Interesting call back from a thyroid doctor.

[Raw To Live]

I suffer from hypothyroid among a miriad of other problems. I'm thinking fatigued adrenals also which is connected to the thyroid but way too often overlooked when having tests done.

I'm hoping to one day heal my thyroid like VFL :) but until then, I need to have my thyroid monitored and continue taking my meds.

So, I'm in search of a thyroid doctor who understands the thyroid but is also receptive to alternative avenues (like raw foods) as a means to healing.

After much searching, I find a specialist that is supposedly so good that people have traveled from across the country to see her because she's different and doesn't go right for the knife etc. http://www.paradocshealth.com/welcome.htm

Before she'll even see you, you have to fill out an 11 page form of your entire health history and then wait to see if you've been accepted in her practice.

She does not accept insurance so she'd be out of network and I'd have to submit my claims myself. I just seemed impressed with her and the things she looked at in addition to the thyroid. I felt that if nothing else, I'd at least have a starting point and from the results could look into what foods worked best for this or that.

So I took a shot and sent in my info completely expressing my feelings that ultimately the way to healing and health is through our diet and that I'm definately a vegetarian with a passion to one day be totally raw.

So, today I finally get a call back that I've been waiting for. I wasn't able to get the phone at the time, here at work, so I checked my voicemail later.

It's the lady from her office and she apologized it's taken so long to get back to me but Dr. Diehl finally had a chance to go over my records but there's just one thing that Dr. Diehl wants to address . . . ~at this point I'm thinking that she'll need me to get some old records from a doctor or something to look over ~ . . . I was surprised (don't know why really) when she went on to say that Dr. Diehl doesn't feel she could treat me if I'm a strict vegetarian. Dr. Diehl has attempted to treat strict vegetarians in the past and the outcomes haven't been effective and that if I'd be interested in changing my eating habits than Dr. Diehl feels she could help me but not as long as I'm vegetarian. Also, she says, the price of the visits are expensive so she wouldn't want me to waste my money if it wouldn't be effective (hey I appreciate their honesty). So, the choice is mine to call them back and get an appointment.

I'm thinking no.

I wish we had a naturopath around us {sigh} :rolleyes:

So, I just thought I'd share as I continue to search.

[coco]

did they say exactly How the dr would like your diet to be changed? perhaps if you illustrate that you are getting exactly the specific nutrients she is concerned with she would reconsider. just because she treated a vegetarian before doesn't mean she treated a healthy one. she might not understand what you're diet is like at all.

[Raw To Live]

did they say exactly How the dr would like your diet to be changed? perhaps if you illustrate that you are getting exactly the specific nutrients she is concerned with she would reconsider. just because she treated a vegetarian before doesn't mean she treated a healthy one. she might not understand what you're diet is like at all.

They didn't say on the message how they'd like my diet to change. I just listened to the message again and what she said was, "It's very hard to treat someone on a vegetarian diet" she also stated that, "unless you're willing to stray away from a vegetarian diet she doesn't see how she could help you" and "it's especially hard to treat a vegetarian for hypothyroidism".

I should probably just continue to try and find someone who is actually in my insurance network cause the other thing she said was, "because the appointments are very expensive. . ." I just thought if she's this good (from the reviews I've read on her) I'd be willing to pay her fee and submit to my insurance company but I wouldn't want her to be defeated already (at least in her mind) when I came through the door for my appointment.

[Chickadee]

Quite often, alternative medicine treats thyroid and adrenal issues by prescribing a supplement of thyroid or adrenals, usually made from animals, which a vegetarian wouldn't want to use. This may be why she feels she can't treat you. She may not have learned any other way to help you. It seems even "alternative" medicine has "industry standards" when it comes to treatments (meaning "this is how "we" treat thyroid, and this is how "we" treat..).

[Aleesha Sattva]

why would you just toss in the towel? why not phone and get some clarity first?

[coco]

That's what I think too. At the very least hearing exactly what the dr would want you to eat might give you some nutritional clues as to what she thinks beneficial in dietary terms. You can break it down and find raw vegan food combos that supply whatever it is she thinks you need. Might be helpful and that bit of info would be free at least!

[margoss]

Are you far from Gastonia/Kings Mtn, NC?

[DebB]

I go to a wonderful holistic MD here in WA State and while he supports me in just about everything I toss his way, he is less than thrilled that I'm raw vegan. I tell him 'raw vegan' but I believe he hears 'junk food vegetarian'. He begged me not to go this route, telling me about vegetarians that have come to him in the past whose skin is breaking down and suffering from many different deficiencies. I don't doubt what he's telling me for a minute, but when I told him how much better I feel off the meat and dairy, he was more accepting.

I'm also hypo after being hyper and having a *(&()*& endocrinologist talk me into ablating (killing) my thyroid. I specifically sought out my current MD because I wanted to go on Armour thyroid, which yes, does come from animals. I take it with no problems. To be honest, I didn't really think about it until it was mentioned in this post.

I have to be on something and right now it's my Rx of choice. I've been on the synthroid, levoxyl, etc. and like this a lot better.

I sure hope you find a good doctor that's willing to work with you. Even if you don't find one that's not behind you on the raw vegan way of eating (like mine), you still may have chosen a winner, all things considered. But wouldn't it be wonderful to find one that is knowledgeable and supports this way of life too! Hugs and best wishes! *Ü*

[Veganforlife]

I find this interesting that doctors, especially specialists will (for the most part) work with you if it's according to THEIR rules and guidelines. They are (for the most part) NOT nutritionists. Too bad more are not open to what has worked to help heal and cure dis-eases like sea veggies for example work wonders for the thyroid. But if docs learn too much about nutrition, they would be out of work 'ya know?

[iluvmangos]

Maybe she thinks vegetarians are hard to treat because they eat a lot of soy which damages their thyroids. Tell her you don't eat soy (if you don't).

[klomasius]

hmmm...that is an interesting situation.

The females in my family have a history of thyroid malfunction. My mother had hyperthyroidisis quite severely and my sister had hypo chronically. The only other female in the immediate family; me (who has been veg most of my adult life) was the only female not to have a malfunctioning thyroid. I think my grandma may also have had some problems.

I agree with asking about the soy, it may be one of her concerns.

I fully believe that a malfunctionin thryoid can be corrected with a raw veg diet. I also believe that many doctors, because of their training and personal beliefs, do not seem to have the capacity to be open minded about alternatives.

[Raw To Live]

why would you just toss in the towel? why not phone and get some clarity first?


That's what I think too. At the very least hearing exactly what the dr would want you to eat might give you some nutritional clues as to what she thinks beneficial in dietary terms. You can break it down and find raw vegan food combos that supply whatever it is she thinks you need. Might be helpful and that bit of info would be free at least! I guess because I heard them repeat several times Very hard to treat vegetarians, be willing to stray from your vegetarian diet, don't see how she can help you, very hard to treat vegetarians with hypothyroidism. The signal they were sending, repeatedly, was can't or won't help you because of your diet. The doc is defeated before I even walk in the door. I could call but I won't be speaking to the doctor, just the receptionist and they never just take your call. You have to call, leave a message and then wait 1 businsess day for them to call you back.

But you're right, I can call and ask for clarity because what would it hurt? I might just do that. :)


Are you far from Gastonia/Kings Mtn, NC?I'm about an hour and a half. I've been to Shelby several times to Hallelujah Acres. But, I'm willing to travel. :)


Maybe she thinks vegetarians are hard to treat because they eat a lot of soy which damages their thyroids. Tell her you don't eat soy (if you don't). I do not eat soy as it is treacherous for endometriosis. I didn't know about it being bad for the thyroid but that's just another reason for me to stand clear of it.

[Aleesha Sattva]

I guess because I heard them repeat several times Very hard to treat vegetarians, be willing to stray from your vegetarian diet, don't see how she can help you, very hard to treat vegetarians with hypothyroidism. The signal they were sending, repeatedly, was can't or won't help you because of your diet. The doc is defeated before I even walk in the door. I could call but I won't be speaking to the doctor, just the receptionist and they never just take your call. You have to call, leave a message and then wait 1 businsess day for them to call you back.

But you're right, I can call and ask for clarity because what would it hurt? I might just do that. :)



Well your health and your life is in your hands. You started out saying how great this doctor was and then because they have found that 'some-sorta' animal product(s) is needed for treatment to be effective you seemed to have written them off.

For me... living raw and fasting was NOT at all what I wanted when I was sick. Not at all! Tell me to give up meat and I'd ask if there was some I could keep. Tell me to give up junk foods and choc. and I walk away.

Then I hit the bottom... couldn't live my life anymore and all of a sudden not eating meat and chips seemed doable (at least for a short period of time while my body healed) and VOILA... I love this lifestyle choice now.

So... I guess I'm just saying... if it meant health for me... I would - at the very very least - get more info before dropping this opportunity.

But that's just me. I like having energy, stamina and health :D *Call me crazy many others do* **giggling and runs from the room**

[Raw To Live]

Well your health and your life is in your hands. You started out saying how great this doctor was and then because they have found that 'some-sorta' animal product(s) is needed for treatment to be effective you seemed to have written them off.
For me... living raw and fasting was NOT at all what I wanted when I was sick. Not at all! Tell me to give up meat and I'd ask if there was some I could keep. Tell me to give up junk foods and choc. and I walk away.

Then I hit the bottom... couldn't live my life anymore and all of a sudden not eating meat and chips seemed doable (at least for a short period of time while my body healed) and VOILA... I love this lifestyle choice now.

So... I guess I'm just saying... if it meant health for me... I would - at the very very least - get more info before dropping this opportunity.

But that's just me. I like having energy, stamina and health :D *Call me crazy many others do* **giggling and runs from the room**

I appreciate what you're saying, I really do, because I do want health but I think you may have misunderstood me. I reread my post and I don't see where I said they were so great or where I wrote them off because some sort of animal product is needed in treatment?

What I said was "I'm in search of a thyroid doctor who understands the thyroid but is also receptive to alternative avenues (like raw foods) as a means to healing." But she doesn't seem to understand that at all, and in fact it was her office that let me know that they didn't think they could help me because of my vegetarian lifestyle, let alone raw foods which is what I was seeking, "a doctor who is also receptive to alternative avenues". And I also said, "After much searching, I find a specialist that is supposedly so good that people have traveled from across the country to see her because she's different..." but the truth is, I don't know this doctor, I was just searching for a doctor by way of my insurance company (which she does not participate in so I would be responsible for all bills out of pocket but would have been worth it if we were on the same page with my requests in a doctor) and by way of googling hypothyroid I came across a website that critiques doctors. I found her that way and was surprised she was so close. Many people raved about her being "different" but for all I know, she could have been different by the added tests she runs, or by looking at other things besides thyroid (like she could have done additional tests on adrenals or whatever, I don't know) all I know was she had many positive reviews. But, the people who were making those critiques weren't members of a raw food or vegetarian board and I'm sure are part of the SAD diet so she probably could help them.

I don't care if my meds have some animal product in them. I believe my Levoxyl does. But I don't want her to Poo-Poo my choices of not eating meat and not consuming dairy, etc. and by the message I received, it sounded like she was politely telling me I won't help you. No, she didn't out and out say "I won't help you" although she did say, "She doesn't think she could help you". I'm sure she'd be glad to take my money, but the office did say the appointments are very expensive and they'd hate for me to not be able to be helped. Basically, when I didn't hear back from her for over a week after I sent in my personal info. I called the office and said I was concerned that they had never received my packet (or worst, in my mind, this was an elaborate scheme to get all of my personal info and steal my identity :o Yea, it sounds crazy but it could happen).

It was after I called them to see what was going on and did they receive my packet that they called me back apologizing it had taken them so long to get back to me but that she finally was able to review my charts but then she went on and on about my diet.

You're right I'm looking for health, I just don't know if she can offer it to me because of what she, the Dr., said from the very beginning.

I guess I was just sharing my story because I guess I couldn't believe that I was told that a doctor didn't think they could help me because of my clean, healthy vegetarian diet. That's what got me.

As I said, I'm not looking for a doctor to heal me I'd just like a doctor to monitor my thyroid numbers as it gets better :D and a doctor who will work with me.

Now I'm going to run out of here giggling cause it's time for my lunch WOO-HOO (crazy day here at work) and I have an awesome Pea Salad waiting for me from my Frugal Raw recipe book!! :D

[Aleesha Sattva]

As I said, I'm not looking for a doctor to heal me I'd just like a doctor to monitor my thyroid numbers as it gets better :D and a doctor who will work with me.

any any old doctor can't monitor numbers? (sorry i know nothing about this... )

sorry that i misunderstood your thread. i read it say you wanted this doctor because of what you heard about them.

all the best in your search and i hope you find what you are looking for.

[coco]

it's really not surprising that a doctor wouldn't have the faintest clue about nutrition, they take something like 1 or 2 hours of it in all the years they are in school. shocking, i know, but allopathic medicine is based on treatment, not prevention. they are all about drugs and surgery i'm afraid.

my point here is that if you understand Why she has an aversion to treating a vegetarian you might get some insight into whether it's nutritionally based or not. if it IS you can easily enter your daily diet into fitday.com or another nutrition tracking site and see if you are, in fact, getting all the nutrients the dr is concerned about. who knows, maybe she has info about actual nutrition that affects your condition. it's worth looking into at least, IMHO. if it's not about nutrition i can't imagine what her issue is? maybe it is that the meds are animal based which is a non-issue in your case but she doesn't know that.
personally i'd be a bit miffed at being dissmissed out of hand because i don't eat carcass but that's just me.

i think maybe that hearing the "no" from them might have confirmed your own feelings of not really wanting to go to her? maybe in your heart you don't think it's worth it... just saying. you might be just fine with a local doc who is covered by your insurance.