Melania's Story: 'Life-Changing' RFA for Thyroid Nodule

How radiofrequency ablation helped Melania Nunez get her confidence back
Melania

Steve had been bothering Melania Nunez for four years.

鈥淪teve鈥 is what Nunez calls her thyroid nodule, also known as a goiter or enlargement of the thyroid.

For several years she managed it at home in Cicero, Illinois, with diet, exercise and naturopathic medicine. But after a case of COVID-19 in January, she says the nodule and her symptoms grew worse and became unmanageable.

It was time for Steve to go. And a nonsurgical treatment at RUSH University Medical Center was the answer.

Trouble breathing, swallowing

Thyroid nodules, typically benign solid masses, can be caused by several conditions. Nunez鈥檚 was caused by Hashimoto鈥檚 disease, an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks the thyroid and causes it to swell.

The nodule caused Nunez to have trouble breathing and swallowing, and it sapped her energy. But she said the worst symptom was its effect on her self-confidence after the nodule changed the shape of her face and neck.

鈥淚 was not aligned with myself,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 like looking at myself in the mirror. I had a profound lack of self-love from having such a large goiter.鈥

When she was diagnosed in 2018, and at further follow-up visits, her endocrinologist told her the only treatment was partial or full removal of the thyroid. This was going to mean surgery under general anesthesia, followed by recovery and a scar on her neck. It would potentially mean lifelong medications to replace the hormones that her thyroid made naturally. And it would mean precious time away from her 13-year-old son, who has high-functioning autism, and a major disruption of their daily routine.

鈥淎s a special needs mom, I needed to know that there was something available that wasn鈥檛 going to interrupt my day-to-day life,鈥 she said.

So she waited for another option.

Relief without surgery

She first heard about radiofrequency ablation, or RFA, not from one of her physicians, but on Instagram, where she found a video of a physician discussing the procedure as an alternative to surgery for nodule treatment. She spoke with her endocrinologist, who referred her to , an endocrine surgeon at RUSH, who offers the procedure alongside standard thyroid surgery.

Instead of surgery, RFA uses electrical impulses to kill off the cells in the nodule. Over time, the nodule then shrinks as the body removes the dead tissue. The procedure uses a needle inserted into the nodule, similar to when a thyroid biopsy is performed.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an office-based procedure, similar to a regular doctor鈥檚 appointment,鈥 Wrenn said. 鈥淢any of the patients who鈥檇 undergo this have already had a thyroid biopsy before, so they may have an intuitive understanding of what the procedure鈥檚 like.鈥

Patients are awake during the procedure, though the area is numbed. Patients are able to go home the same day and treat any discomfort afterward with over-the-counter pain medication, Wrenn said. If medically possible, he offers both RFA and surgery as options to his patients, to go over the benefits of each.

鈥淭hyroid surgery is very safe and effective, and for some people it鈥檚 the right option,鈥 Wrenn said. 鈥淚 usually talk them through both choices and do a custom approach that works best for them.鈥

For Nunez, the decision was easy.

鈥淒r. Wrenn made me feel comfortable, and made me feel safe,鈥 she said. 鈥淗e listens to you and explains the pros and cons. He said, 鈥業 can鈥檛 assure you 100% resolution, but I can assure you some improvement, and that鈥檚 what I needed.鈥

On April 17, she went in to try to get rid of Steve.

Road to recovery

鈥淚t is up to a one-year process,鈥 Wrenn said. 鈥淚 always brace patients that after the procedure the nodule won鈥檛 seem any different. Some people will see a lot of changes within the first few months, and then sometimes it will slow down a little after that, but you鈥檒l continue to see effects for up to a year."

Nunez estimates that since she had her RFA procedure, her nodule has decreased about 30%, which she鈥檚 very satisfied with. She looks better and has noted a distinct change in her energy 鈥 she has even switched to decaf coffee.

鈥淢y eyes have started to look even,鈥 she said. 鈥淭here isn鈥檛 as much pressure when I swallow. I have a neck again, I have a face again. I have so much more energy. There is a shift in my labs as well. But most important is my self-confidence.鈥

Benefits of radiofrequency ablation

Wrenn said that patients like Nunez who are looking for a nonsurgical option to treat their thyroid nodules should ask their doctors about RFA.

鈥淚f folks are worried about general anesthesia or have medical conditions that would put them at higher risk for general anesthesia, RFA helps them get around that,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t helps them avoid a scar, and it helps them potentially avoid thyroid hormone medication.

鈥淏ut it鈥檚 important to note that surgery may be a better option, or the only option, for other patients, depending on their case.鈥

Nunez has shared her health experience with followers on social media. She emphasizes that patients, particularly women, should work to advocate for themselves when navigating the health care system.

鈥淩FA has been life-changing for me,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 would say make sure you ask the questions that need to be asked. It may feel uncomfortable. Feel uncomfortable! But ask the questions. Ask what else may be available to you.鈥

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