eleezybeth
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,784
Jun 28, 2014 20:42:01 GMT
|
Post by eleezybeth on Oct 2, 2018 18:39:49 GMT
I go to a new to me Dr. this morning as my old one retired. I just need an overall look at my medicines but I'm not even talking about my thyroid. My blood work is a good 8-9 months old.
He walks in, says I'm a mess nicely (it's true) and says "Your thyroid is too low. I can tell just looking at you." I'm like, well... do I look that bad? Like how do I look like my meds are off? Do I give off a glow? Perhaps an odor? For example, my eyes? Him - "Nope, you look tired and worn out." And excuse me but I got dressed with a shower, hair combed and makeup today! I work from home - I'm a pajama pant kind of gal. Okay? So we talk about all my other meds, develop a plan, etc. No more mention of the synthroid in that plan.
My last Dr. wanted me at "2" even though I told her I feel best around "1". She didn't really care and lowered my meds. I let it happen as I didn't want to fight with the "clinical lab levels" and her opinion. Whatevs. I was at 167.5 (two pills - pain in the butt), she lowered me to 150.
I get to the pharmacy. He prescribed me a higher dose, 175. Higher than what I was at before the last Dr. lowered them! And he's going off the same blood work! I thought for sure he'd order labs, but then we developed a plan outside of the thyroid so I didn't worry about it.
So, uhm... thoughts? This is kind of crazy right? I absolutely feel better when my blood work is closer to 1, but I was closer to 1 at the last dose. Even if it was a pain taking the two pills. With no new blood work he raises my dose? I'm just scratching my head.
|
|
|
|
Post by PolarGreen12 on Oct 2, 2018 18:50:41 GMT
If he assumes it's your thyroid because you look tired and does not do any new blood work, I wouldn't continue seeing him.
I also wouldn't want a jump that much in dosage when you are so close to your target number. I only let my endocrinologist adjust my thyroid meds. When my number eeked up a bit this summer, he only put me on a higher dose two days of the week. Thyroid numbers are tricky and they take time to process new doses, you can send yourself into a tailspin with too much tweeking.
|
|
keithurbanlovinpea
Pearl Clutcher
Flowing with the go...
Posts: 4,266 
|
Post by keithurbanlovinpea on Oct 2, 2018 18:51:28 GMT
Many functional doctors will treat based on symptoms. Mine runs labs but kind of glances at them and then uses the data in conjunction with my symptoms and my report is of how I'm doing and what's changed. I go to a new to me Dr. this morning as my old one retired. I just need an overall look at my medicines but I'm not even talking about my thyroid. My blood work is a good 8-9 months old. He walks in, says I'm a mess nicely (it's true) and says "Your thyroid is too low. I can tell just looking at you." I'm like, well... do I look that bad? Like how do I look like my meds are off? Do I give off a glow? Perhaps an odor? For example, my eyes? Him - "Nope, you look tired and worn out." And excuse me but I got dressed with a shower, hair combed and makeup today! I work from home - I'm a pajama pant kind of gal. Okay? So we talk about all my other meds, develop a plan, etc. No more mention of the synthroid in that plan. My last Dr. wanted me at "2" even though I told her I feel best around "1". She didn't really care and lowered my meds. I let it happen as I didn't want to fight with the "clinical lab levels" and her opinion. Whatevs. I was at 167.5 (two pills - pain in the butt), she lowered me to 150. I get to the pharmacy. He prescribed me a higher dose, 175. Higher than what I was at before the last Dr. lowered them! And he's going off the same blood work! I thought for sure he'd order labs, but then we developed a plan outside of the thyroid so I didn't worry about it. So, uhm... thoughts? This is kind of crazy right? I absolutely feel better when my blood work is closer to 1, but I was closer to 1 at the last dose. Even if it was a pain taking the two pills. With no new blood work he raises my dose? I'm just scratching my head. |
|
|
|
Post by scrapmaven on Oct 2, 2018 18:54:49 GMT
Sounds like a lazy doctor who isn't giving you the attention you need. I would get a different doctor. None of what he is doing makes sense. W/o current labs how can he possibly know what you need? You deserve better care.
|
|
|
|
Post by newfcathy on Oct 2, 2018 20:02:52 GMT
I would switch doctors as well. It is one thing to say you look tired on your visit after he has seen you regularly enough to you see such a change, another to assume that his single assessment, not backed up by lab work or an evaluation of your history, is sufficient to recommend a change in dosage.
I dislike doctors with God complexes
|
|
eleezybeth
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,784
Jun 28, 2014 20:42:01 GMT
|
Post by eleezybeth on Oct 2, 2018 20:50:31 GMT
I only let my endocrinologist adjust my thyroid meds. I wish I could get an endo. Unfortunately, this is not possible and having been pretty stable for a few years I don't know if I need to push it. The endo was the one who set the 167 dosage and that was 5 years ago. At the beginning of this journey my blood work was all over the place. It took me about 6 years to get to a point where I was "stable." Many functional doctors will treat based on symptoms. You know... I could buy this IF his nurse had screened me at all, if he had taken a current history, if he knew me as a patient... anything. He made some pretty major assumptions about me in general. I challenged them but he really didn't seem to be able to hear me. I'm just UGH. I was hoping he would work. Now I run the risk of being "non-compliant" if I don't take this new medication. I wasn't happy when she lowered it and now I'm not happy that it is raised. Ha! Can't make me happy! |
|
|
|
Post by dewryce on Oct 2, 2018 21:07:01 GMT
I agree with what the others have said. Just a small piece of advice. You know your body better than he does. But is it possible you are not familiar with all of the potential symptoms? That you told him or the nurse some things, even in passing, or he noticed some issues that could indicate your current dosage isn't doing its job? That's the first thing I would look at. I suspect it's just him wanting to treat the lab results more than the symptoms. But it couldn't hurt to do some research into all potential symptoms to make sure you're not experiencing some you aren't familiar with.
|
|
eleezybeth
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,784
Jun 28, 2014 20:42:01 GMT
|
Post by eleezybeth on Oct 2, 2018 21:17:19 GMT
You know your body better than he does. Apparently not! I didn't think my thyroid is even off. He said "You don't sleep." I sleep pretty well and since I have a CPAP I know exactly how I slept the night before within an hour of waking up. That data is pretty clear. He said, "You aren't restful." I'm pretty restful - I don't want to nap like I do when my meds are off. He said, "You are exhausted." I'm really not. He said, "You need a better mattress." My mattress is awesome. Its my favorite piece of furniture - sure it could be bad but I wake up and can walk this is good for me. He said, "Your appetite is decreased." Really? Not even a little but I am making better choices about what I put in my mouth. I've researched my thyroid pretty well. I have Graves but have been ablated. I know my big signals when my blood/meds are off. For example hair and nails, tired and constipation. TMI? I can't tell you enough that I feel pretty normal as far as that goes. HOWEVER, I had a hysterectomy this year and I admit that could change (maybe?) some thyroid/hormone response so I'll give it a little grace. But overall - no. He said that to me before he even sat down. We're talking seconds after entering the room. If I formed a clinical opinion on someone without a current history or at least the minimum standard of care, I'd be in trouble. |
|
|
|
Post by dewryce on Oct 2, 2018 21:24:19 GMT
You know your body better than he does. Apparently not! I didn't think my thyroid is even off. He said "You don't sleep." I sleep pretty well and since I have a CPAP I know exactly how I slept the night before within an hour of waking up. That data is pretty clear. He said, "You aren't restful." I'm pretty restful - I don't want to nap like I do when my meds are off. He said, "You are exhausted." I'm really not. He said, "You need a better mattress." My mattress is awesome. Its my favorite piece of furniture - sure it could be bad but I wake up and can walk this is good for me. He said, "Your appetite is decreased." Really? Not even a little but I am making better choices about what I put in my mouth. I've researched my thyroid pretty well. I have Graves but have been ablated. I know my big signals when my blood/meds are off. For example hair and nails, tired and constipation. TMI? I can't tell you enough that I feel pretty normal as far as that goes. HOWEVER, I had a hysterectomy this year and I admit that could change (maybe?) some thyroid/hormone response so I'll give it a little grace. But overall - no. He said that to me before he even sat down. We're talking seconds after entering the room. If I formed a clinical opinion on someone without a current history or at least the minimum standard of care, I'd be in trouble. Wow. Yeah, I'll amend my original statement. You know your body muchbetter than he does.  Those are your usual signals, but is it possible you have new signals you aren't aware of? How is your skin, is it dry? You're familiar with hair issues, is that your scalp only? When mine is off it affects my eyebrows. Is your memory okay? Your joints? Any muscle weakness? Your cholesterol? |
|
grammad
Junior Member
Posts: 81
Apr 10, 2018 20:57:02 GMT
|
Post by grammad on Oct 2, 2018 21:29:55 GMT
Yikes! I wouldn't have much faith in a Dr that doesn't listen to me and changes the dosage on a med without a current blood draw. He may have read your file, but he doesn't 'know' you. I'd be looking for a new Dr if possible. Good luck.
|
|
eleezybeth
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,784
Jun 28, 2014 20:42:01 GMT
|
Post by eleezybeth on Oct 3, 2018 0:00:40 GMT
dewryce I usually shed but only my head. Brain fog and memory seem to be normal (normal... hahahahaha!). Skin is fine. Really - there is no indication that anything is off at all. Joints are harder because my back is shot so that pain is normal (which is why I was there). I started the autoimmune diet in hopes of reducing overall inflammation. I went full keto and overall I can fill I have less inflammation in my joints. He was NOT impressed with weight loss at all or my desire to eat better and be healthier. My cholesterol was great when I had surgery in May so I expect it still is. Thank you all for letting me talk this out. I felt weird leaving there. I felt really judged. I am a type A personality (always have been) but he insinuated that my personality was also being driven by my thyroid. And I'm in a really, really good place in my life outside of my pain so WTF? Makes me wonder if I was a guy if I would have been treated differently. Twilight zone... Thank you for also not thinking this is normal.
|
|
|
|
Post by dewryce on Oct 3, 2018 0:04:52 GMT
It's not normal. You need a new doctor. I'm sorry you experienced this with him. Our doctors really are in a position of trust and often see us at our most vulnerable. It's terrible when they treat people this way. Makes me even more thankful for some of the amazing doctors I have seen.
|
|
|
|
Post by mygigiscraps on Oct 3, 2018 9:40:47 GMT
Like you, I feel better when I'm around 1. At 2 or over, my weight balloons and I'm exhausted. Fortunately, my doctor listens and doses me appropriately. I would be very apprehensive about a doctor that treated me the way yours treated you. Definitely find a new doctor.
|
|
