How do I get a doctor to treat low thyroid hormone levels?

Question

My sister has been tested by 2 different doctors. Both physicians have told her that she is at the very bottom of the "normal" side of the scale, and they both admit she shows symptoms of hypothyroidism, but say they see no need to initiate treatment. She is now feeling worse. She is cold all of the time, her fatigue has worsened, and now she is experiencing numbness in her fingers and feet. I am so frustrated with doctors I don't know what to do. She has tried pushing herself to exercise more thinking that this would help (and after one doctor's comment that maybe she should try eating some salad), but then all she can do is sleep for hours afterwards because she is so wasted.

I should also add that my sister never had a problem with her weight and then about two years ago she started to gain weight and had trouble losing it even after increasing her exercise and decreasing her calorie intake.

Answer 1

First thing your sister needs to do is find out the number result of her test. Also, if it was an afternoon test, it may be inaccurate. All thyroid tests should be done in the morning because TSH is at it's highest when we sleep, so if we test first thing i the morning it will be caught near it's highest point. The TSH is the test doctor's usually diagnose hypothyroidism with. If it's above a 2.0 it's suspicious, though most labs will have normal as high as 5.5. I had problems with this 6 years ago and it took anothr year before the TSH finally went above the 5.5 and I got diagnosed. Your sister really needs to research this, as it's the only way she will get the proper treatment. Once I finally read up on the topic I knew what tests to ask for and what medication would work best for me.

The next time your sister gets testing. She wants a morning TSH, free t4, free t3, and an antibody test. I'll include a great thyroid link below for your sister. There are great thyroid message boards on yahoo groups. Check them out sometime.

Answer 2

Making dietary changes is your first line of defense in treating hypothyroidism. Learn here https://tr.im/jG6ou

Many people with hypothyroidism experience crippling fatigue and brain fog, which prompts reaching for non-nutritional forms of energy like sugar and caffeine. I’ve dubbed these rascals the terrible twosome, as they can burn out your thyroid (and destabilize blood sugar).

1. Just say no to the dietary bungee cord. Greatly reduce or eliminate caffeine and sugar, including refined carbohydrates like flour, which the body treats like sugar. Make grain-based carbohydrates lesser of a focus, eating non-starchy vegetables to your heart’s content.

2. Up the protein. Protein transports thyroid hormone to all your tissues and enjoying it at each meal can help normalize thyroid function. Proteins include nuts and nut butters; quinoa; hormone- and antibiotic-free animal products (organic, grass-fed meats, eggs, and sustainably-farmed fish); and legumes.

Answer 3

in the start even although the better decrease of favourite is quoted to be 3.5, there is a few data from eu study that ought to even bypass to 5 and extra up. there's a grey zone between about 4-10 that's seen subclinical hypothyroidism. the present data is in favour of no actual benefit in treating this, even in symptomatic human beings. that's as a lot because the overall practitioner, and there is not any good answer, a known practitioner who chooses now to not attend to at this factor is actual life like practice. I did a rotation in a psych facility and bumped into this difficulty truly in many circumstances in sufferers with melancholy, and at the same time as to attend to. in many circumstances we erred on the area of caution, and did not prescribe until eventually the values were given larger, or the sufferers weren't responding to prevalent antidepressant medicine

Answer 4

Get to a good doctor.
She may have some other problem that is causing these problems.
Good luck.