Good news: No PCOS! No hypothyroidism!
Bad news: No PCOS! No hypothyroidism! High cholesterol!
I’m relieved that my ovaries aren’t trying to kill me and that my uterus is normal. I’m glad that my thyroid isn’t malfunctioning. But…
My doctor thinks my physical symptoms may be a result of my depression. He also thinks I should consider therapy again. Fine, therapy is helpful because it’s all about you. But he was treading very close to the “it’s all in your head” thing and I did push back a little bit on that, so he says if my physical symptoms continue or worsen while my depression improves, more blood work to rule out lupus (I almost yelled “It’s NEVER lupus!”) or something else that I didn’t hear because I was thinking about House.
I’m not diagnosis shopping, but I’m frustrated about the complete dismissal of a thyroid problem considering I have every symptom including elevated cholesterol (which, per the doc, I’m supposed control through diet, so I’m giving up my indulgence in breve lattes and 1/2 & 1/2 in my coffee [frowny face]). If it’s not in my head, or my thyroid, and it’s not behavioral (which I’m ruling out because, been there, done that), THEN WHAT THE FUDGE IS IT? Blah.
If this mess continues, I might ask for a referral to a specialist. Is that a good idea? At this point, I usually just give up because, as Chris Rock put it, “Doctors don’t cure shit” and I feel like I’m wasting everyone’s time and that I’m failing as a human being for not just fixing myself with my above-average intelligence.
December 23rd, 2009 at 2:22 PM
I think you should definitely go to a specialist.
Did your doctor tell you what your thyroid levels were, or was he just like, “It’s in the normal range so you must be crazy!” The doctor that I used to see who was awesome told me that if my test levels were normal, but I still felt like crap, then he was going to listen to me and not the test. I miss him so much.
December 23rd, 2009 at 6:12 PM
Following up on what Amy said… If he didn’t tell you your actual thyroid levels, insist. Some thyroid disorders can show up at one end or the other of normal, and non-specialists will ignore that. (Like my friend Yvonne who complained for TWO YEARS and was dismissed by her doctor until she threw a fit and got a referral and has Hashimoto’s, which is kind of serious.)
I’m all for controlling cholesterol through diet, especially with the recent studies showing that 1) it may not be directly linked to heart shit after all, and 2) medicating it may not work (I might have made up that last study). But it can’t be the only thing you treat, because high cholesterol does not make you feel like crap.
I would want to do the lupus blood work now, not later once other stuff has been ruled out. Rule out fucking lupus!
Also, I’d insist on a specialist. But therapy probably won’t hurt (as long as you don’t get stuck with my cunt therapist from when I was 11).
December 23rd, 2009 at 7:50 PM
I don’t want to make my doctor sound like an asshole, because he has been listening to me and I do think that if I asked to see a specialist, he’d refer me. He actually takes very good care of me and has an odd bedside manner which I enjoy.
I do have my TSH and T4 levels and they are within the normal range, but they are at the bottom of those ranges. I just think that ultimately, as a GP, this might be beyond him.
I think that my depression concerns him more than the physical stuff right now because it’s more acute than my hair falling out (sort of).
I think I will ask for a referral. Amy & Annika – your perspectives have been very helpful!
December 23rd, 2009 at 8:20 PM
I remember you speaking fondly of your doctor (assuming it’s the same one). I don’t think he sounds like an asshole, but I also do not trust the medical profession one bit. Also your hair is very pretty and I do not approve of it falling out. Likewise I do not approve of your depression. Do you need anything? I don’t know if I can come to you but we can figure something out.
December 24th, 2009 at 11:17 AM
This sounds so familiar. I went through the whole, “Is it hypothyroidism? Is it PCOS?” routine too when my ovaries were going through the mill. I think in my case it WAS depression. Whatever it was, it went away. And the Pills O’Happy have kicked my SAD’s arse but good this year.
I thought it was never lupus until Grace got it. Bah. Hope you find out what it is, petal.
December 24th, 2009 at 3:52 PM
I vote for the specialist! Endocrinologist? You could also see a naturopath…
January 5th, 2010 at 4:26 PM
I followed you over from Annika’s blog. My mother is hypothyroid – hers just stopped functioning somewhere along the line, and she’s struggled with this for years. First it was “your levels are within the normal range – you’re probably just bored. You should get a hobby.” (This was soon after I was born – of course a woman with a newborn and a stable full of horses needed a hobby!) Now, she fights with them about her medication. “Your blood levels are fine, keep taking this brand and this amount.” She replies, “This stuff doesn’t absorb. My blood levels are fine because it’s just circulating in my bloodstream. Meanwhile, I have no energy and my hair is falling out.” And eventually she gets her way. So, yes – another vote for “see a specialist.”