And you wonder why I hate doctors.

Apparently you are referring to microcalcifications within breast ducts, which occur for a number of (mostly benign) reasons having nothing to do with breastfeeding. Some types of microcalcifications (including certain ones that appear after previous normal mammograms) are considered more suspicious and an indication for biopsy.

But it’s virtually unheard of for a physician to call for a sizable tissue excision without attempting a small core biopsy first.

Either your family has really really bad luck with incompetent doctors, or we’re not getting the whole story here.

Why would the radiologist have asked about breast-feeding then?

It’s a standard question, regardless of findings. Microcalcificatios in ductal tissue are usually benign. Mammography’s not perfect, along with a lot of other bits of modern medicine, but we do make progress, every day.

I work for an evidence based nonprofit institution, am more or less the office granola head, and would cheerfully practice with Jackmanii no matter how many clematis he has. He is presenting current information based on what is known as valid at this moment in time. I wouldn’t be afraid to see him as a patient either:)

I’m an NP (30 + years) and we have the reputation of listening to our patients. My MD colleagues, on the whole, do as well- it’s one of my gyn resources who repeats that weekly. I’m sorry some run into judgmental jerks and are not validated. Consider a not for profit HMO. We are NOT in it for the money. Healthier consumers cost less;)

Hashimoto’s is not, repeat not, rocket science. Ed Benson said that. He is an endocrinologist who worked for NASA as an astrophysicist before he went to medical school. (He is one of those disgusting people who is a rocket scientist, a medical nerd, and an art quality welder with his ironwork in public places, pleasantly spoken, and
has the nerve to be easy on the eyes as well, sheesh)

Thyroid testing is standard for most women after 35, as it is subject to change without notice. Downwinders, environmental exposure, occupational exposure, heredity, and the unknown all seem to play a part. A number of my Hashimoto’s patients work on nukes (submarines) and get a great deal of exercise, and have a hard time managing their weight even so unless they modify their diet severely. Anecdotally, with no real evidence yet, I find a diet rich in non wheat non corn grains, heavy on the vegetables, whole fruits, nuts, fattier fish, avocados, and small amounts of meat, preferably grass fed, to result in some weight loss and a general improvement in health and sense of well being. I’m not much on fads. Think no CRAP- no carbonated beverages, refined sugars, artificial sweeteners, processed foods.

Women with one autoimmune disorder often find themselves diagnosed with another, or more. You are indeed your best advocate, and with Dr Google readily available, looking stuff up is pretty easy. Sorting through the huge volume of information can be daunting, but eliminating anyone trying to sell you The Cure or who has The Answer is a start. (My ancestors were hillbilly Vermonters who pinched nickels til the buffalo shit and who questioned authority on a regular basis)

Kudos to all who struggle with thyroid dysfunction. It’s a bitch of a path, and just because it’s not difficult to diagnose doesn’t mean it isn’t quirky to manage. Excelsior!

That happened to my sister when she was around 17. Her thyroid just suddenly stopped working. She went from being a jock type (100 mile bike rides being a routine part of her weekend, along with varsity sports) to sleeping 16 hours a day, falling asleep in class at school, and sudden quick weight gain despite eating one meal a day or sometimes just not eating at all on a particular day.

Mom kept dragging her to doctors, saying something is WRONG with this kid, and getting the brush off - “it’s a phase”, “teen girls do this to get attention”, “she’s just lazy”, etc. - until finally one doc said yeah, maybe we should run some tests because, you know, that sudden a change just isn’t normal.

She pretty much had NO thyroid function at all. So, yeah, she was gaining weight eating a starvation level of calories. Granted, that’s a level of thyroid failure that’s genuinely rare, but yes, untreated low thyroid really can result in weight gain on what is otherwise a starvation diet. (Actually, that level of thyroid failure, if left untreated, can be fatal)

My sister has been very diligent about treating her thyroid problems over her lifetime. She’s also maintained her weight pretty well most of the time but it really is harder for her than for someone without a thyroid problem. She always has to eat smaller portions. She has to exercise madly (fortunately, she still likes 100 mile bike rides and tries to take 2-3 a week even in her 50’s). Her weight is manageable but she has to do more to get the same effect as someone with a normal thyroid.

So, no, saying “I have a low thyroid” doesn’t excuse morbid obesity. It does mean that such people genuinely have more difficulty losing weight and maintaining weight than the rest of us. It’s not simply a moral failing or laziness.