Some medical terms are in order

I had Hyperthyroidism in 2002, but after total Thyroidectomy that year, I am now taking 50 mg of Lyvothyroxine drug to supplement my body's Iodine requirement, and 1200 mg of calcium with vitamin D, to address the Hypoparathyroidism, which was, unfortunately, caused by the Thyroidectomy. Every three months, I go to the endocrinologist using my Health Card for a blood, T3 , T4, sugar, calcium, potassium test. I complained of fast weight loss three months ago, so my doctor said that I should stop taking my Iodine supplement for at least three months and then I should go back for check up.

Blood extraction for T3, T4 assessment has become part of my life cycle - that is, my calendar includes a definite visit to the doctor. These visits would have been very costly since doctors now charge 1000 pesos a visit. A T3, T4 extraction costs about 3000 pesos. The Health Card costs me 740 a month, and the medicines would be about 700 pesos if I'm faithful to the dosage. The doctor advised me to buy vitamin D, but since Rocatrol is so expensive, I now walk at least three times a week between the hours of 8 and 10 to get some free, healthy vitamin D via my skin. Hopefully walking will help keep my bones intact, my sugar low, and my T3T4 in check.

Nothing will alarm me anymore when it comes to Hypothyroidism, since I've read extensively about it. I don't really dwell on my symptoms - that is - slow reflexes, sluggish mind function, aching muscles, and sometimes, locked jaw and clumsiness. But when my sister-in-law called to say that my 13 year old nephew is diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism because of Thyroiditis, I got so alarmed.

One bad effect of knowing you're sick with something is depression. My sister-in-law naturally worries for her son to the point of panic. But I told her to downplay the factual details of her son's illness to her son so he won't get depressed and be able to get on as a normal teen ager. Already, he is not able to join some of his PE activities because any strenuous physical activity will worsen his already fast heartbeat and high blood pressure. He needed to present a medical certificate to his teacher so he would be exempted from a recent marathon in school. The doctor gave him Inderal to control his palpitations, and of course, he was forbidden to take anything that will enhance the abnormal production of Iodine in his body. At thirteen, he is taking two types of medicines. Hopefully, he will get cured and not be told that he'd have to take the drugs for a lifetime, as most Thyroid patients are doing.

I looked up Thyroiditis because I wanted to know how my nephew got it. True, Thyroid disease is in the genes. Both my two sisters were "hyperthyroids" before they went through RAI or Radioactive Iodine. My youngest sister had RAI twice because hers was toxic. Now both of them are taking Lyvothyroxine like myself - everyday, before breakfast - for an indefinite period of time. But Thyroid diseases are more common in women.

Before his Thyroid gland ruptured, abnormally secreting huge amounts of iodine which accelerated his metabolism, my nephew was diagnosed with Tonsillitis. He had fever and sore throat and he was absent from school for about a week. His doctor prescribed 500 mg of antibiotic three times a day! If Thyroiditis is drug induced, this definitely caused my nephew's present illness. After a week of taking the antibiotics, he lost 10 pounds in a month's time. I was so alarmed at the rapid loss of weight. I fervently prayed that it was nothing serious, and I kept calling him, asking about his symptoms, and looked them up on the Internet.

When my sister-in-law called me, I told her to keep calm because Hyperthyroidism is treatable. Yes, she'll have to watch a lot of things, and a regular visit to the doctor is a must. I told her to record the symptoms, as this will also help her son understand his illness and make him worry less about it. He should be made to realize that his Hyperthyroidism and Thyroiditis can be cured in a matter, perhaps, of two years.

My main frustration is with the doctor who never even considered how those antibiotics he prescribed would affect his patient. How heavy was this dosage: 500 mg of strong antibiotics three times a day for a thirteen year old! I asked my mother how she dealt with our Tonsillitis when we were growing up. Surely, every child at one time had an inflamed tonsil. She said that she gave us warm water to gurgle and Paracetamol for the fever, but she rarely gave us antibiotics. Knowing that she doesn't even want to take pain relievers for her own pains, I am more inclined to believe that if we took antibiotics at all, it wasn't 500 mg three times a day for a week!

My brother took his son to two doctors so he could have a second opinion about the prognosis. One of the two doctors explained the illness to him in layman's terms. He was somewhat relieved that he knows what is causing the weight loss. But he is gritting his teeth because other doctors, simply get their pfs, and don't care a whit about their patients. In these uncaring times, it's no wonder that some Doctors can just pack their bags and fly abroad to become nurses. To some, the Hypocratic Oath has become no more than a hollow platitude.