Thank you all so much for your input, this really is a support group here. I have been on disability for 10 months because of my brain aneurysm, but honestly now I think it's time I get back to life. My thyroid issues are a small task to deal with after almost dying and being in ICU for a month with blood draining from tubes coming out of my brain. Soory for the brutal honesty, but I think if I made it outta that I can do anything now. This is just all new to me, and not being able to go to a doctor yet is not helping. I have an appt. in 2 weeks with the county to check on my aneurysm, I'm going to weasle my way into them helping with my thyroid.
I have accepted a job and will have medical insurance in 6 months.
Meanwhile I am going to try to drastically change my eating habits and do juicing to cleanse my body. I do believe the Chinese doctors when they say it has to do with your chi (energy) and the main balances in your liver and kidneys.
Being an old hippy I do look at alternatives for regular medicine, as the boards will show on this forum that a large number of doctors don't care or are just too lazy to look in depth at the why's of things.......my faith in the common doctor is not great.
Once I go to the county and find what my numbers are then I will post them for feedback from all you thyroid experts.....I'm glad you are out there!
Luvs, slamma
Your best bet to find a good thyroid doctor would be to post a new message and indicate in the title that you need recommendation for a thyroid doctor in Santa Monica area. That way it will get more attention and you might get lucky and get a rec from a member, based on personal experience.
Lacking that, I have used the Top Thyroid docs site numerous times trying to help members find their good thyroid doctor. Results have been somewhat mixed. If you find doctors on the Top Docs list that are in your general area and look like "prospects" instead of "suspects", then read through the patient reviews first. That can be revealing about their treatment protocol, their cost, and their insurance acceptance.
The final thing that I have done that has helped to sort them out was a call to the office. Then I ask if Doctor is taking new patients, and if so I would like to ask one of the nurses a couple of questions before making an appointment. This has never failed to get a nurse on the phone with me. Then I ask if the doctor is willing to test for free T3 and free T4, instead of total T3 and total T4. I ask if the doctor is wiling to treat a patient clinically by adjusting free T3 and free T4 levels as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by TSH . Then I ask if the doctor is willing to prescribe meds other than just T4 types. If the answer is no, on any of the three questions, then I just keep on looking for a good thyroid doctor.
Try using this website: http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/
You can locate a thyroid specialist in your area. I use this to find one in my area. Before you choose to be seen, please check to see if the specialist has any reviews. You may want to know what others think of their practice before you make an appointment. Feel better soon.
Hiya Deb!
I can identify with the "urgh" after courting that beast myself for about 4 years (mostly better now!)
If you are 100 or more Lbs overweight, you may be able to qualify easier for disability than you would be able to with a thyroid issue. The key to any disability claim is proof on paper -by an official like your doctor or an "expert" in the medical field. You may try for temporary disability -but the same documentation needs apply. You can go on-line and check out the criteria -I think it is usgov.disabilityclaims.org, or if that doesn't work, just usgov.com and follow the menu. I hope this helps and you get to feeling better soon!
Thanks Gimel.....I'm in southern Calif. Santa Monica would be great, if I could find someone there.
I appreciate your feedback, I'm new to all this.....
Deb
There are members who have used acupuncture as a complement, but not as a substitute for hypothyroid treatment.
From your symptoms and your test results, I'd say that you really need to be tested further, specifically, TPO ab and TSI, to verify/determine the possibility of Grave's and Hashimoto's. Also it would be far better to have been tested for free T3, instead of total T3. So that is something to correct during any further testing.
I can't imagine getting approved for disability for thyroid problems (which are treatable) or for fibromyalgia, which has often been associated with hypothyroidism problems. Your first priority should be to get the above tests done, and I also suggest Vitamin D, B12, and iron/ferritin. Along with that you need to find a good thyroid doctor (not necessarily an Endo), who is willing to treat patients clinically by adjusting your FT3 and FT4 levels as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by TSH levels.
I don't know what options you have available to you to get this done, but if you will give us your location, members may be able to at least recommend a good thyroid doctor based on personal experience.
I forgot something...I mentioned to a friend who is in an acupuncture Chinese medicine school about my issue. She spoke to her professor and he said it is something off with her kidneys and liver. The chi must come back, her yin and yang are off. Has anyone seen an acupuncture doctor for thyroid drama?
Just wondering....