Re: RE: TED/Thyroid toxicty

[Guest guest]

Guy, What a wonderful experience you had. Most of us only dream of such

an encounter. This doctor must be very sure and confident man! Many of

us have had the experience of being rebuffed because our knowledge was

seen as a challenge not only to the doctor but also the system. RAI is

seen as the only option for Graves by the majority of doctors in North

America. You are a lucky man.

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Guy. My total disgust yesterday was because the eye neuro is a fat

head, and I didn't care for him from, get-go. I have lost two specialists

in the past 18 months to cut backs by the HMO and I am just plain worn out

from being bounced among people with degrees who are signing cheaper

contracts to provide (un)managed medical care.

I also have refused to undergo RAI for close to two years because of what I

have read about its effects on my TED. Yet doctors continue to cover buns

in case bones turn to mush or heart problems develop. The endo said in the

first appointment with him that he preferred RAI. No discussion over 18

months has ever touched on worsening the eye problems nor has there ever

been a suggestion that many people are seriously depressed after RAI and may

need designer (meaning expensive, meaning not covered by my HMO)

anti-depressants to keep them going. The RAI is being offered as an

outpatient in an inner-city hospital, with it scheduled around commuter

traffic in and commuter traffic out. I wouldn't expect anything else.

And no matter how you cut it, given the choice of double vision, or mushy

bones or a heart problem, guess which way I will go. Guess it as I sit here

at a computer in a home filled with books.

I am still furious about being passed among a bunch of good old cheap

contract boys by an HMO that doesn't care. I am tethered to this HMO until

October, and then will be able to choose a major medical plan. You will

never know how much I think the stress of the HMO care has exacerbated the

thyroid hyperactivity and associated TED. I almost had a stroke yesterday

when I was sent ten miles out of the city to the cheap office district where

the new specialist won the recent HMO contract to provide (non)services.

BTW, I never had a run-around either when I used Major Medical Insurance

Plan physicians. But I am still grateful that, as an individual subscriber,

I have at least had the HMO (mis)managed care system until I could qualify

for a real insurance company's major medical plan. I did receive radiation

of the eyes from a hospital oncology unit and the HMO did, in fact, cover

the costs (at least I haven't received a bill yet).

Elaine

Researching Bohemian Surnames

S L E P I C K A and H R U S K A

RE: TED/Thyroid toxicty

> From: Gjmorvillo@...

>

> Elaine,

> Hi,

> If I may put my two cents in.

> I have never got a runaround from any physician regarding not divulging

information.

> My STRRONG recommendation is that you do your homework, which may involve

developing a working knowledge

> of your condition,clinical terminology and related jargon.

> I have found this to work every time! I even had the head Endo at a

> leading New York City hospital invite me to his lecture series on

pediatric endocrinology

> (geared for new pediatricians) all because I was able to speak fluently

concerning the exemption he just performed on me and

> the genetic predisposition my 5 year old son may have to Hyperthyroidism.

> I know from experience that the medical profession can be very closed

mouth.

> However, If you put in the time they will open-up!

> Best regards

> Guy

>

>