2nd opinion

May 14, 2003

First, a big thank you to for encouraging me to get a second

opinion. I met with an endo with thyroid cancer as a specialty at

Virginia Mason in Seattle. He just stared at me in disbelief when I

shared my thyroid history, in fact he was speechless. I had 4

biopsies over 10 years and no one ever suggested I have surgery, as

the biopsies were negative, even though the goiter was continuing to

grow and I had swelling in the area of my thyroid. The fifth biopsy

showed cancer.

I had a gut feeling my current endo was not following me properly,

and sure enough he was not. The only blood work he ever did

following my ablation was TSH and calcium levels. No other blood

work!! And when I got a copy of my records from a CT scan I had in

December because I felt a fullness in my neck, it showed two swollen

lymph nodes and recommended a follow up scan. But I never knew

that. I did have a nuclear scan but was still on the thyroid and it

showed no uptake, and a repeat scan was recommended. Don't know

what the endo did with that report!.

So we have some big concerns. The new doc has taken me off the

Levoxyl, will start Cytomel on Monday, and get to be hypo for a

while. Start the LID in 4 weeks after that and have small dose of

the radiation and uptake on June 30, with WBS on July 2, and see the

endo that same day. Depending on what that shows, may be looking at

surgery and radiation again. He is concerned about the lack of

uptake in December, and the swollen nodes.

Needless to say, he took the wind out of my sails. I don't know who

I'm more upset with, myself for not getting records and doing more

research, or the endo for dropping the ball. He did not even follow

regular protocol for the thyroid cancer. So I am transferring my

care over to the new doc and praying my insurance will not have a

problem with it, as I work for a hospital and the insurance can be

picky about going elsewhere for care.

Anyway, just needed to let this out. Thanks every one for all your

helpful suggestions.

Blessings,

Barb

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