getting frustrated

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
getting frustrated
5
Tue, 07-27-2004 - 10:09am
Hi:

I just need to whine about my Dr.; I was diagnosed early last year and have been on Levothroid since then... but it has yet to aleviate my symptoms. I've had my dose increased 3 times and yesterday spoke to my Dr. about increasing it again. I asked when he might consider another medication (or who knows, a referral to an Endo???), and he completely aschewed the idea and said that Levothroid will work, it's just about finding the right dose. He has never even seen me in person during all this--- we handle everything over the phone and with a simple TSH test. (Last time I did con his nurse into putting free T4 on my lab slip, but he didn't even look at the result-- it was normal, 1.4; my recent TSH is 6.7, which he calls "boarderline" hypo...). I'm so afraid that when my TSH gets to 5, his standard of "normal," that despite symptoms, he won't try anything else to help me.

In the meantime, I feel like a horrible mom, a lousy employee and a really really bad wife! I'm starting to get depressed.

I do have one bit of good news... I keep telling my nurse practitioner in OBGYN about what's going on and she has been trying to get me seen by an Endo in fertility dept. Yesterday, she sounded hopeful that's she's found a way. (We have tried this before and got caught up in the wrong program)...

I am continually greatful for this board,

Your experiences & input help so much,

Dee.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: dee571
Tue, 07-27-2004 - 10:53am
Dee! i so understand where you are coming from. it is okay to come here and vent- that is what we are for! so let me ask this. what kind of insurance do you have? do you need a referral from your primary to see an endo? if so, you can insist that they give you a referral period. just call the nurse and say this is what you want and it is with in your rights- because you still feel bad even after multiple attempts by your primary to get things regualted. this is YOUR RIGHT as a patient. let me tell you. i have learned so much in the past few yrs about advocating for myself with these dr.'s. i am not afraid of them anymore. i used to be the kind of person that couldn't speak up about things and was afraid. but not anymore. i have fired different dr.'s and dentists! i call and talk with office managers when i have a concern! i have just done that recently with my son's dr.'s office. and now i personally get calls back from his dr. whenever i call!

you might even try that! call your dr.'s office and see if there is an office manager and explain your concerns of the dr. being unwilling to refer you... that will clear things right up! is your dr. in private practice or is it s grp practice? i know when it is a grp practice all concerns go to the medical director (another dr.) and all dr's have to answer to him about why they did what they did- or if they considered this or that. it is there sort of checks and balances.

if that doesn't work- you can always seek another primary. i guess my point is for you to feel empowered to go after the health care you want and feel you need. i subscibe to the *gut* theory. if you feel something isn't right- because of how you are feeling etc. most likely it isn't. and you deserve a health care provider that will listen and try to help you! that is what they are there for. altho, some of them have lost sight of their oath!

GL to you,

Erika

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
In reply to: dee571
Tue, 07-27-2004 - 11:15am
Hi Dee - I agree with Erika! You really need to push the point here. It's ridiculous that you've never even been seen by your doctor. This isn't something that can be treated over the phone, for goodness sake. He needs to SEE you!! Your first option is to call and speak with him and demand a referral to an endo. Tell him that you feel he's taken you as far as he can, you still feel awful, thanks so mcuh for all your help but you really want to see someone who specializes in this condition. Tell him it's too difficult for you to wait it out and go through this trial and error on the medication. If he refuses to give you a referral, then find a new primary care physician that will actually see you.

You know, in reading over all of your posts, your doctor is not off base in how he's treating you in terms of the medication, because it really is a wait and see kind of thing. You get a blood test, adjust your meds if needed, wait 6 weeks and go back for another blood test. It's just that this guy is appalling in his lack of sensitivity to you, to your condition and in your treatment!! Give me his phone number - I'LL call him!! LOL!! No, seriously, it just makes me so mad that many doctors take advantage of us because we are women and may be hesitant to speak up for ourselves. But if you are less than assertive about this stuff, this is your time to learn to assert yourself.

Do you ever watch Seinfeld? Do you know the one where Elaine has a rash and she has offended her doctor by asking too many questions, so he writes something down in her file about it and that information is passed on to every new doctor she tried to see? There's no doctor that will see her because she's labeled "difficult". LOL! Well, fortunately for us - life isn't really like that. So be difficult!!! Hugs, Cathy :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
In reply to: dee571
Tue, 07-27-2004 - 11:29am
Cathy and Erika:

Thank you both so much for your responses. I'm fired up, now! I was feeling so defeated when I posted earlier, but what you guys say is so true... I really appreciate the input. Sometimes what it takes is a 'reality check.'

I do feel like Elaine! I'm going to end up calling my doggies' vet and describing my symptoms: LOL!!

I have Kaiser--- everyone is on one big campus; and it has that warm-fuzzy gigantic uncaring HMO feel to it :} So I do need his referral to see an Endo... but, there are some advice nurses that I can call (I posted once about one who is hypo and having the same problem getting treated as me!!) and they might word the notes in my chart in such a way that it doesn't get me on a "list..." ha!

I'm off to work... thanks again, you've put a much needed spring in my step this morning.

I'll keep you posted,

Dee.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
In reply to: dee571
Tue, 07-27-2004 - 4:11pm
I'm so glad you're feeling better about it. Hold that call to the vet!! You may find a good doctor soon. LOL! Cathy :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: dee571
Tue, 07-27-2004 - 9:24pm
glad to hear it! i will pray for you to have strength and courage to do what is best FOR YOU! it can be hard. and sometimes we actually start to feel that we annoy people at the dr's offices. but just remember that it is US who keep them EMPLOYED and with work to do. with out US what would they have! so look at it like- it is the PRACTICE of medicine and sometimes it takes WISE and ASSERTIVE people to push DR.'s to think outside the BOX and grow and LEARN. WE as patients have things to TEACH them!

Erika