hubby

JoyBellz

So I need some advice. A couple of years ago, my husband lost about 50 pounds and was doing really well. His doctor did blood work and found that his thyroid was over active and insisted he had to have his thyroid killed or removed. He told him an overactive thyroid could cause very bad side effects including personality changes as well as other health related issues. Hesitantly, we agreed to have it done. Since, my husband had gained back ALL of the weight he lost PLUS more. He is now 325lbs at about 6 foot tall. His legs swell and turn red from his ankles almost up to his knees. He has started wearing suspenders with his pants/short b/c they are always sliding down. He now wears undershirts b/c he's afraid of a button popping on his regular shirt and wants to be "covered.". His doctor is only seeing him every 6 months. His thyroid has NEVER been in "normal" range or even close and so the doc will adjust med and plan to see back in 6 months. Blood pressure is up and cholesterol as well. In addition, he HATES most vegetables. He will eat canned green beans and peas and of course corn which is TERRIBLE for you and fresh grown tomato once in a while. I have tried the craziest things trying to get him to eat something healthy. It just won't happen. I know I can't do it for him. He has to want to do it but I think he feels its useless b/c he can't eat anything thats good for him. He's so picky. He hates so many things so much, they make him sick if he tries to eat it. I don't feel the doctor is helping him. He has NEVER been this overweight in the 8 years we've been married. I think if his thyroid were under control better, he might not have as much of a problem with his weight. I called his doctors office and asked that his doctor reccommend a thyroid specialist and got a call back from the receptionist saying that his doctor said he didn't know anyone who specialized in dealing with thyroid problems. Seriously?! You are a doctor in a large city and have been practicing for at least 25 years but you don't know of anyone to refer us to? Right?! I am at wits end. I thought if I could get him to eat healthier, maybe his doctor would be more willing to help us but I can't do it. Its always, mac and cheese, hamburger helper, microwave breakfast sandwiches. He will eat supper and an hour later have a "snack" which is as much as a meal and then an hour after that snack on something else. Its constant and more so at night. I don't know how to make him stop and realize how serious this is. His dad died from a stroke at age 62 and wasn't near the weight my husband is now. His mother has diabetes as well as his grandmother. I even harshly said to him "You need to get serious about this and get on your doctor's *kitten* to do something about your thyroid or you are going to end up dead just like your dad!" I feel terrible for saying it but its the truth. I don't know what to do. When his doctor asks him about his diet and exercise, he says, "I'm really trying. I've cut way back on my food and I've been walking." He will only walk with me and we only get to walk together 2 days a week b/c of our conflicting work schedules. I don't know what to do but something needs to be done and soon. :frown:

LainMac

Hi,

I have thyroid issues and it took me a couple of years of really trying to find the right doctor to work with me (I don't convert T4 correctly into T3 and need T3 delievered separately)

I found mydoctor from this website:

http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/

You didn't say where you lived but hopeully there is a recommendation on this list. If you aren't getting the right kind of thryoid replacement, you feel horrible. All that "carbo and fat" eating could be his body trying to self medicate in the wrong way.

I feel your pain through your note. You're a good wife for caring so.

I hope that you all can get the help you need.

JoyBellz

Thank you so much. I am thinking the same thing about the food thing. He has always had bad eating habits (so do I) but never like this. I have been thinking all along that he is eating the way he does b/c of something to do w/ thyroid levels not being right. I am in the process of finding someone else for us to go see. If his doctor won't refer us, we'll do it ourselves.

weaklink109

In addition to a thyroid specialist, I would consider looking for a good malpractice attorney to go after the doctor that had the bright idea that the thyroid needed to be removed.

genann

It is just my opinion, but I feel that he should change doctors. I really think that any doctor that knows how your husband's health is would want to see him more frequently then every 6 months! Maybe a new doctor would be more willing to send him to a specialist for the help he desperately needs.

JoyBellz

In addition to a thyroid specialist, I would consider looking for a good malpractice attorney to go after the doctor that had the bright idea that the thyroid needed to be removed.

I have thought that myself. My husband has mentioned several times that he should have never had that done. I don't think he would go so far as to sue the doctor though. He thinks he's the greatest thing ever b/c he has been going to him since he was a little kid. I can't get him to understand he isn't helping him. :grumble:

weaklink109

In addition to a thyroid specialist, I would consider looking for a good malpractice attorney to go after the doctor that had the bright idea that the thyroid needed to be removed.

I have thought that myself. My husband has mentioned several times that he should have never had that done. I don't think he would go so far as to sue the doctor though. He thinks he's the greatest thing ever b/c he has been going to him since he was a little kid. I can't get him to understand he isn't helping him. :grumble:

Let me tell you a little story that might make him think again.

I have multiple crowns in my mouth and lots of dental work that would NOT have been necessary if my parents had figured out sooner that the dentist we had gone to for years, because he was a "good friend" of a business associate of my dad's was an incompetent idiot. This guy didn't believed in X-rays with routine exams.

Fortunately, my teeth were saved because I went to another city to attend college. I looked up the dentist I had gone to as a child when we had previously lived there. He did a complete exam with X-rays and about had a conniption--cavities galore. My teeth decay from inside. From the outside everything looked hunky dory. I spent many an hour in his chair getting multiple fillings.

My parents immediately changed dentists, and both still have their teeth--mom is 94 this year.

Fortunately, it is 35 years later and I still have all my teeth, but because of the extensive fillings, I eventually have had to have several crowns, and a root canal. The dentist who caused all the trouble is long dead, but if there were a way to sue him for incompetence, I would love to get my hands on him.

It doesn't matter how long he has been your husband's doctor. That doesn't mean he is competent. If your husband took his car to a mechanic with a great reputation, and the shop replaced his cars brakes when a front end alignment was what was needed to solve the tire wear problems, he would soon find another shop. His body is certainly that important.

Show him this post, and perhaps it will make him think. His life is in his hands. He has already experienced the results of this doctor's treatment. If he really believes the doctor can do no wrong, there should be no hesitancy to get a second opinion to confirm that he is receiving a proper course of treatment. And while we are talking about second opinions, do NOT get that second opinion from anyone affiliated with the same medical practice or consortium of doctors. You need a completely outside source to get an opinion that is worth anything.

Good luck to both of you.

JoyBellz

In addition to a thyroid specialist, I would consider looking for a good malpractice attorney to go after the doctor that had the bright idea that the thyroid needed to be removed.

I have thought that myself. My husband has mentioned several times that he should have never had that done. I don't think he would go so far as to sue the doctor though. He thinks he's the greatest thing ever b/c he has been going to him since he was a little kid. I can't get him to understand he isn't helping him. :grumble:

And while we are talking about second opinions, do NOT get that second opinion from anyone affiliated with the same medical practice or consortium of doctors. You need a completely outside source to get an opinion that is worth anything.

Good luck to both of you.

Oh believe me, we will NOT go to anyone in the same office or anyone affiliated w/ the same doctor. I have a couple of names I have found and plan to call them this week. We are on vacation starting Thursday for 10 days. I am hoping to get the ball rolling in that time. I am hoping that once we get another opinion and get some REAL answers, my husband might believe his current doctor is not the best option. Before the whole thyroid issue, he started having these episodes where he would wake up around 5 am and his legs felt numb. By the time we would get him to the hospital 40 miles away, he would not be able to walk.....temporary paralysis from the waist down. He was diagnosed w/ hypokalemic periodic paralysis. Basically all the potassium would leave his blood causing temporary paralysis until he was given potassium thru IV. Then all was back to normal. This same doctor told him, it just happened and there was no underlying cause. We researched online and found that if you don't experience this problem until adulthood there IS another underlying cause. Later, the thyroid issue came up. Since having his thyroid killed he has NOT had one of those episodes. I have wanted to switch since that all started but didn't. This is it for me. I am DONE. We WILL go somewhere else.

weaklink109

Your hubby is lucky to have you advocating for him. I hope you are able to make some progress toward better care during your vacation.