Re: moving toward hypo-Val

[Guest guest]

Hi Val -

I understand what you're going through. Unfortunately

getting the care we NEED and DESERVE is usually just a

pipe dream.

If you can find a doc with a medical license (and a pulse)

you can hopefully get the Free T4, Free T3, and TSH blood

tests, as well as prescriptions, and even a thyroid

ultrasound, if necessary. As far as educational info,

thank goodness for these boards and Elaine's books!!!

How endos can be so useless in thyroid matters, and yet in such high

demand at the same time has got to be one of the biggest mysteries

I've ever come across.

I'm not sure where you are as far as your thyroid condition goes,

but I personally gave up years ago trying to find a

doctor who could actually HELP me. I think the biggest

hurdle is getting one (a family doctor works fine) who

will agree to set you up with testing and prescriptions,

even if he/she doesn't know too much about thyroid. If

they are willing to learn, you've hit the jackpot.

I feel that an endo is only necessary if you have complications

of sorts, such a pregnancy or perhaps other endocrine hormonal

issues as well as the thyroid disorder.

Most endos rely on diabetes as their cash crop, and

feel that Graves' patients are " cured " if they destroy the gland,

create hypOthyroidism, and place the patient on synthroid for

the remainder of the patient's life.......

Keep searching - you'll find a doctor who will suffice. I've found

that calling around and asking for one who handles thyroid as a

specialty really narrows the field. Just asking around for a doctor

who will help work with you regarding your thyroid condition should

be the most you can expect. I get the rest of my info from these

groups.

Good luck to you,

Chris

> Hi Pam,

>

> Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with this. I hear

what

> you are saying about getting the hypo taken care of, but one of the

> reasons I wanted to try the ND is because I can actually get

> appts. with her when I feel bad and she has time to talk to me.

>

> My endo books appt's so far out and once you have it, there's no

> changing. I actually called to try and move it up, I told them I was

> feeling pretty bad and they just said no way. Can't change it. So

here

> I am.

>

> I wish there was even one other endo in a 300 mile radius. We

> have one office here with 2 docs and folks drive from all over the

> darn place. It is actually the busiest docs office I have EVER seen.

>

> So, having said that I am still planning on going to my endo's

office

> in November, I just don't know what to do in the meantime! this

> problem with them has already landed me in the ER once prior to

> remission and I feel like i need care in between the 3 months they

> can give me a few minutes of their time. If I wanted another doc,

I'd

> have to drive San Francisco, possibly Eugene, or Portland. So I

> guess I feel like I am in a dilemma. I've even been calling around

so

> find if there's an internal med person who has thyroid as a

> specialty. So far no luck. We have a shortage of Docs in my

area...hmm

> should I go back to school?

>

> I know I will see my regular Endo Pam, but they are not really

making

> me well, or at least it doesn't feel like they are making me

> well. They are providing me with necessary meds, but that's it. I

> guess I am looking for another way to feel like I am receiving the

> care I need.

>

> Val

[Guest guest]

Hi

Thanks for writing. Luckily I DO have this board. It was a life saver

and still is.

As for my situation, I was in remission after taking PTU for a little

over a year. My Endo has been great about helping me with the

treatment I want, it's just that when something goes awry (like

lately) I may as well not even exist.

I have just recently had my TSH move, it's still in the normal range

but it's high normal. Who knows what is it now.

When Pam L. wrote about the everything piling up and sort

of falling apart, that really struck a nerve with me. I am having a

hard time coping with the smallest apsects of my normal life, and let

me tell you..it's not fun!

I just have to make it through October. I know i can do it, My

appointment can not be changed, but I just have to hold on and get

through the month. When this happened when I was on PTU, I just

adjusted my meds myself (not saying to do this) but I only did it

because they can't get me in when stuff goes wrong.

Anyhow, I'm not good at being patient when I'm not feeling right, and

I am mostly just venting. I'm sure it'll all work out. Thanks again

for writing.

Val

[Guest guest]

Hi

Thanks for writing. Luckily I DO have this board. It was a life saver

and still is.

As for my situation, I was in remission after taking PTU for a little

over a year. My Endo has been great about helping me with the

treatment I want, it's just that when something goes awry (like

lately) I may as well not even exist.

I have just recently had my TSH move, it's still in the normal range

but it's high normal. Who knows what is it now.

When Pam L. wrote about the everything piling up and sort

of falling apart, that really struck a nerve with me. I am having a

hard time coping with the smallest apsects of my normal life, and let

me tell you..it's not fun!

I just have to make it through October. I know i can do it, My

appointment can not be changed, but I just have to hold on and get

through the month. When this happened when I was on PTU, I just

adjusted my meds myself (not saying to do this) but I only did it

because they can't get me in when stuff goes wrong.

Anyhow, I'm not good at being patient when I'm not feeling right, and

I am mostly just venting. I'm sure it'll all work out. Thanks again

for writing.

Val

[Guest guest]

Hi

Thanks for writing. Luckily I DO have this board. It was a life saver

and still is.

As for my situation, I was in remission after taking PTU for a little

over a year. My Endo has been great about helping me with the

treatment I want, it's just that when something goes awry (like

lately) I may as well not even exist.

I have just recently had my TSH move, it's still in the normal range

but it's high normal. Who knows what is it now.

When Pam L. wrote about the everything piling up and sort

of falling apart, that really struck a nerve with me. I am having a

hard time coping with the smallest apsects of my normal life, and let

me tell you..it's not fun!

I just have to make it through October. I know i can do it, My

appointment can not be changed, but I just have to hold on and get

through the month. When this happened when I was on PTU, I just

adjusted my meds myself (not saying to do this) but I only did it

because they can't get me in when stuff goes wrong.

Anyhow, I'm not good at being patient when I'm not feeling right, and

I am mostly just venting. I'm sure it'll all work out. Thanks again

for writing.

Val