Thyroid Problems or Not?

[Barb135]

Well, I saw my PCP this morning and according to him, the choking feeling, inability to lose weight, feelings of electrical impulse in my feet, fatigue, etc is all caused by stress and has nothing to do with my thyroid.  According to him 99% of the time when people complain of the choking feeling and want to get ultra sound, etc, they don't need to get those tests.  His nurse practitioner had sent me to an ENT who ordered some more thyroid tests (for anti-bodies, an ultra sound, plus a barium swallow because of acid reflux).  She (nurse practitioner) also sent me to a cardiologist because she thought I had an abnormal Holter monitor test and the cardiologist scheduled me for further testing because of family history) but my PCP acted like all that stuff was just so totally unnecessary.  They still are refusing to run Free T-3, but TSH was 0.16 (I think the range was 0.4-4.50) and Free T-4 was 1.6 (I don't have the lab report right here, but the high end of the range for Free T-4 was 1.8).  Am on 75 mcg synthroid. Cholesterol high, but has come down considerably since I started on the thyroid med in June.  

I have already done the blood work for the anti-body test and have ultra sound & barium swallow tomorrow morning, stress test and echocardiogram next Monday.  Won't get any results back until I see ENT on the 18th and of course, I hope everything comes back negative, but if there's something wrong, I want to find it too.  I certainly resent my PCP's attitude that just because I am over 55, my cholesterol has to be high, I have to fat, and tired and feel like c***.  I'd like to know what stone that's all written on.  

You know, maybe it is caused by stress, but if that's the case, why not try to help me get through it instead of acting like I'm wasting his time??  

[Barb135]

Script for diet book?  Wow - that's kinda nasty isn't it??  My PCP told me yesterday that I don't lose weight because I need to "move more".  I walk between 3- 5 miles/day, plus all the other physical stuff I do at work, housework, etc, plus I try to work out for at least 30 min/day & he has the nerve to tell me I need to move more??   It's been a long time since I was as angry as I was when I walked out of that office yesterday.  I don't understand how a dr dares treat a patient like that.  Of course, I'm hoping that there's nothing seriously wrong, but I'm thinking that under certain circumstance it could be rather dangerous to assume that all this stuff is "stress" without ruling out other problems first.  

I am expecting a dx of Hashimoto's next week.  I had the TPOab last week and from a message left on my answering machine, I'm thinking it's positive for anti-bodies, but not for sure.  Don't see ENT again until the 18th and he's the one who ordered the tests.  Also had thyroid US this morning.  

[clearstock]

First time I went to my family doctor about having a thyroid problem he wrote me a "prescription" for a different diet book!  Really, on his script pad!  Hang in there.  I was dx with Hashimoto's, I am still trying to get treatment but now, at least, I know its not just stress or laziness!  I found out I had a life long disease and I was happy!  How sad.

[Barb135]

What type of digestive enzymes would you suggest?  I've tried some in the past that didn't do much, but maybe I didn't try the right ones?  

As to the thyroiditis, I believe my ENT is thinking Hashimotto's.  I have looked at that a few times and it seems like the symptoms pretty well fit, but will check it out more thoroughly as I'm really not "up" on all this stuff since I was just diagnosed with hypothyroidism in June and as I said earlier my PCP has not been real helpful - more like "here take the pills and come back in 3 months" sort of thing and anything beyond that just HAS to be stress related!!

[stella5349]

Barb have you tried an digestive emzymes at all to kill that acid reflex off? There are pretty beneficial and really kicked that acid reflex off for me this week.

I started back on them Saturday and by Sunday it was gone. I don't know why I stopped it- but I am glad I was reminded to get back on them.

It sounds you have some sort of thyroiditis going on. Goggle that before your appt and see if you fit into any of the profiles so you can speak to your doctor.

[Barb135]

It's good to know that others have had the same problem - well, not good that it happens like this, but at least I'm not alone.  I don't want to be sick either and I must admit too that there's no shortage of stress in my life, but I understand exactly what you mean about feeling somewhat vindicated.  I mean, if he really thinks it's JUST stress, an offer to help resolve it would have been much more in order, than being such a jerk and just walk out like that??  It was almost like he was offended that I had seen the ENT, who ordered tests that he (PCP) should probably have ordered already - in which case, he needs to get on his nurse practitioner, not me, because she's the one who sent me to the specialists, I didn't ask.  

There are 3 PCP's in this same office - the one I see and 2 others; from what I've been able to gather, the one I see is the main one and the other 2 pretty much follow along.  I'm not scheduled to see PCP for 3 months, so that gives me time to get all the test results in and figure out where to go from here.  By the way, the ENT is also referring me to a gastroenterologist to help deal with the acid reflux because it's so severe and I've had it for so many years.  Won't that blow my PCP's mind, since he's been happily prescribing Aciphex for me for years??  

[Shherry]

Hello,

I can relate to the 'it's stress' thing ... I initially had the PCP, ENT & neurologist attribute most of the problems to stress.  I was given a couple diff types of anitdepressants.  (I haven't taken them yet at this point).  I won't say I don't have a lot of stress going on but I know when it's something more than stress ... Not that I WANT to be sick but at least felt a little vindicated when the Ent called back after the barium swallow to say there was a problem with that and the PCP saw the results of the ultrasound showing a nodule and thyroid enlargement and had to send me to an endocrinologist.  I don't know why they always want to attribute EVERYTHING to stress.  

Good luck to you.  I hope they can give you some definite answers.  I know how you feel.  I am in limbo right now waiting for the '6 month' follow up ultrasound to see if this nodule & thyroid has enlarged any more.  

Lucky for me there are several pcp's in the office I go to.  The one I normally see had been out on leave for a bit and I had to see another one which is who said it was stress, blah blah blah. Now my regular one is back and at least he has ordered more tests.  Is there another PCP in the same office that might be better?  

[Barb135]

Yeah, kinda what I thought, but I'm so new at this and my PCP has not done anything at all.  If it weren't for the ENT, I'd not have even gotten any tests done except TSH and Free T-4, so guess I'll have to see if I can get the tech to tell me anything tomorrow when I get the US done, then wait till the 18th when I see the ENT.  

Guess my next step is to try to find a new PCP.  I've had same one for 6-7 yrs so don't even know where to start.  

[Dnmh]

Don't know a whole lot on this but it sound's like Hashimoto's or possibly Grave's. Those are the two auto-immune disorders that cause inflammation, but again, not positive.

[Barb135]

Got home from work this afternoon and there was a message on my answering machine from the ENT's office that they have the results of the blood work back and that "there is some inflammatory activity going on in your thyroid and the dr will talk to you about it when you see him on the 18th".  I'm not sure what this means.  The only test they did was the thyroid peroxidase (sp?) anti-body test.  Any idea what might be happening?

Have US in the morning and will try to get tech to give preliminary result, but I know they aren't supposed to.  

[JolieFille]

always be your own pt advocate!  if you have choking feeling....it needs to be checked out regardless.  When you have the US, ask the tech to look at the scan and for a preliminary result.  It is your right!  If you want to give your doc a second chance---tell him how you feel when he talks to you in that manner!!

best wishes

[Dnmh]

I would find a different PCP! Thank goodness his nurse has more sense!