Febuary-April-2006
I noticed sudden weight gain
(about 6 pounds) and my hair was falling out. I went to a dermatologist who gave me propecia and promised
great things. Within a week I had
white facial hair all over my face including my cheeks and chin. I stopped the propecia and returned to the
doctor. He gave me cream for
my face, which I used and it caused a serious facial rash. I called the doctor and he told me that
I could get my face waxed.
Lovely. Can you
imagine? What a treat. I didn’t return to the doctor.
Why didn’t he ask me for a
blood test before treating me?
May-2006
I continued gaining weight
and decreased my calories to less then 900 calories per day. I was still exercising but experienced
ongoing tiredness. I just couldn’t
seem to “beat it”. I was sleepy
all the time (not simply tired).
John and I went to get a
colonoscopy. I was fine but he was
diagnosed with Colon Cancer.
We had him in surgery within seven days after the diagnosis.
In June-2006
I stopped all exercise
training because I was too tired.
I told John and my trainers I had been exercising forever and was simply
going to take the summer off. That
should have been a big “red flag” for everyone. I love to exercise or at least the feeling after I have
worked out.
I could barely keep up with
the basics and helping with John’s recovery.
July-2006
I went for a blood test. I went to our Internist, Dr. Gregory
Katz, a UCLA Alumni and liked him.
His nurse was a tough old bird and difficult but he was good. John had his blood tested at the
same time and got a return call in four days. After six weeks of calling I finally got a phone call from
Dr. Katz with no excuse for not returning my calls to tell me my thyroid was
not working. I asked him why he
didn’t return my calls and he simply said he had gone on vacation and was
busy. So I spent six weeks without
being treated because Dr. Katz didn’t think I was important enough? I think he finally returned my call because
I told the receptionist I was going to camp in their waiting room until I got
my paper work. Dr. Katz told
me my thyroid level was a 14 on the scale 1-3. He gave me about 50 mcg of Synthroid and patted me on the
head. I went down to his office
and picked up my blood test results.
Is he an incompetent
doctor? No. Does he have a nice bedside
manner? Yes, when he is not
defending his nasty nurse. Why
didn’t he call me back? We will
never find out because I moved on.
We now see Dr. Richard
Kenney. He is a good doctor. But what is nice about Dr. Kenney is if
you have a problem he will try and help you figure it out or refer you to
someone who might…..that’s good.
Aside note…one of the
symptoms of Thyroid disease (which about 20 million folks have) is
depression. Why doesn’t a
psychiatrist when visiting a patient for the first time ask the patient to
bring a blood test to show hormone and thyroid levels? Would it be that they might not have as
many patients? I am outraged that
a physical problem causes depression and a psychiatrist would not ask for blood
work. You have to be
diligent. You have to be your own
medical advocate, researcher and helper.
I know it is hard. Damn
hard. If you can’t do it then you
must ask another.
