Unwanted 'diagnosis'!

[WinterLilac]

I would like to hear from others about an experience I had a few months ago and something that has really annoyed me.

First of all, I am an EN (LPN in the US) and am halfway through my RN training, so have some idea about signs and symptoms of certain disorders.

Anyway, a friend and I met up with 3 people we had never met, who share the same hobby, to organise a convention. Mid-way through the conversation, the man turns to me and says (in front of everyone) "By the look of you, I'd say you have a low thyroid. Have you had any blood tests done?". I was floored and uncomfortably said my health is none of his business. He said he was a 'training herbalist'. I pretended to be okay for the rest of the meeting but I've felt awful ever since! Yes I am overweight but I don't have any signs of hypothyroidism and regardless, who is he to make such a personal comment!?

What do others feel about this scenario? Do you feel he may have a point or right to say something like that? Or has anyone experienced something similar?

In my career, I have never met even qualified people 'diagnose' strangers.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

If you watch HGTV, you may be familiar with Tarek el Moussa from Flip or Flop.

This was one time where speaking up about a suspected thyroid problem actually helped the person:

'Flip or Flop' Host Tarek El Moussa Battling Thyroid Cancer : People.com

[Jules A, MSN]

I'm not sure I'd be offended even if I thought he was a dope. It didn't sound like he was trying to sell you anything and maybe he was sincere and thought it was helpful. I'd probably write it off as he is just an odd bird. Its not as if he said you looked like you had a STD, now that would offend me, and if it is still bothering you maybe get your thyroid tested?

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

My OB instructor told us a story in class, about seeing a very yellow colored new born in the grocery, and approaching the new mother with her concerns.

She didn't know what happened to that baby. She saw something that alarmed her, and she had a legitimate concern.

It's very possible that mother was insulted by the nosy woman at the grocery. It's possible the jaundice resolved on it's own.

It's a matter of what we observe as human beings, and feel comfortable about keeping our mouths shut. Or not.

I wouldn't have been bothered by the comment.

[WinterLilac]

Thank you everyone for taking the time to give your thoughtful responses. I appreciate everyone's views.

Yes, working in mental health, I have been called everything under the sun (and worse!) and I do have thick skin. Somehow and for some reason, his comment bothered me. In hindsight, there was many things I could have said back to him however I do believe he did not comment out of spite, having an agenda or trying to be rude. I think he had just learnt about certain disorders and was probably keen to 'spot a sign'. He was quite embarrassed when I, nor anyone else in the room, wished to continue his conversation killer.

Thank you again for your kind words and to those no nonsense 'get over it' responses. I know for a fact it's better to sometimes put our fears, worries or offenses 'out there' to be reassured and reminded to move on!

You're all a bunch of awesome people.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Rude and presumptuous.

I was once riding on an elevator on may way home from work when a guy in a business suit got on the elevator and, without even so much as saying "hello", told me "You'd be a pretty girl if you didn't have all that acne. Come by my office and I'll look at it." Also presumptuous and rude.

Your situation -- like mine -- will be a funny story one day. And that's all you need to think about it!

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

An endocrinologist who used to come to the hospital I worked at once told me, "I can tell you're hypothyroid just by looking at you." It was an unprompted commet he just happened to make while I was in the nurse's station. I never spoke to the guy, didn't have any of his patients, etc. I'd suspected the same and already been tested, but was slightly on the right side of "normal". A while after, I was re-tested and put on synthroid. So I guess some people really can tell.

***I'm not overweight, by the way.

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

Um, excuse me. Please do not paint all herbalists with the same broad brush. Most of herbalism is evidence-based.

I no longer practice herbalism, but I was a "trained" herbalist. I trained with Rosemary Gladstar and Matthew Wood.

And yes, you often *can* tell thyroid disorders based on physical traits. I can also recognize PCOS based on physical traits.

Now, that's not to say the guy in the OP is not incredibly rude and presumptuous.

You reminded of a sad/funny story. I had an office mate several years ago that was a fantastic friend. One day she looked at me while we were discussing some women's health issues and said, "Have you been tested for PCOS, you look like the poster child." Shocked me and her too! Sometimes people just put their foot in their mouth and just feel awful about it. Kinda hurt my feelings, but really motivated me on my diet :) I never held it against her, I've had foot in mouth disease before too.

[42pines]

You could have looked him up and down, scratched your chin a bit and said:

Hmmm, by the look of you, I'd say you have low testosterone, have you had issues lately?

That might just make him think twice before opening his mouth.

[WinterLilac]

Love it!

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

An endocrinologist who used to come to the hospital I worked at once told me, "I can tell you're hypothyroid just by looking at you." It was an unprompted commet he just happened to make while I was in the nurse's station. I never spoke to the guy, didn't have any of his patients, etc. I'd suspected the same and already been tested, but was slightly on the right side of "normal". A while after, I was re-tested and put on synthroid. So I guess some people really can tell.

***I'm not overweight, by the way.

Yeah, I would take more value in such comments from an endocrinologist than a herbalist.

If you're curious, it is a simple, straight forward blood test.

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

I had a pregnant patient who told me some woman in an elevator, out of nowhere, said to her "Is your pregnancy high risk? Because you're carrying kind of high, and I did the same thing and my pregnancy was high risk." People are unbelievable idiots. And I think they often want to project their own issues onto you, under the guise of being "helpful."

[seanynjboy, BSN]

JUST BECAUSE every time I hear the term "Herbalist" I think of this comedy bit...pretty funny.

But yeah, I am in no way a fan of Herbalists and just trying to diagnose someone by looking at them for hypothyroid...BOGUS...