[DeannaN]

#1018116

I am new to this board and I appologize if this has already been asked and answered. I was diagnosed with Graves disease back around 1994 in my late 20’s. I go the diagnosis after going through a thyroid storm. I know now that tyroid storm is very rare and I don’t believe I have ever heard of anyone going through it prior to treatment but I did. Was treated with tapazole until I moved to Florida. Got a new doctor and he insisted I had to have radiation for the graves. Again I went through thyroid storm. The doctor didn’t believe me so I had to drive to his office to have it confirmed. Was given meds and sent home. The whole experience was frustating and a bit scary and my doctors attitude was so cavalier I decided I needed a new doctor. The radiation didn’t take. I changed doctors after that ordeal. My new doctor also said I must do radiation. I did it again. This time much more extreme. Low iodine diet for weeks prior to radiation. I was severly over radiated. I will never forget the doctor saying "I’m sorry. Radiation is not an exact science and we did too much". I was put on synthroid .175 in 2002. I eventually chaged doctors again (closer to home). My thyroid leveled out. Thr doctor decreased my synthroid to .150. I stayed at that level for about 5 years. In 2008 I lost my job and my insurance. Now my GP checkes my levels for me. In the over the last year he has dropped my meds .125. It might have been dropped more but I couldn’t afford to do the test after 3 months (again) so I am going today (6 monthes later) to have blood test done again. Here is my concern. I seem to get every extra that Graves has to offer. The eye disease, the skin problems on my shins, thyroid storms. I am an endocronalist wet dream! I don’t have insurance and my doctor (bless his soul) does all of my test at a reduced rate for me. Do I need to be concerned at this increase of thyroid activity? Is there anything specific I shold worry about. Any other test are completely out of my reach financially. I guess I’m afraid there could be a major problem. Could someone please let me know if my fears are valid and offer any possible suggestions as to what I might need to do.

Thank you in advance.
Deanna

[Bobbi]

#1062770

I think that any decent GP or internist can prescribe our meds. I tend to "only" trust my endocrinologist. But when I am at my summer home, and only have the doctor at an Urgent Care clinic to make recommendations, I have found that his recommendations mirror those of my endo. I’m not sure that I would have felt that way initially, but I certainly have noticed that they can interpret the lab work and make appropriate recommendations at least "some" of the time. ; )

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