[Anonymous February 3, 1998 at 12:41 pm Post count: 93172]

#1153018

Hello,

Jake thanks, your message has helped.

If you got the run around, then I know it just wasn’t me…

You are right when you say you have to
take care of yourself…

Two of the meds I am on T and A have side effects and they also can’t be taken
T with no antiacids and A with no cold medications.. The surprise is
that I found this out by going to the library and getting the Physicians
Desk reference and looking up each drug.. The info from the pharmacy of tell
your physician if such and such or you are taking ” ” But I know I would have
taken the cough medication with A if I would not have found it.

Now what I end up doing is calling a pharmacy that offers 24 hour service before
I take any medication or checking if something happening to me is
a side effect of the meds or something I need checked…

My sister has a good endo, she has addisons disease and hypothyroidism.. And that doctor gave her
two phone numbers at his home and one in his private office.. From what I
hear he doesn’t want her to go throught the office staff to get
to him… That is nice…

Thanks,
lynne

[Anonymous February 3, 1998 at 2:25 pm Post count: 93172]

#1052027

Greetings warriors!!!!

Had to add my two cents. Most of you know me as the facilitator for this
forum. Some of you know me personnaly and some we have become friends with
through the BB and Wed night chat sessions. I also run the local support
group here in Melbourne Fl.

Whats the point you may ask?????? The point is I know a fair amount about
Graves disease and have had it for 8 years. I just called the local
endocrinologist to get a new person with GD in to see her. The office staff
gave her an appointment a month and a half out and the lady called me to see
what I could do to help her get seen sooner. I am well known around town and
this is a new endo and her poor staff had “NO IDEA” what pandora’s box they
opened when they gave the poor lady the run around. I called the endo’s office
and asked the appointment clerk (very politely I might add) where whe had
received her medical training to perform triage over the phone to determine
that someone’s 130 beat a minute heart rate and spasms could wait a month and
a half to be seen.

Dead silence followed and the lady said she had no training she only made
appointments for the doctor and a month and a half was the first opening
they had. I thanked her and told her to have the endo call me and the lady
with GD and I would be down to the office the next day and wait in the waiting
room until she was seen. The appt clerk said we could not come in and wait
because they had no openings and she would not be seen. I again asked her if
that was her medical opinion. She again replied that she had no medical training
and I again replied that how could she determine if the woman needed seen!

Well to make a long story short the endo called and she was seen the next day.
The doctor also told her staff if I called and said someone needed seen she was
to overbook them if needed and get them in. The local doctor’s know I do not
send someone to them who does not need medical attention. I do not abuse the
phone call to get folks in and they know it. You can use the same approach with
your doctor’s staff if they give you the run around.

I also make it a point to meet all new endos in town and bring them an information
packet from the NGDF. I also ask the for an interview to see what they know about
GD and their preferences to treatment i.e. one does RAI right away, one does anit-
thyroid drugs first and then rai or surgery and another does anti-thyroid drugs with
alternative drugs (herbs, accupuncture) to treat the disease. It also lets the
doctors know about GRAVES and the NGDF.

Bottom line is you have the power to take care of yourself.

We are having computer problems and can’t get to your e-mail so if you have been
writing to Jan or I and we have not anserwed we will. Upgrading to windows 95
tonight.

Love to you all and may Grandfather grant you peace.

Jake (Achgook)

[Anonymous February 3, 1998 at 6:35 pm Post count: 93172]

#1153019

Hi Jake, can you please tell me how to get into the chat group. I
registered last week but didnt know how to participate. Please send me instructions.

Thank you,
Joanie

[Anonymous February 3, 1998 at 7:35 pm Post count: 93172]

#1153020

I also registered but couldnt figure out how to get on-any suggestions?

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