Help convincing Dr of Hypothyroidism?

Question

I go to a new Dr in a couple weeks to have my thyroid checked. - Again. I have many of the classic symptoms: Extremly cold, Extremly tired all the time, significant hair loss, low body temperature, dizziness, loss of concentraion, etc. My mom and aunt are both on daily thyroid meds. I had it tested not too long ago and the Dr said I was in the normal range - but my family and friends who are on thyroid treatment say I am in need of meds for my symptoms. I'm afraid these test results will come back "normal". I need to convience the Dr that I'm in the low-normal and need to be raised to the high-normal range. Has anyone experienced this - and tried to get your Dr to treat your symptoms by what you say - not a piece of paper?

Thank you all for your help! I do not have a problem with weight gain, no aches and pains and no eyebrow loss, but have lost most of my pubic hair too -isn't THAT strange. I live in Columbus, so I'm going to call one of the top Endorinoligist at the Ohio State University and have them test me from head to toe! Again, I appreciate all of you!! Thanks!!
Tara
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Answer 1

If it is something you are really concerned about and you have a family history of hypothyroidism you should stay on top of your labs. Tell your doc that you are really concerned.
I must tell you that you dont want to be in a HIGH range and if your TSH comes back ok. Then you dont need to have a thyroid medication. If your thyroid is producing adequate levels, you dont need the medication. If the thyroid produces high levels it can be deadly. Very rare and is usually only seen in hyperthyroidism, but there is always a possibility to experience a thyroid storm. That is a deadly amount of t3 and t4 hormone. Like I said it is deadly.

Now, you could also ask for a total metabolic work up and a CBC to rule out any other problems that may have not been dx.

If your doc is just blowing you off, perhaps you should find another doctor. Docs are human and they make mistakes too.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Seeing an Endocrinologist is a great idea. They see this stuff all the time. Those are also symptoms of Lupus so I would also get checked for that. It is very rare that a doctor will treat you when your lab results come back normal. Because everything has to be proven with facts in medicine. It is very frustrating, trust me I KNOW!

See an endocrinologist, they can also treat you and test you for Lupus, for many other diseases out there not just thyroid, Graves disease etc.

Good luck, hope you feel better and remember to be persistent in your treatment. Don't give up even if they say, nothing is wrong everything is ok.

I went through 5 years of doctors telling me, nothing is wrong you have tension headaches you need to relax. I finally went to a Neurologist who did an MRI of the brain and diagnosed me with Cluster Migraines and found lots of scars on my brain due to the migraines. It took 6 years to get diagnosed with my Rheumatoid Arthritis, I was told pain is always subjective and given every single pain pill under the sun. I wouldn't take it if it didn't help. Finally I insisted on an MRI of all the joints that were most painful and what do you know...Rheumatoid arthritis, hands, wrists, knees and hips oh and my neck. Mind you i'm only 30 years old. It took 7 years to get diagnosed with Endometriosis, why because Doctors always want to cover up things rather then treat them. If one is in alot of pain lets give pain pills. I have great insurance it's not like I was asking for free help! So... what i'm trying to say is be persistent. If you don't feel well stick with your search of what is wrong.

It could be many things, look it up, Lupus, Graves Disease, Chronic Fatigue, Epsteinbar virus. An endocrinologist would test you for ALL OF THAT!

Again, good luck and all the best to you. Dont give up!

Answer 3

Dear ohiotara, I went thru the same thing, Honey you can't demand or make THIS DOC to help you. HIS mind is made up. Did he recomend a enderconologist? PROBABLY NOT! been there done that, You must see this kind of doctor, sometimes your thyroid can be normal or read normal but your pth is not feeding your thyroid it'd hormone. PTH is pitutitary stimulating hormone. IT needs to be working right for all your gland like your parathyroid glands which are on both sides of your neck, did he check for a goiter? which means did he feel and make you swallow? If not call your local hospital and ask for this kind of doctor, The proof will come out with a specialist, PCP's read only what they know and check the same way,You could have a small tumor on your pitutary gland that sits right behind your sinus, You sound like you definatly
have a problem but you want to make sure it is exactly your thyroid and not another problem that can and will cause a thyriod no to funtion well, EVEN if it comes back normal.There is another test called an sonagram on your thyriod to see if maybe you have nodules which can mess it up but read normal IT took 4 yrs about with mine it would read normal then not normal and etc it took alot of doctors to figure mine out but I did so much resherch that I can say honestly you need a doctor that deals in this field you can gain alot of wieght like I did get diabetes and high bp if you don;t seek the right specialist out.remamber have your new doc do a complete thyroid panel with t-4 t-3 tsh-pth- fsh and adrenal glands need ruled out also it is a process, if your pcp gave you med. now and that wasn't the problem you could suffer serious effects and make things worse, Like me now I'm more patient but I know what you feel and think but remember our bodies are all different your aunt and mom had a test revealing that thier thyroid read that there was a problem like me mine says mine is reading normal but because I went thru the process and it's gruling they raised my med but sometimes it will read normal and it's not SO GO TO A SPECIALIST. Do you have aches and pains ? do you gain wieght without an explanation?These things are taken into consideration, do you get consipated even when you eat well? do you have eyebrow hair? all these things are saying thyroid medicine maybe needed sometimes we have just a hormonal [estrogen] that can mimick some of your symptons thats why I suggested a fsh-tsh-pth- and do a vitamin count VIT D defiency actually isn't common unless you don't drink milk or get sun like me that was another probem I suffered with.Please don't wait when you read this get out your phonebook and look for endroconology or call your largest hospital and ask for The specialist in your area or around I had to travel 45-55 miles for hlp at one time, My thoughts are with you, Amy Y.

Answer 4

Get a second opinion. Make an appointment with an endocrinologist, it never hurts to see another doctor. You may be having a problem with something other than you thyroid. Just because you have a family history of a problem does not mean you will have the same problem. It is always a good idea to explore other avenues as well.

Answer 5

Yes, the same thing happened to me. I was on thyroid medication for 7 years and then I moved to a new state and had new doctor. He said my testing for thyroid was in the normal range and took me off the medication. Within a few months I was really sick and went back to him and told him how I felt and he said, well I guess we need to put you back on the medication. He put me back on it and I was fine. It does happen. I moved again and went through the same thing all over again. It is really hard to find a doctor that will treat you as to how you feel and not just tests. Very frustrating. The doctor I see now tells me that I know my body better than anyone and he will listen to me when I tell him how I am feeling. It's important to look for a doctor that will listen to you. You sure have all the symptoms. Good luck.

Answer 6

it is precisely why stimulants are time table II managed elements. once you've ADHD you'll don't have any hassle getting medicine for it. yet from this and your previous questions, i'm rather constructive that you do not have ADHD, and attempt to apply the drugs as a preformance improving drug. it truly is substance abuse, and that i very a lot desire no wellbeing care specialist would even evaluate providing you with a prescription for stimulants, or the different psychoactive drugs you do not have any valid medicine reason to take. attempting to administration docs with the intention to receive a drug you ought to abuse is heavily no longer cool, and maximum docs will see precise by using any attempt to finish that. And utilizing this internet website to target to a thanks to get round drug regulations isn't so cool both. in case you've self belief you've ADHD, get examined. And be keen to contemplate remedies except stimulants. in case you had valid want for the drugs, you'd be searching for some thing that could administration the indicators, really than a particular medicine. if you're clinically determined as ADHD, your wellbeing care specialist will maximum likely opt to attempt Strattera first, precisely because this is not any longer a stimulant and has a low potential for abuse. And in case you had ADHD, you'll supply that a attempt, because it may paintings. Sorry in case you do not want morality talks, yet provided that you're asking human beings that could be functional you manage docs to circumvent drug regulations and procure a managed substance for that you do not have any valid medical use, it truly is what you're going to get.

Answer 7

There are other ailments that can look like hypothyroid. Your symptoms sound very much like a progesterone deficiency, which is often misdiagnosed as hypothyroidism.

Answer 8

I would go to a couple of doctors to get various opinions, and if they all answer the same, trust that answer.