Comments on: A continuing MEDICAL SCANDAL which is just too close to home and I grieve. WAKE UP DOCTORS!! http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2010/08/19/a-continuing-medical-scandal/ Thyroid Treatment Scandal and Hypothyroid Mistreatment Wed, 16 May 2012 22:09:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Sandra http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2010/08/19/a-continuing-medical-scandal/comment-page-1/#comment-60830 Sandra Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:56:28 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=5772#comment-60830 Oh, my gosh, that poor poor soul. If it was there mother would they really do all those things to her? I need to read this to my mother to convince her. She is in her 70's and is still sloooowly recuperating from pneumonia. She has been hypo and on synthcrap for over 30 years and 1 1/2 years ago had a double surgery for 1/2 thyroid removal and open heart for a thymoma (lump in her chest) at the same damn time. She struggled badly to recuperate from that operation and made it only half way .She also recently developed Myasthenia Gravis a rare autoimmune disease. After her surgery she was never given any thyroid hormone and wondered what was wrong 1 year later. I convinced my doc who put me on NTH and HC to give her a low dose of synthroid short term until we tested her adrenals and he said her results showed she was IN RANGE! and won't give her any Hydorcortisone. Now she has palpitations and a racing heart rate but her blood pressure is fine. She is bed ridden. Also she now has a swelling in the other half of her thyroid, has severe acid reflux that she has to treat with Nexium which she has tried to stay off of but just got such bad heartburn had to go back on it. The pneumonia and myasthenia caused her to have extreme coughing fits that she could get her breath and she felt as though she was suffocating/couldn't get air into her lungs. Once she was on a puffer and anitbiotics it subsidede but now that she is at home she has extreme anxiety over this experience and has extreme fear it will happen again and she may not make it if it does. She is too depressed, tired, confused, to hear what I think is wrong and let me help her so she just sees her regular MD who only tests TSH. I have learned so much from Janie STTM, Val, Sam, Darla and just know what is wrong but am helpless. I am a thyroid cancer survivor, 1994 and have made the switch to NTH in Feb and am on HC and am trying to get my own life and energy back after the last 6 years of hell so I'm doing my best to help her with the strength I have and with the incredible support of the thyroidless and adrenal groups. I owe her my life and need to find a way to help her, maybe this very sad story will let me do that, thanks for sharing with us Janie. Sandra Oh, my gosh, that poor poor soul. If it was there mother would they really do all those things to her?

I need to read this to my mother to convince her. She is in her 70′s and is still sloooowly recuperating from pneumonia. She has been hypo and on synthcrap for over 30 years and 1 1/2 years ago had a double surgery for 1/2 thyroid removal and open heart for a thymoma (lump in her chest) at the same damn time. She struggled badly to recuperate from that operation and made it only half way .She also recently developed Myasthenia Gravis a rare autoimmune disease. After her surgery she was never given any thyroid hormone and wondered what was wrong 1 year later. I convinced my doc who put me on NTH and HC to give her a low dose of synthroid short term until we tested her adrenals and he said her results showed she was IN RANGE! and won’t give her any Hydorcortisone. Now she has palpitations and a racing heart rate but her blood pressure is fine. She is bed ridden. Also she now has a swelling in the other half of her thyroid, has severe acid reflux that she has to treat with Nexium which she has tried to stay off of but just got such bad heartburn had to go back on it. The pneumonia and myasthenia caused her to have extreme coughing fits that she could get her breath and she felt as though she was suffocating/couldn’t get air into her lungs. Once she was on a puffer and anitbiotics it subsidede but now that she is at home she has extreme anxiety over this experience and has extreme fear it will happen again and she may not make it if it does. She is too depressed, tired, confused, to hear what I think is wrong and let me help her so she just sees her regular MD who only tests TSH. I have learned so much from Janie STTM, Val, Sam, Darla and just know what is wrong but am helpless. I am a thyroid cancer survivor, 1994 and have made the switch to NTH in Feb and am on HC and am trying to get my own life and energy back after the last 6 years of hell so I’m doing my best to help her with the strength I have and with the incredible support of the thyroidless and adrenal groups.

I owe her my life and need to find a way to help her, maybe this very sad story will let me do that, thanks for sharing with us Janie.

Sandra

]]> By: Laurie http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2010/08/19/a-continuing-medical-scandal/comment-page-1/#comment-60565 Laurie Sun, 12 Sep 2010 20:54:56 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=5772#comment-60565 I am new to this forum, but not new to thyroid issues. I am a 49 year old female in Michigan. I had 1/2 of my thyroid removed 15 years ago due to a goiter. At the time had weight gain, tiredness, dry skin, lack of clarity, memory loss - all the major symptoms of hypo. After the successful removal of the goiter and a portion of my thyroid I've been on synthroid ever since. Notably, I cannot take the generic, Levoxyl as it has an even lesser affect. Although I felt the best I had in many years, my doc reduced my dosage over two years ago. Hypo symptoms returned. I increased my synthroid on my own to live a normal lifestyle. Doc was very upset. I asked about armour and he flatly refused. Said it was not as controllable as synthroid. Last year my cholesterol shot WAY up. It's always been low and I've received a smiley face on my annual physical; in fact other than thyroid problems I've never had as surgery or major health problem. I've been seeing an excellent chiro for the last few years. I was feeling sick one day per week for six weeks straight - down in bed due to tiredness. My chiro asked about my thyroid. She recommended a product called, "Thyroid Activator" stating she uses it although she is not classified as hypo, she has all the symptoms, too. Began taking it and within 24 hours felt the symptoms lift, had lots of energy like I used to and lost the bloated feeling I had for the last few years on synthroid. (Still taking synthroid as prescribed) I go in for my annual check-up next week. Unfortunately, due to an upcoming job loss I will no longer have health insurance beginning 10/1. As you see I am under a time line here to ask my doc to take the proper additional tests and request some type of desiccated thyroid. Would someone mind typing out the exact questions I need to ask him and requests for tests I should be making of him? If he refuses to see things my way I'll need to get into another doc who may be more open to my requests - but again, Oct 1st = no insurance coverage and I don't have the ability to pay out of pocket for my health care. Any information is greatly appreciated! Thanks! ~Laurie (From Janie: I think you'll get the feedback you need by joining patient groups, and specifically NTH: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/talk-to-others Also read these (which are also in the book with more detail if you have it to take with you): http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/dear-doctor and http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/recommended-labwork and http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/things-we-have-learned ) I am new to this forum, but not new to thyroid issues. I am a 49 year old female in Michigan. I had 1/2 of my thyroid removed 15 years ago due to a goiter. At the time had weight gain, tiredness, dry skin, lack of clarity, memory loss – all the major symptoms of hypo.
After the successful removal of the goiter and a portion of my thyroid I’ve been on synthroid ever since. Notably, I cannot take the generic, Levoxyl as it has an even lesser affect.
Although I felt the best I had in many years, my doc reduced my dosage over two years ago. Hypo symptoms returned. I increased my synthroid on my own to live a normal lifestyle. Doc was very upset. I asked about armour and he flatly refused. Said it was not as controllable as synthroid.
Last year my cholesterol shot WAY up. It’s always been low and I’ve received a smiley face on my annual physical; in fact other than thyroid problems I’ve never had as surgery or major health problem. I’ve been seeing an excellent chiro for the last few years. I was feeling sick one day per week for six weeks straight – down in bed due to tiredness. My chiro asked about my thyroid. She recommended a product called, “Thyroid Activator” stating she uses it although she is not classified as hypo, she has all the symptoms, too. Began taking it and within 24 hours felt the symptoms lift, had lots of energy like I used to and lost the bloated feeling I had for the last few years on synthroid. (Still taking synthroid as prescribed)
I go in for my annual check-up next week. Unfortunately, due to an upcoming job loss I will no longer have health insurance beginning 10/1.
As you see I am under a time line here to ask my doc to take the proper additional tests and request some type of desiccated thyroid.
Would someone mind typing out the exact questions I need to ask him and requests for tests I should be making of him? If he refuses to see things my way I’ll need to get into another doc who may be more open to my requests – but again, Oct 1st = no insurance coverage and I don’t have the ability to pay out of pocket for my health care. Any information is greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
~Laurie

(From Janie: I think you’ll get the feedback you need by joining patient groups, and specifically NTH: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/talk-to-others Also read these (which are also in the book with more detail if you have it to take with you): http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/dear-doctor and http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/recommended-labwork and http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/things-we-have-learned )

]]> By: Michelle http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2010/08/19/a-continuing-medical-scandal/comment-page-1/#comment-60523 Michelle Fri, 10 Sep 2010 02:23:41 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=5772#comment-60523 Reading this made me so upset. What is WRONG with doctors? Do they not take an oath when they become doctors that they'll do no harm? We are all telling the same sad story here of how we've been treated when even DARING to question their so-called "expertise" when it comes to thyroid meds. You would think after 100s of patients say the same thing that they'd at least consider another point of view instead of just pulling out Ye Olde Prescription pad again to prescribe yet another medication to counter symptoms caused by the first one. It is absolutely disgusting and more people need to wake up about the sorry state of our health care systems. The problem right now is that unless you've been through this kind of hell yourself, you don't understand how it is. I'm at the point where I will do anything to avoid a doctor visit - just thinking about it fills me with dread. My family sort of think I'm nutty for going against the grain with my "alternative" treatments (natural thyroid + iodine, etc). Nothing I say changes their mind about doctors - they think they are Gods or something. Meanwhile they sold their souls to the pharma companies a long time ago and we are all suffering. Reading this made me so upset. What is WRONG with doctors? Do they not take an oath when they become doctors that they’ll do no harm? We are all telling the same sad story here of how we’ve been treated when even DARING to question their so-called “expertise” when it comes to thyroid meds.

You would think after 100s of patients say the same thing that they’d at least consider another point of view instead of just pulling out Ye Olde Prescription pad again to prescribe yet another medication to counter symptoms caused by the first one.

It is absolutely disgusting and more people need to wake up about the sorry state of our health care systems. The problem right now is that unless you’ve been through this kind of hell yourself, you don’t understand how it is. I’m at the point where I will do anything to avoid a doctor visit – just thinking about it fills me with dread. My family sort of think I’m nutty for going against the grain with my “alternative” treatments (natural thyroid + iodine, etc). Nothing I say changes their mind about doctors – they think they are Gods or something. Meanwhile they sold their souls to the pharma companies a long time ago and we are all suffering.

]]> By: Michelle Vincent http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2010/08/19/a-continuing-medical-scandal/comment-page-1/#comment-60271 Michelle Vincent Tue, 31 Aug 2010 01:24:04 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=5772#comment-60271 I told my endo I felt anxious, that I couldn't "settle down" on synthroid, that lowering the dose doesn't settle me down and then more hypo symptoms...I also discussed that I felt like something is in my throat. Having had thyroid cancer 2 years ago, we had another ultrasound..nothing suspicious. Well, she said maybe you have acid reflux. How could she not relate the symptoms I discussed with her to lingering hypothyroid? It's ridiculous malpractice..."Lord please help me to instill in my children an ability to see beyond the obvious and use some darn divergent thinking..".Do these doctors ever read more about their speciality other than what is printed in a textbook? Urgh, I told my endo I felt anxious, that I couldn’t “settle down” on synthroid, that lowering the dose doesn’t settle me down and then more hypo symptoms…I also discussed that I felt like something is in my throat. Having had thyroid cancer 2 years ago, we had another ultrasound..nothing suspicious. Well, she said maybe you have acid reflux. How could she not relate the symptoms I discussed with her to lingering hypothyroid? It’s ridiculous malpractice…”Lord please help me to instill in my children an ability to see beyond the obvious and use some darn divergent thinking..”.Do these doctors ever read more about their speciality other than what is printed in a textbook? Urgh,

]]> By: L. Morgan http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2010/08/19/a-continuing-medical-scandal/comment-page-1/#comment-60216 L. Morgan Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:57:06 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=5772#comment-60216 I had "Inexplicable" depression for about seven years while on Synthetic. It lifted after I started Armour. The doctors wouldn't listen to me and I kept being given antidepressants and antianxiety meds. I still have anxiety issues, but no constant, daily depression. I know synthetic caused many other problems for me (i.e. stomach issues, etc.). It's criminal... I had “Inexplicable” depression for about seven years while on Synthetic. It lifted after I started Armour. The doctors wouldn’t listen to me and I kept being given antidepressants and antianxiety meds. I still have anxiety issues, but no constant, daily depression. I know synthetic caused many other problems for me (i.e. stomach issues, etc.). It’s criminal…

]]> By: Ria The Deer http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2010/08/19/a-continuing-medical-scandal/comment-page-1/#comment-60193 Ria The Deer Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:07:25 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=5772#comment-60193 I feel for Carlin and yet at the same time feel scared for myself. 3 years post thyroidectomy and suffering with T4 only and a sore foot from kicking doctor's butts, I wonder will my own tragedy continue for another 30 or more years? I don't think I can do it. My heart has Atrial Fibrillation, (found from my insistence to wear a Holter Monitor for 24 hours and proved to them that it wasn't just anxiety!)I get depression severely when they say to lower my dose, I go cat on a hot tin roof when they say go up a dose. Waaaah! Aussie doctors here aren't any smarter than Carlin's USA doctor. Sigh.... wish her luck from me! I feel for Carlin and yet at the same time feel scared for myself. 3 years post thyroidectomy and suffering with T4 only and a sore foot from kicking doctor’s butts, I wonder will my own tragedy continue for another 30 or more years? I don’t think I can do it. My heart has Atrial Fibrillation, (found from my insistence to wear a Holter Monitor for 24 hours and proved to them that it wasn’t just anxiety!)I get depression severely when they say to lower my dose, I go cat on a hot tin roof when they say go up a dose. Waaaah!
Aussie doctors here aren’t any smarter than Carlin’s USA doctor. Sigh…. wish her luck from me!

]]> By: Andrea http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2010/08/19/a-continuing-medical-scandal/comment-page-1/#comment-60184 Andrea Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:14:40 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=5772#comment-60184 I chewed the desiccated once and that was a NASTY taste in my mouth and haven't done it since. My mood has gone south and I can't convince the doctor that WE found to let me have the bouncing off the wall feeling again which I now equate to being happy. Weight is still a problem. Now I produce too MUCH male hormone yet I still stress like crazy. Still on blood pressure medication and having problems sleeping at night. DC I was on Synthroid for over 10 years. I hope I can reverse the damage it has done. I am 40 now and was diagnosed hypothyroidism at age 30ish. I do NOT want a pacemaker. I chewed the desiccated once and that was a NASTY taste in my mouth and haven’t done it since. My mood has gone south and I can’t convince the doctor that WE found to let me have the bouncing off the wall feeling again which I now equate to being happy. Weight is still a problem. Now I produce too MUCH male hormone yet I still stress like crazy. Still on blood pressure medication and having problems sleeping at night.

DC I was on Synthroid for over 10 years. I hope I can reverse the damage it has done. I am 40 now and was diagnosed hypothyroidism at age 30ish. I do NOT want a pacemaker.

]]> By: DC http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2010/08/19/a-continuing-medical-scandal/comment-page-1/#comment-60074 DC Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:10:25 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=5772#comment-60074 My poor Aunt is the same way. Partial thyroidectomy at 20 (now 62) diabetes, several ? heart conditions, tons of drugs, operations, etc, etc. My heart does some weird things which is better since starting dessicated thyroid. I just hope I didn't wait too long to get off that garbage Synthroid that it can't be reversed. :-( Oh, then my Mother tells me that her Mother had a goiter and never did anything about it. :-O Where was this information 25 years ago? She died of a heart attack at 58. My poor Aunt is the same way. Partial thyroidectomy at 20 (now 62) diabetes, several ? heart conditions, tons of drugs, operations, etc, etc. My heart does some weird things which is better since starting dessicated thyroid. I just hope I didn’t wait too long to get off that garbage Synthroid that it can’t be reversed. :-(

Oh, then my Mother tells me that her Mother had a goiter and never did anything about it. :-O Where was this information 25 years ago? She died of a heart attack at 58.

]]> By: Laurel http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2010/08/19/a-continuing-medical-scandal/comment-page-1/#comment-60072 Laurel Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:53:32 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=5772#comment-60072 Similar thing happened to my grandmother-she's been on the same dose of armour since 1955 or so, and then, all of the sudden, her TSH was 'too low'. Her dose was cut, and in six weeks, she was on cholesterol, anti-hypertensive...s, diuretic and reflux meds, and diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Pointed out to her that this all came on after her thyroid was reduced, and she demanded it be returned to her previous dose. Voila, everything went away. Doctors were 'shocked'. *eye roll Similar thing happened to my grandmother-she’s been on the same dose of armour since 1955 or so, and then, all of the sudden, her TSH was ‘too low’. Her dose was cut, and in six weeks, she was on cholesterol, anti-hypertensive…s, diuretic and reflux meds, and diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Pointed out to her that this all came on after her thyroid was reduced, and she demanded it be returned to her previous dose.

Voila, everything went away. Doctors were ‘shocked’. *eye roll

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