[Madame_X]

#1073186

An endo is key if you’ve got any type of disease state that involves the endocrine system. An endo is much more adept in this area.

My endo told me the bouts of insomnia I get during the night will go away.

My GP originally "diagnosed" my condition as "dehydration." That was not where it was at at all.

[Ski]

#1073187

Actually, if you are well cared-for by your general practitioner, there’s no reason an endocrinologist would be better for you. There are good and bad doctors in every field. Some general practitioners are simply interested in helping their patients, and so they learn right alongside us, and they can be some of the most helpful doctors around. Others have already been through this with other patients as well, so in that respect, they may even have more experience than some endos. Some endocrinologists have never treated a Graves’ patient and will be just as clueless as clueless gets. The important thing is getting the proper care, and for that, many people rely on their general practitioners. No harm in consulting an endocrinologist, but it’s really your choice as to who manages the overall care, as long as you’re being treated and things are working out (levels are improving, etc.).

And as to your comment, BOY do I know how you feel! I remember feeling like I must’ve secretly turned 110 years old on my last birthday, trying to get out of my car. I also well remember handily dismissing ALL of my symptoms, until I woke up one morning and all the tissues around and on top of my eyes were swollen like crazy. It’s really common for us to dismiss things ~ we don’t want to be sick, after all. ” title=”Very Happy” /> It’s also very human not to complain about every little symptom. For a little while, you’ll need to be extra vigilant, and maybe even take the arm of a friend when things may be dicey. You don’t want to hurt yourself, if you can help it. No need to make a big deal out of it, but I know it’s tough to just brush it off. Just take care.

We’re so glad you found us. Stick around, we’ll help at every turn. ” title=”Wink” />

[mcurran03]

#1019660

Here’s the question: Do I really need an endo doc? I really like my GP, he seems to have done the right things according to everything I’ve read here (and I’ve tried to read all the forums) and I trust him. The nuclear med tech who did my scan said, my guy was the one to use for thyroid problems and that made me feel good, too. My number was 74.3%, btw…I know I let it go too long because I didn’t have insurance and I am not much of a doctor-visit person. So, that’s the question.

The comment: I truly wish I had known before now. I knew I was hyperthyroid because I had it as a kid in HS and it went into remission so I was aware of some of the symptoms. However, until my doctor said Graves and I found this place last week, I didn’t realize how many of the other things I noticed as wrong were all a function of this disease….the 116 pulse rate, not being able to sleep through the night, blurry vision (just thought I was getting old) and the lack of muscle strength in my legs. I suspected the "buggy" eyes were related. I kind of wish I hadn’t waited four years, but I am glad I am back on the PTU, despite the "toxic taste" that another commentor called it; I haven’t been able to come up with te adjective for the taste, but as soon as I took my first pill last week after 20 years I remembered it well. OK, back to the comment: I hate all of the symptoms with a passion, but I fell tonight – nothing serious, but I was angry for so many reasons. Living in the upper midwest with snow and ice I always worried about it, but now I am scared to death because I can’t just stand up like a normal person. I try to make sure my feet are firmly planted, but falling seems to happen more now. So, I think the lack of normal muscle strength is the most embarrassing and I just had to voice that to some other people who might be able to empathize, even sympathize. I never told anyone about all the things that were worrying me physically; not my style. But, thanks for listening.

[hyperm]

#1073188

Hey I am not sure but by law in the UK they need to refer you to a endo specialist. I agree with what someone said that there are good docs and bad, I had a terrible endo (whom I worked with had me on wrong meds for over a year and denied that the way I was feeling was down to my thyroid )I changed endo and what a difference – he is fantastic and a friend I was at school with worked with him and agreed he is very empathetic as well as thorough in the job.
As for the muscle weakness yes I can relate BIG time. When I was working (on mat leave) I could hardly get out my car to patients houses and I was so v=weak and dizzy one day I went open the car door and fell to the side I have always had a horrible tremor from top to bottom and i was so embarrassed that patients and people would think i was a secret drinker! ” title=”Razz” />

I can hardly write legibly anymore because of muscle weakness – its a horrible side effect I agree. I would try and get a good endo as they are specialists. My story is the opposite of yours my GP was negligent and i had a thyroid storm.

Hang in there.

M xx

[mama_44]

#1073189

could someone please tell me the purpose of a nuclear scan, i am getting one in a couple days, my doc is unreachable, he left me a voicemail telling me about my appt. but not explaining a thing to me. When i hear the word nuclear, i freak out.

[ewmb]

#1073190

You are most likely going to have a scan of your thyroid to see if there are any nodules and whether the pattern that occurs is concurrent with Graves or not. You will get a shot with a radioactive tracer, can’t remember the name. It’s just so the thyroid will take it up and show a pattern during the scan. There isn’t any worry about staying away from people after this as there is when you have Radio Active Iodine treatment. Have you already had an uptake test? That’s the one that you have after you swallow a small capsule with radioactivity and they take a scan of your thyroid sitting up at 6 hours and 24 hours.

ewmb

[mama_44]

#1073191

ewmb wrote:You are most likely going to have a scan of your thyroid to see if there are any nodules and whether the pattern that occurs is concurrent with Graves or not. You will get a shot with a radioactive tracer, can’t remember the name. It’s just so the thyroid will take it up and show a pattern during the scan. There isn’t any worry about staying away from people after this as there is when you have Radio Active Iodine treatment. Have you already had an uptake test? That’s the one that you have after you swallow a small capsule with radioactivity and they take a scan of your thyroid sitting up at 6 hours and 24 hours.

ewmb

i have’nt had the uptake test. is that next.

[ewmb]

#1073192

I had mine done at the same time. You might call the place where you have the appointment and just ask them to explain to you what they have on the schedule for you. Neither one was painful, if you’re ok with shots. You do have to lie on a table for the scan that shows the pattern. Let us know what happens.

ewmb

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