Small, painful thyroid nodule- any advice please?x

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience, as I am rather lost.

Sorry for the long explanation:

  1. In Oct 24, I felt pain in the front of my neck for 6 months with sore throats. Reflux ruled out. GP sent me for an US thyroid. A tiny 6mm, U4, hyperechoic nodule, suspicious features was found right where the pain was. Put on 2 week cancer path. Wasn’t bothered and I was looking forward to getting rid of the pain. 
  2. In Dec 24, I transferred to a new hospital (existing patient for blood issues). An US scan said nodule was hypoechoic, U3, 7mm. I expressed how painful it was and this was dismissed as it can’t be painful they said. 
  3. In January 2025, an FNA was carried out twice- nothing retrieved. FNA was painful in contact with the nodule but this was dismissed again as me timing it correctly, as it can’t be painful they said. 
  4. 2 weeks after the FNA my neck swelled and I experienced fainting. Hospital said it was normal and to I had to wait 2-4 weeks to heal. 
  5. 6 months later they scanned me again. Nodule was 6mm, I explained how painful it still was and they said it can’t be it’s too small and it’s all in my head. I was discharged. 
  6. Over the next 7 months, I started having a racing heart rate randomly and collapsed multiple times with pressure in my neck. Cardiac tests all clear. I developed more pain swallowing, talking, pain in my ear and on the nodule side. I also experience low blood pressure and low blood sugar issues, so have had to reduce my diet. 
  7. In July 2026, I saw an endocrinologist privately as per GP advise. It showed an 8.5mm nodule, U3 with these features: “central isoechoic, hypochoic components with a peripheral hypochoic border, internal vascularity, made of slightly irregular contours medially.” 

The main problem I have is the pain and pressure in my neck, which preceded the find of the nodule. But I’ve been told it’s all in my head as it’s too small to be painful. 

Has anyone else ever had a small nodule that’s is painful please? If so, how did you do to manage it and how did you get taken seriously? I am not entirely sure what I am doing wrong. 

Thank you for your time and best wishes to you all x