Re: Disappointing MD Visit

[Guest guest]

jo, i feel so badly for you. it's very frustrating when we

try and tell the doctors that we know our own bodies and they

just won't listen.

after going from specialist to specialist, i found answers at

a holistic group. i don't know if that's an option for you,

but it's worth a shot.

stay positive,

hillary

---- Original message ----

>Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2004 18:42:27 -0000

>

>Subject: Disappointing MD Visit

>To: Thyroiditis

>

>Well, I went to the rheumatologist yesterday, and despite my

>NUMEROUS Hashimoto's symptoms that have reappeared (no

appetite,

>weight gain, constipation, headache, muscle aches, etc.

etc.), he

>focused on my nausea and vomiting and thinks my gallbladder

is bad.

>I now have to have an ultrasound, though I am sure they

checked my

>gallbladder when I was in the hospital last year and I

assume it was

>not the problem. I honestly think this is all related to my

>thyroid, but since I don't have a medical degree, it's hard

to get

>him to listen to that. He doesn't even want me to have the

TSH

>until April!! In addition to everything else, I feel like I

have a

>lump down in the base of my throat. Actually, it feels like

I have

>a golf ball stuck down deep in my throat or something. It's

not

>painful, but uncomfortable, and sometimes I get a little

panicked

>thinking I can't swallow -- mostly at night, I wake up

thinking I am

>choking. Has anyone else had this symptom with Hashi's? He

seems

>to think that, too, could be my gallbladder. If anyone has

had that

>sensation, please let me know. Also, I would be interested

in

>knowing whether people have had the best luck with

rheumatologists

>or endocrinologists for treating Hashimoto's. Obviously,

with my RA

>and other autoimmune problems, I have to keep seeing the

>rheumatologist for all of the medications I take, but I was

>considering asking my PCP for a referral to an

endocrinologist to

>deal with the Hashi's. Any opinions on that? Thanks again

for

>everyone's support and information!!

>

>

>

>*Note: Information is freely exchanged on this board based

on patient experiences, and should not be considered a

medical recommendation.

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, I've had these symptoms, with the feeling of a " golf ball " in the

throat. Mine was/is Hashi's Thyroiditis, but is getting better at this

time. It was chronic for awhile, for several months. When this is

happening, I have more trouble breathing in bed for periods of time, am

woken up by these episodes. Also, I have the swallowing problems while it

is going on, and am hoarse, with the range of my voice dropped to a lower

key. This might go on for a few days, and then resolve temporarily. (So,

you see, you're probably right about what's wrong with you, after all). I

have been in the process of a change-over from synthetic hormone to Armour

over the past 5-6 months because of these problems, and these symptoms have

just begun to resolve over this past month or so. The aches and pains

started to get better before that, but I know that it is going to take time

to completely adjust my Armour to where it will be eventually. I started on

30 mgs and am now slowly working my way up to 120 mgs, but am sticking by

the 90 mgs for a few wks, before I do this. Compared to one yr ago, I have

experienced vast improvements in myself, all the way around. Before being

diagnosed in 1994, I experienced a long ongoing hyperthyroid phase of

Hashi's, with melancholic depression, extreme anxiety, nervousness, and

started a running program because I knew no other way to release the energy.

The thyroid then began to blink to the hypo side, with tremors and

exhaustion, at which point I was diagnosed. I was undertreated for over 8

yrs, from that point on, while, in the meantime, I started gathering as much

information as I could on thyroid disease, out of desperation and lack of

understanding from my local medical community. I am NOT a licensed

professional, except in a different realm of the medical world, as a CNA,

but I have been studying all the different opinions and information on this

disease for the last 6 yrs. I have my own opinions, according to the

information I've gleaned from hundreds of thyroid patients, what their

treatments were, what worked for them, and what didn't work for them. I've

come to many of my own conclusions, even though many others do not agree

with them, but some people that I know have benefitted by this information.

I am still learning. I do not sell any products at all, but I do believe

that Armour Thyroid is a superior treatment for thyroid disease in many many

people, and I stand by that. I am a co-owner on two different thyroid

groups, though NOT on this one, and I have a strong desire to help others,

so that they won't experience these nightmares for long ongoing yrs on end.

This is part of my positive thinking, though sometimes, to others, it may

come across differently. (((Hugs)))

Tx

Disappointing MD Visit

> Well, I went to the rheumatologist yesterday, and despite my

> NUMEROUS Hashimoto's symptoms that have reappeared (no appetite,

> weight gain, constipation, headache, muscle aches, etc. etc.), he

> focused on my nausea and vomiting and thinks my gallbladder is bad.

> I now have to have an ultrasound, though I am sure they checked my

> gallbladder when I was in the hospital last year and I assume it was

> not the problem. I honestly think this is all related to my

> thyroid, but since I don't have a medical degree, it's hard to get

> him to listen to that. He doesn't even want me to have the TSH

> until April!! In addition to everything else, I feel like I have a

> lump down in the base of my throat. Actually, it feels like I have

> a golf ball stuck down deep in my throat or something. It's not

> painful, but uncomfortable, and sometimes I get a little panicked

> thinking I can't swallow -- mostly at night, I wake up thinking I am

> choking. Has anyone else had this symptom with Hashi's? He seems

> to think that, too, could be my gallbladder. If anyone has had that

> sensation, please let me know. Also, I would be interested in

> knowing whether people have had the best luck with rheumatologists

> or endocrinologists for treating Hashimoto's. Obviously, with my RA

> and other autoimmune problems, I have to keep seeing the

> rheumatologist for all of the medications I take, but I was

> considering asking my PCP for a referral to an endocrinologist to

> deal with the Hashi's. Any opinions on that? Thanks again for

> everyone's support and information!!

[Guest guest]

Hi jookeefe_1960. Why not go find a good Top Thyroid Doc and get your

antibodies tested before you agree to do that ultrasound??

This reminds me SO much of the years I spent doing all these tests

that docs wanted me to do because they were CONVINCED my problems

were NOT my thyroid, when they were. I spent BIG bucks and wasted

time on tests that I NEVER needed. It was my thyroid all the time. It

was because I was on T4 meds which were not doing the job.

There are many folks out there who are Hashi's and have your same

symptoms.

And NO, you will NOT have good treatment with Endos. I've watched

person after person go to Endos and have their symptoms ignored, have

labs be more important than symptoms and have be put on useless meds

like Synthroid or Levoxyl when they CLEARLY needed the T3 that Armour

provides. Not to say there isn't a good one here and there....but

they are so far and few between that no one with any knowledge can

honestly tell you to go to an Endo.

Janie

[Guest guest]

> whatever you do, trust yourself. you know your body.

Sheila is right on target there!

And know that thyroid hormones affect every single cell in your body.

Thus, having a diseased thyroid can negatively effect ANY cell in

your body, causing a myriad of symptoms that docs all too easily

blame on everything else.

Janie aka ThyroDiva