Medical Issues

Before I even got to the middle of your question I was thinking "Thyroid!! Thyroid!"
Yes, I feel an overwhelming apathy from the medical community. Not from every provider, every time...but from many providers, a lot of the time. As someone whose husband is having some medical issues (if you look at my post from this morning) I can advise that if you aren't getting the answers you want, go see someone else. Don't worry about if they like you or don't like you, or if you seem pushy. You are the patient, the client, and you deserve to be heard.
Go to another endocrinologist. Ask for another test. Be firm. Write down your symptoms and take them with you to the appointment. Don't take no for an answer. They work for you and I think they forget that sometimes.
I'm sorry you're going through this.

To answer if doctors really care... there's a myth of doctors being miracle workers and they know everything. The honest truth is that doctors are just like us who have memorized and experienced medical issues. Since I teach in a physics lab I know the process of figuring out an issue with experiments. You don't start by assuming everything is broken and go buy new items. You work with experience (it's what they have that we don't have when dealing with medical stuff) on what most likely or least likely the issue. And all they can do is send you away and see if it is okay. If you come back, they take the next level or seek a second voice (two heads is better than one and that doesn't mean your doctor is incompetent). Doctors go through a lot of people and they can't take every patient who comes in thinking they are the center of the universe. They are still human. I'm not saying you are demanding but you know the type of people I'm talking about.. the kind who will push you aside because they think their issues are more pressing since they self diagnosed themselves already. But I digress...

Keep going back. Doctors only know that there is a serious issue if it doesn't go away. Otherwise, most medical issues do go away and leaving it alone is the best way to go. Very few doctors and I am always wary of THOSE kind who believe in medicating you and pushing surgery at the very beginning especially when initial scans don't show anything. But in the end, sometimes they will make mistakes and miss something. It may be a fluke that you have but generally flukes are just flukes, rare diseases are rare. Doctors know that and that's why they sometimes brush off the immediate danger.

Truthfully, you are a number and a paycheck but most doctors do it because they love it. They love helping people. Just like teachers love teaching but it doesn't mean sometimes going to work isn't just work. Mothers love mothering but it doesn't mean sometimes we don't want to get up in the morning. My post has nothing to do with your medical situation, it's just to help people who might place doctors in such a high status that they forget they are just humans like the rest of us and they are not miracle workers. You know somethings wrong with your body, your doctor needs you to keep coming in so he knows it's not the usual stuff. They'll figure it out, I hope and pray for you, but it's all trial and error when dealing with medicine. It's frustrating that they can't figure it out immediately but there is no other way to do science, especially a science where the answers are just "probable" causes since the human body is so complex. But I do hope everything works out for you dear.

I think it depends a lot on the doctor. My own doctors do not accept any insurance, meaning that I have to pay them then file on my own for out-of-network benefits. They're great doctors and do seem to genuinely care, but they also aren't running a practice according to what an insurance company dictates. The upside is that the treatment is great, but the downside is that I spend a lot more out of pocket due to the out-of-network reduced benefits and lack of discounting down to whatever insurance dictates.

My daugther's pediatrician specializes in international adoptees and takes all kinds of insurance. I definitely feel like she really cares about my daughter and her more unique medical needs.

I just typed out a response and it disappeared! Grrrr.

I was just diagnosed with a tumor on my putiutary gland this week. It controls the hormones in your brain. I believe I've had mine for 10+ years. I have the same symptoms as you and was diagnosed with PCOS about 5 years ago.

I had a migraine that landed me in the ER last week. They took a CT scan and found the tumor. I'm still in the process of figuring out my path....I see the neurosurgeon tomorrow.

From the research we've done, most of these tumors are noncancerous and somewhat common. It explains my symptoms COMPLETELY!

Talk to your ENDO about this possibility.

My understanding is that although it sounds pretty scary, it is quite treatable.

And remember. You are your only advocate. Keep pressing on until your questions are resolved.

Good luck!!!!!

PCOS isn't a throwaway diagnosis...it IS the diagnosis. That's what you have. That's why you feel the way that you do. That's what it being addressed via diet because there is no cure for PCOS, only management of various symptoms. PCOS includes increased risk if heart disease and diabetes, which is why the diet and exercise components are so important even if it seems like you don't get results (frustrating as hell right)? For some women, just managing the weight can help kick the hormones in the right direction but others do need hormonal support (thyroid treatment, birth control pills etc.).

If I were you, I would seek out an expert in PCOS and get another opinion from him or her and switch to him or her if PCOS seems to be the right dx. It seems that your doc is being dismissive of your concerns and is not connecting the dots for you or answering all of your questions and that's not acceptable. PCOS is complex and systemic and your doc should seek to explain all of it.

Have you tried acupuncture? That can help a lot with hormonal issues. Worth a try, right?

I too thought THYROID before I was finished reading your symptoms. Google Hashimoto's thyroiditis and look for a doctor that treats patients, not lab results.

Good luck!

Did they check your prolactin level by any chance? If it's elevated that can be a sign of a pituitary tumor. The lactation issue (6 years later) jumped out at me.

I feel the same way about mainstream medcine. All the progress we've made over the last few years - as a family - has been made with integrative physicians and alternative health care professionals. Unfortunately much of it is not covered by insurance. :( But now I'm going to pay more for all that "health care" which has nothing to do with actual health.

Hope you get some answers - what you're experiencing sounds rough. <<hugs>>

A thyroid level of 3 can by high for you. It could still be your thyroid...your symptoms are just like mine. Research some more on this and go to stop the thyroid madness website for lots of info.

Other than the lactation, your issues sound almost identical to mine "The past 2 years I haven't been feeling like myself. Just recently I was having a terrible time with my hair falling out, weight gain, lack of motivation, chills, body aches, my neck started hurting...my periods were all messed up, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, back ache, neck ache." - I could've written all that myself! My Doc tested my blood for TSH and free T4, and said they were "fine" - also had a pelvic ultrasound and a thyroid ultrasound, and I was told I have tiny nodules all over my thyroid and cysts in both ovaries....but other than Birth Control pills - no treatment plan - just "wait and see". I have the same issue with my regular Dr. - he is just throwing pills at me, whereas I want to find the cause of the issues and treat the root of the problems, since I believe they have to all be related. In the last 3 years, he has given me High Blood Pressure meds, phentrimine - appetite suppressant/stimulant, birth control pills to try to regulate my whacked out periods. Instead of all that treating symptoms
I would like to figure out what is wrong with me causing all these symptoms in the first place.

few months ago I decided to bit the bullet and go to an Integrative medicine Dr - I have to pay it al out of pocket, though - first appointment plus tests and reccommended supplements cost me $1000, and she asked the I come back in 6 weeks as well as make a pap smear appointment with my regular Doc and a sleep clinic appointment to figure out if apnea has anything to do with it. I took the supplements and followed the diet advice for 2 months and saw no improvements, i have the sleep appointment in 2 days, I didn't get the PAP yet, and haven't gone back to the Integrative lady yet.....It is just so expensive, we are a one income family with 2 kids right now.

But on the other hand I want ot feel like a human that can function again, too! UHG.

Please let us know what you do find out, I would be curious to know!

Jessie