Doctors

GlassOnion wrote:

I am thankful for the healthcare we have..

As am I !

Just to let all you Americans know, our health care system isn't perfect (though we'd like to think so).

I think health care is a basic human right. Doesn't matter who you are in the world, everyone deserves it.

I am the poster child for having grown up with idiot doctors and being and advocate for yourself. When I was younger I was in great shape...normal weight, athletic, happy and within a 6 month period I had become depressed, gained about 80 pounds and could barely walk without having a heart attack. My GP wrote me off as a whiney teenager (I was 19 and in college) and that all I needed was to go on a diet and exercise more. A year later, I had ballooned to over 200 lbs (my normal weight is about 135) and so I went to an endocrinologist, who told me I was just fat and lazy and needed to lay off the chocolate cake (I HATE chocolate cake and don't eat sweets in general, I'm more of a salt person). Needless to say, over years and years of doubling my body size, the depression got worse as did the pain in my body. In 2001, at the behest of a boyfriend I was living with at the time, he suggested I see a new endocrinologist. He realized there was no reason I should look like I did because I didn't eat a lot and was relatively active. Went to a specialist and within 15 minutes of the exam, they had me signed into the hospital. The goiter in my neck was so massive that it took them 6 hours to remove it. They basically had to cut through my throat and carve the main arteries leading to my brain out of the massive tumor (which explained the constant migraines). I bled out and died twice on the table. Afterwards, I couldn't eat much at all and was in therapy for 6 months to learn how to speak again. Turns out I had thyroid cancer and a severe form of Hashimoto's disease. Had the doctors diagnosed me 20 yrs earlier, they could have at least corrected the problem and I could now be living a normal life. But, that is not the case. My body is beyond damaged, my joints are destroyed and when tested, I have a metabolism thats so low that it usually doesn't read, so I basically gain weight no matter what I eat. I'm on life long meds for the thyroid, but they do nothing really... and now its getting to the point where I can't walk for more than 15 mins without pain.

The topper to this...5 years after the thyroid surgery I got a new GP when I moved and the doctor was more concerned that I couldn't wear stylish clothing. Insisted that it was mortally imperative that I join OA (though I don't overeat) and when that didn't help, deemed it medically necessary that I get a lap band, which I did and lost 30 lbs...period. So now I eat even less than I did before, its been 5 more years and my weight is still the same... when she told me it was something I was doing wrong I left. She hadn't even read my file to see that I had thyroid surgery.

So now I am stuck with what I have. Would I like to be thin again? Hell yeah. Will it ever happen? Highly doubtful. It is what it is. I always have people coming up to me saying "you have to try this new diet" and they just don't get it. When you have no metabolism, diet doesn't mean squat. I have to run a marathon to burn off a piece of bread. Its not worth it anymore.

I'm so sorry Vikki, your story touched me.

You survived the hell girl, you should be proud of yourself and happy that you're still alive! And to my surprise, you opened first time so deep here, publicly finally!
Vikki, if I may ask how many years passed from your surgery and on what dosage of synhroid you are? I'm asking, because all the time I thought that I gained weight after I quit smoking. And that was ... after my Thy surgery and RAI after
If I'm gonna tell you, that when I clean houses to keep up with the pain I take pain killers, you'll understand? I bet, you do. Unfortunately, there is no cure for after cancer side-effects yet.
Did your life changed after all of that and did you start to see world from another perspective after? I did. I learned to value different things.
I'm glad that I have rare opportunity by having parrots to meet interesting people, who came through something in their life

And examples mentioned here should be a kick for Hanna to go for a second opinion. Doctors are only doctors, we have to fight for our life!

There you go! I like being myself, although not always possible.
My battle was completely different. In 2005 I have two surgeries within 3 weeks distant time. First was to partial removal, and then came biopsy. I didn't even move my head good (the same pain you mentioned) and I gone to the table again. After 2-nd surgery they give me 50 mg of Synhroid. I have 1000 different symptoms and I really thought I'm going crazy. Seriously. Salt tasted sweet, people was moving like on slow motion movie. Then kicked depression. Then my husband said he need a rest and left me with an empty refrigerator It was just better and better! I was working, even my former boss was giving me a breaks...

RAI (instead of chemo) within 4 months after was the worst part. I was in isolated room, taking 200mg radioactive iodine and all the stuff was coming to me dressed like those, who supposedly landed on the Moon. After a weak guys from nuclear medicine let me go. I was constantly trowing out. Meanwhile there was divorce.

You know, the best part? I survived all of that. I have a lot of pain, different symptoms, depression, but I survived and I'm enjoying life. There are days I don't care and go through and there are worst days. I learned that physical pain is nothing to compare to emotional. Imagine: for a long moment I was in a strange country, sick all by myself. I don't have family here. I learn also that sometimes help is coming from absolutely unknown or unexpected people.

(I'm taking only 150 mg of Synhroid and my doctor things it's too much. Think about my metabolizm )

You guys are so strong

Parrot people are the best people.

zazanomore wrote:

Parrot people are the best people.

Its funny, I don't consider myself to be any more special than anyone else and I'm no martyr. I'm just hoping that eventually they will figure me out and fix me and if that can't be done, then hopefully my efforts will help someone else after I'm gone. Its the least I could do.

After reading this topic, I think I'm glad for the health care system we have in Australia, best of luck Hannah.

Now it's my turn... BE A BOTHER...I am quite sure anyone that cares about you at all would surely set aside a box of stuff in trade for your health and well being. Virtual strangers here would at the drop of a hat. Sometimes it matters if you wait...just do it and don't put a box of stuff, a house, a job or anything above yourself period.

o'TikaandAurora wrote:

After reading this topic, I think I'm glad for the health care system we have in Australia, best of luck Hannah.

I want to wove to Australia soo badly.

UG! So annoyed right now. And sick still. And I know, tsk tks for not going to the doctor yet. But ug okay I have this rash. I got the same rash last year! Its not really a rash actually. It almost looks like bug bites. There little bumps. I went to the doctor last year and she said it was because my showers were too hot ( ). It didnt make any sense to me but I just brushed it aside. They returned later that year in the summer. And a few more times in the winter. And now again! But this time its worse! They are all bunched together, I have 2 big circular shapes on my knees! its only on my knees. And like a few on my left foot. What the nut !Im annoyed because it is the itchiest thing ever. Not only that but I have been so nauseous the past month. And so tired. I could sleep all day if I was allowed. And I as thinking maybe the rash and my fatigue are connected? Last year I was home schooled and when I had the rash I could seriously sleep for the whole day. One day I slept 16 hours! I told my dad and he called me a hypocondriact(?spelling?). He said we would make an appointment for a dermatologist but has yet to do so. I think I am going crazy! What if I am crazy? Will you still talk to me?

You can't be crazy, that's my job! Of course we would still like you, but you aren't and you probably aren't a hypochondriac either.

What you are describing either sounds like psoriasis which can, indeed, be due to sensitivity to fragrances in soaps, laundry detergents, etc and made worse by hot showers they say. Or it could be hives -- if it's really really itchy, I'd suspect hives, which is an allergic reaction. Are there any foods you eat during the summer season you don't otherwise eat? Shellfish? Strawberries? There are other more serious conditions that go with fatigue and skin conditions, but I'm guessing the fatigue is sort of normal. When I was your age I'd sleep around the clock if I could. But I think a good solid physical with a good solid M.D. would be a good thing...

Uh... actually... get yourself checked for Lyme disease. Could you have been bitten by a tick? Google "rash circular knees". A bullseye rash seems to be very characteristic of Lyme disease, as is fatigue. Does it look like this:

Hannah,



The bumps sound similar to how my eczema appears and it wasn't diagnosed for a long time because it presented in a weird way. It itches like hell and looks a lot like little bug bites or water blisters. If you pop them, they leak sebaceous fluid.

Try using a lotion like Dermarest for Eczema or Cortizone 10 for Eczema and see if that helps. Also, if you shower every day, stop and shower once every other day. Get rid of your soaps and try something without color or fragrance. I use goat milk soap and it helps a lot.

ScooterNScotty wrote:

You can't be crazy, that's my job! Of course we would still like you, but you aren't and you probably aren't a hypochondriac either.

What you are describing either sounds like psoriasis which can, indeed, be due to sensitivity to fragrances in soaps, laundry detergents, etc and made worse by hot showers they say. Or it could be hives -- if it's really really itchy, I'd suspect hives, which is an allergic reaction. Are there any foods you eat during the summer season you don't otherwise eat? Shellfish? Strawberries? There are other more serious conditions that go with fatigue and skin conditions, but I'm guessing the fatigue is sort of normal. When I was your age I'd sleep around the clock if I could. But I think a good solid physical with a good solid M.D. would be a good thing...

Yeah I looked in to psoriasis and it doesnt look like any of the pictures Ive seen. But maybe mine just looks different? And I dont think its hives, Ive had hives before and this is different.

ScooterNScotty wrote:

Uh... actually... get yourself checked for Lyme disease. Could you have been bitten by a tick? Google "rash circular knees". A bullseye rash seems to be very characteristic of Lyme disease, as is fatigue. Does it look like this:

It doesnt look like that thank goodness! And Ive never been bitten by a tick. Those things are scary!

KayLayUh wrote:

Hannah,



The bumps sound similar to how my eczema appears and it wasn't diagnosed for a long time because it presented in a weird way. It itches like hell and looks a lot like little bug bites or water blisters. If you pop them, they leak sebaceous fluid.

Try using a lotion like Dermarest for Eczema or Cortizone 10 for Eczema and see if that helps. Also, if you shower every day, stop and shower once every other day. Get rid of your soaps and try something without color or fragrance. I use goat milk soap and it helps a lot.

Maybe it is that! Ive been using this aleo vera spray by lush and it seems to help a bit. But I will find out when(if) I go to the dermatologist.

I was thinking exzema, not psoriasis. I get that in one very specific place. A little hydrocrotisone when it is REALLY itchy helps, but you don't want to use it all the time. Mine is ust like Kay described though.

K beware! This picture is kinda gross.

Are you ready?



Haha okay here are my arms. The rash flared up again. It doesn't itch but it hurst like nobody's business! I cant even rest my elbows on the table. Is this what excema(?) looks like?

My mom has chronic/pretty much permanent eczema, and it looks kinda like that but a little more like psoriasis. She was on all sorts of antihistamines until one doctor actually told her to take Aerius (common allergy med found in drugstores) and it vanished like magic without any side effects that her previous prescriptions caused. Of course, my mom still has to take a tablet of Aerius daily, but it works very well!

You should try it, you have no idea how happy my mom was when she tried it!

Its even worse now): Its on my fingers a little now. They are like water blisters.