F'ing endocrinologist was a waste of time and money.

For me AND the person kind enough to take off from work to drive me there.

Didn't run any tests. Wasn't really interested in determining all of the many thyroid related symptoms and issues I have - and I only got a few of them mentioned. Told me my numbers look "fine" and the fact that I am unable to live a normal life is... not his problem, basically. Told me to keep doing what I'm doing (feeling like SHIT?) and get an ultrasound every year.

I'm so glad I waited a f'ing MONTH, excited and hopeful, for f'ing NOTHING.

I would have RATHER he told me I had cancer - being blown off is far worse than having a reason and a plan of attack.

FML

I've heard sometimes a person's overall TSH can be normal, but if their T3 or T4 are out of whack, it can still cause problems. Either way, sending you away still symptomatic is total shit. Any chance you can seek out a second opinion?

Because he was a f'ing ENDO I figured he'd be interested in the fuller picture. Apparently not.

The TSH he looked at was from tests ordered by my GP. The endo did NO blood work whatsoever. Then he tried to pawn off my symptoms as "maybe your fibromyalgia" ... HELLO? Hypothyroid symptoms can mimic fibromyalgia ... what if I DON'T have fibro after all? Well... He wasn't interested in doing anything to find out any more information.

I was given the runaround for 3 years for upper right abdomen pain , all their tests found nothing , until I ended up in hospital for a severe gallbladder attack when finally something showed up on an ultrasound.

Be open to the possibility that your stress about your health might be a contributing factor too.

I think she'll be sympathetic. 2nd opinion is great... but endocrinologist appointments average about 3 months out. Pisses me off.

and I have never had an ultrasound on my thyroid. Frustrating, isn't it?

:hug: :hi:

I was talking about my research and understanding of all of the possible scenarios and he said "well it's not cancer." Nice of you to SAY that, asshole, but how would you KNOW if you haven't looked at anything other than my TSH numbers and the radiology report that said my thyroid was enlarged w/ 5 *solid* nodules ... that he blew off. Usually if there are nodules they at least want to rule anything nefarious out w/ a biopsy. I was really pretty shocked he was so uninterested in anything I had going on, for how long, and what symptoms I'm having.

Guess I should just resign myself to spending the rest of my life in bed ... when I'm not forcing my way through work Mon-Fri? It's bullshit.

Two friends who had thyroid problems of their own recognized my symptoms as hypothyroidism. I went through hell and back with a variety of doctors who all told me to get lost (and by the way go lose some weight fatass) because my TSH was "normal".

One of my friends who saw hypo in me tried to get me in to her endo, but he wasn't taking any new patients. However, his office referred me to his former "star pupil". So I made an appointment. My hopes were SO high that I'd finally get some treatment and start to feel human again.

The guy was the biggest ass I'd ever met. Like your endo, he looked at my TSH results, saw that they were in the "normal" range, and said there was nothing he could do for me. I persisted, so he had me drink some water and palpated my throat to see if I had a goiter. But because my thyroid was not leaping out of my throat like a parasitic alien, again, "get lost."

I was FURIOUS. I KNEW something was wrong with me, but not even this guy, a supposed specialist, appeared able to help me. The worst part was his business card had "metabolism specialist" on it, but when I asked about my metabolism, he said "we don't know enough about metabolism--can't help you".

To add insult to injury, while I was forking over the copay out at the reception desk, he came out and said, "You know, I'm moving into research. So if you find something that helps you, give me a call, okay?" Yeah. When hell freezes over, you waste of air.

Madrone, I can't urge you strongly enough to locate a holistic m.d. in your area. They treat according to symptoms, as well as free T3 and free T4 blood work, not just TSH. If your TSH is "normal", that's called "subclinical hypothyroidism"--just as real as if your TSH was off the charts. Please start here http://www.holisticmedicine.org/ to find out more about holistic medicine and look up a doctor in your area. They are licensed medical doctors.

PM me if you'd like to chat about it. Most important--DO NOT give up. Good luck. :hug:

Your experience sounds almost identical to mine. I got the "drink water" thing too - but only after I balked at his dismissal and pointed out that I have very swollen glands under my chin. He wouldn't even test me for Hashimoto's, even though he admitted that it was "quite possible" that was my problem.

Oh yeah, he also told me that my enlarged thyroid isn't REALLY enlarged, and that the only reason it's sticking out is because of the muscle behind it.

That doctor's response is for shit. :hug: :hug: :hug:

They tend to spend more time with their patients and not rush them out, like this endocrinologist did to you.
I had an ND in Washington State and she could write prescriptions.

Maybe not even an endocrinologist. See if you can make an appointment with a doctor at a research/teaching hospital google and see who specializes in fibro or thyroid issues..they will be much more willing to dig further...Please do NOT go to someone who will prescribe herbs...(holistic/naturopath)..I might get flamed for this but they can make people with chronic illnesses much sicker with their unscientific methods.

Not all holistic and naturopathic practitioners are unscientific snake-oil salesmen. It's not that black and white. Many holistic practitioners have m.d. degrees; they simply are more well-versed in complementary therapies in addition to traditional medicine. My holistic m.d. saved my life, and I will defend her with my last breath.

Herbs = snake oil. Every single time.

untested by the FDA. Unverified as to efficacy or safety.
Stay away from the woo-meisters. I am tired of people peddling unsound, unscientific bullshit to people who need ACTUAL SCIENTIFIC MEDICAL CARE.

chemical medicines are derived from? Cf: aspirin.

Hi Madrone,

Check out this database for a doctor in your area who actually knows something (and cares about) thyroid issues.

http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/index.htm

Sucks that you have to wait another 3 months but if it's any consolation, those of us who've already been diagnosed are having trouble getting our meds so by the time you get diagnosed, maybe there'll be medications available for you to take. :]

Good luck.

sorry this one wasn't any good.

I've had hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's disease) since I was ten years old. I was on two grains a day for years. Every day after school, I came home and crashed hard for three hours. Teenagers shouldn't do that, but nobody noticed. Now, forty years later, I take FOUR grains per day.

Doctors don't want to prescribe Armour Thyroid either.
I've had to kick and scream to get Armour.

They go by the numbers, NOT by how badly you feel.

One board-certified endo in Houston at Diagnostic Clinic told me "Armour Thyroid is not reliable. You don't know how much active ingredient you're getting in each pill".

I said, "Well, I read the label, it says 'Biologically assayed, United States Pharmacopoeia'.

He SHUT UP.

:banghead:

GOOD WEBSITE with more stories like mine: www.stopthethyroidmadness.com

Mary Shomon is THE authority on patients with low thyroid. the link to her stuff at about.com is also excellent.

My new GP is really open and willing to try things.

The endo gave me the same anti-Armour screed you're talking about. I didn't bother arguing, I already KNOW.

He was stuck on my TSH - I thought an actual endo would be interested in the WHOLE picture, but this one wasn't.

BTW - I asked about Hashimoto's. He said it was "quite possible." I asked him if I could maybe be TESTED and he started babbling about how tests could be done for antibodies in the blood (no SHIT) and if found I would def have Hashi's but if not I could still have it anyway. WTF? He had NO interest in doing anything - told me that my TSH said everything w/ my thyroid was fine so he couldn't help me and there was nothing he could do.

You might recall that I'm the one who lost a lot of weight (50 lbs in less than 2 yrs, a quarter of my weight) and wound up in the emergency room with what I thought was blood sugar trouble. Tests showed I was hypothyroid; doctor said to see a primary care physician within the week. I did, and undid a lot of dumb stuff I'd done (quit eating goitrogens at every meal, restarted my multivitamins, started salting my food). When I saw the doc, labs came back with normal TSH. I called (before I had my results) trying to get further testing for possible diabetes (I have a family history) or anything else, as I still felt terrible. In a shocker, he blew me off.

Just me, and I'm not giving medical advice, but I'm thinking of amping up my iodine intake some more. I switched from multivitamins with 100% of the RDA to kelp extracts with 150%. The maximum recommended daily intake is more than 6 times the minimum, so I think I'll be safe with 300%. There is evidence that autistic people have difficulty taking in iodine (or anyway they have low iodine levels); I can't find anybody who'll say that Asperger's sufferers (like me) do, too, but it seems reasonable. I've always been low energy and cold natured and until the last two years was gaining weight steadily for decades. Seems to me I'm another poster child for subclinical hypothyroidism.

Regardless, sorry you had a shitty experience. Good luck on finding your answer.