I am seeing yet another specialist this morning because I have thyroid nodules and my body has basically been doing weird shit since I gave birth at the end of 2021, and then it's been noticeably worse since getting COVID in September last year.

Shout-out to the dipshit receptionist at the endocrinologist office who made me fill out PAPER INTAKE FORMS even though I had done all the intake forms and pre-check in through MyChart. #spoonielife #chronicillnessfun

As if that's not bad enough, he tosses my card back at me and just says, "Didn't work." And when he hands the clipboard to me he just tossed it at me and says, "Fill it out and give it to the nurse."

I get that 8:30am is early to deal with cranky and chronically ill people. But also, I don't like being treated like I'm ruining your day just by showing up.

Now I get to explain my entire medical history and why I'm not just a whiny fat lady to a new doctor. #spoonielife #chronicillnessclub

I already hate seeing the doctor, much less a new specialist who doesn't know me, so I'm really just sitting here hoping that I won't be dismissed outright.

Like, the BEST outcome I hope for is this doc will agree that SOMETHING seems weird, but won't actually do anything and tell me to just see my GP again later.

What I'm actually expecting is to be dismissed as a whiny fat lady and told to exercise more and try a new diet, which will DEFINITELY fix all my problems this time. For real.

If I'm really lucky he might order new blood work! And have me schedule a follow up visit! I fucking doubt it because my luck with endocrinologists (esp old white guys) is Not Good.

But we'll see. ๐Ÿ™ƒ The Baylor College of Medicine system is usually pretty good but my history with doctors and specialists hasn't been great. It's why I hope my rheumatologist never retires - I don't want to start all over with a new doctor. Again. #spoonielife #chronicillnessclub

lolol I was unlucky. Dude straight up looked at me and said there's no hormonal cause for my symptoms and maybe it's mental health? Try a dermatologist for the hair loss, though!

The only test he ran was a saliva cortisol test to make sure my body isn't making too much cortisol.

I just washed an hour and a half of my life and now I get to waste more time finding a new endocrinologist. ๐Ÿซ  #chronicillnessclub #spoonielife

@spacecasemir wtf??? That's such bullshit

@squeakyfrommage I have MyChart so I was able to see the visit notes. This guy straight up checked off things on the physical assessment as normal or negative that he didn't even check for, and things I specifically told him I have (like urticaria and hearing loss, tinitus) he put down as negative.

I am so upset! Luckily several friends recommended some endocrinologists I can call.

@squeakyfrommage I was basically dismissed as a sad fat girl, and I hate that so much.
@spacecasemir and it's bad science! And bad medicine!

@spacecasemir I hate doctors.

I am so sorry you trusted them with your spoons, only to be further traumatised! ๐Ÿ˜ค๐Ÿงก

@KittenInACave It's so frustrating because these symptoms are really impacting my spoon levels ON TOP of my rheumatoid arthritis so it takes even more effort to do anything.

On the plus side, several close friends recommended good local endos so hopefully I can get into a better one soon.

@spacecasemir

That it never fuckin occurs to these people that maybe it's actually their job to figure out the reason for your symptoms, just floors me.

I hope you find one that will help!

Sorry about the hair loss! I have alopecia, which is presumed to be from my combined illnesses but no one ever really bothered to find out. I would genuinely recommend the dermatologist as soon as you're able, cos by the time I prioritised it during a time of severe illness, it became permanent. (scarring)

@spacecasemir

Apparently, had I been to the dermatologist, they might have been able to stop it before that happened. ๐Ÿ™„

(Now I just wish the rest would fall out so I don't have to use my spoons to shave it ๐Ÿ˜‚)

@KittenInACave Yeah I figure it can't hurt to see a dermatologist. I was just hoping I'd get an endo who actually wanted to hear me out! UGGHHHH

My RA progressed pretty badly through my 20s because I had too many docs ignore my symptoms. Now I have some pretty serious joint damage.

@spacecasemir

It's so common, and so terrible!!! And doctors SHOULD care about what's causing symptoms, not just treating the symptoms - otherwise you're missing God knows what in the big picture! They're always looking for a way to blame the patient, instead!

I honestly have more trauma from medical neglect / abuse than anything else!

@spacecasemir
Hi - I'm completely new here, stumbled in by accident, trying to figure out what "spoonies" & "spoonerlife" mean, clearly r/t autoimmune inflammatory-type conditions, among others. I have several, & am curious about social media lingo.
Also, I found a good & caring rheumatologist can be a good support. They aren't necessarily easy to find - I'd been looking for about 14 years, think I may have found one (after I gave him a bad review!) He called, apologized!
@spacecasemir sympathies.that just stinks.
@spacecasemir Oh! My! Gods! Hearing/reading things like this make me so! Furious! I have a friend whose psychologist actually told her that if she lost 35 pounds her pain wouldn't be so bad. She has POTS. BTW, she weighs 125 pounds and is five feet tall; not that that fucking matters. Her fucking psychologist!
@EJGilbert I hate that for her!! That is such crap. Losing weight is not a magic cure for everything!
@spacecasemir The fact that you empathize with her even though you are going through your own pain, frustration and anger is amazing and comforting.
@spacecasemir
Piqued my interest! I am also a fat old woman with actual autoimmune inflammatory plus congenital neuromuscular/ musculoskeletal stuff... but being a (retired/disabled) RN, I can get some attention & respect, even if it takes a while. We definitely have to be strong self advocates.
@lolonurse You absolutely have to be a strong advocate for yourself. I've got a history of autoimmune disorders and having to explain all of that only to be blown off by some dude who doesn't want to deal with me is exhausting. It means I have to start over with a new doc and try again and hope I get respect.
@spacecasemir
Many years ago, I created a document for any physician I have to start with. It's a chronological medical history, then surgical history, then list of my prescribed medications (who Rx'd them & why), OTC meds, then vitamins (unless ordered by a doc, then I list them with my meds, which doc recommended or ordered them & why; then I list my allergies, then anesthesia/post-anesthesia precautions and why. Every new practitioner gets one. Me-open book. Them-no excuses!
@lolonurse This is one of the best things a patient can do! All of my docs right now are in the same system so they can see my medical history and merds in my chart. Unfortunately not all of them bother reading that. It's important medical info to keep on file, though, especially if I see someone outside of that system, or have to show up in the ER unexpectedly.
@spacecasemir idk what the deal is but every endocrinologist iโ€™ve been to in my state has been absolutely shitty, judgmental & wouldnโ€™t listen to a word myself OR my primary doctor tells them. is this a pattern??
@spacecasemir that sucks! It's something that is at best a little dehumanizing, then they add in the sass and frustration and it only goes down from there.
.
I know it's much smaller scale, but it reminds of how furious I get when I accidentally jab my gums with a toothbrush while brushing my teeth. I'm trying to doing a _good_ thing, I'm doing the _right_ thing, and you repay me like THIS? The rage boils up so quick!!
.
Anyways, best of skill to you navigating this BS :)
@eg0n okay that is legit the worst. ๐Ÿ˜‚ I hate when that happens.