"Waiting time for day surgery"

I found a lump in my neck. The GP referred me to ENT. It was confirmed through ultrasound to be a 2.2cm vascular nodule with a small amount of calcification on my thyroid gland and needed an FNA done.

I can’t fault the treatment from the consultant radiologist that completed the FNA procedure, they made me feel at ease. I was very comfortable during the procedure and they talked to me about the whole process which really helped calm my nerves.

Just under two weeks later those results came back inconclusive, which is a common finding in thyroid FNAs. A decision was made to remove half of my thyroid  and get it tested, my guess is it’s more than likely benign but it is still a worry even for my GP who has asked me to chase it up at the start of the year.

The day of my results I spoke to a doctor from Glasgow who on behalf of my usual consultant was doing their list at Monklands, the doctor informed me that I would be put onto the waiting list and would probably wait up to 3 months for surgery, which is completely understandable due to the amount of pressures from the pandemic.

Unfortunately it’s now 8 months since the FNA was completed and I’ve still not heard about a date. I called my consultant's secretary last month and was informed I was category 3. My consultant chooses their patients for surgery & all confirmed cancers go first, which again I can’t fault them for this. 

Could someone confirm if I will be waiting much longer as a category 3? Why was I given a key time of 3 months and now we’re here at 8 months down the line with very little information, just left in limbo waiting for that call or letter to appear with the constant belief of any day now.

I do not want to complain or make a complaint against my care as I do understand that there are more important surgeries that need to be undertaken before me, while I also realise my consultant is only one person. But some light at the end of the tunnel would be useful to this process. It’s been a very worrying time for me & my family with the small chance of what if, and I do and will continue to worry about this until the nodule is removed and tested.