Stupid Endo!!!

TXBelle1174

Stupid Endocrinologist!!! I tell him I feel like crap. He says my labs are normal. The low end of normal but normal. I ask if he can up my HypoT meds to bring me to the high end of normal. He says no, then I would be too high. I ask him what about my symptoms? He asks if I want to go back on Levo( vs. Armour). I tell him no, that I like the Armour, I just dont feel like the dose is high enough. He says that as I continue to lose weight, I will feel better. I tell him I have been on a plateau for 4 months despite sticking with "the plan". He gives me a weight loss pill, its an appetite suppressant. I tell him my appetite isnt the problem... I am NOT hungry. He gives me the pill anyway and sends me on my way, telling me how great I will feel in 2 months. I check the drug interactions.. yeah, I am taking two other things that say to absolutely NOT take this medication with them. Lovely.

I dont NEED an appetite suppressant. I need to feel better. I need to not have my hair falling out. I need to not be exhausted by 4pm. I need to feel somewhat NORMAL. I have taken this type of drug before and it makes you all wired and crazy and irritable. I dont WANT that or NEED that!!!! Grrrrrrrrrr

So does this mean I need to find a new endo?

Anniel88

It sounds like you need to find a new doctor! That is sooooo frustrating! Refresh up on how to find a good doctor (http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/how-to-find-a-good-doc/) and go on the hunt for a doctor that will actually treat YOU and not the tests. On the plus side, at least he was willing to prescribe you armour so he is a little more open minded.

I don't have any other good tips as I'm still looking for a good doctor and am just having my family physician check my levels until I find one I like. I don't need to pay more money for a specialist to tell me the same thing if they aren't going to actually treat me!

Good luck and I hope you feel more normal soon!!

tecallahan

Kick him to the curb - he's an idiot.

Martina_Who

Either go back and demand a higher dose and don't leave until you get it or else find a new doc ASAP.
I'm also on armour and love it too :-)
had a bad experience with an endo before too

firstsip

Be careful of the "too high" approach. I know that we all get desperate to feel better (are you giving your dose enough time to kick in? It's usually six months on a new drug or dosage for thyroid before it REALLY kicks in), but my endo DID run me pretty high because I was "young and seemed to feel better." Now I feel awful... because I ended up in the hospital with a TSH of 0, and what would have been thyroid storm if I had a thyroid.

That being said, your doctor clearly is not listening to you. If you tell him you're not hungry, and he doesn' t believe your eating habits are honest, you need to find someone else. I'd also suggest requesting an adrenal workup. Thyroid & adrenals are so, so connected, some people don't realize that they're thyroid levels might finally be normalizing, but meanwhile their adrenals have been working overtime to the point of exhaustion.

piesbd

Kick him to the curb - he's an idiot.

Agreed! 100%

TXBelle1174

Be careful of the "too high" approach. I know that we all get desperate to feel better (are you giving your dose enough time to kick in? It's usually six months on a new drug or dosage for thyroid before it REALLY kicks in), but my endo DID run me pretty high because I was "young and seemed to feel better." Now I feel awful... because I ended up in the hospital with a TSH of 0, and what would have been thyroid storm if I had a thyroid.

That being said, your doctor clearly is not listening to you. If you tell him you're not hungry, and he doesn' t believe your eating habits are honest, you need to find someone else. I'd also suggest requesting an adrenal workup. Thyroid & adrenals are so, so connected, some people don't realize that they're thyroid levels might finally be normalizing, but meanwhile their adrenals have been working overtime to the point of exhaustion.

I asked him to test my adrenal function and he said that he didnt think it was necessary and told me I would feel better in a couple months on the diet pills. I have since found a new Endo... one that specializes in thyroid issues and has a very good reputation for being open to try other options and really listening to his patients. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

firstsip

Be careful of the "too high" approach. I know that we all get desperate to feel better (are you giving your dose enough time to kick in? It's usually six months on a new drug or dosage for thyroid before it REALLY kicks in), but my endo DID run me pretty high because I was "young and seemed to feel better." Now I feel awful... because I ended up in the hospital with a TSH of 0, and what would have been thyroid storm if I had a thyroid.

That being said, your doctor clearly is not listening to you. If you tell him you're not hungry, and he doesn' t believe your eating habits are honest, you need to find someone else. I'd also suggest requesting an adrenal workup. Thyroid & adrenals are so, so connected, some people don't realize that they're thyroid levels might finally be normalizing, but meanwhile their adrenals have been working overtime to the point of exhaustion.

I asked him to test my adrenal function and he said that he didnt think it was necessary and told me I would feel better in a couple months on the diet pills. I have since found a new Endo... one that specializes in thyroid issues and has a very good reputation for being open to try other options and really listening to his patients. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Good for you!! I swear, adrenals are the new thyroid: TONS of people have undiagnosed problems with them, but doctors are "meh" about caring or diagnosing them. Hope your new endo takes them into account! Good luck!

lin7604

that is what i fear, they will brush me away with no change. I have been feeling like crap for years, the worst in the last 5 and i have only had my meds adjusted on once. I finally got my dr to send me to a endo and i am just waiting for a appt now. my levels were still in the normal zone too and i hope they just don't use the " well they are still normal, low but normal".. bit. especially if they are going by the old numbers and not the new ones... I am tired of feeling like crap, having NO energy to even get out of bed most days and not having a burst of energy till after 4pm, it sucks. never mind all the other symptoms too... my hairdresser worries about how much hair i lose, etc.

shvits

Find a new doctor. I changed endocrinologist and like my new one very much. She listens and when I say I don't feel well she adjusts my meds. The care is a collaborative experience. What medical care should be. I go so often for a blood test that they all know me in the lab.

CarSidDar

And remember, most endocrinologists are dealing with diabetes all day. Thyroid is just an easy pill fix so they don't treat it seriously or keep up on the literature. Their bread and butter is diabetes.

lin7604

so then why is that everyone tells you to see a endo dr instead of your family dr.....

dkschrader

my suggestion, endo like they said deal with diatbectic all day long... plus they are a specialist if you pay more for one on your insurance. you need to fidn someone that will listen to you and your symptoms, and treat that way...

Money can't buy your health! and neither can a nice diploma on the wall.
I travel 1 hour to see the doc I see, it is worth the drive! If he doesn't like the labs, he changes something, it may be a slight cahnge but he is trying something.
Just my 2 cents, good luck....

lin7604

well i wonder if things are different here as health care in canada is different.... i gues si will see when i finally get called with my 1st appt...

firstsip

so then why is that everyone tells you to see a endo dr instead of your family dr.....

Because GP/Internists are even worse with the endocrine system!

You've got to remember :P Thyroid/adrenal issues are VERY recent. Like, only about 30 years of heavy research (which isn't much compared to diabetes being known for centuries), and that research is changing so much that just in the last decade, both thyroid and adrenal "normal" levels have been several adjusted.

It sucks, but we're all suffering while doctors are still in the "just learning" phase!

lin7604

ya i see that and hate the fact too that we are kinda like guinea pigs... well i hope my new endo dr is more supportive then my family dr and looks into more things to see if it's more then just the thryoid.