Wings of Hope for Adolescent Thyroid Awareness, Inc.: Doctors....times, they are a changin'

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Doctors....times, they are a changin'

So a few days ago I got a phone call from my mom - she sounded rather frantic and she freaked me out, but it turned out it wasn't as bad as my first instincts thought......well maybe? A little less then a year ago my old endocrinologist from Miami would no longer take care of me since I hadn't physically seen him in a year (the 3 hour drive was just not happening) and I was having difficulties that my primary no longer felt comfortable handling. That being said she was able to recommend an endocrinologist here in town for me, and the best part? I loved him! My mom loved him so much that when we left she set up an appointment immediately for herself.

Now you all must be asking what the problem may be? Well we got a letter in the mail the other day telling us that as of August 19th our endocrinologist would no longer be practicing. Oddly enough I am not nearly as freaked as my mom only because I have been through this so often with myself that I know what to tell doctors to look for with my labs, but for her they are still trying to get her straightened out.....which means this just sucks!!

Today I went to my primary doctor and was talking to her about. She explained to me that it was because of the way insurance laws are currently she spends more time doing paperwork then she does seeing patients - kind of defeats the purpose of being a doctor, no? The way things are set up today just sucks. There is no other way to put it. My husband lost his neurologist because she decided to just work in the hospital instead of regular office settings.

I am for change with the medical system and insurance - BIG TIME!! And I know they are trying but enough just isn't being done. We are loosing wonderful doctors. And then many can't even get insurance. My husband can't get different insurance due to existing medical conditions. Myself? The same I am sure. Currently I am on my parents insurance until January....after January? No clue. I'm scared. I have been trying to get a job that will give me benefits, but it's hard. Right now I work for my mom and am getting my second masters, I want to be able to finish my masters because in the long run it will be beneficial....but I need a job - really I want a job in my field - it's just all so overwhelming...

Ok that's my vent for now....in the meantime hopefully I find another endo I like, if not maybe it's time for me to go to medical school?

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A Little About Us

A little about Wings of Hope: I started Wings of Hope in October of 2006. Around that time I was beginning to have problems with my thyroid again, and realized that there was just so little out there. I was complaining about this at work on day and it was suggested I start a myspace page and see how things went. I started a myspace page and with in a few weeks we had over 100 people, and I knew then that I needed to officially form Wings of Hope for Adolescent Thyroid Awareness - that it was time I turn something positive out of what was something negative.

A little about me: My name is Maggie, I am now 26 and I was given Radioactive Iodine the day of my 18th birthday to treat my Grave's disease. My primary doctor diagnosed me with Graves disease in 2002 after I began having these dizzy spells if I didn't eat the minute I got hungry and I was having heart palpitations. Unfortunately for me, my primary didn't take it seriously enough so that by the time I knew how bad it was I was being taken to the hospital because my heart had been racing nonstop for two days and I was having chest pains - at 17 years old. Within two weeks I saw two different endocrinologists - one scared the crap out of me - the other one was nice and took his time explaining things to me. He helped us make the decision for me to move forward with RAI, and for me it was the best choice.

Not having anyone else I could talk to my age about this was the hardest thing, especially since I was to old for children's doctors but still really to young for adult doctors. Graves disease changed my outlook on life. I was a freshman in college when I was first diagnosed, and spent most of my second semester on bed rest, in the hospital, or at the doctors. During that time my school wanted me to stop taking classes, but I refused. After 8 years I now have my Bachelors in Interior Design and my Masters in Historic Preservation. Gaves disease taught me to not give up, that if you want something bad enough you need to fight for it - because life isn't always easy.

I have learned who my friends are, how wonderful my family is, how supportive my now fiance is for sticking by my side through all of this, and how much my wonderful dogs can put a smile on my face no matter how sick, tired, sad, or angry I feel.

I hope this helps you some too - and that you can find the little things in life that can still make you smile.