Fed up with doctors, can't get any help.

[lindsay0891]

I have hyperthyroid symptoms and a low TSH to match. But my free T4 is normal so doctors don't see a need for any additional tests, and they don't want to refer me to an endocrinologist. My regular doctor never got back to me when I called asking for a referral and I called again earlier today and haven't heard anything. She thinks I'm having symptoms from a virus I had nine months ago! Umm, I don't think a virus that is long gone would be making me have heart palpitations and need to eat every two hours or less. I have digestive problems, lightheadedness, and all kinds of crazy symptoms and I truly believe it is my thyroid.
My last hope is to go to a walk-in clinic and try to get a referral, but even then I'll probably wait three months to see an endo and not even know if they're going to take me seriously. I bet I'll wait three months and have the endo tell me "your levels are fine, you're fine." I feel like they're all just telling me I have to be miserable for the rest of my life. The last time I went to the doctor they literally told me there was nothing they could do. I'm 21 and this is supposed to be the best time of my life and I'm supposed to be healthy and happy, but I am miserable and these symptoms control my life. Has anyone else ever been in this situation? I just don't know what to do anymore.

[Bryanmike]

Lindsay, did you ever find a result of your symptoms? I am having almost all of these same symptoms but don't see any posts from you in the past few years.

[FTB4]

I know they have tests for people that have had contact with mold, it can cause havoc with your body, you should really get that checked out, and it is illegal to knowingly rent or lease an apartment, house , etc, The owner can be held liable for your medical bills and laws regarding mold is regulated by the EPA, the property that had the mold would be sealed and a licensed abatement company would be contracted to remove the contaminated walls, trim tile and any building materials that are contaminated. You can find the types of mold and symptoms of health issues caused by mold


http://inspectapedia.com/mold/moldsymptoms.htm


This is a good site if our forum does not delete it. If so I will send it PM FTB4

[lindsay0891]

True. It's just frustrating because if it's not my thyroid I have absolutely no idea what's wrong with me, and doctors have admitted they don't either. I thought I was sick from mold in the apartment I just moved out of but now I'm not so sure.

[FTB4]

When you get your tests done, then you will know where you stand, and you will be able to direct your questions as to your diagnosis and labs, until then everything is guess work. Let us know what you find out.
Best Regards FTB4

[lindsay0891]

I think all the conflicting info is also stressing me out. Some people say "you're hyperthyroid without a doubt" and others say "you're not hyperthyroid enough to have symptoms." So confusing.

[lindsay0891]

Thanks, I try not to let the stress get too bad but I just moved and have had a lot of money problems so that just adds to it. I wish I could drink wine but I think it would make my digestive problems worse and make me more lightheaded. I can't do many of the things I used to...

[FTB4]

Stress is a bad componant of any health problems and will make any symptom 10 times worse, with my nerve damage issues, when I get stressed out or aggrivated over anything at all, it causes pain in places I usually don't have pain at all, and increases the level of pain in the regular areas. Relaxation and not getting uptight will make your symptoms much easier to cope with. Have a glass of wine! or two, and if need be drink the whole bottle!    FTB$

[lindsay0891]

Thanks. The main reason I think it's my thyroid is that I've had so many other tests, the symptoms fluctuate so much, and I have the majority of the hyperthyroid symptoms.

[Barb135]

I lost tons of hair when I was hypo and now that my levels are normal, it's getting thicker again....... also, when hypo, stress hit me horribly and I ended up on anti-anxiety med....  stress is pretty much interchangeable and can be associated with either.

If you're  making bad food choices, you will gain weight, whether you're hypo or not........ Thyroid hormones are not the only things that determine weight gain/loss...... there's insulin resistance (bad food choices can cause this); cortisol (stress causes this)..

It's not all cut and dried to be thyroid........ first you have to have all the proper thyroid tests, then move on to others to make sure you cover the bases.

[lindsay0891]

Really? I thought stress and hair loss were hyper symptoms. I think the weight gain is mainly because with my more frequent eating I make some bad food choices. If I was eating this much before I got sick I think I would've gained a lot more. I'm pretty much maintaining my weight now.

[Barb135]

Many of your symptoms are interchangeable, between hyper and hypo.  For instance, the weight gain leans toward hypo, hair loss leans toward hypo, being stressed out leans toward hypo.

You need the tests.

[lindsay0891]

Thank you soooo much everyone. I really, really appreciate the help!

I'm worried my levels are getting worse since the TSH has fallen and I'm getting more "classic" hyperthyroid symptoms. As I type this my fingers feel shaky and I just ate an hour and a half ago but I already feel lightheaded like I need to eat again. I have actually had slight weight GAIN just from how much I've been eating, but then again I think if I had a normal metabolism I'd have gained a lot more. I feel like my hair has been thinning too, not as bad as it was in the summer but I did start taking biotin and vitamins which may have helped. The least little things make me a stressed out mess, my thoughts race (this is evident in the fact that I start so many threads in so many different forums!), and I feel lightheaded all the time. I just want to be normal again.

[flyingfool]

You can call Healthcheck USA like Barb suggested.  My wife also had to do this and it was also $85 for all three tests. Although she did have to drive like 50 miles to have the blood drawn.

It is up to you. Go to the Dr's or get on your own from Healthcheck and KNOW you'll get the tests you want. There is NO REFERRAL NEEDED. NONE!  At least not in Barbs (Florida) or my (Wisconsin) experience.  I suppose other states could be different but I tend to doubt it.

I concur with Barb.  While not above range your FT4 is high and your TSH low which are both consistent along with your symptoms that you very well may be Hyper.  Not every single person feels well when being simply within some relatively abstract range.

[FTB4]

I called LabCorp in Huntington, and as Barn said, they do not do testing without an MD's order. So I would go ahead and follow up on leads provided by gimel in Huntington and Charleston. Best Wishe and Good Luck FTB4

[Barb135]

If you go through healthcheckusa, all you pay is the $85 (or what the cost is now), which includes the order for the labs, the blood draw and the results.  

If you got through healthcheckusa, you pay nothing at the lab; it's all taken care of when you place your order.  I did it and it really worked well for me......

According to your labs, your TSH is below range, but your lab is using an outdated range...... new range is 0.3-3.0.  Your FT4 is high in the range, which would indicate hyper, but since you don't have an FT3, we don't know if you are really  hyper or hypo.. FT3 is the hormone used by the cells.  Some symptoms can "cross over" and be associated with either hyper or hypo.

If you can send me the name of your current doctor, along with location/practice (via PM, as we should never post doctor's names/addresses on an open forum), I'll try to do some research for you as far as finding another doctor.

[lindsay0891]

Does it cost more to have the blood taken besides just getting the lab results or is it included?
My levels are TSH: 0.34 (0.45-4.5)
Free T4: 1.44 (0.8-1.8)
Total T4 (August): 12.1 (???-12)

[FTB4]

I would contact the one Barb noted "healcheckusa" and see what they would charge, even at 85.00 for all, you could take these results to any MD and he could not deny the results, if they prove you are Hyper and need treatment. The range and level you posted look odd, are you sure that they are not Total T4 rather than free T4?    FTB4

[lindsay0891]

Thanks so much, guys, you have been SO helpful!!
Barb, most of the thyroid doctors in my city are at the place where my PCP is, and I'm trying to avoid that place because that's where I'm having these other bad experiences. But I would see one if I could get an appointment soon enough.
FTB4, those were my results for December, but August was similar except it was:
TSH 0.66   0.45-4.5   Free T4 1.44    0.8-1.8    Total T4 12.1 (not sure of the range, said they usually like to see it under 12 at the upper end of the range).

[FTB4]

The last test she posted was for August 2012 I beleive
TSH 0.34   0.45-4.5   Free T4 1.4   0.8-1.8
I contacted Quest Diagnostics and the policy is, an order from an MD would be required, I guess the MD lobbys have a lot of pull in WV
FTB4

[Barb135]

I'm relatively sure that LabCorp will not do the testing without a doctor's order.  

I might suggest that you go online to healthcheckusa, from which you can order TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 for approximately $85 (that's what I paid). For best results, all 3 tests should be done at the same time, because your TSH and FT4 may have changed.

You order the tests, then healthcheck e-mails you a lab order and tells you what lab to go to in your area (usually LabCorp).  A couple days after the blood is drawn, healthcheck will e-mail you the results, followed by a hard copy in the mail.  

You pay healthcheck with a credit or debit card, so there's nothing to pay at the lab.

I turned up quite a few thyroid doctors in you area with a google search; I can send you a link if you like.  You can then call the individual doctors and "pre-interview" them to make sure they test TSH, Free T3 and Free T4, every time, whether they treat according to symptoms and not just labs; what treatments they are willing to consider, etc.  The interview process is most often done through a nurse or office manager.

By the way, what exactly is your TSH and Free T4?  We also need reference ranges for the FT4, since ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from your report.

[FTB4]

Do you drive or have transportation? A LabCorp independant Lab is in Huntington, although they are closed at 330pm, so I could not speak to anyone about an orderless lab test, I will contact them tomorrow, there is another independant lab in Hurricane? they said they were about 30 miles from Huntington, they said they would call me back about doing labs without an MD's order. I will let you know when I find one and what the charge is.  Best Regards FTB4

[lindsay0891]

Do you know of any independent labs, and how do you get a blood sample to them? Sorry, I'm pretty clueless about this.

[lindsay0891]

Thanks! :)

[FTB4]

I will contact Barb and gimel and ask if they have any listed in your area.
I know the Free T3 is separate from the Free T4 and TSH, so maybe they will just do the Free T3 for much less, look up an independant lab and get a quote, it does not cost anything to get a price.  Take Care FTB4