Posted by BarbaraCat on January 20, 2003, at 2:03:42
In reply to Re: Rich and Jumpy:Lithium how it works » BarbaraCat, posted by Ritch on January 19, 2003, at 21:59:01
Thanks Mitch. I agree. I have an appt with my doc this week and am going to INSIST on getting my antibodies tested, even if it costs the HMO a few more bucks, which sorry, I don't give a rip about. As well as my free T3 and T4 and any other dang test that might give somebody a clue as to why I'm feeling so awful. TSH levels never tell the whole story but Duh! no one on my health care team seems to realize this except me. I am so SICK of paying so much money for health insurance, doing my own research and then having to badger my doctors into getting necessary tests that I suggest to THEM! And how about some other hormonal tests since they're already drawing my blood? Who is the Doctor here anyway??
I'm also going to politely suggest that my pdoc and my doc start having a rudimentary conversation with each other about me, their co-morbid patient who expects them to occasionally glance at each other's charts about me. They're colleagues, for Pete's sake.
My doc didn't even know I was taking lithium until I mentioned it (the same HMO, the same records) and even then I had to remind him that well, gee, perhaps there's a thyroid/lithium connection? I've had it with this mis-managed care medical travesty!! I've been a very nice little patient so far but they're going to experience the wrath of BarbaraCat who is one fed up chick! Sorry to rant but this shit is getting out of hand, few of us are getting the care we need, and I for one want some help!!!!!!!!!!!
> > Mitch,
> > The timing of your post was uncanny. In a state of desperation, I gave in and took 300mg of lithium a few hours ago. Within 2 hours I felt about 80% better. Ping-ponging describes it perfectly. Can't get anything done in that state and then paralyzing agitated depression sets in. I want to do my homework before starting on a new med - something that works as well as lithium without further clobbering my thyroid. My pdoc is not an expert on such matters.
>
> Barb, have you done that Hashimoto's thyroiditis antibody test that Pfinstegg mentioned? I want to get that done myself ASAP. Just a suggestion, but whether or not you continue on Li 300mg as a temporary maintenance dosage, have you talked with your doctor about upping your thyroid supplementation to get your TSH back into normal range? I would strongly suggest doing so--don't let this thing spiral out of control.....
>
poster:BarbaraCat
thread:136544
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030119/msgs/136691.html