RE: So frustrated with doctor appoint. today

January 11, 2002

Jody,

He was mildly interested, but he's a " cold fish " personality so I expected

nothing more. Haven't seen him since, I only go every 3 months. I KNOW I

should call about getting more labs, but I've been sick for a few days

(migraine and fighting off a bit of a cold) and keep thinking I need to wait

a bit more...can barely deal with the stuff I have to do each day right now.

Anyway, we'll see. I did say some of his initial comments on the list here,

right after I gave it to him Dec. 24th.

BTW, I had lunch with an old friend yesterday, despite feeling low (she goes

back to work next week and this was our only chance)--and she was telling me

of a friend's son, on their ski trip. The poor kid, who's 20, had " gained so

much weight it was painful to look at him " and " didn't have the energy to

get out of bed most of the time, much less ski " --weighed 350, gained it all

in a few months. So here's my question: Has anyone bothered to check his

THYROID???

Guess what the answer is: no, they just were " shocked " and his dad bugged

him and hassled him (he'd been away at college). I asked my friend to call

her friends, immediately, and tell them in no uncertain terms, that he HAS

to have this checked.

What do people think, these days, that it's normal to have that kind of

radical change? Why don't people react intelligently to such red flags? I

told my friend, I'll bet you $100 right now, he's hypo. Hopefully I'll win

the bet and the poor guy will get some treatment.

Terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 22:42:14 -0500

> To: graves_support

> Subject: Re: So frustrated with doctor appoint. today

>

> Hi Terry,

> What was your doctors reaction to the book and list, has he given you any

> feedback yet?

> Jody

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.

> http://www.hotmail.com

>

> -------------------------------------

> The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

> intended to replace expert medical care.

> Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the endorsement

> of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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January 11, 2002

Jody,

He was mildly interested, but he's a " cold fish " personality so I expected

nothing more. Haven't seen him since, I only go every 3 months. I KNOW I

should call about getting more labs, but I've been sick for a few days

(migraine and fighting off a bit of a cold) and keep thinking I need to wait

a bit more...can barely deal with the stuff I have to do each day right now.

Anyway, we'll see. I did say some of his initial comments on the list here,

right after I gave it to him Dec. 24th.

BTW, I had lunch with an old friend yesterday, despite feeling low (she goes

back to work next week and this was our only chance)--and she was telling me

of a friend's son, on their ski trip. The poor kid, who's 20, had " gained so

much weight it was painful to look at him " and " didn't have the energy to

get out of bed most of the time, much less ski " --weighed 350, gained it all

in a few months. So here's my question: Has anyone bothered to check his

THYROID???

Guess what the answer is: no, they just were " shocked " and his dad bugged

him and hassled him (he'd been away at college). I asked my friend to call

her friends, immediately, and tell them in no uncertain terms, that he HAS

to have this checked.

What do people think, these days, that it's normal to have that kind of

radical change? Why don't people react intelligently to such red flags? I

told my friend, I'll bet you $100 right now, he's hypo. Hopefully I'll win

the bet and the poor guy will get some treatment.

Terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 22:42:14 -0500

> To: graves_support

> Subject: Re: So frustrated with doctor appoint. today

>

> Hi Terry,

> What was your doctors reaction to the book and list, has he given you any

> feedback yet?

> Jody

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.

> http://www.hotmail.com

>

> -------------------------------------

> The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

> intended to replace expert medical care.

> Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the endorsement

> of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> --------

>

January 11, 2002

Jody,

He was mildly interested, but he's a " cold fish " personality so I expected

nothing more. Haven't seen him since, I only go every 3 months. I KNOW I

should call about getting more labs, but I've been sick for a few days

(migraine and fighting off a bit of a cold) and keep thinking I need to wait

a bit more...can barely deal with the stuff I have to do each day right now.

Anyway, we'll see. I did say some of his initial comments on the list here,

right after I gave it to him Dec. 24th.

BTW, I had lunch with an old friend yesterday, despite feeling low (she goes

back to work next week and this was our only chance)--and she was telling me

of a friend's son, on their ski trip. The poor kid, who's 20, had " gained so

much weight it was painful to look at him " and " didn't have the energy to

get out of bed most of the time, much less ski " --weighed 350, gained it all

in a few months. So here's my question: Has anyone bothered to check his

THYROID???

Guess what the answer is: no, they just were " shocked " and his dad bugged

him and hassled him (he'd been away at college). I asked my friend to call

her friends, immediately, and tell them in no uncertain terms, that he HAS

to have this checked.

What do people think, these days, that it's normal to have that kind of

radical change? Why don't people react intelligently to such red flags? I

told my friend, I'll bet you $100 right now, he's hypo. Hopefully I'll win

the bet and the poor guy will get some treatment.

Terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 22:42:14 -0500

> To: graves_support

> Subject: Re: So frustrated with doctor appoint. today

>

> Hi Terry,

> What was your doctors reaction to the book and list, has he given you any

> feedback yet?

> Jody

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.

> http://www.hotmail.com

>

> -------------------------------------

> The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

> intended to replace expert medical care.

> Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the endorsement

> of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> --------

>

January 11, 2002

Yes, of course! Didn't you already know that? The " normal " people have no

need to vent in a group like this, they're just totally thrilled with the

after effects of RAI. But, I do wonder how the Sr. Bushes are. Didn't they

both have it? I mean, is it possible there really are people out there who

ARE just fine?

terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 22:43:41 -0500

> To: graves_support

> Subject: Re: So frustrated with doctor appoint. today

>

> Gee Terry,

> I guess I am a crank then ;-)

> Cranky Jody

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

>

> -------------------------------------

> The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

> intended to replace expert medical care.

> Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the endorsement

> of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> --------

>

January 11, 2002

Yes, of course! Didn't you already know that? The " normal " people have no

need to vent in a group like this, they're just totally thrilled with the

after effects of RAI. But, I do wonder how the Sr. Bushes are. Didn't they

both have it? I mean, is it possible there really are people out there who

ARE just fine?

terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 22:43:41 -0500

> To: graves_support

> Subject: Re: So frustrated with doctor appoint. today

>

> Gee Terry,

> I guess I am a crank then ;-)

> Cranky Jody

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

>

> -------------------------------------

> The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

> intended to replace expert medical care.

> Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the endorsement

> of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> --------

>

January 11, 2002

Yes, of course! Didn't you already know that? The " normal " people have no

need to vent in a group like this, they're just totally thrilled with the

after effects of RAI. But, I do wonder how the Sr. Bushes are. Didn't they

both have it? I mean, is it possible there really are people out there who

ARE just fine?

terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 22:43:41 -0500

> To: graves_support

> Subject: Re: So frustrated with doctor appoint. today

>

> Gee Terry,

> I guess I am a crank then ;-)

> Cranky Jody

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

>

> -------------------------------------

> The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

> intended to replace expert medical care.

> Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the endorsement

> of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> --------

>

January 12, 2002

Hi Terry,

That is so sad about the young man You know, we have such a hard time

getting diagnosed and to be honest I think men even have a tougher time in

being diagnosed with thyroid. I had one endo tell me it is a *female*

disease, which is just plain stupid. We are seeing more men getting

diagnosed these days, as well as seeing it be diagnosed at much earlier

ages.

A full thyroid panel should be part of every single persons yearly

exam...and when one sees the changes so drastically, as in this young man,

why oh why has no one checked! I can't comprehend this. But then, I

wouldn't feel this way if I wasn't living it.

I also know, because our son will be 20 in June and is away at college, that

way to many doctors will attribute weight gain (especially for young men) on

the *partying* and drinking they do at college and of course no college

student is going to own up to this in front of his parents. That is what

happened to my son's room mate from his 1st year at college, and it was not

the case. That young man had severe mono and had to drop out of his second

semester and will just be returning the end of this month.

I think you will win the bet! I hope your friend calls his parents

immediately.

I am sorry to hear you are not feeling well at all. Do you take zinc and

extra C when you start getting a cold? I wonder if being in remission now,

and your immune system doing better, if that has opened you up to being more

susceptible to the cold? I ask because we know our immune systems are

overactive with graves, and since having it I hardly ever see even the

beginnings of a cold for years now, then the symptoms don't last but a

couple of days.

Feel better,

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

January 12, 2002

Hi Terry,

That is so sad about the young man You know, we have such a hard time

getting diagnosed and to be honest I think men even have a tougher time in

being diagnosed with thyroid. I had one endo tell me it is a *female*

disease, which is just plain stupid. We are seeing more men getting

diagnosed these days, as well as seeing it be diagnosed at much earlier

ages.

A full thyroid panel should be part of every single persons yearly

exam...and when one sees the changes so drastically, as in this young man,

why oh why has no one checked! I can't comprehend this. But then, I

wouldn't feel this way if I wasn't living it.

I also know, because our son will be 20 in June and is away at college, that

way to many doctors will attribute weight gain (especially for young men) on

the *partying* and drinking they do at college and of course no college

student is going to own up to this in front of his parents. That is what

happened to my son's room mate from his 1st year at college, and it was not

the case. That young man had severe mono and had to drop out of his second

semester and will just be returning the end of this month.

I think you will win the bet! I hope your friend calls his parents

immediately.

I am sorry to hear you are not feeling well at all. Do you take zinc and

extra C when you start getting a cold? I wonder if being in remission now,

and your immune system doing better, if that has opened you up to being more

susceptible to the cold? I ask because we know our immune systems are

overactive with graves, and since having it I hardly ever see even the

beginnings of a cold for years now, then the symptoms don't last but a

couple of days.

Feel better,

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

January 12, 2002

Hi Terry,

That is so sad about the young man You know, we have such a hard time

getting diagnosed and to be honest I think men even have a tougher time in

being diagnosed with thyroid. I had one endo tell me it is a *female*

disease, which is just plain stupid. We are seeing more men getting

diagnosed these days, as well as seeing it be diagnosed at much earlier

ages.

A full thyroid panel should be part of every single persons yearly

exam...and when one sees the changes so drastically, as in this young man,

why oh why has no one checked! I can't comprehend this. But then, I

wouldn't feel this way if I wasn't living it.

I also know, because our son will be 20 in June and is away at college, that

way to many doctors will attribute weight gain (especially for young men) on

the *partying* and drinking they do at college and of course no college

student is going to own up to this in front of his parents. That is what

happened to my son's room mate from his 1st year at college, and it was not

the case. That young man had severe mono and had to drop out of his second

semester and will just be returning the end of this month.

I think you will win the bet! I hope your friend calls his parents

immediately.

I am sorry to hear you are not feeling well at all. Do you take zinc and

extra C when you start getting a cold? I wonder if being in remission now,

and your immune system doing better, if that has opened you up to being more

susceptible to the cold? I ask because we know our immune systems are

overactive with graves, and since having it I hardly ever see even the

beginnings of a cold for years now, then the symptoms don't last but a

couple of days.

Feel better,

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

January 12, 2002

I have thought about the Bushes too, along with Gail Devers as they have all

had the RAI...BUT they also have the money for the best medical treatment in

the world...and Devers has all those personal trainers and dieticians. To be

that lucky, eh?

Jody

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January 12, 2002

I have thought about the Bushes too, along with Gail Devers as they have all

had the RAI...BUT they also have the money for the best medical treatment in

the world...and Devers has all those personal trainers and dieticians. To be

that lucky, eh?

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:

http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx

January 12, 2002

Jody,

That's something I've been wondering too. Don't know the answer. Had no

colds at all this season so far though, on even my minimal dose of ATD's.

But, it's rained for months until this week, and I don't seem to get them as

much when it's wet either (don't know why). Zinc doesn't agree with me, but

I take Chinese herbs to fight the cold plus lots of C, and I usually beat

them back. I finally gave in and did an Imitrex nose spray for my head, 3

days of pain is too much, but it wasn't a typical migraine, just a bad

headache, until this afternoon--so harder to treat. The spray has dimmed it

but it's still not gone, think this is all menopausal stuff for me at this

point.

Terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2002 12:30:32 -0500

> To: graves_support

> Subject: Re: So frustrated with doctor appoint. today

>

> I wonder if being in remission now,

> and your immune system doing better, if that has opened you up to being more

> susceptible to the cold? I ask because we know our immune systems are

> overactive with graves, and since having it I hardly ever see even the

> beginnings of a cold for years now, then the symptoms don't last but a

> couple of days.

January 12, 2002

Hi Terry,

>>>I don't seem to get them as much when it's wet either (don't know why)<<<

Boy that makes me think it is more allergy related! When I have my

allergies in spring and fall they can get nasty but when it rains it settles

them down.

Have you ever used extra strength Excedrin for your headaches? I only take

one and it really helps me a lot. I won't spend the extra money for the

'migrane excedrin' as it is the same thing as extra strength.

I don't know how you manage to function with a headache like this.

Hope your feeling better.

Jody

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January 14, 2002

Rhonda,

Doesn't it just make you sick! They talk in circles, don't they? One thing

I do know, I've been hypO on the ATDs, and I don't care how many doctors

tell me otherwise, I'd rather be hyper that hypO any day! And from what I

understand, very few get their levels just right after they go hypO from

RAI. Why are they so insistent on putting us through a lifetime of hell?

You really got my attention (or your doctor did) when he mentioned going

into a thyrotoxic crisis. I thought, wow, I thought I was safe now that I

was on ATDs. And then he turned around and said since you're on the meds,

you don't have to worry about it. Why do you suppose he had to throw that

in there, when it really wasn't a risk to you? Sound to me, like most of

the other doctors I hear about, including mine, that he's just tired of

fooling with you and monitoring you all the time. I think that's mostly why

doctors are so insistent on the RAI.

Vent anytime, Rhonda. I'll vent right along with you!

Holly

So frustrated with doctor appoint. today

Have to vent and KNEW you all wouldn't mind. I went back to my former gen.

prac. today, who I really liked before, now I'm frustrated. All he could

harp on was how dangerous is to be Hyper, and that I should radiate the

thyroid. Even though I mentioned the meds either way he went on and on

about much more dangerous Hyper was and that I could go into a Thyrotoxic

Crisis (?) and have problems in less than 24 hours and even die. Freaking

me out of course, but I've learned a lot and knew some of the risks. So, I

politely nodded my head and really listened to him -- a courtesy I certainly

hope will be returned to me by him.

Later, I asked him if this Crisis is something I had to worry about

today..you know dying tonight or something, and he said no because my

thyroid is in a good place (or something like that) and the PTU controls it.

Well, then, duh? Why should I kill it if it's okay on PTU? I'm not going

to go off it for years and have all the symptoms and not address them. IF I

would do that then, yes, I could see a crisis and death, but if I'm on to my

symptoms, getting it checked and taking the meds, can I still go into

crisis?

I then asked him, since he goes on and on over and over about the positive

side of Hypo v. Hyper, about the bad effects from radiation treatment when

you go Hypo. He started on about the radiation (which is not my point, so I

told him) and then started to address my actual question, but couldn't

really come up with a list of side effects since he said it was " case by

case " but he would give me a list should I decide to do it.

Now, granted, he is not an endo, but it is of special interest and so he

" specializes " I guess you say in it. He even gave me the line about " If my

mother, father, sister, or I had Graves I would suggest the same treatment. "

-- and quite honestly I thought in my head, I really don't care what you

suggest to them. Sorry, but it was just too strong, esp. since I told him I

did not want it at this time.

I'm looking forward to seeing my results next week. Thanks, as always, for

all your answers....and in advance for any help you can provide.

BTW, he said I could exercise because my heart rate is fine and I don't need

to watch the salt, or caffeine....then went on to say " That's another reason

to get it done because you don't want to be worrying about having cake and

coffee at dinner for the rest of your life...blah, blah, blah " ....well,

apparently I don't have to worry about it anyway since he had just told me I

could have caffeine, etc. Okay, that's it....anxiously awaiting your input.

Rhonda

January 14, 2002