demanded thyroid medicine

babycakes17 · 05-06-2004, 07:43 PM

Well I finally got ahold of my doctors nurse today after waiting all day for her to call me back. I had to call her before she left for the day.

I demanded that she ask my doctor to put me on something for my thyroid.

My TSH was 4.22 ,it keeps going up. Back in OCt. 03 it was only 2.92.

I told her what the AMerican ASSociation of CLincial endrocrinologists ranges are and I flat out said mine our too high.

You'd figure she tells me the doctor had already left for the day @ 4:15.Said she wouldn't be back until Tuesday and that she would leave her a note about my calling and she stated that the doctor would probably write something out for me.

SHe also asked me if I have a endocronoligist and I said yes, but that I couldn't get in to him for several weeks and my regular doc .was the one that ordered the TSH,so she should be the one to at least start me on something till I can get in to see my endo.

The last time I saw my endo . was back in November and I call to make a app. to see him again and they tell me I have to see him as a new patient.
"I'm like WHAT" its only been 6 months since I saw him last not 1 year or more.

I know when you start out as a new patient he orders huge amounts of blood work and its costs over $2000.00. I have insurance but ,I'm still stuck paying $200.00 that I shouldn't have too.

Does anyone eles's endo. operate like this?

I'm pretty limited on endo's due to PPO's and stuff.

Thanks to anyone who my respond.

prunepie · 05-07-2004, 03:43 AM

it sounds like you did your research since the other post about your thryoid huh?? good for you!!!!!

did you research the different thryoid meds too???

i am so glad you are being proactive!!!! good luck xo jenn

babycakes17 · 05-07-2004, 07:21 PM

Yey, I did some research thanks to this website ,but It did me no good.My doctors office called back today and they still say that
4. 22 is normal.
I told the nurse about the AAE.orgs guideline and she gave me the
"Well you need to come in and talk to the doctor about that then speech. "
I told her to forget it that I would go to a endocronologist. It made me made ,like I was making the **** up or something and I faxed the AAE's guidelines right after I hung up.

SO I don't know what I'm going to do if the endo. I go to see is the same way as my reg. doc.
I looked the doctors up on the AAE's website and none of them are a ppo w/my insurance co. for IL.
I sure wish I knew somebody in IL who knows of a good doctor who goes by these guidelines ,that for some reason isn't listed in the listing for doctors.
Thanks
Teresa

prunepie · 05-08-2004, 01:43 AM

did yiou look for drs on the thryoid site i gave you too?? you can always post on there if you dont see one xoxo jenn

shenacat · 05-08-2004, 08:00 AM

Try the doctors here:

http://www.thyroid-info.com/

There is a "top docs" link on that site that may have some doctors in your area.

babycakes17 · 05-29-2004, 07:16 PM

sadly the only one that is close is the Bloomington one and the Doctor is not a PPO w/my insurance co.

prunepie · 05-29-2004, 09:42 PM

you may need to travel..your health is worth it xo

CelticSpirit · 05-30-2004, 10:18 PM

Unfortunately, that's true. You will probably have to travel to get the right treatment. It's really sad.

I'm in the same position in that my current endo is treating what the bloodwork says and not what my symptoms are saying. I didn't have that problem with another endo (who I had to leave because she was giving me a hard time with my prescriptions). I looked up another doctor (from the site that was listed) and found one in the next county from me (about an hour away). My health and well being are important to me and I'm sick of feeling sick!

I wish you the best of luck in finding someone who's willing to listen. That's an uphill battle for most of us...

Stacie

babycakes17 · 06-01-2004, 12:03 AM

thanks for your replies ,Yes I know I will probably have to travel. The only problem is the nearest PPO doctor that is listed w/that site is in Chicago and that is over 5 hours drive. I don't know my way around Chicago too will just know who to get the the Chicago Rehab center . I would be afraid I would get lost and end up in the bad area of Chicago and get shot or something.

I think I will look at the Missouri area and see if there is one in the ST. Louis area that's only about a 3 hour drive.

angeltopaz65 · 06-02-2004, 02:07 AM

Hi babycakes,

I am also in central Illinois and I will be honest, I think this area is lacking in doctors who know even an inkling about PCOS. I had to bring alot of information to my doctor before I was even diagnosed as having PCOS, let alone complaining about my thyroid. I will do you one better. I am changing my docs because my doctor wouldn't let me see my records to see what my TSH levels were. It is really frustrating when they have the God complex. I will let you know what I get accomplished, but I have thyroid problems all over my family with two of my mother's siblings having had their thyroids removed. My doctor would only tell me that I was within normal limits. What does that mean?! I am not a textbook and when I have trouble losing weight there is an issue of some sort. I know your pain basically and I think whatever you can do, do it! I am changing my docs and will let you know if that improves anything. Take care.
Angel

JMoore · 06-03-2004, 05:39 PM

Hi babycakes and angeltopaz,
I also live in Illinois -- east central. I have had satisfactory care from a couple of doctors that I'm more than willing to share about if you want to contact me privately. Just pm and I'll respond.

Janel

PCOS & hypothyroid dx 1991
DH Mike (1990)
DD1 1993
DS 1997
DD2 2003

A long history, much too long to recap here...

miper · 06-28-2004, 11:27 AM

angeltopaz65,

Just so you know, by law they have to give you a copy of your lab results if you ask for them.

Twizzles · 07-17-2004, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by babycakes17
sadly the only one that is close is the Bloomington one and the Doctor is not a PPO w/my insurance co.

Is that information coming from your PPO handbook? I work in a physician's office and if you use the handbook they are usually outdated. I would call my insurance carrier and talk with a representative about the endo's / physician's in your area and the distance you are willing to drive for treatment. They will be able to pull all of that information up and see who is contracted with your insurance.

Good Luck...

CelticSpirit · 07-17-2004, 10:06 PM

Very true! I know that my book is very outdated and I go straight to my insurance companies website for doctors that are part of my PPO. I don't even use the book, I have no idea why the heck I hold onto it...

Good luck finding someone decent. It's a nightmare....

babycakes17 · 07-17-2004, 10:15 PM

I use my insurance compaines website to check for ppo. I don't even look at the ppo book. Its bigger than a major cities phone book.