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. 🙃 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. 🫠 #chronicillnessclub #spoonielife
@spacecasemir I hate doctors.
I am so sorry you trusted them with your spoons, only to be further traumatised! 😤🧡
@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.
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)
Apparently, had I been to the dermatologist, they might have been able to stop it before that happened. 🙄
(Now I just wish the rest would fall out so I don't have to use my spoons to shave it 😂)
@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.
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!
Miriam
Susannah The Tired