Posted 12/16/2013 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone again for your replies. Kim - my PA that I see is very, very sweet, but does seem slightly less informed on the issues I am having than I would have hoped. I feel like she keeps giving me the same tests and then when they come back normal, it's the "end all-be all" (not sure if that is the correct saying, I'm very foggy right now, sorry!) Anywho, I'm really glad to hear that you have a PCP who understands what you are going through and seems very compassionate and knowledgeable. It is VERY true that it is good to be informed when going into a doctor's appointment! If only my mother agreed. She thinks I am a hypochondriac (she's even starting to convince me that I am.) When I told her I have been experiencing "brain fog" during a particularly emotional argument last night, she thought it was crazy talk and that "brain fog" didn't exist since she had never heard of it before. I told her, mom, of course you haven't heard of it before - you work in furniture sales! It's not like you're a member of the medical community! So yeah - last night she said I had one last chance to see a doctor, and if this doctor/appointment says nothing is wrong with me, then she will refuse to take me to any more doctors, refuse to pay for any more medications, and that I just have to essentially "snap out of this" and get back to the "real world."
To me, though, this has become my "real world." She thinks since I am in bed most of the time that I have conditioned myself to a life like this and that if I just started "doing more" then my stamina would increase and BAM! Problem fixed. Her logic upsets me. I WAS very active, engaged, happy while away at college, doing all the things she says would make me feel better, and THEN I got hit by the fog and depression and fatigue. Then I was forced to come home from my dream apartment and my college education. How does it make sense that pushing myself back into an environment like that would cure me??? I NEVER would have left in the first place if these symptoms didn't hit me like a ton of bricks! So now, I no longer have the support or understanding of my mother. My best friend who is about to become a pharmacist is starting to believe that I just need to work more too. My brother and my dad have already thought that for the past 10 months. My psychiatrist prescribed the Synthroid, then told me to see an endocrinologist, then sent me on my way "wishing me the best of luck" (AKA, probably giving up on me.) My therapist even told me at our last visit, we have tried ALL of the different kinds of therapy approaches, I have been on all the ADs, nothing has worked, so now let's just be hopeful and say that my depression has an "organic cause." Then she sent me on my way too. So everyone in my support system has given up on me or thinks that I am somehow in control of this and that it's ME who is not doing something right. I am so puzzled, depressed, exhausted, foggy, run-down. I cried three times today. I feel so numb and hopeless.
So now, this leaves one "last chance": my next doctor. I would really appreciate anyone's advice on this: I don't know what kind of doctor to see. There are a) endocrinologists, b) holistic MDs, c) integrative MDs, d) naturopaths (?), e) hormone specialists (or something of that nature,) and f) internists. I have NO IDEA what kind of doctor I need to see, and it is VERY IMPORTANT that I see the right one, obviously, because if this doctor is a fail then I am doomed to live like this for a long time. Naturally, I WOULD see an endocrinologist, but it seems a lot of people with possible thyroid problems/pituitary problems/chronic fatigue problems, etc. actually do not recommend seeing endocrinologists since they tend to have more training in diabetes type issues. A lot of people online recommend holistic MDs or integrative MDs.
Do any of you have any advice as to who to see? In the city about an hour away from me there are endos, integrative MDs, probably holistic docs, Nurse Practitioners who prescribe Armour, and one place with FNPs/PAs that specialize in hormones and wellness. I have no clue what to do. I have a list of some practitioners to call and see who will take my insurance, when the soonest appointment is, how much is a visit, etc.
So tired of this.