If you found a good doctor...HOW DID YOU DO IT?

[Kennebecgirl]

I just had a FNA and am waiting for results and while the test itself was not too bad in terms of pain...the experience was terrible because the physician was so insensitive. So, if you have a good physician, can you help me understand how to find one? After reading a lot of posts in this forum I am completely terrified to think that I am heading for a really rotten experience and that I need to find a doctor who can work as a health partner...but I don't think the one I have now is going to be the one...let me share my experience from last week.

First, let me say that I tend to be really analytical, not terribly emotional, and have dealt with a ton of serious issues myself and in my family (e.g. father's terminal cancer, son with renal disease, renal failure, dialysis and finally a transplant, single mom, etc.). I have balanced my way through all the various struggles life throws along pretty well, can almost find humor in even the most serious situations, and in general have a very positive outlook even when dealing with tough realities.

So...I get into the office for the biopsy first thing in the morning...and wait an hour in the waiting room (this office seems to always be behind, even first thing). Then, I am taken to the ultrasound room where they are going to do the procedure...and I see there is not even a magazine to look at (last time I waited a long time in that room...) so I said, "could I get something to read?" "Oh...she'll be right in, you won't need it." So...I sit there with a tray of syringes and slides...and another hour goes by. This gives you a lot of time to practice deep breathing, review everything on the tray, notice that the table in the room is covered with dust below the top, etc. When the doctor finally comes in she says, "We are having a hard time getting organized today, we did not know we had a biopsy." Fabulous, this leaves you thinking you are in great hands...then she says..."So this is on your right side?" Okay, now I really have some concerns...You don't "expect me" even though your office set the appointment and you are reading my chart but don't know the lump is on the LEFT side? But...I don't say anything other than..."No, it's on the LEFT side."

So...(are you bored yet? This is therapy for me...so I will try to make you laugh, but this is basically verbatim what occurred). She pipes up perkily, "Are you nervous?" I am thinking...Are you on crack? But I also think...hey, she will have the needle so behave...so instead I say, "Yes, I am." She seems stunned...maybe they don't include normal, honest responses in Bedside Manners for Dummies..."Why are you nervous?"...again I think...are you freakin serious?...but I say..."Well, you are about to stick a needle in my throat." To which she replies in all seriousness..."I am not about to stick a needle in your throat, I am about to stick a needle in your nodule."

Okay...now I can't stop myself..."Well, given that my nodule is located in my throat, from where I am sitting it all seems pretty much the same." comes flying out of my mouth. Great. She immediately classes me in some obnoxious category...and off we go.

We get through the two aspirations (first one was not too bad...second one hurt). And she says it will be 7-10 days to get results and leaves...at this point, the stress and stiff upper lip lets go a little for me and a couple of tears run down my face and I ask the med tech for a tissue...At this point, the doctor comes back in the room from the hall and says, clearly incredulous..."Are you crying? Why are you CRYING?"...again...this must not be included in Beside Manners for Dummies...so I explain..."Maybe it's the stress"...now she is clearly incredulous..."What stress?!"...apparently my having a small emotion is not acceptable to her (and let me be clear, we are not talking hysteria here, we are not talking sobbing, we are seriously only dealing with the fact that two tears ran out of my eyes after this was over)...again the smart mouth teenager who lives inside this 50 year old, Ivy League Ph.D. pain in the butt (yes...that is me) locks right into gear..."Maybe the stress is related to the fact that we are testing to see if I have CANCER..." She is now clearly disgusted with me and starts quoting statistics, "90% of nodules are not cancer"...of course by now I have read research studies myself....and hey, I conducted research for 9 years myself, so I have a bowing aquaintence with the stats game and how to read research...so given I had already annoyed her I apparently could not stop there..."90% of nodules that are 4.2 cm in size?"..."Well no...those statistics would be different." ..."Right."

Okay...so I need to read Being a Good Patient for Dummies. But as I read in one post on this site..."We are waiting to see if I have CANCER and you want me to be PATIENT?"

Suffice to say..., however the biopsy results come back, I don't think that she and I are a good working match. It sure makes the waiting harder, though, to know that I don't really have a person I trust to work with. Anyway...I am waiting to hear the results and exploring to see how I can find an endocrinologist that can work with me as a thinking, feeling human being as opposed to a nodule.

Any experiences you can share will help. I am in the Dallas area.

[Rachel4]

I'm so sorry about your experience. I'm going into the health care industry myself in part to care for those and their families who are sick.

Hey fellow Texans. I'm in Austin, who should I go to?

[Liz94]

Wow, I missed the part about the Dallas area. I'm in Fort Worth and my endo is Chris Bajaj.  He is in southwest Fort Worth, I drive 45 minutes to see him. He's the best. If you are interested in driving a bit you can call him. 817-263-0007.

[MMKK37]

I actually think I could help on this one. I lived in Southlake for three years, there is an endo. in Grapevine who is the best of the best. His name is Dr. Henry Prost and his office is right in front of Baylor Grapevine Hospital. I loved him and hated when we moved because he was the best endo. I have ever seen. I have had Hashimoto's for 8 years so I know my way around a Doctor's office. I am not sure where you live in the Dallas area, but it would be worth even an hour drive in my opinion. If you can't find the number let me know and I will get it for you:) Good luck!!!!

[Liz94]

I would say that after experiencing all of this thyroid madness it is very important for you to choose your doctor carefully. Don't just settle. Ask everyone, especially your family doc, your dentist, your ob/gyn, family members, whatever it takes.  I actually found mine by accident. When my family doc told me my TSH had risen (I was hypo for many years) and increased my medicine and I started feeling badly, I decided it was time to see a doc that maybe knew more about thyroids. I was on meds for 14 years for hypothyroidism and didn't know the first thing about the condition. Never cared. Took my pill, gave my blood and life was good. So, I went into my insurance book and called every endo within 30 miles and took the first appt. that could fit me in.  I made that appt. and the day before going I got a call from a previous one that they'd had a cancellation and would I like to come NOW. So I jumped on it and I am truly blessed because he is just the best.  I think it's really important to find a good endo because if something does come back as cancer or whatever, this is a person that is going to basically be a part of your existence.  You will need to be able to call and find out test results, get in quick when you aren't feeling well, and most importantly, a doctor that will listen to you and how you are feeling. So much of this disease is based on "lab numbers" and so many people feel horrible when the "numbers" say they should feel well. And you need a doctor that will understand that.

With all that being said I have to say that the only thing my doc has done that really has baffled me was this......when my nodule came back cancerous he actually said to me "don't worry about it....we'll take out your thyroid, give you a little radioactive iodine and you'll be good to go." It hasn't been quite that simple but I understand what he was trying to do.  

Hang in there. I know you are scared. I was scared to death. I cried. We all do.  But it'll be okay. If it comes back worrisome you just go get you a little thyroidectomy and girl, you will be good to go!!!!  :}

[ChitChatNine]

Ok .. I HEAR YOU and all you describe is awful and most of us have been there and done that and most of us are not doing it any longer~!  Word of mouth .. ask everybody you know who is a good endocrinologist and/or ENT.  I even called my pediatrician to ask her.  Ask your family doctor.  Make appts now at one or two Endo's and/or ENT's and cancel them if you need to .. don't forget to cancel or you'll get charged.  This way you are one step ahead of the game and closer to a 2nd opinion appt if you need it.

I just hate those who always put the stats on the table to comfort themselves.  There isa  90% chance all is ok .. well, after I heard the stats that failed for me time and time again I finally told my docs to stop quoting stats.  All they did was make the Dr feel comfortable in an awkward situation bcz I was not winning the lottery here LOL!

I am sorry this office has treated  you like a # ... my advice is to buy imaginary earplugs and put on tough alligator skin and you'll get thru this with your friends here who care and family, too.  

The worst I was told was that my family doc after my surgery told me I had a btter chance dying being hit by a car crossing the street than from the little cancer they found in my gland.  That's nice.  The BIG C WAS NOT IN HIS chart and did not change his life forever.

Hope this helps.

And, the slides are yours .. you can have them sent to another instituion for 2nd opinion to be read if necessary.

Oh, I cried after my FNA .. I didn't know I got immediate results and I was there by myself.  Done at a huge breast cancer facility that does thyroid biopsies 1X week.  When they said it was atypical I was stunned and by myself.  It's ok to cry.  Let it out.  The waiting is the hardest part sometimes.

C~