WELCOME TO THE END OF THE 2008 "Thyroid Doctor Blunders !!"

[stella5349]

Name the most head shaking moment you can recall!

I built this post off of a question another member stated on how crazy some of the things WE HEAR that come out of your physicians mouth at times.

Given an example my husband recently went to our doctor for a check up - he's worn out and tired - lost a ton of weight - aged horribly ( he seems to think Beer - cigs and coffee is nutritional all day long )  but he can't figure out why he feels like doo - doo. ( Yeah this takes a rocket scientist to figure out)

So - we get there and the weight issue popped out. We'll this "doctor" says - he's in great shape!!!!! - He doesn't need to eat during the day - "FOOD IS THE DEVIL" Shaking my head... knowing my husband has a very vigorous job that requires more than coffee and cigarettes - I said .............WHAT?

Well no mention of quitting cigarettes or the coffee  AND EATING- but said to tone down the beer a bit - I walked out laughing my head off!!

Not to mention he expressed that I needed to find a better diet ( knowing I am hypoT) to slim a bit down (like my "Old man!!" )

HUMF!!! - kicked THAT ONE to the curb.

[RavingMad]

Love it......nut job Drs........in my case - the more they charge per visit - the more ridiculous they sound. I can think of a few occassions where I was almost lost for words:

I visited my local GP ($47) c/o feeling awful, fatigued, drained, fluid retention, constipation, mood swings, cold intolerance & massive weight gain despite being on a strict diet/gym 5 times a week. I'd been on T4 for a while after my TT & just felt worse month after month & my levels were jumping around. I was told to "Eat less & exercise more. Here's a script for reductil (weight loss drug) & Zoloft". Hmmm. SACKED.

Next, I saw an Endocrinologist ($178). I'd never seen an Endo before & thought he would be the answer to all my problems. We discussed my history, surgery & medication. I kept telling him that I felt awful on T4, ever since my TT. He replied "I spend my days with patients who have much worse levels than you. I think you're blaming everything on your thyroid. You need to relax more & change your lifestyle. You need an anti depressant & maybe some counselling. I'm referring you back to your GP". Grrrrrrrrr. SACKED.

Then I saw the Gynae/Obs ($190). I've had period probs for about 5 years, very long periods then with breakthrough bleeding & even had 'periods' during my pregnancy, though they stopped when I breastfed. Had ultrasounds & scans, internals & externals, papsmears - all clear. Changed contraceptive pills twice. No change. I asked if it was hormonal or thyroid related. My Gynae/Obs replied "No, it's just unlucky that this is 'normal' for some women".  What the????  SACKED.

The medal definately goes to a well known city GP ($300) who 'specialises' in thyroid/adrenal issues. It can take months to get an appointment, I got a cancellation within 4 days of contacting the receptionist, so I was all full of hope. During my consultation, I was impressed at first, as I was listened to & taken seriously. Tests were ordered & scripts were written out for NTH, DHEA & progesterone. So far, so good. Then I was hooked up to a computer for the 2 second thyroflex test. Towards the end of our consultation, I politely enquired if a concession card would reduce my bill as I was a sole parent to a young child & currently only working a 3 day week. The Dr rudely replied "I do NOT give concessions, the Government does NOT rebate MY rent here". "You are a nurse in aged care, you should move to the city & get a live in-carer job, there are lots of lonely, old women here with lots of money - who have no family & need help". With that, I thanked the Dr & left to pay the $300 bill, which had become $350 - the thyroflex test cost an extra $50! I wasn't asked permission to be tested or told that it had an extra charge. Hmmmm. Rude, unprofessional & a shark.  SACKED.

Good news is..........I found a good GP who put all the jigsaw pieces together &  diagnosed a T4 conversion problem - longstanding zinc/copper imbalance & eostrogen dominance. Now taking T3, compounded vitamins/minerals & progesterone cream. For the first time in about 5 years, I feel good.  : )

[stella5349]

Oh Lord!! the last few stories are CrAzY!!!!

Blunder ..... blunder...... blunder.

[elise44]

I have learned a few things in the last few years and the most important is be pro active in your healthcare and take nothing for granted. Last year when I was in the hospital, a nurse came into my room one moring to help me get out of bed for the first time. I had an IV going and she disconnected it and helped me to a chair and carefully placed the call button on the other side of the bed and walked out. She forgot to shut off th tube at my wrist and a few seconds later, I looked down and blood was pouring out. I didn't feel steady enough to go to the other side for the call button and started trying to clamp off the tube. by the time I had it done, I was covered in my own blood. When she came back, about an hour later, she asked where the blood came from. I told her, she giggled and said sorry and walked out of the room again without handing me the call button.

[blksapphire]

I went to my endo dr and was explainingg to him how I felt.
endo dr. -  "Its all in your head."
   blks-  Its not in my head you nut.
endo dr.- "why don't you like me."
   blks-  he should have never asked me that.  I proceeded to tell him. "you don't listen to me, you take what i say and never respond.  you look at me like i am making this all up.
I don't sit at the table and eat all day as you suggested, I gain 40 lbs within 2 months you idiot.  does that sound like sitting at the table when i have gained more than 8 pounds within the last 3 years.  I got louder and louder till he closed the door and aplogized.

    blks-  we started to discuss why my voice hasn't return to normal in almost a year.
endo dr.-- I'm glad it had nothing to do with me and my treatment.  it must be your weight.
   blks-  the devil reared its head again.  "I said, let me ask you a question.  Was I talking like this when you met me.  You have sent me to an ENT, who then sent me to a speech therapist and my voice is still not back yet.

endo dr.- I don't think so, but your voice is quite remarkable.

bcuz I we haven't stabalized my tsh.  the endo went on to tell me that I have to be missing doses, which ticked me off again.

Anyway, long story short. He listens or pretends to listen when I talk and answers any questions I may ask.

Sometimes, I just wanna pop him side the head and say just shut and listen to me.  I'm with me all the time. I know how I feel.  You only see me for 15-20 minutes and look at tests that are a few days old.

I better stop now before I get mad.

Terri




I

[grneweene]

was visiting my daughter in michigan. i experienced what i beleive was a  thyroid storm went to the ER and the doctor asked me why i was sweating, why my heartbeat was so high, etc. when i told him i had graves disease, he asked, how do you know you have graves? i thought what the h_ll  so i told him, I was there when they ran the tests! he didn't beleive me so i threw my bottles of medications at him and told him to call my endo. he asked do you have a number for your endo. hello? i am over here with a heart going about 120 per minute, b/p off the charts, sweating like a pig, feeling like i am going to die and you question me how i know i have graves? he finally beleived me  after he called my endo, comes back and says, well you have graves disease! huh, ok? didn't i tell him that in the begining? all he did was bring my heart rate and b/p down, and said for me to continue what my doctor had given me medication wise, I wanted to beat him for stupidity. funny thing... his name was Dr. Hussein and the graves rage hit as i was leaving and i told him to tell his brother saddam hello. couldn't help myself. how do i know i have graves? i still want to beat him~!

[barrettsark]

Went to my family doctor who I have been with for about 8 years now and I loved her.  She has watched all my Children grow up and has been great.  Till This Was there the other day and was talking to her about my Anxiety and depression that came on when my TSH hit 56 and is now down to 0.07 and she looked at me and told me that I need to start putting these symptoms into there own compartments.  So I said so you think I just have anxiety and depression right now just because?  She said I think you have anxiety and depression because that's life and you have seven children.  

Well three months ago when my TSH was normal and I had seven Kids I was fine!  I hope this goes away so I can go back and say see I told you so.