Still no answers, but was told to take this med

[kenneltech]

I have been going to doctor after doctor about my weight and thyroid disorders, but haven't found any results yet.  Anyway, that is a long story.  Recently I went to see an endo and he did the usual tests (never do they do any complete testing), and then he told me that he could "help me lose this weight" by prescribing Phentermine.

I told him I have severe PTSD, and even benydril (sp?) will give me an anxiety attack and I can't take anything that will make me feel hyper.  He said not to worry about it as he would start me at a low dose.  Everything I have heard about this drug spells RED FLAG to me, but he swears he will "watch my dosage."

Any pros and cons either way?

[Totie]

Have they tested you for "cushings"? Have you been to a gyno lately? All this could be gyno related.

Just a thought.

[Barb135]

Can you try a different doctor?  Drugs and stomach stapling are not going to do anything for a thyroid issue, except maybe make it worse!!  

I really feel for you because, just prior to my diagnosis of hypo, I gained right at 30 pounds in < 3 months; that was going to Curves 3 days/week, plus practically living on salads, with no, or little dressing!!  My doctor so eloquently told me I needed to "MOVE MORE".  Thanks doc, I have a lot of trust in you too............. not; he's no longer my doctor!!  

[redheadaussie]

Geeze Louise! sounds like me over 15 years ago. I put on over 80lbs very quickly and got told to join Weight Watchers! I was always always a healthy gym junkie kind of person, and in my opinion, you don't put on weight that quickly for no reason.
  I finally got tested for Hashi and guess what I have it!

Get that antibody testing done! Kick doctors bott botts to get the answers!

[kenneltech]

You are so right, when I told this doctor that I have been doing what the diabetic dietician wanted me to do, he asked me if I was "cheating" and that I had to right down everything I ate!!  I told him that I wanted to lose this so bad that I even wrote down when I went one time out to a restaurant, and I didn't go by the diet!  Besides, I told him that the dietician said that there was NO WAY that I could have gained like I'm doing (saw her a second time and I had gained another 14 lbs.) unless I laid in bed twently four hours a day and ate nothing but junk!  He still said he was gonna put me on diet pills and sign me up for the stomach stapling surgery!

Well, anyway, I've been through all this, I'm still gonna look, I can't think of anything else to do!

Thanks

[Barb135]

You posted on this subject in Weight Loss and Dieting, as well, and I commented on it there.

I find it irresponsible of the endo, not to do all the necessary testing for thyroid issues, but be so willing to prescribe a drug like phentermine.

Doctor do tend not to believe us when we have weight issues.  For some reason, it's so much easier for them blame us for not doing something, than it is to help us.

[gimel]

Check your email for PM.

[kenneltech]

I know, I've been going through this for months now!  This doctor said that he was going to do all kinds of testing because I told him all about my horror stories with other doctors, and he did basically the same thing!  He did a 24 hr. cortisol, but when I asked him why I was only doing one since CYCLIC CUSHINGS was suspected, he did not have an answer other than one should show something!  I went through this before!  

He did not do a "range" testing to see what the differences were, which is typical again.  But recently, I called him and told him that I wanted my lab results, and I WANTED TO KNOW IF I DID OR DID NOT HAVE HASHI'S AS NO ONE HAS TESTED ME FOR THIS.  He actually told me that he also didn't test me for it!!!  Then he apologized profusely because I told him that I really had faith in him and got my hopes up, and he did nothing more than all the other doctors, and he didn't even check me for Hashi's!

Don't know if you remember this, but the other endo said that "Hashi's is a scholarly diagnosis only and it was a waste of money to test for it as everyone that has hypothyroidism has Hashi's."

I have been in touch with Sharmyn McGraw and the doctor at UCLA, and I can probably go to California to get some testing done, they both told me that there weren't any real renowned endo doctors in Colorado, and I agree!  I've been to so many, I've about hit all of them!  

I also told this idiot that I have gained about 20 more pounds since I saw him, which was less than a month ago!  And I told him I would never go to see him again, but that I would be in to get my records.  I also did look up Phentermine, and it is nasty, and I am not taking it.

I don't know why doctors don't believe you if you have a weight problem, but they don't.  They tend to treat you by the numbers on your labs and not by your symptoms, which are severe in my case.  I don't have eyebrows anymore, I have extremely dry skin, I have all the symptoms of hypo (which I take meds for) but I am no better.

Anyway, I'll get those results and post them, he told me they were all "normal."  But I'm beginning to wonder what he knows anyway.  When I was there, I told him that I was eating exactly the way my dietician told me to (I have diabetes), and he practically called me a liar!  He said, "are you sure you are writing down everything you eat?"  I'm so tired of this.  Thanks for asking, though.

[gimel]

Hi KT.  good to hear from you again.  Have you been able to get any test result data from the doctor, that you could post for us, along with reference ranges?  I'd really like to see what tests have been done and what the levels looked like.  

So this Endo said nothing about any thyroid issues, but would readily prescribe you Phentermine for weight loss?????    That's unbelievable.  Check this info on Phentermine.

"Prescription strength Phentermine can be extremely effective in treating obese patients - but it has some serious downfalls. It is not only hard to get, but it can also cause some nasty side effects - including insomnia, fainting, severe headaches, and nervousness. It can also be habit forming if taken for a long period of time."

I can really see where a therapeutic trial of thyroid meds might be a real risk, compared with that.   NOT!!!!!