OH, I GIVE UP!

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
OH, I GIVE UP!
3
Wed, 11-17-2004 - 7:00pm

Argh!

I got a call from the office of my "awesome endo" and the medical assistant cheerfully informed me that my "test results are all normal," she's sending me a copy--- and that was it... the whole message from the new endo. I said, you mean she's not increasing my medication? She said, "no," and repeated, "your results are all normal."

At the appointment, the endo did say to increase my dose by taking one extra .112 tab a week, but I felt sure that when she got my results we would put the daily dose up. But no... another let-down. I'm so confused because she knows the normal range is .3-3 and my results were:
TSH= 3.6
T4=1.4
T3=90
My calcium was 9.3, which is normal, but the first time it was 9.3 my PTH was high (87), 6 weeks later my PTH was 13, calcium still normal... but the med assist said that since the calcium is normal now, there's no need to re-test the PTH. I remember that in the appointment she said we would get to the bottom of why the parathyroid is fluxuating...but I guess she thinks it's OK now, so wait & see.

Anyway, I think the endo was more personable and reassuring than the last one, but the course of treatment is disappointingly the same.

I'm convinced I'll never be better. My eyes hurt from crying.
I don't even feel like calling back or fighting anymore.
I give up... really, I can't face another confrontation.
Dee.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
In reply to: dee571
Wed, 11-17-2004 - 11:12pm
Dee - I'm so sorry that it seems like a big disappointment to you. But, look at it this way, if you're taking one more dose of 112 mcg a week, that's 16 extra mcg a day, which is like upping your dose to 128 mcg a day. That's more than I'm taking. So you are getting a good increase on your meds. When you're feeling better, ask to speak to the doctor and tell her about your concerns. Ask about the things you're still concerned about. She may surprise you by still caring - even though it seems she's let all this other stuff drop. Hang in there. I have a feeling she knows what she's doing. Big Hugs, Cathy :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
In reply to: dee571
Thu, 11-18-2004 - 9:26am


Hi Cathy:

Thanks, and you're right. The increase is a reasonable next dose, and I talked to my husband last night and he thinks my beef is probably more with the messenger. "Perfectly normal" is a trigger phrase for me that makes me completely wig out! But in the light of (well, still dark) early morning, I'm guessing those were not my endos words, because she did really seem to 'get it' about the new ranges, etc. I also think that while I would like to have repeat tests of the PTH to see if it keeps getting high, she probably doesn't see the point since the only real concern from that is whether my calcium gets high, and it isn't high at the moment.

So, after thinking it over, reading your post, etc., I'm actually feeling good because I'm not going to fight with her right now--- because it isn't really needed. And I NEVER get into it with the advice nurses or medical assistants because I don't want them to hesitate to talk to me beause I'm the cranky/crazy patient who tells them they have the wrong info about thyroid.

Have a good weekend,
Dee.

ps. My daughter has a referral to a dermatologist for the white spots on her skin. I talked to her ped. about the Hashi/Graves in the family and he says he's happy to test her--- we won't if the skin thing isn't vitiligo because she has no hypo symptoms.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
In reply to: dee571
Sat, 11-20-2004 - 10:44pm


I'm embarassed!
Sometimes I lose my perspective and go off the handle.
Today I got a lovely note from my endo along with my lab results... She said that since my T3 is low-normal, we can try starting on a T-3 supplement if I like and enclosed a follow-up lab slip (I thought she was sending me back to my PCP for follow-up...)

I really wish the med. assistant had read me her full note over the phone...
Anyway, I'm back to feeling pretty darn good about the path we're on.

I guess after such a long journey, I'm a little hyper-sensitive. Also, it was the same day as my daughter's appointment so I was stressed from that.

Thanks again for your support, Cathy.

Dee.