Another Thyroid Thread.... (Redux)

[e3rdpower]

So sorry that you're getting the run around. Free T3 and Free T4 along with antibodies are definitely what they need to look like. Hopefully your internist will order them for you, much sooner than June. It sure sounds like Hashi's.

[indysteel]

My problem with my endo's fixation on TSH is this: The antibodies at play in any form of autoimmune thyroid disease can skew TSH. So, it's important to look at Free Ts. It's not uncommon for TSH to be suppressed in Graves' patients even when their other values are ideal. But her nurse said something about how my disease was so "mild" that it wouldn't show on the Free Ts. That just doesn't make any sense. And if it does make sense, I'm just at a point--in terms of my lack of confidence--that I'll need to hear that from someone else.

[redrhodie]

I think this is a good thing, Indy. You gave this doctor a lot of time to try her way. Time to move on to someone who will listen and do the appropriate tests. At least you PCP seems helpful. Maybe once you get the referral, you can get on a call list for cancellations if you can't get an appointment soon.

[evangundy]

I have been going back and forth with my pcp about my thryroid, for the past couple years. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's by my previous doc. Besides his training (osteopath) he had to learn more about the issue when his wife was diagnosed. Turned out I was having same issues at the same time as his wife. The first few years working with him were wonderful. We had things mostly under control.

Cue peri-menopause ..... hormonal changes, weight gain, serious illness, fibroid tumors requiring partial hysterectomy. all in one year. Caused some body changes that my thyroid didn't like. then my doc retired. Then my husband retired so had to change health care providers. Then I changed jobs and again a new provider. New doctor does not really understand thyroid stuff.

I finally have an appt with an endo next week. One of the things both doctors recommended was to be wary of where on the internet I got my information from. Guess I won't tell them about the TE forums :-)

They both have recommended the information found at http://www.thyroid.com/ and at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/has...isease/DS00567
Funny how that's where I got most of my info that they are disputing ... grrrr

edit: link wrong for thyroid website above - should be http://www.thyroid.org/
.org instead of .com - interesting difference

I'll know more next week. Virtual hugs to everyone - this is no fun but let's work on it together :-)

Edna

[indysteel]

Gosh, Edna. What an ordeal. I hope your new endo is able to help. As for not trusting everything you read on the Internet: I get that, and I try to keep that in mind as I'm reading. But I find the kind of general information found at a site like Mayo to be fairly useless when it comes to understanding anything but the basics. It offers very little guidance on the nuts and bolts of managing thyroid disease.

[redrhodie]

How is everyone doing on thyroid meds these days? I am doing well on mine. My hair has stopped falling out and is regrowing. If anyone has this happen to them, it takes about 3 months to stop once your meds are correct.

Thank God I was diagnosed before my brother's heart attack, because I really don't think I could have handled the stress or the drive to the hospital as I was.

[Blueberry]

I felt great at first, but I'm now feeling really hypo again. To the point that those around me have noticed. Now that I've had a taste of feeling good, I'm not very happy about it!

My doc scheduled blood work at the 6 week mark, and I had it drawn on Friday. It was another couple of weeks before I could get back in with her, so I'll probably get the results just before Thanksgiving (unless she sends them electronically - but I still won't have a new dosage until then).

Glad to hear you're feeling better!!