thyroid ????

[maillotpois]

I don't think you can have a thyroid problem without it showing up in your blood work.

Did they give you beta blockers for something else, then? That's certainly not a thyroid treatment.

[twin]

They gave me the beta blocker until I could see the Encronoligist and he also gave me some. Which I would use until more test like the thyroid scan. I think I am confused.

[maillotpois]

And I guess I was wrong - looks like they can use beta blockers as an apparently temporary treament of some symptoms. http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068880/

Hmmmm.

[Thorn]

Not a doctor, just a hyperthyroid patient. Speaking from experience, yes, you can be hyperthyroid and still have test results "within normal limits".

Took three doctors before I found one who didn't think I was a hyperchondriac. She listened to the symptoms, decided that the "normal" may not be normal for everyone and ordered a nuclear scan. I would have periods of rapid heart beat, but never requiring medical treatment.

Went onto meds and beat the odds--the thyrod straightened itself out without requiring surgery or radiation and I no longer require the meds. Probably, because I was borderline, but I like to think that once in a while we're allowed to win.

Good luck....oh, and yes, you'll probably gain weight if the tone down the thyroid, but you'll feel better.

[froglegs]

I am hypothyroid and I have no noticeable symptoms except very infrequent periods. So I was screened for PCOS and they did thyroid bloodwork and noticed my TSH was higher than normal. So I did a little research and discovered that the "normal range" varies widely depending on who is defining it (although my TSH, at 6.54, was outside all of the normal ranges I found). I'm not really familiar with the details of hyperthyroidism, but it seems to me that if your bloodwork is borderline, especially if you have symptoms, there might still be a problem. You might consider pushing for more tests or going to another doctor.

[froglegs]

Oh and on the weight issue......... my doctor put me on daily levothyroxine which made my bloodwork normal. She said I would have a much easier time keeping weight off. It's been a year and a half and I'm still waiting!!

[makbike]

Twin - I would say it is very possible.

My cat, Figaroe, showed signs of hyperthyroidism but the "normal" test they requested came back with normal results. I took Figaroe to see a specialist in Ohio who checked him out and said he is hyperthyroid. I gave her copies of his panels and pointed out all were normal. She sent me home with the instructions for a specific test (wish I could remember what it was). The blood was draw and two days later his results came back. His values were so high they did not register. He underwent the radioactive iodine therapy and is now hypothyroid but hey it is controlled with a daily dose of medication.

If you are not happy with the doctor or suspect that your results are not thorough seek a second or third opinion. Educate yourself about the disease and don't be afraid to ask for specific tests. Good luck and keep us posted.

[velogirl]

beta blockers are commonly prescribed to post-thyca (thyroid cancer) patients. part of the long-term treatment for thyca, after surgery and radiation, is to surpress the patient's TSH by keeping the patient in a constant state of being very hyper-thyroid. this is an uncomfortable state for many patients, especially athletes, because of the extremely high heart rates, so docs will prescribe beta blockers to relieve the cardiac stress.

As a thyca patient, my endo keeps my TSH @ .01. That's considered very low and would indicate severe hyper-thyroidism. so if your TSH was @ .01, I would think you are hyper-thyroid -- .01 is not a "normal" result.