Re: Unexpected doctor's office visit........

[Guest guest]

Two thumbs up Carolyn!! Way to go....Sometimes we also have to make it ok

for them not to 'know it all'. Seems like you did that.

Appreciating you,

Sheila

" Trust men [people] and they will be true to you; treat them greatly and

they will prove themselves great. "

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Unexpected doctor's office visit........

You may recall, that last week at this time I was calling my GP's

office and telling them that the increased dose was sending me right

into hypO land and we had to do something about it quick. I got an

immediate response, through calls from her nurse, and we dropped my

dose of methimazole from 30mg (down from the 40 she had raised it to

and I had already dropped from) to 20mg. I was told to make an

appointment in 2 weeks to see her. Well, I already had an appointment

for a follow-up pap for yesterday so was told to just wait until then

to make any additional appointments.

So, I get to the office armed with all my paperwork that I've copied

about correct testing and how we can NOT use the TSH testing to

determine my dosage. The blood pressure shoots up as soon as I

stepped through that doorway! I'm sure it wasn't that high before I

actually got the outer office door. Probably shot up even more when

they actually called my name and I went back to the exam room. I'm

right! 138/80 - my blood pressure has NEVER been that high even at

the height of the graves. Anyway, I'm sitting there and the door

opens and in she walks holding my file. " How are you feeling? I see

that I sent you right into hypo. Before we go any further, I have to

apologize to you for that. I just got so hung up in wanting to see

that TSH number change......I do apologize. " Huh? Doctors don't say

stuff like this! Right? She went on to say she knows that only I can

really know if the treatment is working and she's glad I called

before I got any worse. By this time, I had to be sitting there with

my mouth hanging open in a state of total shock. Very few times have

I ever had a doctor who admitted they not only made a mistake, but

apologized for it. She asked me if I wanted to go ahead and have my

blood tests done yesterday and also explained why she would rather

wait until next week to have them done so I would have more time on

the lower dosage. But, left it up to me. We talked about the blood

pressure number still beibg so high and I explained that I had kept a

record of mine and brought it with me to show her how screwy the

numbers get when I go into the office She was really pleased to have

them through the period of the hypo mess and asked if she could make

a copy of them for my file. I asked for the FT4, FT3, TSI and TPO

tests and she had no problems with the request. So, I get what I want

and need and she understands why I want these numbers - to track my

process as I work towards remission. She understands that RAI will

never be accepted as a method of treatment and seems to have moved on.

I guess the reason I'm writing all of this, is that I know there are

people out there searching for a good doctor who will work with them

as a teammate in this endeavor and I just wanted to let them know

that the good ones are out there. When you least expect to find one,

there they are willing to work with you in your efforts to heal and

don't feel threatened about having a knowledgeable patient who is

proactive in their treatment. I know that we may have disagreements

in the future, but I'll deal with them if/when they happen. And with

any luck at all my blood pressure might just stay in the normal range

next visit! )

Carolyn B

[Guest guest]

Oh my gosh, Carolyn, that is fantastic!! It sounds so good, one might think

it fictional (I do believe you, though!).

Where are you located? People in your area may want to know about this doc.

At 03:22 PM 10/29/2003, you wrote:

>You may recall, that last week at this time I was calling my GP's

>office and telling them that the increased dose was sending me right

>into hypO land and we had to do something about it quick.

[Guest guest]

Two thumbs up Carolyn!! Way to go....Sometimes we also have to make

it ok for them not to 'know it all'. Seems like you did that.

Appreciating you,

Sheila

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think that just might be it exactly. She's a GP and a strong woman

who doesn't seem to have that attitude of having to prove herself to

everybody. At least in the office environment. I've always gotten the

feeling that she is really listening to what I have to say in answer

to her questions. That in and of itself is amazing with most of the

doctors I've ever been to.

Carolyn B

[Guest guest]

Oh my gosh, Carolyn, that is fantastic!! It sounds so good, one might

think it fictional (I do believe you, though!).

Where are you located? People in your area may want to know about

this doc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It does, doesn't it? I went home last night and was talking to my

partner and even she had this stunned look on her face! LOL! I know I

feel so much better now than I did before that visit.

I'm in Louisville, Kentucky. I just lucked into the fact that we

changed our health plan here at work and no longer had to go through

a primary care physician which I had to choose sight unseen and then

had to keep going to even though we disliked each other on site! ;0)

Just one of those things I guess <shrug>, but he definitely didn't

like anyone who had enough brains to ask a question. Thankfully, my

graves never showed up while I was going to him. Anyway, I got out as

quick as I could and found another group of doctors who were close to

the house and just picked one of them and made an appointment! Don't

know if the others are like her, but I feel like I made a good

choice. Her name is Minter-Sauer and she has renewed my faith in

doctors. So far, so good, and only the future will tell if things

stay this good.

Carolyn B

[Guest guest]

Wow Carolyn! You hit the jackpot in doctor's it sounds like. Gives us all hope

that they are out there, and God willing more of us will be able to connect with

them. Congratulations to you - sounds like you are off to a very good start with

your treatment of this disease.

I know what you mean about the blood pressure zooming up when you get into the

doctor's office. Mine does that too, and my GP even had a name that he called

it, after I started keeping a log to show him what my bp was when I wasn't in

his office. :-)

the other

ladychb wrote:

You may recall, that last week at this time I was calling my GP's

office and telling them that the increased dose was sending me right

into hypO land and we had to do something about it quick. I got an

immediate response, through calls from her nurse, and we dropped my

dose of methimazole from 30mg (down from the 40 she had raised it to

and I had already dropped from) to 20mg. I was told to make an

appointment in 2 weeks to see her. Well, I already had an appointment

for a follow-up pap for yesterday so was told to just wait until then

to make any additional appointments.

So, I get to the office armed with all my paperwork that I've copied

about correct testing and how we can NOT use the TSH testing to

determine my dosage. The blood pressure shoots up as soon as I

stepped through that doorway! I'm sure it wasn't that high before I

actually got the outer office door. Probably shot up even more when

they actually called my name and I went back to the exam room. I'm

right! 138/80 - my blood pressure has NEVER been that high even at

the height of the graves. Anyway, I'm sitting there and the door

opens and in she walks holding my file. " How are you feeling? I see

that I sent you right into hypo. Before we go any further, I have to

apologize to you for that. I just got so hung up in wanting to see

that TSH number change......I do apologize. " Huh? Doctors don't say

stuff like this! Right? She went on to say she knows that only I can

really know if the treatment is working and she's glad I called

before I got any worse. By this time, I had to be sitting there with

my mouth hanging open in a state of total shock. Very few times have

I ever had a doctor who admitted they not only made a mistake, but

apologized for it. She asked me if I wanted to go ahead and have my

blood tests done yesterday and also explained why she would rather

wait until next week to have them done so I would have more time on

the lower dosage. But, left it up to me. We talked about the blood

pressure number still beibg so high and I explained that I had kept a

record of mine and brought it with me to show her how screwy the

numbers get when I go into the office She was really pleased to have

them through the period of the hypo mess and asked if she could make

a copy of them for my file. I asked for the FT4, FT3, TSI and TPO

tests and she had no problems with the request. So, I get what I want

and need and she understands why I want these numbers - to track my

process as I work towards remission. She understands that RAI will

never be accepted as a method of treatment and seems to have moved on.

I guess the reason I'm writing all of this, is that I know there are

people out there searching for a good doctor who will work with them

as a teammate in this endeavor and I just wanted to let them know

that the good ones are out there. When you least expect to find one,

there they are willing to work with you in your efforts to heal and

don't feel threatened about having a knowledgeable patient who is

proactive in their treatment. I know that we may have disagreements

in the future, but I'll deal with them if/when they happen. And with

any luck at all my blood pressure might just stay in the normal range

next visit! )

Carolyn B

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[Guest guest]

Carolyn -

I lucked out that way as well w/ the Dr. that first diagnosed me.

He himself had graves (he was internal medicine) and he knew that

it was important to me to have all the options avail to me at that

time. Including not taking drugs (prescription) if not ABSOLUTELY

necessary. He also allowed me to determine what we were going to

count as " normal " for me.

Now unfortunately I live in a different town. I seen an endo. and

although he is supposed to be one of the best in this area his

bedside manner SUCKS. I'm going to give him one more go. And when

I go in this time, I'm laying it on the line. Letting him know

I've done my homework as well.. If he doesn't change some I'm

ditching him and going to someone else.

My brother who also has Graves Had a wonderful Dr. in Marshfield

WI. Supposed to be extremely reputable and one of the best for

surgery etc. and even though my brother didnt want to weigh any

odds or diff options. He just wanted his thyroid taken care of as

quickly as possible.. He did opt for RAI but his Dr has been good

w/ the follow up etc..

Take care,

> Oh my gosh, Carolyn, that is fantastic!! It sounds so good, one

might

> think it fictional (I do believe you, though!).

> Where are you located? People in your area may want to know about

> this doc.

>

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

> It does, doesn't it? I went home last night and was talking to my

> partner and even she had this stunned look on her face! LOL! I

know I

> feel so much better now than I did before that visit.

>

> I'm in Louisville, Kentucky. I just lucked into the fact that we

> changed our health plan here at work and no longer had to go

through

> a primary care physician which I had to choose sight unseen and

then

> had to keep going to even though we disliked each other on

site! ;0)

> Just one of those things I guess <shrug>, but he definitely didn't

> like anyone who had enough brains to ask a question. Thankfully,

my

> graves never showed up while I was going to him. Anyway, I got out

as

> quick as I could and found another group of doctors who were close

to

> the house and just picked one of them and made an appointment!

Don't

> know if the others are like her, but I feel like I made a good

> choice. Her name is Minter-Sauer and she has renewed my faith in

> doctors. So far, so good, and only the future will tell if things

> stay this good.

>

> Carolyn B

[Guest guest]

Hi Carolyn,

Congratulations. You have to take credit too for being proactive with your

health. What city are you in in case anyone needs a referral? Take care, Elaine