Back from the dr

[lovenmama]

So I had my annual physical appointment at the doctor. During our discussion of how are you feeling, everything ok...my doctor looks at my chart and realizes that I've lost about 20 lbs in the past 9 months. She mentions this to me...

I tell her that I've been eating mostly raw foods only...not exercising alot..but some..but that I really feel like my diet has been cause for the weight loss.....

She's very supportive, tells me she thinks it's wonderful,...ect...but doesn't want me to overdo it..??

Then in the next breath...she tells me that she feels like I should have a thyroid test just to make sure everything is ok?

She filled out the paperwork...and I'm supposed to head over to the hospital to have that checked...

Personally, I really just don't feel that I need to...I don't want to waste my time or money to mess with the test...

Should I go anyway? What do you think? anyone else experienced this with your dr when you began dropping weight after going raw?

It's hard for me to make people understand that raw is not about losing weight for me...because I'm not overweight..it's about being healthy...

I guess I'm just a bit frustrated...

[Revvell]

I don't have a "your doctor", don't go for yearly appointments (or at any other time for the last 27 years) yet, since you do, if you have the funds and the time, it might be an interesting thing to do so you can share with folk who ask...

Jinjee and Storm take their children at least every year, mostly to cover their butts yet, it's always nice to know the TRUTH about what's going on.

Problem here is, since I've been mis-diagnosed twice, I don't trust docs and therefore, don't go to them and therefore the question is "what is the TRUTH"?

Why frustrated? Just decide if you want to do it ~ or not. It's not up to you to "make people understand" anything. Your body, your choice.

Revvell

[lovenmama]

Good point...why do I care if they understand!! Thanks for giving me some perspective!:D

[Conscious Midwife]

If your doctors office is located in or ajacent to a hospital or clinic then she possibly has a contract that equires her to make X number/ dollar of referrals to them for services.

The thyroid test is the easiest one to recommend to women who have no other health problems, 'cause we all no someone with hypo or hyper thyroidism, right?!!?!?

Anyway 20lbs of weight loss in 9 months is not a rate of loss for any credible doctor to be concerned about and then suggest thyroid testing. SHE IS PULLING YOUR LEG!

My last physical, almost a year ago, was with a triathalete doctor. We communicated very well and he seemed very health conscious.

As a part of my "routine" blood work he did extra cholesterol screenings, and I got billed cause my insuirance said they weren't necessary and were exploratory in nature.

I later found out that his pracitice is also a cholesterol study office so my assumption is that he was gonna bill my insurance and/ or me for base line control data, though I had no personal or family history to suggest the need for these extra panels or any at all.

Additionally after answering my general nutrition qustion he referred me to his
office dietician who's BMI seemed about as pathetic as my own.

I know there are some awesome traditonal medicine practitioners out there but I think too many of the others are caught up in the medical matrix.

I'd ratehr pay a copay for a 2nd opinion than get unnecessary bloodwork.

Ac tually i justwouldn't go, but that's just me.:D

[So Delightedly Raw]

I tell her that I've been eating mostly raw foods only...not exercising alot..but some..but that I really feel like my diet has been cause for the weight loss.....

She's very supportive, tells me she thinks it's wonderful,...ect...but doesn't want me to overdo it..??


I guess I'm just a bit frustrated...

lovenmama, I don't blame you; I'd be frustrated too! In her world, eating healthily is something that can be overdone. :eek: She seems to know nothing about raw; she's reacting to the weight loss according to her training, which dictates, "likely thyroid problem."
Do you have any "other" symptoms of an overactive thyroid? If not, I'd trust my instincts, if I were you. :)

[Veganforlife]

Oh good golly! Don't overdo what? Becoming healthy? Getting TOO thin?
Sadly, doctors are NOT nutritionists. Is she healthy? Is she overweight?
I would say nix the thyroid test, but it's your call. My thyroid in ten months has gone from hypOthyroid (it was diagnosed as dead six years ago) to hypERthyroid. I am soon going to be off the synthroid.
Ya gotta remember, docs and big pharma, they are hooked at the hips. It's big business. Me personally? I wouldn't go. Since you have lost weight and are feeling well, I just don't see why...but again, it's your call.

[chilove]

Hello there,

If I were you, I wouldn't bother. Judge your health by how you feel, not by some numbers that are based on a population of sick people eating SAD food! :-)

I never plan to go the doctor again, for anything. :-)

All the best,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[lovenmama]

I have had some hair loss...but as I said to her... nothing major ...my sister and my mother both have thin hair and complain often about seeing the hair in the shower....(I told her this too)

I don't want you guys to think I'm completely dogging my dr...she's a pretty sweet women....I like her all in all...

I just think she's wrong about this...and wondering how many of you would skip the test...(because I want to)

[luckitri]

underdog reporting for duty - (guess I just have this thing that I have to go against the flow)

I would go.

The history of thyroid tests is that they never catch everyone who has it. They are constantly trying to improve the tests but many sufferers slip through.

I have learned that often we are unwell and do not realize it because it is a slow progression.

With the knowledge you can either use it or toss it.

In my experience doctors do misdiagnose alot but usually I have symptoms that do not register with their knowledge base and I have to suffer many years before they figure it out. I do not like doctors and am very wary - it is like my own personal curse to have to keep going to them.

I do not know much about thyroid problems but I need to learn as I have been told that I have the Hashimoto's that eventually burns out the thyroid as the doc put it. I am not surprised since it is known in my family. But the doc told me there is absolutely nothing known to do about it. I would like to learn different. Especially raw different.

[RawVegan4Health]

Doctors make no money by having healthy patients.

[Veganforlife]

Doctors make no money by having healthy patients.

Ain't that the truth. My Mom, bless her heart - she's 83. Just went for a yearly physical and was put on synthroid AND Zocor! I got her off the synthroid. The Zocor they wouldn't stop. Give me a *#&^$&# break!
She takes NO meds!!!

[Lay-Lay]

Before raw foods I had issues with my thyroid and took medication, I no longer have any issues with it and am off medication completely. You do what you feel best, but know raw foods HEAL!

[Adagio Breezes]

I would definately go.

You have a good chance that the test will come out fine, which will only give your doctor more reason to believe that raw can be very healthy. In the event that your test does not come out fine, you can take steps to correct problems before they get worse.

[Revvell]

In the event that your test does not come out fine....

... you've got a 50/50 chance of it being a false diagnosis.

[Stina]

I watched Dr. Phil last night, which is unusual for me to watch t.v. He and a medical doctor were very condescending to a woman who would rather eat healthy and was very responsible for doing weight-bearing exercise, rather than go on medication to treat a light case of osteoporosis. She knew her stuff but they just interrupted her with those deep, testosterone voices. Just thought I'd process my annoyance here. I do occasionally dip a little into Western medicine; however, I don't follow everything blindly.

[luckitri]

Past reading has taught me that in the case of thyroid - it is underdiagnosed. We still need the doctors to run tests to tell us what raw directions to take. (My severe vitamin D deficiency for example.)

For thyroid - any raw ideas specifically for thyroid?

[Veganforlife]

Yes. Sea veggies. Since the thyroid produces iron or doesn't produce iron, whichever the case may be - increase (in the case of hypOthyroidism) the sea veggies. It can be dulse or kelp flakes added to salads, smoothies or spirulina. Going 100% raw healed my thyroid. My thyroid specialist doc is baffled. He just does not understand what is going on. Claims food intake has nothing to do with. Whatever. I KNOW it does. Just try and tell me differently. Ha!
The same with my migraines. Totally cured. After 53 years of suffering. Gone. From me going 100% raw. I KNOW that's what cured them!

[Dj 247]

Did you ask your doctor the "why" for the test? Was it just the weight loss that was his concern? Always question the "why" when you are dealing with those in authority medical or otherwise! But I think it is very bad practice for people to think because they eat raw foods they do not need check-ups and medical care.

[Revvell]

LOL... well, I only learned about raw maybe 7 years ago. Quit going to doctors in 1980. Medical care? to me, that's a joke. Unless I'm in an accident where there's some internal injury or something broken... no doctors.

I've laid my motorcycle down, tore all the cartilege in my sternum.. no doctor. Broken toes and fingers.. no doctor. Asthma.. no doctor. Miscellaneous other aches, pains, etc... no doctor. Got dog bit on Tuesday... no doctor.

Not saying what others "should" do.. just talkin' 'bout me! The body, given the right ingredients is made to heal.

Revvell

[dreamrawalwz]

It's your choice, but let me leave you this question. What if the results come out that you have hypothyroid or hyperthyroid; will you take the medication to "fix" it (aka, mask the symptoms) or stay raw to HEAL your body? If you woudln't do the medication anyway, what's the point in getting tested?

[lovenmama]

She said because of the weight loss and because of the fact that I had hair loss...(which she asked me about..I would have never mentioned hair loss or the fact that I had lost weight) Again, the hair loss is not extreme..it wouldn't gross you out or anything..but I would so it's a bit more than the *norm*

[lafsalot]

It's your choice, but let me leave you this question. What if the results come out that you have hypothyroid or hyperthyroid; will you take the medication to "fix" it (aka, mask the symptoms) or stay raw to HEAL your body? If you woudln't do the medication anyway, what's the point in getting tested?

Very good point, Dream! ~ Cathy

[lovenmama]

It's your choice, but let me leave you this question. What if the results come out that you have hypothyroid or hyperthyroid; will you take the medication to "fix" it (aka, mask the symptoms) or stay raw to HEAL your body? If you woudln't do the medication anyway, what's the point in getting tested?

Good question..I have no idea what the medication involves...or anything about overactive thyroid...I've done no research...

But I do know I would first try raw to fix it before doing anything else...

[dreamrawalwz]

One more thing, as for hair loss...was that roughly around the first month or so of raw? It is very possible that if this was the timing that it was detox. Each time I first go back to raw I have hair come out. The VERY first time I went raw I had clumps coming out. Now my hair is no longer frizzy, is always shiney, and just feels and looks so much better!

[Wendee]

if you have the test
then you will know for sure w/out a doubt
and then you can rest.

or...

just not go.

[Eva]

I just had a conversation with my husband about getting the kids off of dairy products (Carlinhos has had a light cough for a week and a half now!)... We were talking about other things related to health. My husband says that I should go to medical school, right, then I tell him I would so prescribe healthy lifestyles... Then he says, "Nah, maybe you shouldn't be a doctor. You'd get everyone so healthy that you wouldn't have any business, but we'd have school loans to pay for."

Just to reiterate, doctors would go broke if all of their patients were healthy, or if they didn't request extra testing or repeat visits, etc.

I would not go. But I also wouldn't go to the doctor at all unless I had to go for papers to go to another country OR if I was unconscious and had no choice! :D

[Dj 247]

I don't look at the raw lifestyle as a cure all! I see it as a great life insurance policy. Your health is the most important thing you own. I would pursue all options to insure all is well. I like that you are going to do your homework first. Knowledge = power. Another thing I just thought of is that nobody can say that they are truely 100% for sure raw, and also there will always be toxins entering our bodies. These factors can leave us open to certian health problems. I do think that those who eat raw have a better chance to combat these toxins and ill health.

[puffysmom]

When my doctor found i was hyper many years ago he suggested the radiated pill. It scared me but I thought he knew it all so i went for it. He also told me i had high blood pressure and mitral valve problem. I am hopeing that i can still heal my thyroid seeing as i read here that not the whole thing is killed. I no longer take high blood pressure medication and i dont have a problem with my mitral valve if i ever did have it.
Last year they found a small lump in my left breast. Told me i needed test done after 6 months. Well I procrastinate and really was not worried that it was anything. Well after about 10 months i had it checked. AFter getting 6 seprate xrays taken and a sonagram they could not find it anymore. I know it was my healthy eating and that was before Raw. I was doing mostly vegan. So what did they say? GEt it done in 6 months. I told my doc i did not want all that radiation put in my body and she said it is up to me. I feel that eating Raw will take care of any problem that i will run into and if it does not than it is not meant to be. that it is my time to go and meet my maker.

We each have to make our own decisions in everything. If it is going to worry u than have it done. If not then save your money. Check to see what the symptoms of hyperthyroid is. I know losing weight is one. I did not lose my hair though. There r a lot of symptoms and if u have more than a couple than it might be a good idea but like someone else mentioned. If u r going to do Raw to cure it then dont bother spending time or money for the test.

[luckitri]

I was just diagnosed with the Hashimoto's. The doc said it will kill my thyroid and that there is no medication for it, no cure for it, just too bad.

I am going to listen to Veganforlife and others and look around for raw foods specific to my condition. Had the doctor not told me I would not have known. I do crave sea vegetables but since they are pricey I will not buy - but now that I realize that I crave them cause I need them - well I need to buy them. . . it is cheaper than medicine . . .and if I get to stay off the synthroid by saving my thyroid - well worth it.

[jerseygirl1969]

While I think it is obvious that by eating a raw vegan diet is the most likely cause of your weight loss, an annual exam should involve lab screening tests to detect something that may not have manifested itself physically yet. Thyroid disorders are common, so they are one of the routine annual tests that doctors order.

I have seen raw foodies (my introductress) utilize less synthroid after going raw. So it is very possible to heal thyself with a great diet like raw food living. Likely, the chemical processing, hormones and other crap they put into the typical american diet is what causes the thyroid to go off balance.


And...doctors don't make money off of ordering lab tests. In HMO's, they would actually loose money.

[Tinacampy]

I would just say trust your judgement. if your doctor has over-prescribed in the past, maybe hold off. But, if she seems to limit action to when it's really needed, go... Whatever you decide, remember it's your body. Don't let anyone bully you one way or the other. Good luck!

[honeybee joy]

Well if you go to a doctors office, a thyroid test is about $150.00. I do know that if you request your doctor to send the test request to a lab one it will cost around 50 bucks.



Originally Posted By lovenmama
I have had some hair loss...but as I said to her... nothing major ...my sister and my mother both have thin hair and complain often about seeing the hair in the shower....(I told her this too)

Since you meantioned to her that you have hair loss and that you have lost 20 lbs, she is probably trying to figure out what the problem is. Not all people have all of the hyperthyroid symptoms. I believe she has your best interest at hand here, and just wants to check it out. MD's get a small amount of training on nutrition and there job is prescribing medication.


If it was me, I would get the test result just to be safe, and if just in case something comes up abnormal, take the test results to a holistic or naturopathic doctor and they can go over with you all of your options, natural or medical.

She is just trying to do what she was "trained to do".

I have a hard time figuring out what to do myself about my medical issues. I have a regular MD and a naturopathic doctor and they have both served me well and helped guided me to make logical decisions.

I don't believe all MDs are meanies out to get us. They want to help, they just don't know how!

Wish you luck on this!

eatyourbrocolli posted something up about hair loss and stomach acid:

http://www.askshelley.com/faq.php?p=default&cat=53#a108

[lovenmama]

Your help and responses are truly overwhelming..what a great bunch!!
I appreciate it a ton!

Thanks and Big Fat Hugs!!

[brnfmlymom]

I saw that Dr. Phil show, too - and was pretty annoyed. They really can't tell her that she MUST take those meds without seeing the test results, etc.!!