Despite my reservations, my visit to the endocrinologist actually went quite well.
The resident who took my history for the better part of an hour was excellent. She quickly picked up on my anxiety and skepticism from previous medical encounters and assured me that she would cover everything possible during my exam. Her presentation of my case to the specialist was impressive - she summarized everything I had shared with her into a complete profile, highlighting the issues that she most felt related to thyroid. Her future patients are going to be fortunate to have such a thorough and caring physician.
The endocrinologist told me that adding T3 made virtually no difference for most people - the only notable exception being people with depression. Because of my history of depression, he thought it would be worthwhile to try adding T3 at 25mcg/day (half in the morning, half at night).
The theory is that in some people, T4 does not effectively convert to T3. I pray that I am one of these people. What a joy it would be to feel like my 'old self' again.
One interesting aside - both the endocrinologist and the resident noted my high ANA level (1:640, speckled), saying that it was suggestive of 'some other process' going on in my body. They took blood tests to look for markers of inflammation; which I should hear more about soon.
So this morning I took my first dosage of T3...and I screwed it up! I took a whole pill in the morning instead of half. Here's hoping all goes well today.
I'm so happy it went well! I really like going to academic centers where I'm seen by residents as well as the attending. I feel like the residents are usually trying to be especially thorough, and most of them aren't bored or jaded yet (of course there are exceptions). It's also nice to have two brains thinking about your case at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI hope adding the T3 helps and you're able to make continued headway with your recovery.
I thought about how you might address your other doctor's refusal to give you test results as they receive them a bit as well. Not sure how this would go over, but you might try suggesting that since you see other specialists from time to time, it would be helpful for you to have your records on hand with you so that the specialists have the most up to date information, and unnecessary repeat testing doesn't happen by accident. Just a thought....
Hi OMDG,
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with you about teaching hospitals. Looking back, almost all the poor experiences I've had have been with specialists who are on their own. The times I've gone for consultations and seen residents have generally been much better.
The cool thing is that I've learned so much about my possible conditions that I could follow almost all of their conversation and thought processes. I think it kind of freaked them out when they were discussing my lab results that I knew all of my labs off the top of my head.
Endo: "Did you look at Penelope's lab results? What are her B12 levels?"
Resident: "I don't believe we have one on file."
Penelope: "My most recent B12 level was taken in November 2011; it was 259, normal range."
Endo & Resident: *blank stare*
Thanks for your thoughts about getting copies of my lab results. I actually said almost the very same thing you suggested in my response to their email. They didn't reply back to me, nor did they send me the lab results I asked for, but I'm seeing them in two weeks and hoping that an in-person conversation might go better.