Frustration - Calcium issues

[Lexi Chopp]

Hope everyone had a great holiday!

I was in to see my endocrinologist recently because of some elevated labs. I've had problems with calcium for the last three or four years. It constantly jumps around and is typically elevated. Every doctor I've seen doesn't have an answer. This last appointment was really the breaking point for my mom and I. After telling us he really had no answers, the doctor told my mom and I that he had no colleagues or recommendations and left us with nothing. We have asked about several potential causes and have been shut down with no proof. 

I guess my major frustration is that I feel like these are the people who are supposed to want to help help me and share their resources, and nobody seems to want to take the time to do that. 

Any thoughts, suggestions, or similar experiences?

[Julie Williams]

Keep at it until you can find a doc that will help you figure out the answer:)  My daughters calcium has been low the last year too and we haven't quite figured it out yet either.  We've been seeing an Endocrine doc for it also, but she also is being treated for hypothyrodism, adrenal insufficency, and growth hormone dificency (all thanks to those wonderful drugs we pumped her full of during treatment!) so we are hoping with starting the growth hormones, it will jump start something for her.  We do go back to Endocrine in February and will look further.  I'm never satisifed unless the docs want to help figure out the issues:)  Good luck!!

[Lexi Chopp]

Thanks, Lisa.  We are definitely considering a second opinion at this point. I've exhausted every endocrinologist in the area, so I think it's time to reach a bit further. Time and money are factors to consider, but I need to step back and look at what is best for me.  I appreciate your thoughts :)

[Lisa]

Hi Lexi,

Your frustration resonates with me all too clearly.  I believe that you are absolutely correct in that these are the people that are supposed to want to help and share their resources. Unfortunately, the reality is that people, including physicians, can become complacent in their work.  And, frankly, through the eyes of both a mother and a clinician myself, they are not all created equal.  It took me a grueling 16 months of fighting for answers to get my son diagnosed.  I made my way through so many physicians and the only reason I did get a diagnosis was because I took him to a specialist that I knew professionally and begged him to listen to my concerns when no one else would.  He, in turn, got me the help I needed. So for me, as I read about your concerns and your frustration, I say trust your gut. You deserve answers to your questions, you deserve to be heard, you deserve to have consideration given to the potential causes you have identified, and you deserve to have the appropriate time and consideration given to you.  Adding medical appointments is never something we want to do, but something that unfortunately we occasionally need to do. It seems like considering a second opinion at this point might be worth your while.  This has been going on for a while now, is of concern to you, and you have seemingly driven to the end of the road with this physician. He may not have anything left to offer you but that does not mean there isn't another endocrinologist out there that has far more to offer. I hope that is helpful to you as you consider how you would like to proceed.

I wish you my best, Lisa