[elf]

#1072954

This is so wrong. You already had done tests in the ER recently. She may not be an Endo, but I don’t see why not prescribe min dosage to a person with no insurance.

[hyperm]

#1072955

AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Pathetic and terrible what does it take to get some help for this condition???????

Did you tell them you where at your wits end and ready sleep in a bath?

I do remember my endo saying that post partum they will leave me running hyper for a while (if safe which is turned out to be nearly fatal for me) but I don’t think that applies to you. Its the typical "weight loss/ weight gain scenaroio" people don’t understand how ill you feel. I had an awful endo at the start (who I worked with and said oh so you will be the one returning my referals etc…). I have RA and a few years back it took me forever to get ready for work in the morning to go and help my patients with RA/ Strokes etc.. ironic eh?? ” title=”Smile” />

Please hang in there – I know its not easy especially when you feel its all locked doors.

I really am going to keep you in prayers that something – someone helps you asap

m xxxx

[grneyeladydi]

#1072956

Please, Please……PLEASE go see your County Health Department. It make take a few hours of your day but they will help some. Some help is better then none. I know it feels as if you are the last person on this earth and NO ONE will help you. I went there and they were able to get the help I needed when I had my thyroid surgery. They take a look at your situation. How much you earn, how much you spend in bills and if you have any insurance. They base the amount you pay them on this. They have access to all types of doctors. Please look into this. It saddens me to see you in so much pain both physically and mentally. God Bless you my dear.

[Buttamama28]

#1019629

I am speechless! I am completely flabbergasted.

I went to a clinic; not free…(begged around for the 90.00 cash fee). Took the copy of my current levels to the appt. The PA came in; started going through history. I told her what was said to me at the ER; about me now being hypo and the suspected development of RA.

The first thing she said was,"You’re due for a pap smear." What? What the hell does that have to do with my thyroid and RA? She says, don’t take any thyroid meds get your levels checked again in 2 weeks. I’m like what is wrong with you basing a dose now with the levels you have? Oh, now you may stay hypo she says.. I said I can’t make it two more weeks with this pain. I can’t hold my children, I can’t even bathe by myself! My neck hurts when I swallow….

This is when my blood began to boil….Oh there are so many tests needed. The fact that you are cash pay they are so expensive..So she wouldn’t give me the scripts or nothing to let me decide if the tests were too expensive or get the ones that would be necessary right now. She also wouldn’t fill my diurectic, told me just to go back to taking 160mg of lasix instead because the other I would need to have continued monitoring of my kidneys and that could get expensive.

So, I basically got nothing.. And lets just say the pain..ha…

I was looking for the silver lining..But now all I see is a grey stripe!

[Buttamama28]

#1072957

I will have to try another county. At the beginning of this long journey the first place I tried to make an appt was at the Polk Health Dept. This is the same clinic that sent me 36-40 miles to another county each week when I was pregnant with my last child, because there was no OB/GYN in my own city/county that would touch or be liable for a pregnant woman with Graves’. I was told I was too high risk!

So, I asked them if I could just see the an Internal Med doctor or the Endo at that health dept. or any other one in ALL of the county! I was like for goodness sakes, I am not the only person in Lakeland that is broke, unemployed, by my own admission disabled, and needing care for their thyroid. They had me arguing with a receptionist who kept stating they didn’t have an Endo that I would have to go elsewhere to be treated, that a regular doctor could do nothing for me. I wanted her supervisor; but she decided to explain MY situation, and by the time the sup got on the phone she already had her mind made on her answer as far as scheduling me.

I had a panic attack right after that appt. today and this lady stopped and was like can I help you? I was like are you an Endocrinologist or a Rheumotologist ? She was like no, and I told her well ma’am then you can’t help me. She was like you have to pull it together for your baby (who was also crying in his carseat, but I just didn’t have the physical strength to hold him); I told her that’s all I want is to live to take care of my children….I want to live! This isn’t living….I am existing….

I am looking for the silver lining….all I see is a grey stripe!

[Ski]

#1072958

It feels hopeless now, but you WILL get there. It’s worth the effort, and you will overcome. You’ve done so much already, don’t give up now!

By the way, remind any other receptionists you speak with that they are essentially practicing medicine without a license, by giving you the "final word" as to whether anyone there can help you. A general practitioner understands about thyroid hormone and can prescribe replacement hormone, even if they don’t understand all the intricacies of Graves’ Disease. Some doctors are good, flexible, understanding ~ some are not so good, and those come in all stripes (general practitioners, endos, any specialty). A GOOD doctor is more important than an endocrinologist. Actually, you MIGHT be able to get good, basic care from a registered nurse practitioner.

Do your blood test results prove that you are outside the normal range of thyroid hormone?

[hyperm]

#1072959

I just PM you however as I read your last but

"I had a panic attack right after that appt. today and this lady stopped and was like can I help you? I was like are you an Endocrinologist or a Rheumotologist ? She was like no, and I told her well ma’am then you can’t help me. She was like you have to pull it together for your baby (who was also crying in his carseat, but I just didn’t have the physical strength to hold him); I told her that’s all I want is to live to take care of my children….I want to live! This isn’t living….I am existing…."

Our very dear friend who died in dec (cancer and old age) had an awful life and people were cruel to her. She often had such bad panic attacks that she would slide down lamp posts or walls. One day she sat down on the curb and just sobbed and a kind lady came over and helped her.
Her MIL used to lock her in a room with her baby until her hubby came home etc… she was a known beauty but a very devout lady to her faith so men weren’t on her agenda as such but her hubby was so controlling anyway…. the reason I am telling you this is that she got through and it helped other people AKA me – the wreck at the moment.

You are having an awful time and any one who is a mother will know how difficult it is to keep going when so ill and hide your emotions like i said you can’t schedule panic attacks or mood swings…..if only!

Love mxxx

[elf]

#1072960

USA badly needs universal health care. Those who say otherwise should care for uninsured people.

[Madame_X]

#1072961

This is horrific.

It is hard to believe that we’re living in the year 2009.

[hyperm]

#1072962

Yeah there isn’t many benefits to living in Britain but its certainly got it right with the NHS!

Come on Obama – we want change ( I am allowed to say that being an outsider and all?)

m xxxx

[elf]

#1072963

hyperm – I also feel very weird reading this experiences since it’s so easy here in Canada. Even if you don’t have a doctor, there are walk-in clinics where nobody will present you with a bill, ever.

There must be some resources for uninsured people, beyond the county office. What do they do with homeless people who have no means to pay for treatment? Any outreach programs, clinics? Sorry Buttamama for lumping you together with the homeless – but if you can access those services, why not??

[Ski]

#1072964

If there are any teaching colleges near you, they often offer care as well. It is horrific that people anywhere have to go through this, in this country especially. Obama’s got the ball rolling, but it’s going to take a while to turn this ship around. There is a lot of resistance from the health insurance industry.

In the meantime, I’m not really sure where to send you, but I know it’s worth the effort to find someplace. You’d be surprised at the kind of compassion you can find in certain pockets of the health care system. I remember when my husband was injured in an accident, before he had health insurance, we went to get him an x-ray at a "public clinic," and as soon as the three of us walked in (the two of us and our infant son), the wheels started turning. By the time we left, I think they charged us $50 and waived the rest, and we hadn’t even asked. It really depends on who you’re talking to, I believe that. Keep at it, you will find someone. You’re not even asking for anything that complicated ~ a short appointment, a consultation, a prescription. I’m so sorry it’s been so difficult for you.

[hyperm]

#1072965

Hey I also mentioned the teaching colleges but its a shame as they seem to be so far away from her – its ridiculous in this day and age (gosh listen to me ) but it really is!

M x

[Buttamama28]

#1072966

T3 2.5 (1.7-3.7)
T4 0.8 (0.7-1.5)
TSH 12.1 (0.4-4.9)

That was Saturday. She wants me to wait 2 more weeks and it was 3 months since the last time my levels were checked before that. The last time I had a doctor tell me not to take meds to see what would happen; I ended up completely dehydrated (although I couldn’t stop drinkin) and my tachycardia was so bad that the doctors would only whisper to each other..

[Buttamama28]

#1072967

No offense taken. Before I was diagnosed with pretibial myxedema, the doctors in the ER thought I had some kind of infection or something. One doctor (bless him) heard my story and he said if I didn’t offend easy he wanted to do something. I said by all means go ahead. He wrote "indigent" on my script and they filled it at the hospital. But, I am like VIP to the ER; have been for about 3 years, and that was the first/only time a doctor ever did that or suggested such a thing.

We have a Catholic charity, but we have alot of homeless. So the money goes fast.

[Author]

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