DEAR THYROID^TM

Dear Doctor,

I was under the impression that you were the one with advanced medical knowledge and would be able to diagnose what was wrong with me.  I didn’t plan on paying you to do that only to come away with “it’s all in your head” as that diagnosis.  I’m appalled, hurt, scared and have lost all respect for you and many of your “colleagues”.  You made me this way.

I came to you feeling ill.  My hair was breaking off, my skin was so dry I had patches of scales in spots, my nails were breaking off constantly, I was gaining weight no matter how hard I worked to keep it off and the fatigue…..I couldn’t get enough sleep.  And every time I swallowed it felt like I had a golf ball stuck in my throat.  The sound of my voice was starting to change…I was scared.

I asked you if I could possibly have Hypothyroidism, I also told you that my Sister had thyroid cancer and had to have her’s removed.  First you said that “it’s doubtful you have hypothyroidism” and that “people want all kinds of tests to prove that they DON’T have something and those tests aren’t necessary”.  You told me you were “disappointed” with my current weight.  I told you that I had been on a diet, eating no more than 1,200 calories a day and exercising an hour a day 6 days a week.  I’d step on the scale after a week of this and will of gained 2 pounds!  Your response was “Hypothyroidism doesn’t cause weight gain, if you don’t eat so much you won’t gain weight”.  You told me to use a different lotion for my dry skin and to change the shampoo I was using to help my dry hair.  You told me to “get more sleep” and I wouldn’t be so tired all the time and you said your diagnosis was that I was “depressed”.  I have to give you that, I WAS depressed but depression wasn’t causing my symptoms….and those symptoms were why I was depressed.

I told you that you were a poor excuse for a Doctor and I fired you.  That was my right.  And to be proactive in my own care I “grew a pair” and let you have it with both boots.  You have no right having a license to treat people…you were no more a “doctor” than I was.  I felt empowered after I left your office but still so hurt and confused….I may have fired yo,u but I still didn’t feel well.

I found a new Doctor who listened to me.  You made note of the fact that I had an immediate family member with thyroid cancer and you did something the other “Dr.” never did, you felt my neck and then ordered blood tests…..and a thyroid ultrasound.  I have hypothyroidism, and I have lumps on my thyroid.  I’m still waiting for the results of the ultrasound.  I’m still scared but at least I feel I’m now with someone that is hearing what I’m saying, someone that has taken me seriously and that actually cares about my health.

Thank you Dr. H!  And Doctor D, you should have your licenses revoked….immediately.  I am going to continue to be proactive in my own care no matter what the results are.  Having empowered myself, I feel as though I can ask any question, and if that Dr. doesn’t answer it I can demand that they do….and if they get their shorts in a wad over that, well, the hell with you….your a paid service, if you don’t serve I’ll take my money elsewhere…..

~Melana

(Bio) Business owner of 2 online stores, grandmother of 11, Mom to 3 sons and 3 beautiful daughter in laws and crabby wife!  My passion is sewing and my hobbies are gardening, reading and snorkeling.

Tags: Dear Doctor Letters, demanding quality care, doctors marginalizing hypothyroidism, doctors telling patients their symptoms are in their head, empowered patients, felling ill with hypothyroidism, patient empowerment, sensation of something stuck in your throat, taking control of your health, thyroid patient mistreatment

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