After waiting 5 months for a consultation with Dr. Chun, he walked in and announced to me I no longer had Grave’s Disease (after 8 years diagnosed)-due to the RAI I had had done 7 years ago.
(THIS is equivalent to telling a man he is no longer male due to vasectomy...)
I had had an ultrasound on my thyroid, it was reactive, and my antibodies were up. That is WHY I came. He gave me no answer as to how he explains the autoimmune component.
He spent most of his time explaining I needed to take my replacement at the same time every day, with no food...(7 years with this disease process, not 7 days, doctor) as that is the first information post-RAI that you are given.
He ignored the symptoms I was experiencing, attempted to drop all my Synthroid to one single dosage across the board, 75 mcg, due to ‘my age’- and wanted me to take the generic version. ( Generic made me horribly sick, and Grave’s isn’t a ‘generic’ thyroid issue. It has taken my other doctor and me 3 years to find the proper dosage with mixed mcg’s.for symptoms). And he didn’t realize I’ve seen 14 other specialists due to complications of Grave’s. He ordered the same labs I expressed that my GP orders every 3 months...he told me he would call next week so I didn’t have to drive ANOTHER 81/2 hours...
I left very frustrated, with a ‘new’ diagnosis of ‘acquired hypothyroidism’.
I was given a 6 month later appointment, which I subsequently canceled...I called several times, his staff called me. I think my complaining finally registered when he called me back.
A month after, I got an amended diagnosis of Grave’s Disease. After 8 years diagnosed, and 7 post RAI...
I have to say I was so horribly sad to meet yet another Endo that simply believes we are fine, we have no voice or individuality.
Grave’s patients are MORE than numbers on a lab report. We experience MANY symptoms, so tell me, doctor, just what is it you believe the metabolism runs, if not our whole body? And just what runs our metabolism? It affects every part of us, of our bodies. Our thyroid hormones are a big deal. We are NOT generic. I am NOT generic. This was horrible, I think he needs to go back to school and learn how not to insult his patient’s they live with this incurable, horrible disease. Even his staff seemed condescending and flippant. This is awful. That was awful.