I'm tired of being made to feel like I'm crazy

[Penguinz68]

So I went to the new thyroid doctor today and felt totally and completely blown off and unvalidated.  :(

Quick background:  12 lb gain in 2 weeks, total 20.  Exhausted, cold extremities, brain fog, achy..on and on.  I'm trying to train for a marathon (my 4th), so I'm not uneducated when it comes to nutrition and exercise.

She pretty much said my blood work from September (TSH) was "normal" (all of my lab work is on low range of normal, including below normal for vitamin B and D) and blew off the rest of my symptoms as far as I'm concerned and started talking about calories out versus calories in.  DUH!  She also mentioned that I should document my food intake and make sure I'm really running 12-15 miles a week like I said I was (because a GPS watch that tracks my running couldn't possible be right).  She also suggested my body is changing as I'm in my 40's and that I could just be stressed because of my dad passing away.  I flat out told her I was raised by an alcoholic mother who on occasion beat me, I have never not known stress.  Yes, I miss my dad and am grieving, but we also knew he was dying (not to sound cold) and had our time together and chance to say our goodbyes...and this all started before that.  I take Aderral for ADD and it's a stimulant.  It helps with the brain fog, but if I don't take it, I am so exhausted I can barely get out of bed.  A medicine that helped me get more focused is now the only thing that makes me feel "normal" energy wise.  I told her I had a big issue with that.  She pretty much brushed it off.  I'm tired of my fingers getting cold and numb as soon as it gets chilly, tired of being tired, of not having any sex drive at all (sorry for the TMI)....

She ordered some blood work (CMP..no idea what that is, Cortisol in the morning, and ACTH...no idea what that is, LH and Estadiol).  When I asked her about testing my free T3 and free T4 she said there was no need to because my TSH looked fine and she really isn't concerned about my thyroid.

I almost walked out in tears.  I don't feel like myself.  I'm not even sure if I want to bother with the blood work and go back to see her.  Am I being unreasonable?

[JMC72]

He doesn't take insurance and in my area, the docs that don't take insurance are the better ones, I am sorry to say...

They take time for you and don't rush you out the door in 15 minutes and do not have to worry about pushing useless drugs on you because they represent this or that drug company and they think outside the box, which is why they don't except insurance...

You happen to be lucky. Maybe your condition was abvious? I don't know but I have been to too many doctors and have been told that's it all in my head and that I should get couseling for too too long as I get progreesively worse each day...

I stand by doctors who do not take insurance because the system is corrupt and they know it!

I have been doing this for awhile...too long and whether it's him or someone else, I'm confident in my choice but thank you for your advice.

[Barb135]

I get all my blood work done at Quest, at no cost to myself, because it's covered by my insurance.   Nothing I saw indicated that this doctor accepts insurance - that's my first red flag... if he doesn't accept insurance, he's got unlimited access to your money.......

I do wish you the best and hope you will keep us posted on your progress.......

[JMC72]

I hear you...

He makes it clear though that the $250 is just the consultation.

He then works with Quest, I think to get a discount labs and tests EVERYTHING...

They sent me a questionaire and it really is thorough...and makes me comfortable but I take your warning seriously...

I live in NYC and his prices are cheap compared to some of the docs in my area and unfortunately the docs that do take insurance all have merged into these "groups" and they have no time for you... I have been to plenty...

[Barb135]

We all need doctors who will support us, but do be careful.  There are those in the chiropractic field that sound "too good to be true"....  

I watched several of the videos; did not cry; yes, he "gets" it, but notice that the videos don't really give you a lot of info; that insures that he also gets your money - $250 is only the beginning...... and his advice may not be the panacea you seek.  Caution!!

I'll do more reading on his web site, in hopes that I'm wrong.......

[JMC72]

http://dallasthyroiddoctor.com/

Check this doctor out...

He consults with you remotely for a $250 consult and will order every lab under the sun...

I just found him the other day on YouTube...

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UUONvCuEp5KKiJ9zy33Duw9A&feature=plcp


You HAVE TO WATCH his videos! You will CRY because you will see yourself in EVERYTHING he says but at the same time you will feel relieved that he GETS IT!!!

I am in the process of scheduling a consult and I will keep everyone posted...

I have been to 10+ doctors for my symptoms and it's the same sh@t... it's all in my head...
This doc knows better!

Best of luck!

[pjwg]

There is nothing on it unless I can enlist people who really know what they are talking about from personal experience...and hopefully, like you say, people will know to seek out a knowledgeable person in the forums.