From the article: 10 Signs That You Need a New Doctor
As thyroid patients, how do we know when it's time for a new thyroid doctor? What were the signs that made it clear that it's time for find a new practitioner to care for a thyroid condition? Was it a series of events, or one "final straw" that decided it?
Here, thyroid patients share their own experiences about the moment when they knew it was time to get a new doctor.
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Endo's are Worthless
- I strongly recommend an Integrative Medical Doctor. Those doctors are far more educated and will test all hormones and not just a few of them. I would have died at the hands of endocrinologists - they never did figure out I had no thyroid hormones because they relied on some faulty tests, like TSH. Avoid endo's like the plague.
- —Guest Amy
Time for a New Doctor
- When your doctor isn't interested in ANY symptoms and looks at your blood results and says your TSH isn't high enough for symptoms and if you just lost weight you'd feel better... it's time to get a new doctor!
- —Guest Theresa
Refused for Me to Get a Second Opinion
- After ten years of misdiagnoses and subsequent thyroid cancer, I had a thyroidectomy and the doctor doubled my Synthroid dose. I immediately went into severe muscle spasms and my TSH was undetectable. She refused to believe the lab results and blamed it on the lab and on me. She slowly lowered my dose, but I still had spasms, which she refused to believe were a side effect of the Synthroid. After a year, I asked for a second opinion and she told me that if I go to another doctor, I was through with her. I went to another doctor and he put me on a much lower dose of Armour thyroid. I'm feeling much better and the spasms are gone.
- —Guest Lorene
Really? Valium?
- I knew it was time for a new doctor when she prescribed valium for my hypothyroidism! "Just take it every day and we'll reevaluate in 30 days." Bye bye doc!
- —Guest Julia
"You're Not 16 Anymore"
- After feeling like my first endocrinologist failed me, I went to a highly recommended internist who ran a bunch of tests and changed my prescription. "Great!", I thought! But my symptoms did not resolve, so I went back to see him. He tells me, "I don't understand it. All my other patients come back and tell me how great they feel. You know, you're not 16 anymore. Maybe this is as good as it gets" (I was 32 at the time!). That was our last visit!
- —Guest Liz
Go to the Health Food Store and Ask Them
- My thyroid cancer has disabled me. For the past 2 1/2 years I have gotten worse and worse. Every blood work there is some new discovery! When I cry, my endocrinologist turns her back to me! I'm sorry, but simply talking about my issues is very emotional for me. On my last appointment she told me to go to the health food store and ask them for something to help me with mood swings and depression cause she didn't want to prescribe me any more medications since I take so much as it is! I was shocked! This is after her famous words, "You just have to push yourself" These endo's are a joke and i am so sick of being laughed at. After almost 3yrs of her mental abuse I will be going elsewhere. She sucks and so does the 3-4 hour office visit wait time every single visit...
- —Guest Kimber
It's Just Menopause
- I suffered for 4 years, thinking I was going crazy. I went to my primary and told her (again) my symptoms until she finally ordered blood work and diagnosed me with hypothyroid, prescribing Synthroid. I changed doctors because my symptoms became worse. This doctor did more blood work and called me. She told told me to come to her office immediately. She told me I had been taking the wrong medications that I was hyperthyroid and Synthroid could damage my heart! She also sent me to an endocrinologist that told me I was just going through menopause. I was 68 years old at the time and had a hysterectomy in 1982! He obviously had not read my chart. I argued with him, he finally sent me for blood work stating "I will guarantee you that you are menopausal". Two days later his office calls, to inform me that he has prescribed Metroprolol. Thank God he has moved to another state, I will be seeing his replacement soon, The new doctor trained at the Mayo Clinic, I am praying he is a better doctor.
- —Guest Julieinva
Changing Doctors
- I have suffered from thyroid issues for over 30 years -- it is a debilitating condition because the symptoms aren't acute, conventional doctors don't take my symptoms seriously (that are very real). I am tired all the time, having brain fog, dry skin, cold hands / feet, and a host of other symptoms that are not NORMAL, not imaginary. When the thyroid isn't functioning properly it affects all the other organs. I got a hold of Datis Kharrazian's book "Why Do I Still have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests Are Normal?" and finally got some scientifically proven information about how an ill-functioning thyroid affects all the other organs in the body. I've located a doctorr who follows the protocols in this book. A piece of the puzzle that it is very common is that thyroid issues are aggravated by gluten intolerance. I am already feeling a little bit better and look forward to seeing a new Dr. next week who follows Datis Kharazian's protocols for balancing all the body systems.
- —Guest Angela
'Just A Teenager'
- I was diagnosed because my mum insisted that they run a blood test after they told us that my menstrual cycle was causing me problems because I am in teenage years. My TSH and T4 were both off the charts and I have since been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I'm 15 and have huge joint pain and trouble breathing, which both of my doctors say is unrelated and they refuse to do anything about BECAUSE I'm 15. They say that there has to be something else that is causing the issue, but I am sure there is a link. I have read about the different links in books and on the internet, but apparently doctors are just uneducated about the thyroid!. I recently returned to my doctor because my symptoms have returned to which he said "you're just a teenager with hormones". To their annoyance I asked for a blood test and low and behold my levels were off the charts again! Why does nobody listen!?
- —Guest Pikaboos
Losing Wieght
- I have put on 4 stone since taking the thyroid tablets, but if i don’t take them my TSH levels get too high. So I have now taken bread and potatoes all cake sweets and root vegetables from my diet. For the first time in years I am slowly losing weight! I have a baked onion instead of roast potatoes and when I have curry I cook cauliflower instead of rice and it is working! Anything is worth a try.
- —Guest english pat
"Don't Worry, Be Happy"
- My tale is long and complicated so I will give a quick synopsis: *My heart was racing. I was hot and sweaty and felt like choking. I was shaking hard, anxious all the time. *The 1st endocrinologist says, "You're crazy and wasting my time!" *The 2nd endocrinologist tells me to pray with him to Allah so I get relief from my hysteria. *The 3rd dndocrinologist sends me to therapy. *The 4th endocrinologist writes the song "Don't Worry, Be Happy" on a prescription pad and gives me a 2nd script for a "Hawaiin vacation" to give to my husband. Nudge-nudge, wink-wink! *I finally had a general surgeon remove an enormous multi-nodular goiter (hundreds of tiny nodes), except she left a tiny piece in and was thrilled that I didn't require medications. *That was bad because three years later it grew back and wrapped around my esophagus. *My 2nd surgery was done by specialist who wouldn't give me Armour in spite of chest pain and brain fog so bye-bye. *Now, see an osteopath and PA who let me tweak my own doses. They figure that after all I've been through, I know how I feel.
- —Guest dyanne
Doctors
- I was originally diagnosed with hypothyroidism. However, I have learned over the years (through trying to overcome numerous health issues), that I really have Hashimoto's Disease. I have learned that once you have one autoimmune disease you can get others in your lifetime, which has happened to me. My family physician and OB/Gyn doctors did not figure my menstrual problems were thyroid related, but they were. I feel like I have to educate the doctors I have because they just do not understand the thyroid. My present doctor tells me that many of my problems are not "hormone related," but when I read up on what I am feeling I don't believe her. I had a good endocrinologist doctor, but he has since moved from our area. So now I have to search for someone who will listen again. I am frustrated with doctors and honestly feel they do not care about what I am experiencing or going through. I still have symptoms and do not feel good. My hair won't keep a perm and so on. My test results look good, so it must be in my head!
- —lorlyn63
Vitamins
- My sister has thyroid disease and her doctor told her that she should also be taken Vitamin B as it is a well known fact that this helps the thyroid pill to be absorbed. My doctor looked on the computer and said she can find no evidence of this and would not give me Vitamin B. I already had to have Vitamin B-12 injections after I insisted on a blood test to see my levels. The results were so bad I had to have the injections 3 times a week for a fortnight. I live in Cyprus now and we have to see a special doctor to get our pills. I went to another doctor when she was away and she noticed my TSH levels were really high, something the specialist I see did not pick up. I have put on 6 stone and I have been really dieting for 6 weeks and lost only 2 pounds. So it looks like i have to stay on this strict diet forever just to lose a few pounds. I heard there was a new pill, that worked on all levels and that the results were amazing. There was a programme on the news night 5 years ago, but no one knows what it is.
- —Englishpat
Tests Show Hyper Not Hypo
- I have had low thyroid for years and years. I have most of the classic symptoms, but when tested the test came back as way too high, not low. My doctor does not want to give me more synthroid because she said it can cause osteoporosis. Living in the Ozarks, there isn't much chance of finding a good thyroid doctor.
- —Guest Linda Holleman
Stupid Doctors
- At my suggestion, I made my naturopath test me for low thyroid. Sure enough, I was low. I was put on 1 grain of Armour and was kept on this dose for the next 10 years as I developed more and more problems. I went to a doctor who treated me as if I did not know anything. He refused tests I requested even. So, I did my own research and found a willing naturopath. Diagnosis: low thyroid, adrenals shot, low aldosterone, RT3 problem. High glucose, high cholesterol. Started taking hydrocortizone and FINALLY felt much better. My glucose dropped to normal and so did my cholesterol. I am taking a natural thyroid hormone because that is closest to the human thyroid hormones. I increase my medication slowly until I reach my desired results. For over 20 years I suffered of worsening symptoms and doctors are clueless. They do not bother to look further. Therefore, I have lost all confidence in doctors these days. Actually, I think they are arrogant, closed-minded people who don't care about their patients and are just in it for the money.
- —Guest Erna
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