RE: So frustrated with doctor appoint. today

January 11, 2002

Hi Rhonda-

My husband is a physician too and at one time did suggest RAI (he was an

intern when I got sick and thought RAI was a perfect sol'n-so I did it)

since my doctors told me I had to have it. Now, after all the problems I've

had, he would never consider letting his children have it, or his mother, or

his sister, etc... In fact, he tells his patients when he diagnoses them

with Graves' that they will probably be told they have to have it. Then he

tells them why they don't.

If more doctors had to live with the consequences of RAI, as my husband did,

I have no doubt that they'd be a little more cautious about recommending it.

My husband never recommends it anymore (I suppose there could be a

circumstance where he would but he diagnoses Graves' pretty often and it

hasn't come up yet).

I sure don't mind your venting. I'm so angry, sad and regretful today (yes,

I know it doesn't do any good but I don't know how to stop it) that I can't

stop myself from complaining.

Take care,

> Have to vent and KNEW you all wouldn't mind. I went back to my former

gen. prac. today, who I really liked before, now I'm frustrated. All he

could harp on was how dangerous is to be Hyper, and that I should radiate

the thyroid. Even though I mentioned the meds either way he went on and on

about much more dangerous Hyper was and that I could go into a Thyrotoxic

Crisis (?) and have problems in less than 24 hours and even die. Freaking

me out of course, but I've learned a lot and knew some of the risks. So, I

politely nodded my head and really listened to him -- a courtesy I certainly

hope will be returned to me by him.

>

> Later, I asked him if this Crisis is something I had to worry about

today..you know dying tonight or something, and he said no because my

thyroid is in a good place (or something like that) and the PTU controls it.

Well, then, duh? Why should I kill it if it's okay on PTU? I'm not going

to go off it for years and have all the symptoms and not address them. IF I

would do that then, yes, I could see a crisis and death, but if I'm on to my

symptoms, getting it checked and taking the meds, can I still go into

crisis?

>

> I then asked him, since he goes on and on over and over about the positive

side of Hypo v. Hyper, about the bad effects from radiation treatment when

you go Hypo. He started on about the radiation (which is not my point, so I

told him) and then started to address my actual question, but couldn't

really come up with a list of side effects since he said it was " case by

case " but he would give me a list should I decide to do it.

>

> Now, granted, he is not an endo, but it is of special interest and so he

" specializes " I guess you say in it. He even gave me the line about " If my

mother, father, sister, or I had Graves I would suggest the same

treatment. " -- and quite honestly I thought in my head, I really don't care

what you suggest to them. Sorry, but it was just too strong, esp. since I

told him I did not want it at this time.

>

> I'm looking forward to seeing my results next week. Thanks, as always,

for all your answers....and in advance for any help you can provide.

>

> BTW, he said I could exercise because my heart rate is fine and I don't

need to watch the salt, or caffeine....then went on to say " That's another

reason to get it done because you don't want to be worrying about having

cake and coffee at dinner for the rest of your life...blah, blah,

blah " ....well, apparently I don't have to worry about it anyway since he had

just told me I could have caffeine, etc. Okay, that's it....anxiously

awaiting your input.

>

> Rhonda

January 11, 2002