) as they're trying to get me to believe? I'm just not looking forward to having a needle stuck in my neck.

Tocra,

Thanks for responding. That makes me feel less stressed about the whole thing. The waiting isn't helping, either.

Brooke,

Sweet! Thanks!

Thanks, Lizzy!

Rhonda, I would think a endocrinologist would be the better choice, unless the cyst isn't actually on/in the thyroid. I would ask for more information. Also, I would post this as a new topic so more people might see it.

The aspiration went well. A little pinch, and then pressure. No problems. I get my results in a week or so.

I guess I was unlucky in the doctor I chose, because my FNA (done yesterday) was a really bad experience. The doctor is an ENT who told me he does these procedures every couple of weeks, with a 20% inconclusive rate. I should have run from his office. I think he lied about the frequency because of some of the things he said to the nurses in the hospital.

The growth is on one side of my thyroid, and is a visible lump. I had read up on the procedure and wasn't nervous about it at all. My bp at the hospital was 105/74 . . . normal for me.

No numbing cream was used. I was given lidocaine that numbed the underside of my jaw, but didn't seem to have much affect on the area that was being aspirated. The lidocaine injection stung a little . . . not a big deal. Then, like the last poster, my doctor seemed to do a lot of "scrubbing" with the needle after it was inserted. I felt every move he made with the needle . . . and it hurt hellishly.

At the same time, the ultrasound operator was pressing on my windpipe hard enough that I had difficulty breathing. After the needle was removed, the doctor pressed on the injection site, hard, for about 5 minutes.

I had kidney stones a few months ago, and I would chose to pass another stone over having another FNA. Really. I haven't gotten the results yet, but I can tell you that I will NOT have another aspiration done without general anesthesia.

I too have early stages of Hashimoto's Disease. But I am still not in treatment since my antibodies are still in range. I also have a .7cm nodule they say is too small for a biopsy. Hope all goes well for you.