Kendra and Joe Duggar 7: Not Pregnant Yet - Oops They Are Expecting

[zygote373]

4 minutes ago, singsingsing said:

But is there a cure for HIV/AIDS, depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, etc. that they're holding back? I think that's the conspiracy people have a hard time believing - that this cure exists, but is being purposely held back and kept a secret by 'Big Pharma' to keep the money rolling in.

No, I was just agreeing with your earlier point that lust for profit does indeed influence research funding (at least at pharmaceutical companies, which are not the only entities doing this kind of research). No one is holding back a cure, but they're more likely to allocate research & development money into a promising daily drug candidate. That's not to say that daily pills are a bad thing. They can make a lot of difference in peoples' lives, and I'm glad they exist.

As @justoneoftwo and others said, cures are complicated and would likely need to be personalized. So they would cost A LOT to develop for very little return, in comparison. It's the same reason why so many rare diseases are overlooked and people suffer a lot when diagnosed. Big pharma focuses the research money into health products that a lot of people will need.

 

[J'Lurker]

It's all microtransactions vs upfront game cost. 

[allthegoodnamesrgone]

Reading some of these stories is why I put up with the HORRIBLE clinic my Dr works at, why I wait 4 MONTHS to see him why I fight with the idiots every month to get refills on my blood pressure meds. He listens to me and admits when he's in over his head and will refer on, he's not ego driven he's results and patient driven and just wants us better.  My sister fought with docs here in Iowa for 2 YEARS got get a huge nodule on her thyroid removed, but they said it was nothing it was fine, it bothered her, her insurance paid for why not remove it. She moved to TN and the ENT down there was like WTF your whole thyroid is necrotic it has to go and now.  They removed it, and it had been dead for so long that it had turned cancerous, she is in the processes of filing malpractice suit against her GP and her ENT that ignored her for two years.  Of course had she not been so private about telling anyone else about it, I would have hauled her to MY ENT and it would have been taken care of, she knows better now.

Thankfully the Cancer did not spread outside of her thyroid so right now they will scan her every 3 months for a year to make sure it doesn't try and grow back, but she has to do a low iodine diet for 2 weeks every 3 months, take a low dose radioactive pill and have a scan, every 3 months, for the next year. If its all clear, she will go every 6 months the next year, and if still all clear once a year for 3 more years. That is a HUGE PITA for something that could have been taken out 2 years ago and been over an done with.  We too are both sick and tired of doctors telling us "your over weight lose weight and you will be fine" umm my sister gained 80 pounds in 2 years because her THYROID was dead and you didn't do fuck all about it. Because sending her to an endocrinologist would have been to much work, and she had to have a referral for her insurance to pay for it.

[nolongerIFBx]

My grandparent was put on Lipitor for high cholesterol. Spoke to their doctor about checking how it was affecting them. The doc said, "If it's working, let's just not mess with it." Grandparent starts feeling really sick, losing weight. Doc says, "Hmm. Might be your kidneys. You can see a specialist in 6 weeks." Specialist diagnoses him with Stage 4 kidney disease because of being kept on Lipitor for too long. Grandparent asks, "Where do we go from here?" Specialist says come back in two months and we'll discuss.* Seriously! They could easily be in kidney failure by then! All because the GP was too lazy to monitor the side affects. Their spouse also died due to medical malpractice. My parent claims that they're never going to the doc again because they will live longer!

I've tried to talk them into at least trying to see another nephrologist but the specialists won't all take Medicare so grandparents has to wait for a doctor who will who can't see them for two months.

[Shadoewolf]

Thyroid issues are my pet peeve, as many here will attest. Most GP's and endocrinologists only go by the TSH. They SHOULD test free T3, freeT4, reverse T3 (to check for pooling) all 4 iron tests and the 24 hour saliva test for cortisol and adrenal support.  NDT (naturally dessicated thyroid, such as WP, Naturethroid, Armour) has been proven to be a better therapy because it contains all the forms of necessary thyroid hormone, with less side effects. But the residents at the major teaching hospital where I'm seen were never taught about it or how to handle my care. I had to present half a tree worth of research before they'd listen and refill my script. Because Naturethroid is currently back-ordered, they wanted to dump me back on Synthroid and I refused. I'm ordering Thyrovanz online and feeling great. And what people don't realize is wrongly treated thyroid issues can cause high cholesterol, depression, IBS, fibromyalgia, fatigue and a host of other issues that just require more meds. But what's the motivation to write for a drug that eliminates the need for treating all the co-morbid disorders. There's no $$$ in that!

[justoneoftwo]

21 minutes ago, Shadoewolf said:

Thyroid issues are my pet peeve, as many here will attest. Most GP's and endocrinologists only go by the TSH. They SHOULD test free T3, freeT4, reverse T3 (to check for pooling) all 4 iron tests and the 24 hour saliva test for cortisol and adrenal support.  NDT (naturally dessicated thyroid, such as WP, Naturethroid, Armour) has been proven to be a better therapy because it contains all the forms of necessary thyroid hormone, with less side effects. But the residents at the major teaching hospital where I'm seen were never taught about it or how to handle my care. I had to present half a tree worth of research before they'd listen and refill my script. Because Naturethroid is currently back-ordered, they wanted to dump me back on Synthroid and I refused. I'm ordering Thyrovanz online and feeling great. And what people don't realize is wrongly treated thyroid issues can cause high cholesterol, depression, IBS, fibromyalgia, fatigue and a host of other issues that just require more meds. But what's the motivation to write for a drug that eliminates the need for treating all the co-morbid disorders. There's no $$$ in that!

I had no idea this was so complicated.  How do they even test for all that?  I had to have a blood test every 4 weeks, it seems like this would take a huge amount of time if it needed to be changed that often, right?  Also thyroid treatments should help depression, right?  (It did for me, in a major way).  I'll have to look into all this information, because it sounds very interesting.  (I'll also say I hate that doctors never test for this in young people, seriously I should have been on medication for probably 10 years before they tested for thyroid problems).

[Shadoewolf]

I was diagnosed in my late teens. Stop the Thyroid Madness has both a book and a Facebook page that are full of research and great information. They even try (TRY) to maintain links to providers who work with NDT. They have info on specific brands, dosing, tests, how to approach your doctor, everything. 

The tests are all usually done in one blood test. With proper protocol, NDT usually starts at a base dose of one grain (approx 65mg) and increases 1/2 a grain every 3 weeks until labs look good AND symptoms subside. Some people can be slightly under the norm on the TSH test but feel amazing, which is optimal for them. I've been on it a year (in addition to Holy Basil) and my body temps have normalized, my extremities are no longer cold all the time, and my hair is no longer falling out. 

But if it were up to nearly every doctor in my area, I wouldn't even know this treatment was available. And most aren't even willing to try.

[karen77]

10 hours ago, Shadoewolf said:

I was diagnosed in my late teens. Stop the Thyroid Madness has both a book and a Facebook page that are full of research and great information. They even try (TRY) to maintain links to providers who work with NDT. They have info on specific brands, dosing, tests, how to approach your doctor, everything. 

The tests are all usually done in one blood test. With proper protocol, NDT usually starts at a base dose of one grain (approx 65mg) and increases 1/2 a grain every 3 weeks until labs look good AND symptoms subside. Some people can be slightly under the norm on the TSH test but feel amazing, which is optimal for them. I've been on it a year (in addition to Holy Basil) and my body temps have normalized, my extremities are no longer cold all the time, and my hair is no longer falling out. 

But if it were up to nearly every doctor in my area, I wouldn't even know this treatment was available. And most aren't even willing to try.

That site was so helpful! I finally had to go to a naturopath for mine, since my primary care didn't want to do much, (not his specialty, of course), and my previous endo retired and didn't want to refer her patients to anyone else in the community...not helpful

[OhNoNike]

So... they’re still not pregnant, huh?

[ophelia]

I'm surprised and relieved at the same time that there hasn't been an announcement yet.

[Chewing Gum]

Well it ain’t Christmas yet..

[HarleyQuinn]

Y'all jinxed it. It's coming. I can feel it.

[singsingsing]

I mean, they've only been married two months. She could have conceivably conceived (haha, I'll show myself out) on her wedding night and still be waiting to announce.

[VeryNikeSeamstress]

Meh. It'll happen when it happens, and by the time it hapoens the show still won't be caught up. Like all Duggar news, it will be old news very fast.

Wake me up when when Josie defects and joins a punk band.

[GuineaPigCourtship]

Once Josie reaches the age where she's expected to contribute and isn't babied anymore (if that ever happens before marriage) maybe she'll rebel.  Otherwise marriage and motherhood will come as a real shock within the cult.

[MadeItOut]

You guys are so lucky to be able to get armour/naturthroid. We hunted high and low (with the GP supporting) & found the one Dr in the country prepared to have a discussion about it. 

What she didn't mention until we travelled across country to meet her was, by discussion, she meant she would tell us she won't put anyone on it because as a natural treatment, the strength could conceivably vary, so better to stick with nice, safe chemicals. I tried to challenge her on it and her response was "if I was such an obviously pre-diabetic lady, I'd get up and do something about that". ...for the record at that point (& still) I couldn't test less diabetic if I tried, have multiple disabilities and multiple drug and chemical allergies (2nd gen on the allergies). 

[klabourdeth]

This thread actually got me looking back into my thyroid problems.

 

Personal history: Fall of 2012 I was tested my thyroid on a hunch from the NP when I went in for a 2 months of coughing. Was told that it was underactive and was given synthryorid and sent me on my way. No explanations other then that the thyroid & my implant might be the case of 30 lbs weight gain in 3 months. When I ran out of the pills and moved to another state 8 months post finding got a new doctor that did the retest once in the 2.5 years I used him. When I ran out of the pills in late 2015 or early 2016 I went cold turkey from the meds* and been since. Lost between 30-40 lbs with very little flux in changes since I got off ( never lost weight on the meds but gain an additional 40 lbs after I went on) and with little change in diet other then more red meat. The only out right symptom that I seem to noticeably have is the fatigue with some days I can sleep 12+ hours sometime less but barely want to move or do anything without feeling beat.

 

I have been thinking that I should getting it reexamined since I heard one or two things about how it can make things get worse if left untreated. So who it was that posted about 'Stop the madness ' is really making me want to about getting back to the doctor's office over the issue

 

* I stoped going over a combo of a rude nurse & an office manager when I was trying to get the test results for something else and then a refill of the meds a later time when they lied about calling in the prescription. Plus very visit involved a bible study when filling out paper work along with a lecture on how you need to accept Jesus

[MadeItOut]

Ooooo! That kind of practice annoys me! Our neighbour once took her baby to the doctor in the midst of an asthma attack and the GP suggested praying over him. Fortunately the neighbour was a nurse, so had the good sense to get him to the other doctor in town. 

[Firebird]

The thyroid posts we're intriguing. So much I didn't know. I'm on synthroid, but struggle still with weight gain, depression, fatigue, and some of the IBS type symptoms. I just always am told I'm to stressed and need to relax. Any complaints of dizziness and shaking and even when I passed out at work everyone just said it was stress. I wonder if it's something more? 

As for pharmaceutical companies ruling healthcare I would argue that insurance companies have a bigger hand in the pocket. I've seen them refuse people's insulin that was too expensive and had to watch this person essentially receive a slow death sentence because he can't afford it out of pocket either. 

My insurance company tried to stop paying for my husband's type 1 insulin pump supplies.

I've seen a man lose his entire house while hospitalized because he was supposed to go to a care facility instead of back home and the only way to pay for it was by selling his entire house etc. I held his hand while he wept when he found out what was happening. He lost his entire life, everything he worked for. I think they split him and his wife up too.

Healthcare has been very disheartening and disenchanting. I wanted to help people, but there are very few I feel like I reach. It's not just a problem with doctors not listening, but an issue with some government requirements that are insane, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies...and more than I can ever get into. 

Also my husband had to pay less out of pocket for medical care when he was on Medicaid when he was between jobs. Now we have insurance and he has a job. I haven't run the numbers, but I've wondered if it wouldn't be more cost effective for him to be unemployed again. My job's insurance wouldn't even cooperate with his medical supply company. He had to use a new one that took forever to place an order for his supplies. He actually ran out of his insulin pump supplies and we had to get some emergency supplies from his doctor's office.  

Now instead of his supplies and insulin being almost completely free to us on Medicaid we pay over 600 dollars every time he needs more supplies (several times a year)

[SassyPants]

Last year, when I was dx'd with Hashimoto's my then DR started me on Armour 30mg/d- my T3, T4 and TSH are all normal and I feel great. My new MD, d/t new insurance, has left me on that drug. 

[GuineaPigCourtship]

All this talk on thyroid supplementation is inspiring.  I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 7 years ago and have been "normal" on synthyroid supplementation but never lost the weight.  I'm probably about 100lbs overweight and I try to eat appropriate portions of relatively healthy food.  No one is good all the time, but overall I feel like I certainly don't take in enough calories to support this.  My energy level never really came back, although I don't have the horrible depression I suffered before starting the medication.

What really got me was that everyone (doctors included) told me that going on the medication would fix everything and I'd lose the weight and be myself again, only to have them all say that it's very hard for people to lose weight with thyroid issues once that didn't happen.  I once asked about NDT and was told it was really old school and not used much anymore, but I think it's time to look for a new doctor who can set aside what they learned in medical school and actually listen to me.

[SorenaJ]

Kendra could be pregnant, but waiting to announce it until she is a bit further along, so she can reveal the jinder at the same time. 

[nastyhobbitses]

2 hours ago, SorenaJ said:

Kendra could be pregnant, but waiting to announce it until she is a bit further along, so she can reveal the jinder at the same time. 

My friends are really into WWE, so whenever I see "jinder", I just imagine the latest pregnant Duggar having a Jinder Reveal party where Jinder Mahal just bursts in and suplexes Jim Bob.

[IReallyAmHopewell]

On 11/21/2017 at 10:15 AM, VBOY9977 said:

Jill and Derick announced either 8 or 9 weeks after their wedding that they were having a baby..... So technically Kendra and Joe could since they’re past that point in their marriage already, but I don’t see them famewhoring (remember that people magazine cover)their pregnancy so soon like J & D though

I hope they just get on with life and realize the world knows they are going to pop out kids as quickly as possible and leave it at that.

[3 ring circus]

On 11/21/2017 at 9:59 AM, Carm_88 said:

I get why pregnancy tests are run but I still find it funny when a doctor comes back and tells me that I'm not pregnant. Well yes, unless I become divinely pregnant, I knew that. Thanks for the reminder.  

Same. I had a hysterectomy years ago. When I had sinus surgery they made me take a pregnancy test.  So strange