I need information and advice..

[Agbatchelor]

For the past six months I have experienced weight gain, trouble losing weight, weakness, hair loss, fatigue, joint pain, memory loss, extreme irritability, irregular and heavy periods (I was very regular before), and generally been feeling rotten all around. I have a family history of thyroid conditions going back generations for everyone woman on my mother's side of the family. I have been tested for TSH levels and they were at 1.4 three months ago.

I've seen 2 doctors in the last three months. I was checked for everything under the sun. The first doctor dismissed any possibility of hypothyroid problems and diagnosed me with polycystic ovarian syndrome, even though the symptoms didn't fit. Today I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, and it was discovered that the glands in my neck are enlarged. The doctor refused to retest my TSH levels. I have not have a full panel test done for T3 & T4, as well as TSH.

My symptoms fit. My family history fits. I feel that I am being ignored. I don't know what to do.

What are the normal ranges for the thyroid?

[gimel]

Do you think it might be possible to get the doctor to do some testing for FT3 and FT4 before you see a specialist?  If so, be sure it is for free T3 and free T4, not total T3 and total T4.  I would also suggest testing for the thyroid antibodies, TPO ab and TG ab.  

[Agbatchelor]

Thank you for your very informative reply. Sadly, a lot of what you said was foreign to me because I'm unfamiliar with this, outside of what I watched my mother go through while she was alive.

I fought with the doctor I saw yesterday. I didn't feel that her answers were satisfactory, especially after having been diagnosed with something else just a few months prior. It seems to me they don't have a clue what they're talking about. Also, these doctors that I've been seeing are general practitioners. When I asked for a referral to a specialist I was then treated very badly, like the doctor was angry that I didn't trust her care, which I clearly don't. She's setting up an appt for me with a specialist but I haven't a clue what kind or when. I'm at a loss, and I don't want to feel rotten any longer.

Thanks for listening.

[gimel]

TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many variables that it is totally inadequate as a sole diagnostic for thyroid.  At best it is an indicator to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms, and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, free T3 and free T4.  FT3 is most important because FT3 largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions.  Scientific studies have also shown that FT3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while TSH and FT4 did not correlate.  

A good thyroid doctor will treat a patient clinically by testing and adjusting FT3 and FT4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important.  

The first thing I think you should do is to go through this checklist of hypo symptoms and identify which ones you have.  Then I would take a copy of the list to the doctor and again request testing for the thyroid hormones free T3 and free T4 (not total T3 and total T4).  If the doctor resists, then just make a big scene and insist on it and don't take no for an answer.   Keep in mind that you are the customer.  You might also tell the doctor about the possibility of having pituitary problems that can result in low TSH with low thyroid hormones also.   If you are unable to force this to happen then you need a good thyroid doctor that will do so.

Once you have these tests done, then get a copy of the lab report and post results and reference ranges here, so that members can help interpret and advise further.  If you have any questions about the clinical approach, take a look at this link.

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf