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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Thyroid Nodule?

Hello, I have been suffering for a long time now. I have a nodule on my thyroid and have been experiencing several symptoms that I have learned can be related to thyroid issues. The nodule has been biopsied and is not cancerous. My doctor will only do the TSH test and says that its within the huge normal scope. Due to this he will not do further testing as he says the Canadian and Saskatchewan Governments are against it. His diagnosis every time I see him about my symptoms is that I am depressed. I have taken several depression tests that come back negative. I have also lived with family members who suffer from depression and other than the fatigue and getting easily frustrated I do not feel depressed. I also asked my Doctor to check my Iodine levels and he refused. I m at my witts end and would like to be treated like I know myself and my body. Help.
Sat, 3 Sep 2016
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Sorry to hear you are not feeling well. Thyroid nodules can be benign growths that may not cause any symptoms and appear without known cause. If your TSH is normal, it means that the nodule is likely not producing any thyroid hormones that would be affecting you or your mood. The next step would be to biopsy the nodule using a fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) to look at what it is made up of. This is only indicated for nodules > or = to 1 cm or <1 cm if you have risk factors for thyroid disease, like a family history. If you do not have these indications, that is why your doctor did not do a further work-up. Iodine levels are not something that is checked, especially in patients with a normal TSH. Your depression may be unrelated to your thyroid nodule, and might be better addressed separately, and with proper counseling by a psychologist or psychiatrist.
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What Causes Thyroid Nodule?

Sorry to hear you are not feeling well. Thyroid nodules can be benign growths that may not cause any symptoms and appear without known cause. If your TSH is normal, it means that the nodule is likely not producing any thyroid hormones that would be affecting you or your mood. The next step would be to biopsy the nodule using a fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) to look at what it is made up of. This is only indicated for nodules or = to 1 cm or 1 cm if you have risk factors for thyroid disease, like a family history. If you do not have these indications, that is why your doctor did not do a further work-up. Iodine levels are not something that is checked, especially in patients with a normal TSH. Your depression may be unrelated to your thyroid nodule, and might be better addressed separately, and with proper counseling by a psychologist or psychiatrist.