Re: stupid doctors visit yestereday- Shelly

[Guest guest]

On Wed, 27 Aug 2003 06:20:00 -0700 (PDT) SHELLY WOLANSKY

writes:

> You know what? I'm not stupid. I had a doctor tell me yesterday that

> my muscles hurting and being weak has nothing to do with Grave's

> Disease because Grave's is no big deal and no one has ever died from

> it and he treats pt's all the time and basicly I am crazy

How did you find this doctor - on your own or through a social service

agency? I would find someone to lodge a formal complaint with, maybe even

the AMA, if you had the time and energy. I also wonder how many Graves

patients he treats on a regular basis because even my worst endos

wouldn't deny

#1 the muscle weakness

#2 how serious untreated or mistreated Graves is. In fact, that's one of

their favorite lines to get patients to do RAI - the real dangers of

thyroid storm, which can be fatal. On the other side, untreated or

mistreated hypothyroidism can lead to coma, heart disease, and more, and

be fatal too.

IIRC this doctor isn't even an endo. Most, if not all of us, have had

run-ins with our endos but it is really something to see such rampant

delusion.

BTW, about the " I am crazy " - Graves really can mess up our minds, and

when we're faced with stupid endos really make us doubt what's real and

true, even after we've started getting real information. That you could

so clearly see him for what he is should make you feel really good about

the direction you're heading in.

take care, Fay

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[Guest guest]

Stupid doctor is right. You know better, Shelly. Stay the course.

At 09:20 AM 8/27/2003, you wrote:

>You know what? I'm not stupid. I had a doctor tell me yesterday that my

>muscles hurting and being weak has nothing to do with Grave's Disease

>because Grave's is no big deal and no one has ever died from it and he

>treats pt's all the time and basicly I am crazy

[Guest guest]

Shelly,

It looks like Dr. Incompetent ordered the lesser preferred thyroid tests --

like every one BUT the Free T3 and Free T4. But it is enough to know that

you are hyperT right now. If I were you, I would get an ultrasound when I

could, as you may have nodules, which could alter the course of your

treatment (you don't want to not know if you have nodules, as there is a

very small percent chance that nodules could be cancerous -- I don't want

to scare you, but you need to know this). It is also best to have tests for

TSI and TPO-Antibodies, as until you do, your diagnosis is questionable.

Are you applying for some type of public assistance? It seems to me that

there may be a way to have these tests done and covered by the state

(medicaid?) if one truly can't afford it.

It seems like your blood work isn't too bad. The t4 and t3 tests relate to

your thyroid levels (the t4 test you had is elevated, and the t3 test you

had shows high-normal); I would have a much clearer picture of where you

are with the Free T3 and Free T4 tests, tho. The TSH is the pituitary

hormone that stimulates your thyroid, and yours is low (which is the case

with hyperT).

Your white blood cell count is good and normal.

Shelly, you need to tell the doctors to run the Free T3 and Free T4 tests,

as well as any other tests you expect to have. You are the conductor of

this train. Don't think for a minute you can sit back and assume they will

run the proper tests. Even with my GP who I've known for 10 years, I say

every time I want Free T3 and Free T4 when they take my blood. Every time.

Are you taking medication?

At 10:26 AM 8/28/2003, you wrote:

>Well I was told to go to this doc by the disibility office. He was

>suppossed to do a physical exam on me . the only thing he did was, stand

>up, bend down, raise your arms?

>made me so mad, i cried (wait i always cry) lol

[Guest guest]

That sounds fairly reasonable, though perhaps a bit much. Just watch

yourself, especially for symptoms of hypOT (i.e., tiredness, fatigue,

weight gain, bloating, constipation, brain fog). You will definitely need a

Free T4 test at the minimum in 3-4 weeks, and will probably need a

reduction on the PTU.

I wouldn't hang out on the inderal and xanax too long -- both addictive (in

different ways). In my unqualified opinion, one should be careful about the

use of these meds. Stopping the inderal after regular use can be dangerous

(heart attack), and so you will need to taper gradually, as advised by your

doctor. Stopping xanax when one has become addicted will lead to rebound.

Do your research, so you will know what you are taking, and the possible

side effects.

I started out mild hyperT, and so I didn't take anything aside from the PTU

-- I was lucky it kicked in right away for me (usually takes weeks to feel

relief). Why are they giving you xanax as well? Seems excessive. If it were

me, and I needed some immediate relief and the ATD wasn't enough, I would

take a bit of the beta blocker, and see if I needed more of that, etc.,

like build up from the foundation, up to the recommended dose (no more) to

see what's enough. Probably would leave the xanax alone, unless I felt I

was jumping out of my skin and the beta blocker didn't help. Unless I was

given a great rationale to take it. Just my thoughts, I'm not a medical doctor.

At 11:31 AM 8/28/2003, you wrote:

>The er dr. changed my meds too: ptu is 300 mg a day and inderal 80mg a day

>and xanax every day or something like it. I have a new dr. appt tomorrow

[Guest guest]

Hi Shelly,

Hang in there. Some patience, and a whole lot of deep breathing (or

relaxation exercises). It typically takes weeks to start to feel the full

effect of the ATD. If your pulse went from 140 to 86, then that is a

significant change.

You don't want to be overdosed. You just want to take enough to help block

the production of more hormone, while the excess hormone stored in your

thyroid gland is used up. And you will need to keep on top of blood work

(i.e., Free T4) so that you will know when to reduce. You don't want to go

hypO if you can avoid it. Once your FT4 starts coming into the normal

range, you will want to reduce your ATD.

And it is important, especially early on, to do the WBC and liver function

tests, so that you will know if you are having an adverse reaction to the

meds that could be serious. Once you are on a low dose and for a while, the

chances of a bad reaction decrease, tho it's always good to be vigilant,

and have these tests done periodically. You must have a WBC done

immediately if you get a sore throat or fever or other sign of infection --

a rapid drop in WBC can be very dangerous, and even fatal. If that happens,

you should stop the ATD and wait to be cleared before resuming (tell them

you need the results done STAT). You can read the drug insert to see what

are the other possible side effects (it is common to get a rash or hives if

taking more medication than you need, tho can mean you are allergic).

Goiter is simply an enlarged thyroid. I believe it should reduce as your

condition improves.

Great that you found a doc who you like!

At 11:08 PM 8/29/2003, you wrote:

>You know I'm not to sure on what to do? I feel like I am on the right meds

>but need more.