A doctor sold me her goiter:)

[898_1]

2 years ago I saw a doctor due to acute sinusitis. After looking inside of my ears nose and throat she decided to palpate my thyroid. Her findings were: a) left lobe is larger than the right one; b) there is a 2 cm nodule in it.
As you know thyroid nodule in men is highly suspicious for cancer considering my 15 year work experience in nuclear technology (I did not share this info with the doctor). After the ultrasound: right lobe was found larger than the left (which is the way it should be), no nodules were found; the echo texture was uniform and normal.
Today I saw a different doctor for persisting cold and she had a sizeable goiter herself. No surprise, she immediately diagnosed me with a goiter as well, but instead of the ultrasound sent me for a blood test (she is suspecting that I am hyperthyroid just because I had fast heart rate at the time of exam).
I did not mention about my experience in that area:) but I could imagine how many patients are tested for no reasons!!
I feeling like I wasted my co-payment for this  visit

[898_1]

I have wrinkles on my forehead since my teens (due to the bad eye glasses:)

[Red_Star]

You are a chick magnet LOL Can you look up without wrinkling your forehead (Joffroy's sign)? I like this sign...cool party trick. :P

[goolarra]

LOL  Yes, they can perform a thyroid palpation with acrylic nails, but it's a sure sign you shouldn't trust their opinion or take them too seriously!

I agree that most PCPs should refer on suspician.  They should be capable of treating basic thyroid disorders, but that assumes they can get beyond diagnosis by reference range and have actually picked up a medical journal since graduating from med school.  

Imagine...you go in for a a small problem and come out with a wife!  Reminds me of a friend of mine many years ago whose endo used to whip a bottle of wine and two glasses out of the drawer of his desk after her appointment...dated him for quite a while...never got to the altar, though.

[898_1]

It looks like I will need to contact my insurance company regarding this visit!
And please pardon my objection, but can doctor perform physical exam (palpation) while wearing acrylic nails??
If thyroid hyperactivity due to Grave’s disease is suspected why she did not checked me for: lid lag, bruit, tremor, and abnormal knee reflexes?
(She should rule out subacute thyroiditis because I did not complain about pain in the neck area).
Also, if GP suspects thyroid disorder, referral to the appropriate specialist is usually the next step.
Looks like she was over-obsessed about her own thyroid problem
I am terribly sorry to mention that, but I probably need to ask for male doctor because both times I was seen by divorced childless females in their mid forties (they voluntary gave this info to me afer checking my marital status ?? )

By the way if I will found any thyroid abnormality later I will blame I-131 released from Fukushima for that!

[goolarra]

We certainly have to be prepared to question what they do.  I have really high deductible insurance, so I question all of it.  There's a lot of unnecessary testing, and I sometimes suspect it's easier to get an expensive, unnecessary test than a cheap one.