[MelisB57]

#1018212

Hello, I’m new to this board and community. My name is Melissa. I am a twenty-eight year old female with a family history of severe hyperthyroidism on my mother’s side (her mother, grandmother, aunt, female cousins). I moved to Wisconsin in January and got a new job, because of my symptoms I had to choose to do a voluntary separation from my job (I hadn’t worked there long enough to get unemployment). I’ve been unable to find a job since, despite my experience and graduate degree, and my symptoms have gotten worse. My husband doesn’t have insurance and of course without a job neither do I. I went to our local community clinic and through bloodwork, symptoms, and family history my doctor has diagnosed me with Grave’s Disease. After jumping through a multitude of hoops (which I was more than willing to do) to get some financial assistance from the local hospital, I’m scheduled for an appointment with the local endocrinologist on Tuesday. However, I have heard very bad reviews of him from friends and just found out that he was fired from his previous position. I need immediate treatment, but I don’t know what to do. I hate the idea of forfeiting good/correct healthcare because we can’t afford it. Any suggestions? Also, I’ve applied for the state’s healthcare, but because of so many applicants I was put on a waitlist. 86,000 people before me. Thanks for any input.

[Krystal25]

#1063285

Hey Melissa,

Sorry to hear of your troubles. I to have GD and live in Wisconsin. Depending on where you live in Wisconsin I may be able to provide you with some help on finding somewhere to go to help you. I’m not positive I will have any ideas depending on what County you live in but it’s worth a try:) Hope you get to feeling better soon! You can send me a Private Message with the details of what county you live in, if you so choose!

Sending prayers your way.

Krystal

[Kimberly]

#1063286

Hello – Hopefully, Krystal will be able to get you some good info (thanks, Krystal! ” title=”Very Happy” /> ), but I just wanted to point out that the people who usually speak up about doctors are the *unhappy* patients! So you might want to give this doctor a chance and form your own opinion, especially since you went through so much trouble to get financial assistance for your visit.

And if that doesn’t work out, please keep trying and keep fighting until you can find someone who will work with your insurance situation *and* who you have confidence in. Even though you are waitlisted for the state’s system, perhaps they can provide you with some suggested resources.

The good news is that once you get a final evaluation and select a treatment option, most drug companies have special programs to assist patients who are having financial difficulties. Your doctor should be able to provide you with the paperwork.

Best of luck!

[MelisB57]

#1063287

Thank you, Krystal and Kimberly for the encouragement and suggestions. Krystal, I will message you and look forward to any of your thoughts.

[Bobbi]

#1063288

With respect to the endo with whom you have an appointment: as Kimberly pointed out, patient griping can sometimes be eliminated as a reason not to see him. Finding out why he was fired from his previous position may be more to the point. Was it due to staffing cut backs at a public hospital? Well, then it doesn’t reflect badly on him necessarily. If there were other, more significant reasons, though, I agree it would be wise to be wary.

Graves does not have to be treated by an endo, however. An endo is an internist who specializes in the endocrine system. But a good internist, or even a good GP can provide you with preliminary treatment that will protect your health while you wait until you can figure out how to see an endo. And, they typically charge less per patient visit than endos do. It is of paramount importance that you do NOT defer treatment. Hyperthyroidism, if caught promptly is totally treatable. If you allow it to drag out, however, it can destroy your health.

In the grand scheme of the hideously high medical costs we pay in this country, treatment for hyperthyroidism is not at the expensive end. That doesn’t mean it may not be pricey it just means that it might be doable in your case. There need to be routine blood tests every few months. There are drug costs. If you removed your thyroid, replacement hormone is so inexpensive that it is cheaper than the co-pay I have to make. I’m not sure what the antithyroid meds — like methimazole — cost. It might help you to factualize the costs of your options, once you have discussed things with a doctor. It may well be that you have a choice of treatment options and you can pick the least expensive one. All of our treatment options typically work to eliminate hyperthyroidism, so buying the most expensive one doesn’t mean you are buying the most effective one. See your pharmacist and price the meds. Check with the hospital/doctor about the cost of RAI/surgery. And then sit down with your husband and figure out where your budget might have some wiggle room. What is not essential that you can forego for a while? Cable TV? Extra cell phone? Car? (Is there good public transit, in other words.) I once went three years without buying myself a stitch of clothing – well, I may have bought panty hose — because our financial issues were so tight. It isn’t easy, but it may be, that if you turn your mind in that direction, you will find ways you can temporarily budget for some medical treatment.

Also, sometimes you can negotiate a lower fee with doctors/hospitals if you agree to pay cash. About five years ago I was told that I needed to have a cardiac stress test, with the special radialogical markers injected. At the time I had no insurance to cover the test. I found out that it cost $5000 at the nearby hospital. But I got it for $1200 by negotiating with the cardiologist’s office to pay by check. It saves them money not to have to bill through insurance, so sometimes they are willing to "wiggle" as well. Keep in mind that doctors routinely accept less from insurance carriers than they ask for initially. So we need to ask. If one doctor won’t wiggle, maybe another one will.

I do know it isn’t easy. It’s a very stressful time as I remember all too well when I was having the cardiac issues. I do hope you can find help, or figure out how to manage, and get your health back on track soon.

[snelsen]

#1063289

Hi Melissa, glad you found this wonderful and reliable site. My suggestions pretty much reflect part of what both Bobbi and Kimberly have said.
Here are my thoughts on the endo doc. I encourage you to keep that appointment with him/her. You are fortunate to have an appointment next week, that is a major miracle, for it a typical wait time for a new patient appointment with an endocrinologist can be two months or longer. And you have worked hard to get financial help for this appointment. As Bobbi noted, if you decide to follow up with an internist or a GP familiar with Graves’, that is certainly an option.
My thoughts:
1. You need to be seen. Keep the appointment. Being hyperthyroid without treatment has the potential for being very dangerous, especially if your resting pulse is racing all the time at 140 or higher. Plus, you feel like crap. Go with an open mind, with your thoughts on your symptoms and your history.
2. Regarding your friends’ comments about not liking the doc, well, I think you should go with an open mind, despite what they have told you. Your primary goal is to be seen, and begin treatment for your hyperthyroidism.
3. Regarding what you heard about him being fired. I would discount this information at this time. That is quite a proclamation to make about someone. It seems appropriate to have a I would not consider this a factor in keeping the appointment. Keep an open mind. Having worked in the health care field for 50 years or so, (or any work situation) it is wise to regard all rumors with a healthy index of suspicion.
If it is important for you to try to track down if this issue is valid, after your appointment, there are some avenues you can pursue to verify what your friends have told you.
4. Regarding work, since you took a voluntary separation from your job related to hyperthyroidism, I suggest that you do not look for another job right now, and for the same reason. Wait until you begin treatment for Graves’. so that you are operating from a position of strength, rather than weakness, in your search for work.

I have some contacts in Wisconsin. Send a PM, and we can write/discuss this subject.
Bobbi has given excellent advice from her own experience dealing with medical costs.

ALL issues are much more difficult when you have untreated Graves’.

People on this site often ask if they are crazy when they are hyper. I see a lot of responses reassuring them that they are not crazy.
Well, I can tell you for sure that when I was super hyper, I WAS kinda crazy, irritable, impatient, not always nice, and found things wrong with everything and everybody! It affected my work, my marriage and everyone around me! I hope you are having less of a hard time than my experience. But it does get better with treatment.

Do write again.
Shirley

[MelisB57]

#1063290

Thanks for all the great advice. Today was my visit with the endo who appeared to be a really good doctor. He’s diagnosed me with both Hashimoto’s and Grave’s which explains the back and forth swing of my symptoms for the past couple of years. He’s starting me on beta-blockers and a small dosage of methimazole to begin with as he said I’m currently hyper. He also wants to check my bloodwork every 6-8 weeks to stay on top of the pendulum swing. I think he wanted to start out this way to see how my body reacts instead of immediately opting for radioiodine or surgery and killing my thyroid altogether. I’m hopeful, yet wary. I’m looking forward to seeing some positive results and getting back on my feet.

[graveM]

#1063291

It is really hard to get ill during the times of tight budget. I believe Bobbi and Snelsen’s advices can make a great help for you. As your disease is also called as toxic diffuse goiter, it is hard to find a doctor that specializes this since it is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the United States.

[rjconway04]

#1063292

I also was diagnosed with Hashimotos and Graves, but in my case, I started out hypo and then went hyper. Please keep us updated on how things go. I know there are not very many out there with both, so I am interested in the stories/experiences of others in the same situation. You can also send me a private message if you would like. I am currently on Levothyroxine because of the hypo, but have now swung to the hyper side again. My endo said he was considering doing the antithyroid meds at one point, until my levels leveled out for about 6 months. My husband and ex-husband think I should have it removed, or killed so I could try to live a normal life. I am torn on what to do. Hopefully the cutback on meds will get me back to a normal level. So far the shakes are starting to get better and getting a little energy back, but know I have a long road ahead of me. I am scared and tired. My mom didn’t find out about her thyroid problem until after she had a heart attack, and I want to prevent that from happening. Anyone else have any opinions, please let me know too.
Glad you did get into the endo. A dr that will listen to not only the lab results but also how you feel is hard to find, so hope this one will do that for you. Good luck.

Thank you for any help, advice or stories/experiences you can give.

[snelsen]

#1063293

This is to melisB57.
Hi, how are you doing with your search for medical care? Any luck? How do you feel? Have you succeeded in getting the appropriate meds for being hyper? Give us an update!
Shirley/snelsen

[MelisB57]

#1063294

So, I reacted badly to the methimazole (anti-thyroid) and had to be take off of it. Now my dr is saying that my levels aren’t outside of normal range ENOUGH to merit giving me other meds so he wants to wait it out awhile to see what happens. Meanwhile, my life has come to a complete and utter stand still. I’ve barely left the house in the past few weeks because of all the crazy symptoms and I’m frustrated beyond belief. I just want my life back…or at least some semblance of a normal life.

[Author]

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