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LafayetteLady -> RE: dengenerative arthritis (2/13/2014 3:08:59 PM)
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Wow. Ok, first things first. Chris Kresser's article is shit. He isn't a doctor and states as fact there is no conclusive diagnostic test for Celiac's. There is a simple blood test for it. He can't get the most basic thing correct, he might as well be telling you the sky is pink.
Endocrinologists specialize in hormonal type issues, and usually are treating thyroid or diabetes problems the most. I do not rely on my primary for specialty care any more than I would see a prctologist for a sore throat.
Thyroid and parathyroid issues can screw up most of the body's others systems and can also mess up test result. For example thyroid issues can indicate cholesterol problems that don't exist. It can NOT, however, indicate something on an x-ray that doesn't exist, which is how the arthritis in my neck was diagnosed. By the way, that was an rthodepic surgeon who diagnosed that, not my primary, not my endocrinologist, not my gastroenterologist, not my podiatris. I have pain in my bone, I'm going to a doctor who specializes in bones; an orthopedist. Whether I move to an arthritis specialist from there remains to be decided.
Because I have multiple health issues and I'm not an idiot, as you can see, I have specialist for the various problems. The thyroid removal was suggested by the endo because of a large lump that seems to keep growing. The biopsy in 2010 came back benign, but his suggesttion was based on reasoning of not having to have bi-annual ultrasounds and biopsies going forward. My insurance seems to be having difficulty finding another endo in my area for a second opinion, so I made my own decision. This was not difficult since there is no malignant diagnosis. I will have another biopsy done on the lump, and hopefully it will still be benign. At that time, I will discuss medication for an OVER active thyroid with the endo. We need to determine if it is an active nodule or not.
Regardless, I have THREE different doctors who ordered full thyroid testing. My doctors do know what they are doing. By the way, my doctors and I already know that I have regular vitamin D deficiencies and it is that definciency that increases pain levels.
I have blood work approximately every three months because of the diabetes. Tuesday, they took EIGHT vial, a new personal record. The two women who regulalry draw my blood (yes, there are specific people I allow to do it) are wonderful at their job, although I'm a little upset with the one from Tuesday. Because after eight viles, I think I earned a cookie and some juice! Oh a urinalysis is also done at that time as well.
Next Tuesday, I will go over blood work with my primary, Wednesday with my gastroenterologist and Thursday with the endo.
LC, you are so dead on with the thyroid causing medication issues. I'm currently off all meds because they weren't doing what they were supposed to do. The metformin would either do nothing or sometimes even RAISED. My blood sugar. I made the decision that I wasn't going to take a meal's worth of pills several times a day if they weren't doing what they are supposed to. My plan, whether my doctors like it or not is to get ALL test results and then slowly add medication. Because of my wonky system, most pain killers might as well be a tic tac for me. At least a tic tac would give me minty fresh breath, since even the heavy duty dilaudid or morphine does nothing for me. Oh, except that I recently had an allergic reaction to morphine, and since I'm also allergic to codiene and tramadol, my pain relief options are nearly none existant. I still won't try leeches thoguh, since none of my doctors is going to give me a sufficient dose of xanax to get through it.
The ortho took x-rays of my lumbar and cervical spine. Regardless of my thyroid issues, the image is unaffected by it.
Freedom, my sincerest sympathies and good thought to you and your OH for her arthritis. Gratefully, mine is not that bad yet. So I will try the physical therapy and hope for the best with that.
There is a lot of media lately touting the benefits of a gluten free diet for everything. The medical facts, however, do not support those claims. I honestly, in all of my attempts for the various diagnosis, did not consider Celiac's and sincerely pray that test is negative. I like bread and gluten free is too expensive for someone in my financial brackt. But if the test is positive, then it will be on to a nutirionist to figure out how I can manage diabetes and celiac's plus the recent high blood pressure and not be eating cardboard. Even though the diabetes and celiac both come down to limited carbs, what I have so far read about celiac's is just a pain in the ass because there is gluten in things we don't think of and I don't care to read that much into ingredients on every single food I eat.
So that should get everyone pretty much caught up on my disasterous health. Oh except for the plantar fasciitis due to my very high arches and my obsession with walking barefoot. Thank God for cortisone shots, so at least that is felling better.
An LC, did I read correctly that you have had all but about 10% of your thyroid removed? If that's true, I would love to ask you some questions privately about it if you don't mind.
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