~Intro, ?s, & Need Endo Recommendation in Columbus, OH~

[Guest guest]

Hello, new friends -

I am Christy, age 32, in Columbus, OH. When my (ex) doctor sent me

my blood test results with the comment that I should come back for

fasting blood tests in 30 days, I researched my various, odd blood

numbers and came up with hyperT as a possiblity. My new doctor

confirmed my suspicion last Thursday. Fortunately, I have realized

that being hysterical 24/7 will not help anything, so I have settled

for just being quietly terrified 24/7. :-\

BTW, my TSH (not sure which particular test was given) was .002 (with

range of .5 - 4.5 or something like that) and my Thyroxine (again,

not sure which exact test) was 14.9 (range of 5 - 12 or something

like that.) I left my copy of the results with my new GP, but

anyway...

My new doctor called the endo she refers to and described

my 'concern' and my already-strong opinion AGAINST rai (thx to many

online, including you!) Well, my hysterics got me a place on the

endo's 'secret list' of patients who get in ASAP, but my comment

about RAI got the reaction of " What??!?! Well, that's the easiest

way to treat this!! " So... the endo asked my new GP to take more

blood and schedule an Uptake Scan. I have a few questions about all

of this, if you have a moment to respond (please. :-)

1. IF I decide to cooperate and have the uptake scan (which I

understand is only useful for determining how much poison they must

give you to kill your thyroid)... what are the chances that my

symptoms will be much worse afterward... or that I will make a trip

to the hospital with Storm??

2. If the answer to the above is bad news, is it at all likely that I

can find an endo that does not push the Uptake Scan, and/or is not an

overall 'Radiation Nazi' as their first (and only?) advice for

dealing with hyperT?

3. Would you recommend that I call every Endo in my PPO network to

ask about their usual treatment advice and/or make an appointment to

learn firsthand?

4. Does anyone have a suggestion for an Endo in or near Central Ohio

who is NOT a 'Radiation Nazi'??? The endo recommendations on

thyroid.about.com only mention their bedside manner, not their views

on introducing dangerous radiation as their first/only treatment

advice.

Thank you for your help. I've been reading through the archives of

this group constantly, and I already appreciate all of you. I am

glad that so many of you are doing so well! Please forgive

the 'ranting' tone of my email. I really like making my own

decisions based upon all available information, so I am already

annoyed by the way things are going with the RAI craziness. I also

would rather obtain reliable 'neutral' information, rather than rely

upon a radiation-slanted endo to provide information. When I asked

my new GP about the increased severity of symptoms and STORM from the

uptake scan and RAI, she replied, " Oh, that doesn't happen. " ... like

I am an idiot or something. (I assure you I am not.) At the same

time, I am ~very~ eager to get 'out of danger' no later than the

first week or two in January. My scan -- that I will probably cancel

because of the ludicrousness of it (unless you say otherwise) -- is

scheduled for 12/30.

Thank you and take care!

Christy