"Why is my doctor giving me thyroid medication for thyroid nodules?": Who Should Answer?
May I introduce my visitors to Medpedia, a great resource site for medical information and discussion for medical professionals, patients and organizations? There is a section on Questions, the answers provided by professionals. As an example and to start a new topic on my blog, here is the question asked by a visitor to Medpedia and my answer. The question “Why is my doctor giving me thyroid medication for thyroid nodules?” interested me in wondering whether the patient first asked the question to her own physician and if not, why not. Or if she did, was she satisfied with the response or simply wanted to check up on the doctor’s response? Read my response and write here what your own experience has been about being able to ask questions and get understandable answers from your physicians. No names please. ..Maurice.
"Why is my doctor giving me thyroid medication for thyroid nodules?" That is an important question but one that shouldn't and really can't be fully answered on Medpedia. Physician education of the patient with regard to the nature and treatment of their disorder is as important in the practice of medicine as making the diagnosis and beginning treatment. Therefore, the question should really have been asked to and answered by the patient's own physician. The patient's understanding about their disease and their treatment is one major important factor to assure patient ongoing cooperation and compliance. There is no substitute. If the doctor can't explain, as a patient I would be concerned. Paternalism ("I know what is best for you so just do as I say") is no longer the mantra of modern physicians.
posted by Maurice Bernstein, M.D. @ 8:40:00 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
While I wasn't the poster on Medpedia, I came across your blog and thought I'd respond. I did indeed ask that same question of my doctor and our discussion was open and thorough but in the end I disagreed with him and wanted more opinions. I have found that virtually every doctor has his own biases and frequently neglects the big picture. My ear, nose & throat doctor wants me on meds in the hope of reducing my thyroid nodules(my thyroid function is only slightly low) while my primary doctor worries about the meds' effect on my bone health. My breast doctor had me take tamoxifen for risk reduction (bad family history) and now my eye doctor will eventually need to treat the cataract caused by this "eye toxin." More input allows me to make more informed decisions if I think a doctor has been too quick to write out a prescription. I'm not anti-drug; I just don't like trying to tweak nature simply because we can.
Sometimes I look for info online because it takes me time to digest information and it's not always easy to get hold of a doctor once you've left the office and you think of more questions. It's easier to search the web -- although I wouldn't base any major decisions on web info.
And then there are the doctors who are simply abrupt or dismissive so you turn to other information sources. I saw one of those sorts of doctors yesterday --but I don't expect to be seeing her again!
-- Ruth
I am to write a report or BIOETHICS of any issue I choose-as I was browsing I thought I would look for thyroid as have had a low thyroid since gradeschool and I am now 62-I am having trouble with all the T levels that are associated with thyroid. My concern is that in the state of Illinois I can visit Doctors who will prescribe different brands of thyroid medicine which is GREAT-but in all other states they refuse-example- I love taking ARMOUR thyroid meds as they do not leave a drugged effect in my body for one-second it is not manmade-
3rd-it works-I have a granddaughter-10 years old who has a goiter-the synthroid does not help it-but the Armour thyroid does keep it at bay-
Also, Synthroid -for me-that is at certain doses cause me to become -the only word to use is -almost psycho-I hate and want to hit and scream and it is just awful-Several Doctors have told me that they will never prescribe Armour and all my family in different states are not able to get Armour as their physicians refuse to give to them-I had one doctor tell me her mother had to take Armour because she is allergic to the coating of all the other brands. If you have thyroid nodules-a person needs to have them checked to make sure not cancer-and then to have the t levels by a blood test-{usually 3 to 4 vials-if just one vial they are not doing it correctly}to make sure your thyroid is in correct levels-if they are low or high-then of course you will want to take the medication-if the readings are all IN range then you should be ok-just a bit out of kilter can affect yours system because if you do not treat it-it just GETS WORSE-and then it takes longer to get back on track. Just make sure you need the meds-but for sure make sure your nodules are examined for cancer if nothing else. As that will Kill fast.
dlyc
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