Question: Here is my story. I had a CT with contrast to evaluate my heart for upcoming Aortic Valve replacement. This past Sunday I was reviewing my medical records for the surgeon appointment and noticed they found nodules on my Thyroid. Never was I told by the cardiologist and the test was ran a month earlier. When I went into the surgeon he said that he would not perform the surgery until we know the thyroid concenrs because it can affect the functions of the heart. I then saw my internal medicine primary and had labs ran and for TSH T1 T2 T3 T4 and all were normal. He sent me to the hospital for an ultrasound. They found a nodule on my Ithsmus and on my left lobe. I saw an endocrinologist yesterday. She was referred to me but I found out she has only been in practice a year. She did an ultrasound and said the one on my Ithsmus is an Echoic Primarily solid nodule and it measured 2 cm. the one on my left lobe was also Echoic but not as solid. I asked her risk of cancer and she said the left was not a concern but the ithsmus was suspicious for cancer and she gave it double the odds that it was. She said it is very treatable but she also said that I had several other nodules under 1cm throughout my thyroid. She said either way she would recommend that I remove my thyroid due to future risks even if not cancer. I fought the hospital and she supported me in getting a stat biopsy knowing I have open heart surgery scheduled. They are getting me on Monday and I should have results by Wednesday afternoon. My questions...Should I do heart surgery first or the thyroid surgery if cancer? If not cancer I would think do heart surgery first. She did an ultrasound of my lymph nodes and said she didn't see anything which is good. I also have a second opinion Endocrinologist appointment on Monday so I need to know what to ask. What scares me is we would have never known I had them if my CT was not done. They said they are slow growing by 2cm is big which means they have been there for awhile right? What are odds if they are cancer that they spread to something else if there for awhile? Based on description of what I gave you - she said solid had a halo appearance around it would you suspect it is cancer? Next questions....can you have an aortic mechanical valve with no thyroid? What would the affects be on the heart especially if I have it removed after heart surgery and its newly functioning? Please let me know and also do you recommend removal of the thyroid even if benign? Also will idione radiation affect my heart valve either now or when I have it in the future and will idione attack the heart? ALso can you take Coumadin with Thyroid meds and what are the contradictions for long term use a it woud be 40 years if I lived a full life and what is full life expectency with both of these? Can you ask a specialist for Endo and Cardiologist? Thanks!

Also need to add I am Coumadin sensitive from a genetic test and also one nodule is 2cm and solid ectopic? Still think cancer free? Would you as cardiologist recommend thyroid surgery first or after valve replacement and will thyroid removal affect heart functions? Do you know anyone who has mechanical valve I am doing on x valve and no thyroid? Also have you heard of any complications with on x valve,