Lots of you know that I'm a medical student. You may also know that I'm hypothyroid. There is a very, very good reason we don't do routine ultrasounds on patients without a good reason (we just do them on each other to learn how). The very, very good reason is that you may find things. Things that have a greater than 95% chance of being nothing. But once you find them, you have to investigate them because there's a 5% chance they might be very bad - and much more easily treated if found early.

So...I'm off to an endocrinologist since I now know I have a thyroid nodule. I also know (based on my lab values) that the only way to diagnose the darned thing will be needle biopsy. For something I didn't know (or really want to know) I had, that is almost certainly nothing.

Oh, the fun of being a medical student.

(Yes, I know the odds. I also know that I need to know - as most people do. No, I'm not overly concerned - mostly just not looking forward to an unpleasant procedure and the time/money that accompany that during what is already a stressful period).