Advanced Institute for Diabetes & Endocrinology
Last week I sat down with Dr. Diana Girnita, MD, PhD, FACR, a rheumatologist and host of the podcast Thriving with Arthritis and Autoimmune Diseases. Her patients have lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s. Mine have Hashimoto’s, diabetes, and the hormone changes of midlife. The same women walk through both of our doors, and they arrive
I had my whole thyroid removed for thyroid cancer when I was 21, in 2002. So when a patient asks me what thyroidectomy recovery is like, I can tell them what it was like for me, and then I can tell them that it is considerably better now. Key takeaways What is thyroidectomy recovery like
Thyroidectomy Recovery: What It Is Actually Like Now Read More »
“In 2011 I had three or four nodules on my thyroid. They biopsied the biggest one and found abnormal cells. The doctor said it was not cancer, but still recommended removing the whole thyroid. I was scared and had a young child at home, so I had the surgery. I have always wondered if I
Atypia on a Thyroid Biopsy: What It Means, and Whether You Needed Surgery Read More »
Someone hands you an ultrasound report, says see you in a year, and leaves the room. And you sit there thinking, what am I supposed to do with this? I know how nerve wracking that is. So here is what the report, and the TI-RADS score on it, is telling you, in the order that
TI-RADS Score Explained: What Your Thyroid Nodule Report Actually Says Read More »
The thyroid is very sensitive to subtle assaults. That one sentence explains most of what follows, and it is why the first thing I ask anyone with a thyroid nodule is not about the nodule. It is about where they have lived and what they have done for work, because radiation exposure is the most
Radiation Exposure and Thyroid Cancer: Who Actually Needs Screening Read More »
“I’m 20-some years out from losing my thyroid. Now I just feel like I’m in my 40s. That’s just how it is.” Patients want to know what it’s actually like to lose your thyroid. I get the question every week. I’m in a better position than most endocrinologists to answer it, because I had my
What it’s actually like to live without a thyroid Read More »
If your doctor just told you that you have a thyroid nodule, your first instinct might be to freak out. I get it. I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at 21 and I’ve been on full-dose replacement thyroid hormones ever since. But here’s what most people don’t know. Even some doctors don’t
Thyroid Nodules: What You Need to Know Read More »
And why I’m doing something about it. Let me tell you something that still makes me mad. California has UCLA. Stanford. Cedars-Sinai. Some of the most elite medical institutions on the planet. And yet? If you need to see an endocrinologist right now, for your thyroid, your diabetes, your hormones, your metabolism — you’re looking
California, We Need to Talk About Your Endocrinologist Problem Read More »
What are thyroid nodules? Thyroid nodules are lumps that form within the thyroid gland. They can be solid or fluid-filled cysts and vary greatly in size and number. “They’re very common, if I went out and did a thousand ultrasounds on random people, I’d probably find nodules in 500 to 600 of them,” says Dr.
Understanding thyroid nodules: causes, risks, and treatment options Read More »
By Dr. Lindsey VanDyke, DO, FACOI, FEAABoard Certified Endocrinologist | Specializing in obesity, diabetes, thyroid care, and menopause management Why a biopsy may be recommended When a thyroid nodule is found, the big questions are: Is it risky? Could it be cancer? What’s the next step? That’s where a biopsy , specifically a fine needle
Thyroid nodule biopsies: what to expect and why they matter Read More »