The Tragedy of American Healthcare

About two weeks ago I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and was told by my primary care physician that I might need my thyroid removed. I had an ultrasound done yesterday on my thyroid because I have a goiter. Today I went to see an endocrinologist, hopefully to get some answers. My hopes were high thinking she could identify what was going on with my thyroid and what to do about my goiter.

I left extremely disappointed. I am disappointed in the American healthcare system. They bounce you back and forth between doctors and specialists to only tell you something you already knew. The endocrinologist told me that I do have a goiter, which I have known for weeks. She thinks it's not that big of a deal even though it's pressing on my throat and making it difficult to swallow food. She thinks I might have Hashimotos, which I already knew as well. In my attempt to heal myself I have taken gluten and eggs out of my diet. I have also been restricting my sugar intake, taking daily supplements and essential oils. Maybe they have been working because when my primary doctor saw me he said my goiter was large enough that they would want to remove the thyroid. Today that was not the case. She wants to test my blood for autoimmune in two months! She thinks I need to be on hormone medication for a year, then take me off and see if my thyroid bounces back. That doesn't sound like a solution to me. That sounds like a dead end and a horrible plan. I knew everything that the specialist told me today! Why do I have to pay her to tell me basic information that I already know. She gave me no hope and no new information. She is basically asking me to live with my goiter and symptoms that I struggle with everyday! That means being enduring my high and low body temperature fluctuations, being exhausted by 3:00 pm, having the shakes, feeling light headed and dizzy and horrible sleep pattern... Just to name a few. 

This is not quality life and I refuse to believe it's over. I will find a way. I will find healing. Something needs to change in the American healthcare system. Their methods keep people in a state of constant sickness. There is no healing. I am an American citizen who is disappointed and dissatisfied with the healthcare in her country. Our healthcare is crumbling beneath us. Who can reconcile this? Who can make a difference? How can we change the healthcare system to actually meets people's needs and not just rely on endless prescription medication? We once lived without prescription medication, we can do it again. I am not giving up until I have found my healing and quality of life.