Guest guest Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 It may sound like going the long way around, however it has seemed to work better for me. Call a compounding pharmacy (they make individualized dosages of certain medicines). A compounding pharmacy typically deals with docs who tailor medicines and treatments to the individual. Ask specifically for a doc who perscribes armour and one that has a lot of experience with thyroid issues. If you have several compounding pharmacies inyoru area, ask several of them for refrences to docs. Or call a second one and ask them specifically if they work with that particular doc and what they think of his treatment style. They usually work one on one with these docs and have a good idea if they are on target, have a good knowledge of a disease/condition, etc. I am awaiting an appointment with a doc that several pharmacies recommended. So with any luck, I might have " the one " . Good luck in your search....I know it can be dificult and painstaking, but I think it is better to work WITH someone instead of fighting to get treatment or having to " lead them " . Let us know how you fair. > > I'm new to the group so if we can't list docs on here just let me > know. I'm familiar with the resources on STTM, etc but I can't find > a " good doc " in my area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 > Call a compounding pharmacy... Ask specifically for a doc who perscribes armour and one that has a > lot of experience with thyroid issues. If you have several > compounding pharmacies inyoru area, ask several of them for refrences What a great idea! I hope this works for you. Let us know how your appointment goes. English Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 Well, I went to the new doctor yesterday and I'm cautiously optimistic. He took the entire hour with me to go over my medical history and symptoms. He looked at my fingernails, looked in my mouth and throat, looked up my nose (that is a first), checked my ankle reflex (I didn't realize we had one of these much less that it could be related to my problems), checked my neck, checked my ankles and feet for pulse and edema, and so on. He gave me the salva test for cortisol. It says on the paper Adrenal stress index panel: TAP (cortisol x4), DHEA, MB2-S, FI-4, ISNx2 & P17-OH. The only ones on this panel that I know understand already are the cortisol and the DHEA. Can anyone tell me what the others are for? He also ordered several blood labs. When I asked what he was ordering, he got the sheet and marked them in front of me. From what I remember, he ordered TSH, FT-3, FT-4, RT-3, lipid panel, crc panel(or something with a c in it), ferritin level, antibodies, and testosterone/free testoserone. It seems like he may have ordered something else as well, but I can't remember. It isn't everything I wrote down, but he did order many of the ones I requested (as a starting point). I told him that I found him on the Top Thyroid Doctor list and he looked at me and said " Don't believe everything you read. " I liked him so far. Anyone see any red flags that I'm missing? Cherie > > I'm new to the group so if we can't list docs on here just let me > know. I'm familiar with the resources on STTM, etc but I can't find > a " good doc " in my area. I'm sooooooooo disappointed in the first DO > that I saw. I have really low cortisol levels and I'm hypothyroid. > He did get me started on Armour and I'm taking some adrenal extract > meds from another doctor. However, I asked the DO if he thinks I have > hypopituitary and WHY I'm having thyroid problems and he didn't have a > good answer. He didn't even mention the ACTH stim test. I've talked to > on real thyroid help and he thinks I may very well be hypo > pituitary!! I'm at a loss now........BTW, any doc suggestions in > birmingham,al? If we can list these on here. I'll list my labs later > for feedback. > > No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.13/1167 - Release Date: 12/3/2007 12:20 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 Cherie he sounds liek he is hitting all bases. I am sure if the cortisol labs are low he will consider a STim and aldosterone & Renin. -- Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/ http://www.seewell4less.com/Valspage.htm Medical Alert Bracelets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 He sounds like a good doctor. Much better than I have ever had. Once a doc yelled at me for suggesting things that were wrong with me (turned out I was right) and I finally said to her " look, I am just suggesting things because you haven't. Your the expert here. If I am wrong, then tell me, what is the diagnosis? " Well, I took her off guard and she got all tongue tied and said " I don't know, you have so many symptoms. " It was kind of fun to throw it back at her and basically say if you don't like what I suggest, then give me your expert opinion...if you are capable of forming one, lol. I have to say the only doctor I ever had that listened was my neurologist. He didn't know enough about the issues and was wrong on some things, but I was just grateful to have someone who treated me with respect. Cheri RE: doc suggestions That was the impression I got from him. He also said he may want me to do a sleep study because thinks some of my symptoms might be caused by sleep apnea. I told him that I don't really care what is causing the problems, as long as we can find it and fix it. Many doctors seem to feel like you've already diagnosed yourself (which we have to do sometimes) and get defensive when you make suggestions. He just said. " Oh, I know you don't. You just want someone to listen and to check for things. " (Or something along those lines). Now I just have to wait for the levels to come back from everything. Cherie > . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 8, 2007 Report Share Posted December 8, 2007 > > I'm new to the group so if we can't list docs on here just let me > know. I'm familiar with the resources on STTM, etc but I can't find > a " good doc " in my area. I'm sooooooooo disappointed in the first DO > that I saw. I have really low cortisol levels and I'm hypothyroid. > He did get me started on Armour and I'm taking some adrenal extract > meds from another doctor. However, I asked the DO if he thinks I have > hypopituitary and WHY I'm having thyroid problems and he didn't have a > good answer. He didn't even mention the ACTH stim test. I've talked to > on real thyroid help and he thinks I may very well be hypo > pituitary!! I'm at a loss now........BTW, any doc suggestions in > birmingham,al? If we can list these on here. I'll list my labs later > for feedback. > Hi All, thanks for the suggestions..yes, I've tried calling all the compounding pharmacies, etc. great suggestion! Cherie, I want to talk to you. I've heard of the doc you saw but when I called a few months ago I was told that he wasn't taking " new " patients. I guess only sleep study patients. Now, I'm gonna cry!! I'm gonna see if I can send you an email so we can compare notes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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