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4939681 tn?1361299299

Hashimoto- labeled by hospital as "psych"

During last week's flare up, I made an appointment with my new PCP to discuss with her what we can do to relieve my symptoms (blurry double vision, joint pain, cold/heat intolerance, numbness and tingling, dizziness, brain fog, swelling of the hands, pain in the palms of the hands and bottom of feet, and my newest symptom... itchy welts all over my body).  During the appointment today she had asked what my neurologist had said about my spinal MRI (she had previously suspected MS).  "I hate having to say this because I feel like once I mention it that it is assumed, but the neurologist suggested that my symptoms probably were due to psychiatric problems."  My PCP said, "Yes, I noticed that the hospital had listed you as "psych", as well."  I tried my hardest to hold back tears in her office.  I knew that when I went to the ER after a flare up earlier this year (just after I was diagnosed as hyperthyroid (FT3 9.1, FT4 4.26, TSH-.015 and then Hashimoto's TPO>1000) that I was treated differently there.  They were reluctant to do any tests (in fact that didn't end up doing any at all) and treated me though my symptoms were all in my head.  My PCP probably didn't mean to tell me what the hospital had privately noted, but she confirmed what I already had a suspicion of.  None of my symptoms are in my head.  In fact when I'm not having a flare up (approx. 5 days out of the month) I feel ok and try to convince myself that it must've been in my head and move on and I really do enjoy those 5 days of feeling good.  Then... wham... out of nowhere the cycle hits me and I'm back to square one, with almost worsening symptoms every time.  My question is... what to do about this "label"?  The neuro is affiliated with the hospital and probably read the same report that my PCP did and labeled me as well. It saddens me to the core that I am going to be dismissed as a "psych" patient and never helped.  Has anyone else experienced this problem?
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4939681 tn?1361299299
Thanks so much for your reply!  I was thinking maybe I should talk to someone at the hospital about clearing it from my record.  As it just scares me wondering that, God forbid I wind up really needing emergency care, and this psych thing becomes an automatic assumption.  I was also thinking of seeing a psychiatrist to help me confirm that these symptoms aren't all in my head.  Maybe having documented proof will aid them in moving on from the assumption.  I'm not denying that anxiety/depression isn't playing a role in my life now, but if we're dealing with "the chicken and the egg syndrome" here, I would say that NO ONE, not even the happiest most level headed person in the world could feel this bad for so long without being somewhat nervous or upset about it.  It would be nice to find a doctor who suffers from Hashimoto's as well.  Someone who understands and doesn't judge... that would be most wonderful!
Helpful - 0
4939681 tn?1361299299
Thank you!  Shame on them indeed!  I wish for just one day they could experience the awfulness of a full blown Hashi- swing.  I was told that I was put on a cancellation list, but after a month I decided to call and check and she said that she didn't see me on the list.  Ugh!!!  Apparently, I'm on it now and will call again in another month if I don't hear from them by then.  The other doctor, recommended by this forum, doesn't even have a cancellation list, so I'm just going to have to wring my hands until June for that one.  As far as the methimazole, I'm no longer on it.  It got me to euthyroid (as far as ranges go) and then I was taken off of it.  Thanks again, it sounds like you've been through so much and I hope that you find another quality doctor soon.  Take care!
Helpful - 0
2102364 tn?1334181277
You have a legal right to correct wrong information in your records.   First I'd say request the entire record from the hospital - again you have the legal right and then pursue their process for having you labeled as "psych" removed/corrected in your record.   You really don't want that in there in case you have a future emergency and go to the same hospital.    Good luck!
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Avatar universal
doesn't sound like methimazole is the best medication for you to be on---it is to treat hyperthyroidism.  My understanding of hashimoto's, is that it will swing from hyper to hypo with some normals in between while the thyroid gland is dying---sounds like it can be pretty brutal to deal with.   Not sure what the ER can do for you when you are having a flare.

My sister has hashimoto's, she had been tested, but was not showing symptoms yet.  her doc wanted to wait until she got symptoms before he treated her.  She went to a different doctor, not and endo, but one who had studied and specialized in balancing the endocrine system.

His theroy was, why wait until you get sick to treat your hashimoto's, let's treat you before you get symptoms and hopefully you won't get any, or if you do, they will be mild.

She is taking NP Thyroid, which is similar to armour (before the formula changes were made) She is also on cortef because her adrenals were low.  He also does hormone and vitamin and mineral testing---and she is taking a number of supplements and replacement hormones.

i have central hypothyroidism and wasn't getting help in Idaho---so I flew to Conn. to see my sister's doc---I am also on NP Thyroid and hydrocortisone and some replacement hormones and  number of supplements.   My sister and i are on similar things--but not all the same things and not the same amounts---we are treated as individuals and only supplemented with what we are low in---or treated for what we might be high in.

Unfortunately, our doctor has gotten sick and we are not sure who to see that will work similarly to how he does.

My sister and i both had thyroid nodules to start with--but different types---then eventually ended up with thyroid problems, but different types--her's is an autoimmune disease and mine is a pituitary problem. (we are actually step-sisters)

I guess I just told you this long story because I think there should be help out there for you to stabilize your thyroid better so that your life isn't a constant battle----except for 5 days a week-----and any doctor who knows what hashimoto's can do to a person should know better than to call you  "psych"---shame on them!!!!       Don't you hate it when you know more than the doctors that you see!!!???

have you asked to be put on a cancellation list at the endo's office--sometimes you can get in sooner that way.
Helpful - 0
4939681 tn?1361299299
Thanks for your reply!  I really don't have an endo, currently.  I had an endo when my hyperthyroid was spotted by my PCP (only because I demanded the tests), who put me on methimazole.  I went to euthyroid, but still had every hyper symptom.  She said "must not be thyroid related", so I went to a rheumatology clinic.  He did thorough testing and that is when the Hashimoto's was found.  I never went back to the other endo because I didn't trust her after dismissing my symptoms and not doing any farther testing of her own.  Afterwards, I visited the ER during a flare up (apparently when I was "labeled".  I then waited 6 months to get into a endo clinic at Hopkins where I had a 40 minute appt., the ordinary labs were ordered, "T3, T4, TSH all in range, sorry you feel bad".  I've tried finding other endos, but I'm on the wait list for the next available appt in April and another in June.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have not had that experience.  I'm sorry you are being underserved by the medical community.  Is that a label in addition to hashimoto"?  What does your thyroid treating physician say?  I mean, one either has or doesn't have thyroid disease.  Are you being treated for a thyroid disorder?  If this were me, I perhaps seek a fresh perspective on my symptoms that seem to flare as well as maintaining a good working relationship with the doctor treating my hypothyroidism.  Good luck.  
Helpful - 0
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