Need to vent

[ACNSC]

I'm so mad I could bite railroad ties in two! I'm getting excellent treatment, but my sister on the other hand..well that's my reason for this vent.OK, she has been on levo for almost a year, prescribed by her GYN b/c of hypothyroidism (I don't have her labs). She is having "typical" hypo symptoms, and because of our extensive family history (both sides of our family ~all~ females have thyroid issues), she asked for a referral to my endocrinologist..and was referred to her GYN's "friend" a GYN that works at a weight loss place, and if she doesn't loose weight in the next two weeks the GYN will give her the referral to my endo. Well, she went to the weight place, and the guy put her on HCG (not FDA approved), 600 calories a day (but didn't ask her to keep a food journal), some adapex, a diuretic (not sure what kind..just says "diuretic " on the bottle), some multi-vitamin (yep just says "multi-vitamin" on the bottle)!

OK, as I've told her..if your thyroid is not working like it should..and it controls your metabolism..and you've done the diet/exercise thing over and over..how in the ~hell~ is another diet going to help?!?! Both GYNs ~know~ she is hypo, and on meds for it..and she is asking for a referral to a specialist to treat this..but getting the runaround. I am shocked that this is happening to her! Oh, and did I mention that it was $448 up front for the weight loss place?

I don't understand how some one who is suppose to be ~so~ smart as a DR..can be ~so~ stupid!!!

[stella5349]

Absolutely. If she wants she can "buy" her own labs. I can help there - get the right ones done and then in the meantime find a doctor to schedule an appointment that has a clue - unlike this jerk!

Have her log on here. We can offer her alot of information.

[ACNSC]

She is, unfortunately, on Medicaid; in our area the only doctors that accept Medicaid is at the clinics. I'm going with her tomorrow to "fire" her "weight loss" doctor..after she asks him for the referral..again. She agreed not to take any of the "medicines", and is ~very~ frustrated that she is having such a hard time. I am also going with her to her next appointment in a few weeks to her GYN.

[ShelleyN720]

She can say NO. She can find another GYN.
Does she have a primary care physician? She should be able to get a referral from her primary for an endocrinologist.
The $448 should be spent on labs to look at her thyroid function.
Starving herself on 600 calories a day could make her condition worse, not better! Good nutrition is so important with thyroid disease - the body's cells are screaming for help.
Most folks with thyroid issues appear to have mineral deficiencies.
This sounds simply crazy!