So I went to a new Endo...

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2003
So I went to a new Endo...
2
Mon, 09-18-2006 - 10:10pm

and I like her so far. She is very nice and has a very competent front desk. They are also very nice and considerate. It was hard finding one that wasn't so expensive. It amazes me how much Endos cost when you don't have insurance. I went to see her and for first consult was 180.00 and then after that it's $60.00 each appointment. I was paying $100.00 to see the other Endo each visit. So I'm saving a few bucks.

But anyways my new Endo is part of an Endo group if that makes sense. I guess she meets with different Endo's every 3 months to discuss stuff. I've already went for blood work and I don't remember the numbers, but I do know that she's looked at my past results and doesn't like where things are heading. I've been on Methimazole for almost 2 years and there hasn't been much change. She asked me what I wanted to do.

And that's just it. I don't know what I want to do. Do I stay on the meds and cross my fingers that things get better, have the radioiodine treatment, or surgery. Without having insurance surgery is pretty much out the window. Radioiodine treatment, blah, is all I can say about it. I've heard good and bad about it. It would cost about $3 grand to have it done, or just stay on the meds. I honestly don't know what to do.

I still have good and bad days. Lately I've been feeling really yucky again. The tunnel vision is back and the headaches and shakes are horrible. I'm tired of feeling like this and I want to have more children!

If anyone has any advice please share. I don't know what to do.
Thanks in advance
Kim


Ph
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2001
Tue, 09-19-2006 - 12:40am

Oh gosh. Since you take methimazole, the only reason that I even know that is for hypERthyroidism is that my cat also gets that. At first he got it orally, and it made him feel horrible. We switched him to a type that gets absorbed through his skin and he responded wonderfully to that, with no side effects as far as we can tell. He gets it twice a day... and it is very expensive - as far as long-term medication for a cat goes... and only one pharmacy in town concocts it. I always find it weird that we are more apt to have pharmacists concoct special preparations for our pets than we are for PEOPLE!

Oh well... I am sure that all this is irrelevanet for you, even though I really really love my cat.... but I guess I just wanted to say "HI"....

-Naomi


www. It's Not Mental .com


iVillage Member
Registered: 08-23-2006
Tue, 09-19-2006 - 7:52pm

Ahhhh, a hyper girl, like me! We're far and few in between as hypo girls are much more common!

Have you read Thyroid for Dummies? I read it nearly cover to cover and learned so, SO much about my hyperthyroidism. That, plus talking to other people online, at this and another thyroid board, lead me to my decision that I do not want the radioactive iodine. Think about it this way...with medication you can adjust to your thyroid, with the iodine...if they kill the thyroid, you can't adjust anything and more than likely will become hypO thyroid...thus taking different medication regardless.

I've been on PTU since February and besides the crummy aftertaste, am liking the results. My tsh had been <0.01 since lord knows how long and it's finally started creeping up. It's taken this long for it to work. But it's starting to normalize!!! Maybe you should consider trying PTU?

Just my humble opinion...good luck with whatever you decide!

Terra