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Hair Loss and Fatigue NOT Thyroid because TSH is in range
Yep, that's what my endocrinologist said to me today. We almost got into a shouting match. He started our visit telling me he is more concerned about my osteoporosis than my thyroid symptoms. He was pushing bisphophonates. I just said "no". The asked him if he'd read the latest studies about possible femur fractures from use of Fosamax, Boniva etc - that its info from the FDA.
For the last 3 weeks I've developed hypo symptoms regardless of my TSH being 1.14 I told him that I feel best at .5 based on the last 9 months of treatment. I asked him about my hair thinning out, the return of constipation, the fatigue - he said it cannot be thyroid related becase we are 'treating the thyroid' and my numbers are in range! LOL! Funny but NOT!
I am going to a ENT for the tinnitis which has come about recently (of cource NOT related to thyroid) He said I may have hearing loss - well ya know, I hear just fine - I have to turn the tv down because the commercials are too loud. I hear the front door open from the other end of the house.
He also went into a big explanation of how TSH changes every 20 minutes in the body. Whatever - I haven't been feeling good lately. I want to ramp up a bit - which I am. I'm going to do 60 mg/ 90 mg every other day to see if my symptoms improve. I asked him if he thought my thyroid was still producing hormonew, he wouldn't even take a guess at it.
Anyway, I didn't even get to talk to him about the gagging sensation or the soreness in my neck - so I will save it for the ENT and hope this guy has a clue about thryoid disease.
I know, this post was not a question - I am just kvetching!
For the last 3 weeks I've developed hypo symptoms regardless of my TSH being 1.14 I told him that I feel best at .5 based on the last 9 months of treatment. I asked him about my hair thinning out, the return of constipation, the fatigue - he said it cannot be thyroid related becase we are 'treating the thyroid' and my numbers are in range! LOL! Funny but NOT!
I am going to a ENT for the tinnitis which has come about recently (of cource NOT related to thyroid) He said I may have hearing loss - well ya know, I hear just fine - I have to turn the tv down because the commercials are too loud. I hear the front door open from the other end of the house.
He also went into a big explanation of how TSH changes every 20 minutes in the body. Whatever - I haven't been feeling good lately. I want to ramp up a bit - which I am. I'm going to do 60 mg/ 90 mg every other day to see if my symptoms improve. I asked him if he thought my thyroid was still producing hormonew, he wouldn't even take a guess at it.
Anyway, I didn't even get to talk to him about the gagging sensation or the soreness in my neck - so I will save it for the ENT and hope this guy has a clue about thryoid disease.
I know, this post was not a question - I am just kvetching!
COMMUNITY LEADER
What "number" is the 3.2? Is that TSH? Are you telling us that your doctor is treating you based only on that? Have you never had Free T3 and Free T4 tests done? Those are much more important than TSH......
All of that said, yes, 3.2 on the TSH is higher than the recommended range. And going from 100 mcg synthroid to only 25 is a huge jump; maybe you could have stopped at 75 for a while to see how you felt....... now, you'll need to slowly increase again, as you will most likely go hypo again.
Yes, thyroid issues can cause pregnancy problems.
All of that said, yes, 3.2 on the TSH is higher than the recommended range. And going from 100 mcg synthroid to only 25 is a huge jump; maybe you could have stopped at 75 for a while to see how you felt....... now, you'll need to slowly increase again, as you will most likely go hypo again.
Yes, thyroid issues can cause pregnancy problems.
AMEN SISTER!!! I have the same problem with my doc and it is not fun!!! He just swears up and down that it's not the synthroid that is causing my chest pain and heart racing...even though I've NEVER had chest pain and racing in the past!!! He also refuses to prescribe me any other medicine, which, I find odd?! I finally reduced my medicine from 100 mcg to 25 mcg on my own and I feel so much better. He said that it's still not enough for my thyroid, which, is currently at a 3.2 about three weeksn ago or so. Is this number really still too high? What do you think? Also, I had a miscarraige and my number was at .67 right before I got pregnant and then sky rocketed to a 3.0 Do you think that's why I miscarried? I personally think it is...
Numbers are for charts NOT people! Find a doctor that will work with you. Drive for hours to see him if you need to!
For 4 years I felt like crap & gained 35 lbs when being underweight is the norm in our family. Everyone dismissed me as saying it was my age (mid 30s) & I should exercise more. I couldnt' exercise because my muscles hurt so bad that I couldnt' carry the laundry up the stairs some days. I couldnt' stand to take a hot shower, my menstrual cycles were messed up & I was going to the bathroom 6 times a day! All symptoms of hyperthryoidism BUT my numbers were still in the "normal" range & no one would help me.
I had nodules so was under Endo's care for 14 yrs. Finally found an Endo that would think out of the box & didn't treat me like a number. He compared my TSH from 14 yrs earlier & saw a HUGE change from the bottom of the range to near the top & put me on Methimazole. IT GAVE ME MY LIFE BACK! And, I felt my very best when my TSH levels had dropped to .10! (What text books say is Hypo!)
Now, I've had a TT & am experiencing the severe Hypo side of the equation. But, my doc tells me that I'm not a number & that we will aim for chem numbers that make me feel best NOT what medical text books say is normal.
Find a doctor that works out of the box & treats you like you're a human not a text book.
For 4 years I felt like crap & gained 35 lbs when being underweight is the norm in our family. Everyone dismissed me as saying it was my age (mid 30s) & I should exercise more. I couldnt' exercise because my muscles hurt so bad that I couldnt' carry the laundry up the stairs some days. I couldnt' stand to take a hot shower, my menstrual cycles were messed up & I was going to the bathroom 6 times a day! All symptoms of hyperthryoidism BUT my numbers were still in the "normal" range & no one would help me.
I had nodules so was under Endo's care for 14 yrs. Finally found an Endo that would think out of the box & didn't treat me like a number. He compared my TSH from 14 yrs earlier & saw a HUGE change from the bottom of the range to near the top & put me on Methimazole. IT GAVE ME MY LIFE BACK! And, I felt my very best when my TSH levels had dropped to .10! (What text books say is Hypo!)
Now, I've had a TT & am experiencing the severe Hypo side of the equation. But, my doc tells me that I'm not a number & that we will aim for chem numbers that make me feel best NOT what medical text books say is normal.
Find a doctor that works out of the box & treats you like you're a human not a text book.
Yes, according to my endo, Hashimotos itself has no symptoms, its the damaged thyroid "hypothyroid" condition that causes the symptoms. (which of course we have the antibodies to thank for)
And of course diabetes has no symptoms either, it's just the damaged pancreas that causes the symptoms.
In my book I blame the symptoms on the disease since the disease is the precursor of the symptoms!
And of course diabetes has no symptoms either, it's just the damaged pancreas that causes the symptoms.
In my book I blame the symptoms on the disease since the disease is the precursor of the symptoms!
I have to admit that there is a lot of merit to a doctor who is easy to manipulate (oops, did I say that?!). After all, we can all get our information pretty easily. If we could only write our own scripts. I have been accused of having my endo wrapped around my little finger... He's good, but my PCP is pretty inept. I stay with him because he's never condescending and listens. Life's one big fat compromise.
COMMUNITY LEADER
How frustrating that must have been; it's horrible to have to go through that whenever you visit your doctor; I had one who did the same thing and every time I went to him, my blood pressure escalated because I dreaded the fight so much......
I've read other statements regarding "Hashimoto's, itself, having no symptoms"; you'll sure find a bunch of us here who will beg to differ!!
If he so willing admits that TSH fluctuates every 20 minutes, I'd sure like to know why he's so "stuck" on it, as far as treatment is concerned.
I've read other statements regarding "Hashimoto's, itself, having no symptoms"; you'll sure find a bunch of us here who will beg to differ!!
If he so willing admits that TSH fluctuates every 20 minutes, I'd sure like to know why he's so "stuck" on it, as far as treatment is concerned.
"He also went into a big explanation of how TSH changes every 20 minutes in the body"
- well if you see him again, his TSH explanation is all the better reason to get him to aim for a 'target' Ft3 / 4 that you feel good at, instead of TSH. But then he'll twist that around too I suppose.
So he doesn't acknowledge a Hashimoto 'roller coaster' I suppose. That is a common Hashi symptom that obviously requires more management than regular hypo.
Hope you find a better doctor, its a challenge.
- well if you see him again, his TSH explanation is all the better reason to get him to aim for a 'target' Ft3 / 4 that you feel good at, instead of TSH. But then he'll twist that around too I suppose.
So he doesn't acknowledge a Hashimoto 'roller coaster' I suppose. That is a common Hashi symptom that obviously requires more management than regular hypo.
Hope you find a better doctor, its a challenge.
You should really blow his mind by referring him to the British Medical Journal, published in Sept., 1986. After much testing of the five major thyroid tests, done on large numbers of patients, each of which was evaluated and categorized into three groups, hyper, euthyroid, and hypo. They concluded that, "We consider that biochemical tests of thyroid function are of little, if any, value clinically in patients receiving thyroxine replacement. Most patients are rendered euthyroid by a daily dose of 100 or 150 mcg of thyroxine. Further adjustments to the dose should be made according to the patient's clinical response."
I don't know...as long as he gives in to me and allows me to follow my instincts (and the advice I trust from the group) it will probably be okay. I did so much doctor hopping last year I dread doing it again. He is just another hardheaded doctor which is sad because 1) he has an excellent reputation (maybe for diabetes?) and 2) he practices with the same group of physicians that include my GYN, PCP & the Rheumatologist I go to. He will be doing another ultrasound in 3 months and possibly another FNA depending on what he sees.
He honestly believes that if a patients numbers are in range, any symptoms that may exist cannot be thyroid related. He said this in utmost sincerity! He said that Hashimotos HAS NO SYMPTOMS that the only symptoms from hashis is from the hypo condition of the thyroid. That may seem logical because the ultimate result of hashis IS hypo - but to conclude that hashis is symptomless - well, to me they are one & the same.
He honestly believes that if a patients numbers are in range, any symptoms that may exist cannot be thyroid related. He said this in utmost sincerity! He said that Hashimotos HAS NO SYMPTOMS that the only symptoms from hashis is from the hypo condition of the thyroid. That may seem logical because the ultimate result of hashis IS hypo - but to conclude that hashis is symptomless - well, to me they are one & the same.
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