i have been upset about the "endocrinologist" bashing that has been going on by one well known thyroid patient advocate, and i find that i must put my two cents in on this subject. i will say upfront, that i admire this patient advocate, and appreciate her efforts on behalf of all of the thyroid patients out there. we have not had a voice, and it continues to be a struggle getting people to understand what thyroid/thyroid cancer patients are dealing with. it has also been a struggle getting competent patient care. i am disappointed in her opinion( which counts for a lot- and influences many people) that ALL endocrinologists are incompetent, uncaring physicians who look only at lab values and are not concerned with doing what is best for their patients.
i am going to relate my personal story about what i had to do to receive good patient care. i also would like to say that in my pharmacy practice, i talk to many people who have thyroid and thyroid cancer issues. some see endocrinologists, some see their primary care physicians,etc. but i would never suggest that they see ONLY an endocrinologist, if they feel that they are well and getting good patient care. this is a personal issue- and ONE SIZE DEFINITELY DOES NOT FIT ALL!! - in this situation. if a patient is unhappy with the care, or lack of, they are receiving for their thyroid issues, i will definitely suggest that they seek out a second, third, or even fourth opinion. i encourage everyone to be their OWN patient advocate. it is hard work, it is not easy- you have to stand up for yourself, or make someone angry, but it is your life or the quality of your life that is at stake here. o.k., that said, on to my story....
about 5 years ago, i was seeing an endocrinologist in western north carolina. he was personally a nice man, but he did not take my concerns seriously. he told me that i was just " stressed" and that was the reason i was feeling so extremely tired, weak, forgetful,etc, all of the time. i tried another physician in this practice, and was basically told the same thing. so once every year, i would go back and be told, after blood work and an exam, that even though my blood work was " strange", it was because my life was so stressful ( stressful job, and i was taking care of my mother, who was dying of cancer). this went on, unfortunately, for about 5 years. i wish that i could tell you what event made me decide to get another opinion. it may have been the death of my mother, and the realization that life is short, and we should do our best to take care of ourselves . i love my family, and i want to be there for them. so whatever it was that finally moved me out of my stupor, or denial, i searched a website, ironically from the same patient advocate that i am upset with, and found a physician. i found another ENDOCRINOLOGIST. but this person was in a city four and a half hours away. this physician had many reviews that said things like, " this doctor listens to how i am feeling." or " this doctor does NOT go by tsh or other blood values alone, but takes into account how i am doing when she prescribes my medication".
long story short, you can read my entire blog for the whole story, my new doctor ordered tests and did a biopsy. it was discovered that i had stage three, papillary cancer with follicular variant, which had spread to my lymphatic system and to two of my parathyroids. my surgery lasted almost 5 hours and was one of the most difficult ones my surgeon, who is head of the cancer department at the large hospital that i went to, had ever done.( his words- in his surgery notes) . there is no doubt in my mind that if i had continued to go to my old doctor, that i would not be here today! my endocrinologist is a caring physician, who prescribes my medication based on HOW I AM FEELING, but of course, also with my lab work in mind. i am a four year survivor as of this year. i still have to go back every six months for an ultrasound and blood work because my doctor said that my cancer was aggressive, and the risk of recurrence does not go away after five years or whatever, but could come back at any time. the testing is stressful, but i am happy that i go to a physician who truly cares about me and the care that i receive. does that mean that i will unquestionably accept everything that she says? not a chance! we " negotiate" my medication dosage on a regular basis. i respect her opinion, and she respects how i am feeling. we usually come up with a solution that is good for us both. even when you find the right doctor, you still have to be your own best patient advocate!
so my final point, and then i will get off of my soap box, is that endocrinologists can be an excellent choice for thyroid patients. these doctors primarily deal with thyroid and diabetes patients. that is what they specialize in. for me, it is a good choice, even though i had to go through a few to find the physician who was right for me. i think that if a patient is satisfied with a doctor, who is NOT an endocrinologist, then, great! just be sure that as a patient, you are receiving good care and that your physician takes into account how you are feeling and not just the lab values. so, do i believe that one size fits all? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!
No comments:
Post a Comment