Doctor wait-time

[blackcherry2002 5]

Ok so just here to rant about doctors and how ridiculous it is to have to wait so long to see them...It's taken me 7 weeks to just make an appointment with them and now...I don't see them for another 2 full months. Just to see an endocrinologist! My thyroid is out of whack(but is in the normal range, still too high) and I'm not going to lose a single pound for another 2 months...it's already been 6 months since I've seen the scale move...

I give up. I'm adjusting my own meds. I know that's dangerous but if there were to be an increase in my meds a doc would do it by 25 mcg and that's all I'm adding. Seriously I'm not losing, my hair is brittle and falling out, my mood swings are bad, sleeping 12 hours and still exhausted, I hate being HYPO!!!! (My regular physcian is a physcian's assistant and quote "Doesn't know what other kind of medicine there is or what kind of dose to do"...the guy hadn't heard of "PCOS" before either...I hate doctors as well...

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Sorry you're frustrated but you're safer and smarter to find another doc rather than self medicate. You'll run out of drugs taking extra anyway (or you should...)

I know it's frustrating but you don't want to mess with the endocrine system. If a PA is reluctant to change it that should tell you something.

[blackcherry2002 5]

well I've read of many doctors lowering a TSH in the higher range down to 1-ish.....So that's not the issue...Oh and endocrinologist? I have only one other doctor I could maybe go to...and the next closest decent one wouldn't be for 300 miles in any direction...UGH I have living in the Great EMPTY Plains...

[susan1961 0]

Why would it be the doctor's fault that there is a shortage of endocrinologists in your area resulting in a demand for services that is greater than he or she can provide?

Most primary care physicians are very capable of managing hypothyroidism. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinology actually recommends endocrine consultation for only a subset of more complex cases.

http://www.aace.com/pub/pdf/guidelines/hypo_hyper.pdf I'd look for a new primary care doctor, or share this or a similar guideline with your PCP and nudge them to adjust your dose.

I am also hypothyroid and it made a world of difference in how I felt when my dosage was increased enough to get my TSH down below 3. I had to educate my PCP a bit in order to get there.

I hope you are able to get the care you need to feel better and get your weight loss on track.

[blackcherry2002 5]

I didn't say it was the doctor's fault because of a lack of endos. I think it's my doctor's fault for treating me for something and not knowing anything about it.