Wed 10 Sep 2008
I’ve been ill the past few days. It seems strange that such a small gland such as your thyroid could be so crucial, but it is. It regulates your entire well-being.
As for the new endocrinologist, he’s history. We’ve come to an impasse. He called me on Monday after my latest set of blood tests and I’d told the nurse I’d like to talk with him, and he began by saying, “We can’t keep having this same conversation over and over again.” (This is the third time we’d talked, once in his office.)
He wanted me to cut back on my thyroid supplements even more, and I told him I was too ill to think about it. His reply, without once asking me what kind of problems I’d been having, “If you don’t take my advice, I can’t help you.” Go back to the previous dosage? Out of the question. “I won’t write you a prescription for it.”
As a say, an impasse, and he’s out of my life. I’ll see my primary care physician next week, and she’ll help me get things straightened out. That I’m not concerned about.
But things will remain quiet here on the blog for a while longer. I don’t know if you wanted to know all this, but you haven’t seen anything here from me lately, and I thought maybe I should tell you why.
I also needed to let off some steam, as you can imagine.
September 10th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Steve: Best of luck. It’s no fun.
I started with Hyperthyroidism when I was a freshman in high school. Numerous scans and then treatment with radioactive iodine. (which was experimental at the time)Then it was medications for life. Then you play the rollercoaster game and you have Hypothyroidism. Now different medications. Always blood tests and doctors with their hands around your throat. Years later and now all my brothers and sisters are being treated for thyroid problems. I’m 51 now and maintaining. Ironically, the best health care I had for threatment was when I was serving a 4 year hitch in the Military. Now, with todays doctors, It’s a roll of the dice.
You take care, Think about yourself & family.
Get healthy -Pulling for you! A.W.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I also have hypothyroidism and have for years although at times it seems more like hyper too. (insomnia, jittery) I also think about you and wish you a new doctor who can get it under control.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Steve,
Your friends are pulling for you!
Mike
September 10th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Steve,
We’ll be thinking about you. Best of luck in getting the problem straightened out.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Steve
Without our health we can never achieve all we want to. Thank you for telling us of your present problem. I’m sure you have the sympathy and understanding of all your readers. Hope you find help/relief soon.
Keith
September 10th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
All the very best, Steve, for a full and quick recovery.
September 11th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Steve:
Rooting for you all the way. After what I’d been through recently with my hip, I can empathize with you as far as treatment is concerned. Hang in there.
Victor
September 11th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Thanks to all for the good wishes. I really appreciate them. I’m sure I’ll find a doctor who’s willing to work with patients. They’re around, but I sure don’t understand why medical schools are still pumping out graduates who don’t know how to deal with people they’re supposed to be helping.
Patti, you’re right, the lists of symptoms for hyperthyroidism (too much) and hypo (too little) are almost the same, the most common culprits fatigue and weariness.
I suppose that’s why thyroid doctors are so obsessed with blood test results, such as this new guy I just went to.
In my case, for example, my TSH level is so low that’s almost off the charts, but that’s the way it’s been for the past five or six years. Low but under control.
Didn’t matter to this smug new guy, who responded just any any smug new guy would be bound to do. I can understand that. Luckily I also know when to say Hasta la vista, except there’s no “later” in my version of See You Later.
August, I think my history is about the same as yours. It started in high school, went into remission for a while, then came back in my 40s or so. You learn to live with it, but when I said “under control” a while back, I didn’t mean that it ever went away. You used the word maintaining. That about says it all.
But I have a good friend in the hospital with cancer. He’s nearly 3000 miles away, but I try to call him once a week. When I do, guess what. He’s cheered me up as much as I have him.
We have to help each other, folks, there’s no way around it.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Steve, hope you find a good doctor and that he helps you out with your medical problems. Doctors often don’t know how to deal with patients or simply don’t have the time. The doctor I’m going to now always has the patient in and out of the office within a few minutes. He takes my blood pressure, listens to my heart, listens to my complaint, writes me a prescription, and I’m out. I’m not sure if he is helping me or not. I’m still alive so I guess that’s a positive thing. But I definitely have the feeling that I’m running out of time. Too many books and old movies to still go through!
September 11th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Walker —
The more I hear about other people’s visits and experiences they have with their doctors, the more I feel that the medical profession is on the verge of a massive and complete breakdown.
I have no solution.
We can talk about books, though. The same thoughts about time running out have been running through my mind as well. Of course I figure that I have 30 years or so in which to work out the details, but if I have 75,000 books, how many books a day does that mean I need to read?
Um. The math doesn’t work out so well when put that way, does it?
But some of the books I have. Let’s put it this way: if I don’t read them, who will?
— Steve
September 12th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Good luck with the doctor hunt. After suffering for several years with a doctor whose method consisted of handing you a batch of the latest samples some salesperson left behind,I’ve recently found that a doctor’s manner can vary from patient to patient. I can go into my new doctor, talk to him about anything bothering me and get a prescription or referral or test to fix or find more about the problem. My wife, on the other hand, always comes out complaining he never listens to her. Perhaps, in the end, it’s just a matter of finding a doctor to match your personality.
On the “what do I do about all these books” front, I just tell folks I have a deal with God that he won’t take me until I finish the last one & constantly adding expands the lifespan.
Good luck with you health, we’re all pulling for you.
September 12th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Larry E
I’m glad you’ve found a new doctor you’re happy with, but it sounds as though your wife should keep looking.
For what’s worth, from what I’ve learned from reading thyroid help forums on the Internet, women are far more likely to feel that male doctors are not listening to them.
Others say that having someone go with you into the consultation room improves a doctor’s communication skills tremendously. I can believe that!
I’ve expressed the same thoughts about my book collection, but I think I should have never worked out the math.
— Steve
September 14th, 2008 at 6:15 am
Steve, all the best to you from me, too!