Aa
Dr dismissive - feeling angry/sad/frustrated
I finally got to see a Neurologist. I was hoping to hear something helpful about my crazy-heat-episodes, new-onset headaches and exhaustion. I had thought that maybe there was a psycho-somatic cause, since my internet research said that heat episodes are caused by menopause (been checked, those hormones are normal for a 35 year old) or problems with the hypothalamus. Which looks rather nasty to me.
She looked at my throid levels - I'm hypothyroid. Oddly, my TSH is undetectable, but my T3 and T4 are mid-range normal. She asked me if I take the prescribed dose. I said yes. She looked highly skeptical. Dammit, dammit, dammit! If I'd been over-dosing on my thyroxine, my T3 and T4 would be sky-high in order for my TSH to be non-existent, wouldn't it? YES I think it would. I'll double-check this over on the Thryroid Forum. Did this woman even go to medical school?
I suffer from depression, and had asked my psychiatrist if my symptoms could be psycho-somatic. I rather hoped they could be, because a hypothalamic tumour would be a terrible thing to have. My psych, Head of her Department and a Professor at the teaching hospital, told me that psycho-somatic disorders absolutely cannot cause the kind of dripping-sweat, pink in the face heat attacks she's seen me have. SHE'S the one who recommended to my GP that I be seen by a neuro in the first place.
This didn't prevent the neuro from telling me that she couldn't help me, that my symptoms are psychiatric in origin.
Excuse me? She had tested my reflexes, got me to touch my nose and walk in a straight line. She said maybe she'd send me for a CT scan, had I had one before? I told her yes, a year ago, for suspected meningitis. Turned out to be a vomiting virus. She looked at me like I was a worm. I had gone in there intending to ask for an MRI, but I felt unable to even ask her to recommend treatment for my headaches.
I felt crushed. Belittled. Written off as some kind of attention-seeking nutjob. Dammit all, if it was psycho-somatic, I would GLADLY seek psychiatric treatment. But it's NOT! The expert already told me it's not, and I wanted it to be! Bloody hell! It's not fair! I'm so angry! And upset. And I've got a bloody headache, too - and Advil isn't helping. As usual.
OK, I know. I've got to go back to my GP, tell her what happened and get a referral to a different neuro. And I'll also get a letter from my psychiatrist to support me, because I do not want to go through that again.
Suzie
She looked at my throid levels - I'm hypothyroid. Oddly, my TSH is undetectable, but my T3 and T4 are mid-range normal. She asked me if I take the prescribed dose. I said yes. She looked highly skeptical. Dammit, dammit, dammit! If I'd been over-dosing on my thyroxine, my T3 and T4 would be sky-high in order for my TSH to be non-existent, wouldn't it? YES I think it would. I'll double-check this over on the Thryroid Forum. Did this woman even go to medical school?
I suffer from depression, and had asked my psychiatrist if my symptoms could be psycho-somatic. I rather hoped they could be, because a hypothalamic tumour would be a terrible thing to have. My psych, Head of her Department and a Professor at the teaching hospital, told me that psycho-somatic disorders absolutely cannot cause the kind of dripping-sweat, pink in the face heat attacks she's seen me have. SHE'S the one who recommended to my GP that I be seen by a neuro in the first place.
This didn't prevent the neuro from telling me that she couldn't help me, that my symptoms are psychiatric in origin.
Excuse me? She had tested my reflexes, got me to touch my nose and walk in a straight line. She said maybe she'd send me for a CT scan, had I had one before? I told her yes, a year ago, for suspected meningitis. Turned out to be a vomiting virus. She looked at me like I was a worm. I had gone in there intending to ask for an MRI, but I felt unable to even ask her to recommend treatment for my headaches.
I felt crushed. Belittled. Written off as some kind of attention-seeking nutjob. Dammit all, if it was psycho-somatic, I would GLADLY seek psychiatric treatment. But it's NOT! The expert already told me it's not, and I wanted it to be! Bloody hell! It's not fair! I'm so angry! And upset. And I've got a bloody headache, too - and Advil isn't helping. As usual.
OK, I know. I've got to go back to my GP, tell her what happened and get a referral to a different neuro. And I'll also get a letter from my psychiatrist to support me, because I do not want to go through that again.
Suzie
In my opinion,drs don't care like they use to. These days they get paid by your insurance care evey month rather you see them or not. i have no insuance and the doctor I had told me to loss weight. My blood work show that I don't eat enough. I have hypothroidism. On top of that I had a close head injury in 2003. The injury was by the pituary gland but without insurance and no money what can I do. so I am in the same boat as others---------not getting the right treatment. I am willing to clean a drs' office to be treated right. God bless you on finding the right specialist.
I'm going to look up Dr Doris Rapp, as you said. It may well be that the ear-heat is unconnected with all the rest of my problems! Well worth researching it.
Thank you, as ever,
Suzie
Thank you, as ever,
Suzie
Thanks for writing to me. I don't ever get sweats at night like you do. It's always during the day and usually connected with activity. My doc hasn't found hypoglycaemia, but I'm still careful to keep my blood sugar balanced to avoid cravings for junk food. It helps. Most of the time!
I'm not pre-menopause, so that doesn't explain the heat problem. But thanks for your help, I appreciate it. I hope you're feeling good.
I'm not pre-menopause, so that doesn't explain the heat problem. But thanks for your help, I appreciate it. I hope you're feeling good.
The systems in the body are not balanced, and are throwing up different problems, which medical people cannot understand, as they cannot be measured. Follow this and report your feedback, so that others may benefit.Your search will end here.
You need to help your body to build up your immune system.The breathing exercises - pranayam is a holistic approach creating extra oxygen supply in the body and will slowly help with the health problem.Do the pranayam to see the benefits.If you feel tired or dizzy stop, and resume after 1 minute.Build up your timing slowly and after two weeks at the suggested duration you will start to notice benefits.Do this daily, with concentration.
Bhastrika - Take a long deep breath into the lungs(chest not tummy) via the nose and then completely breathe out through the nose.Duration upto 5 minutes.
Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 15 to 30 minutes twice a day. Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.
Anulom Vilom - Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril
then -keeping the left nostril closed deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.
Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.
Duration : 5 to 10 times
Only by doing you will benefit and will feel good that you can do something to help the body.Copy and print this to master the technique.This is simplified pranayam for everyone and you do not have to go to classes to learn. This is for life unlike short term classes where you do it in the class then stop when classes are over.
Now you have the technique to make yourself better, so use it.
You need to help your body to build up your immune system.The breathing exercises - pranayam is a holistic approach creating extra oxygen supply in the body and will slowly help with the health problem.Do the pranayam to see the benefits.If you feel tired or dizzy stop, and resume after 1 minute.Build up your timing slowly and after two weeks at the suggested duration you will start to notice benefits.Do this daily, with concentration.
Bhastrika - Take a long deep breath into the lungs(chest not tummy) via the nose and then completely breathe out through the nose.Duration upto 5 minutes.
Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 15 to 30 minutes twice a day. Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.
Anulom Vilom - Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril
then -keeping the left nostril closed deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.
Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.
Duration : 5 to 10 times
Only by doing you will benefit and will feel good that you can do something to help the body.Copy and print this to master the technique.This is simplified pranayam for everyone and you do not have to go to classes to learn. This is for life unlike short term classes where you do it in the class then stop when classes are over.
Now you have the technique to make yourself better, so use it.
Hey lady...hang in there. I feel your frustration. It's just about enough to drive a person batty trying to figure things out. We need "HOUSE" off the T.V. don't we? He figures out all these people with all their odd health issues!! I do know that there is a site on the internet that's called "wrong diagnosis" that you might want to check out. It's been a bit since I checked things out on it but that site and Web MD seem to be the best sources of info I've found. Also Mayo Clinic online is a great source of info! I"m sorry again you got the cruddy treatment at the endocrinologist's office like you did. That *****. We need Dr's that are in our corner and believe us when we tell them what's going on!! I read the post above from Totie. Has anyone ever checked you for allergies to food or enviornmental stuff? Sometimes untreated allergies can cause the same symptoms you've described...especially the red/hot ears! I have a book by Dr Doris Rapp here that talks about how untreated allergies affect kids. I've sen it happen with my 2 kids and i wonder if it's affecting you and I. Sounds a lot alike. I hope you're able to get down to what's going on. I kinda feel your pain. I have been off the prednisone since last Thursday and have just been totally exhausted physically and several issues.
Please keep in touch. If you need help looking things up let me know. I will do what I can to help out if at all possible!! Han in there. You have someone praying that a Dr will help you, Hopefully you'll find one that has a better attitude and will truly care about helping you get to the bottom of what's going on with you! It'd be nice if we weren't such complex cases right?! LOL. Hang in there girl. You have other peeps in your corner rooting for you!! Hugs!! C
Please keep in touch. If you need help looking things up let me know. I will do what I can to help out if at all possible!! Han in there. You have someone praying that a Dr will help you, Hopefully you'll find one that has a better attitude and will truly care about helping you get to the bottom of what's going on with you! It'd be nice if we weren't such complex cases right?! LOL. Hang in there girl. You have other peeps in your corner rooting for you!! Hugs!! C
Suzcat,
Have you been tested for being hypoglycemic? I get night sweats really bad at night. Like you, I was told pre menopaus for the last two years, even though all my hormone levels were perfect for my age (38).
For some reason my endo decided to do a OGTT, and believe it or not, my it showed my level dropped to 16 after the 3 hr mark. Of couse I did not believe I was hypoglycemic, so I asked to be retested by regular PCP, and this time it only dropped to 44. I have to eat small balanced meal of carbs, sweets, & protein like 6 times a day. If I avoid it, I will get headaches, shakes, strong urge for carbs (chips) & i get up in the middle of the night because of night sweats & the craving for cold sweet orange juice. My gyno was the one who connected the night sweats to the hypoglycemic attacks at night. She was right, I was having hypoglycemic episoides at night & I did not know what they were. I started watching eating sweets like 3hrs before bed, but I will eat a lot of protein. The night sweats are few & far in between now.
That is at least my story.
Have you been tested for being hypoglycemic? I get night sweats really bad at night. Like you, I was told pre menopaus for the last two years, even though all my hormone levels were perfect for my age (38).
For some reason my endo decided to do a OGTT, and believe it or not, my it showed my level dropped to 16 after the 3 hr mark. Of couse I did not believe I was hypoglycemic, so I asked to be retested by regular PCP, and this time it only dropped to 44. I have to eat small balanced meal of carbs, sweets, & protein like 6 times a day. If I avoid it, I will get headaches, shakes, strong urge for carbs (chips) & i get up in the middle of the night because of night sweats & the craving for cold sweet orange juice. My gyno was the one who connected the night sweats to the hypoglycemic attacks at night. She was right, I was having hypoglycemic episoides at night & I did not know what they were. I started watching eating sweets like 3hrs before bed, but I will eat a lot of protein. The night sweats are few & far in between now.
That is at least my story.
Thank you so much for caring. I just felt so despondent after that appointment. My GP made a BIG mistake sending me to a neuro instead of a neuro-endo. I went in full of hope for some real help, finally! And was totally crushed.
The thing is, I would actually be happy if my health problems were caused by my subconscious, rather than parts of my brain malfunctioning. Have some therapy, get in touch with the buried emotions that are being expressed in a physical way, and those physical symptoms should vanish. I understand the nature of psycho-somatic disease, but I felt awful because of the way that doc treated me. Now I'm doubting myself and my psychiatrist and questioning the genesis of each headache, heat spell and my constant exhuastion. I'm examining my emotions, wondering what I'm unintentionally avoiding, if I've truly resolved and processed stressful events in my life.
A bit of soul-searching is all to the good, but like you say, I need an MRI with contrast, (dynamic?) to rule out brain problems once and for all.
It feels like a Catch 22 situation. If you do your own health research and come to a doctor informed, they may think you're a hypochondriac. There's a name for the modern permutaion - Cyber-chondria! If you don't seek info, you wont get the help you need. Ha! I had to see an eye doc before seeing the neuro, expecting nothing much. He told me he's certain I have Sjorgren's Syndrome. Wouldn't explain what it was, just sent me away. Whaddya gonna do? Internet, naturally. Auto-immune, eyes, mouth, possibly internal organs dry up.
I'm hunting for info to prove I DON"T have it! I can't imagine not being able to cry. Especially when having a good cry in the car after I left the neuro's office, clinging to my dignity, was so cathartic.
Swapping heat stories - I get the headache AFTER the heat attack, not during like you. I don't get a prickly feeling, it's more of a feeling of heat radiating out from my core. I've had times when my body is fairly cool, but my ears are roasting hot. So hot I hold ice-packs to them to relieve the burning!
Thanks Cheryl - I feel more able to face my day now.
The thing is, I would actually be happy if my health problems were caused by my subconscious, rather than parts of my brain malfunctioning. Have some therapy, get in touch with the buried emotions that are being expressed in a physical way, and those physical symptoms should vanish. I understand the nature of psycho-somatic disease, but I felt awful because of the way that doc treated me. Now I'm doubting myself and my psychiatrist and questioning the genesis of each headache, heat spell and my constant exhuastion. I'm examining my emotions, wondering what I'm unintentionally avoiding, if I've truly resolved and processed stressful events in my life.
A bit of soul-searching is all to the good, but like you say, I need an MRI with contrast, (dynamic?) to rule out brain problems once and for all.
It feels like a Catch 22 situation. If you do your own health research and come to a doctor informed, they may think you're a hypochondriac. There's a name for the modern permutaion - Cyber-chondria! If you don't seek info, you wont get the help you need. Ha! I had to see an eye doc before seeing the neuro, expecting nothing much. He told me he's certain I have Sjorgren's Syndrome. Wouldn't explain what it was, just sent me away. Whaddya gonna do? Internet, naturally. Auto-immune, eyes, mouth, possibly internal organs dry up.
I'm hunting for info to prove I DON"T have it! I can't imagine not being able to cry. Especially when having a good cry in the car after I left the neuro's office, clinging to my dignity, was so cathartic.
Swapping heat stories - I get the headache AFTER the heat attack, not during like you. I don't get a prickly feeling, it's more of a feeling of heat radiating out from my core. I've had times when my body is fairly cool, but my ears are roasting hot. So hot I hold ice-packs to them to relieve the burning!
Thanks Cheryl - I feel more able to face my day now.
I'm so sorry that you had to go through that mess with the Neurologist. It sounds like the situation that I've dealt with here where we live to some extent. Seems that the 2 that I've gone to so far seem to have such an air of arrogance...."i've gone to school for years and you little peon don't know anything!". What a pain in the butt! I can empathize with you because for years here I have had one Dr. after another say that my issues were basically all in my head....I felt like they were basically hinting at the fact I was making it all up. DO NOT let this physican get you down. Fire her and move on and find someone who will listen to you!! I had told you before in a previous post that the heat/sweating issue sounds just like me. I seriously have begun to wonder if it's all hormone related now.....in other words a huge imbalance in the hormones because since the pit surgery I have had episodes where I feel that my face is on FIRE and it literally turns red. My head feels "prickly" while this "HEAT" episode is going on....I get a headache at the same time also. This in me has seemed to be tied to the cortisol level especially after the pit surgery. So, Suzie, no one has checked you to see if you have a pituitary tumor? If not, I am convinced they need to do an MRI with contrast like they have with me too rule out once and for all that's not what is at least partially causing your health issues. I am so sorry that you got treated so dirty. It *****. Makes me so aggravated. Something needs to be done to bring this disease process to light and educate other people so they stop writing off people that have these issues!! To me there's not an excuse for ignorance on the Dr's part! I have always said...you are a consumer. You pay the Dr's wages. If they don't do what you need...FIRE EM!! Please feel free to message me any time if you want to talk, vent....ask questions etc. etc. Hang in there. There's strength in numbers!! HUGS Cheryl
Neurologists cannot and do not treat pituitary issues - they are as useless as.. well...
Find a neuro-endo.
Find a neuro-endo.
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