OK,They wouldn't give me my results???

[Jennifer1987]

Went back to my dos office today to get my results... The receptionist ate the head off me AGAIN! I asked what my levels are and she said normal, wouldn't tell me the readings. I then asked her to print them off and she said no, she needed premission from the doctor. I nicely reminded her that I had TWO previous tests printed off with out a problem... After I said that she yell at the top of her voice, 'the doctor is busy, go away and come back some other time' .. As usual I backed down and went home crying with anger! I am in the process of changing doctors, will be seeing my new doctor tomorrow! I don't even know what levels Im at as apparently I must get promission off my doctor??What sort of Bull is that??? I know Im not right because my hair is falling out and I stll have majority of my symptoms! I just feel like dieing now, would much prefer it!Would be a lot less trouble to everyone!

[skeeterknitwit]

Hang in there!  Maybe you can ask the new Dr. for a copy of your test results.  He will probably request them from the old Dr.
Not having confidence in your medical care is a horrible feeling.  I'm going through the same thing.  

[chris5666]

I am having that problem as well.  they are refusing to give me the pathology report.  

[Jennifer1987]

I went down and got the results finally
These are them:
Free T4 . . . . . . . . . . . . 12          Range 8 - 22
TSH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2.41      Range .35 - 4.94
Free T3. . . . . . . . . . . . .  4.32      range 2.63 - 5.69

TPO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  < 0.01     Range: 100 Pos.
TGab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  123        Range   344 pos.

Any input on them..Is it ok for the TPo to be i in the minus region??

[AUNT_T]

I know what you mean, Please don't give up try a differnent doctor  and let them know up front that you want a copy of your records.  

[aaronmac5]

It looks like your TSH is slightly high. That range is not right anyways. I believe it got changed to .3 - 3.0. Anyone on 4.94 TSH will be feeling something trust me. At 2.41 you could get symptoms yes. Average is more like around 1-2.

The TPO just means you are negative for those antibodies. If you had them you likely could have hashimotos. This doesn't rule out if you have hypothyroid or not though. What were your previous thyroid test results?

[selmaS]

Jennifer,

For future reference...if u go to a lab u can request the results be sent directly to u...that way u avoid asking at the drs office.

Any test u have done...request right there...so US and MRI's ask when u r checked in...and u will leave with copies on a disk!!

Good luck
"selma"

[goolarra]

You might remind them who is paying for this lab work!!!  Tell the receptionist that if she'd like to pay for it, then she can guard the results, otherwise you want them and NOW.  Oh, and I always recommend the same tone and loudness that she's using!  Different states have different laws, but in most it's illegal to withhold results from patients.

[amela321]

Is your doctor aware that his/her receptionist is treating his patients like this?  I would address a letter directly to the doctor letting him know exactly how the last couple of encounters with the reception went.  Be specific with what she said, not just that she was "mean" or something.  Perhaps the doctor isn't even aware of how the receptionist is acting and would appreciate someone telling him/her.

I'm glad you got your results.  As far as I can tell, they look pretty normal, but the second opinion is always good.

Good luck to you.

Amy

[stella5349]

Well I think you still need some help in the thyroid dept. I know with me when the TSH is over 1.5 I am miserable.

Yes the ranges now a .3 to 3.0 - but it a RANGE - not you.

How do you like your doctor putting aside the nasty "clerk" ?? If you doctor is working with you great and it sounds he is pretty decent running the right tests. I wouldn't be so quick ot fly off - starting over is tough.

I would however take the suggestion above and write a letter to the doctor about her attitude and address the "law" that protects you from with holding labs.

This is the last thing a person needs to have on their plate to do when they feel terrible - but it HAS to be done.

Also next time you go in - slip a copy of the HIPPA rules and the laws for patients to be able to get their labs.

She needs to be knocked down a few steps -  You can overcome her in an paaropriate way without lowering yourself to her level. It's very easy and I found that out the hard way too.

Know your simple rights as a patient.

Everything in your lab can indicate normal testing - but I think the levels are still off a bit - just my two cents on this -

TSH was 2.41      Range .35 - 4.94  ( Shoot for around 1.8 and see how that is for you)

Free T3 was 4.32      range 2.63 - 5.69 ( Maybe a little higher may relieve your symptoms)

Free T4 was 12          Range 8 - 22  ( just a bit lower like 9 or 10 may show more conversion into Free T3 which then the Free T3 would fall a bit higher... maybe )

Good news on the antibodies testing - no damage being down at all. Put that to rest.

How's your Vit D - B and Iron counts?

[Jennifer1987]

Well, Iv changed doctors, saw my new doc today. He is really helpful but believes my thyroid is ok. Im going to try a few of his idea. Il do anything at this stage to help. The receptionist in the old docs office is his wife so Im better off leaving it the way it is! Il get no say in it! Waiting to get my file off them..
Thanks for all the comments and help!

[peggy64]

Jennifer, I think you did the wise thing. As she is his wife, regardless of what you say, it will more than likely not change things. It WILL keep you from getting frustrated and other emotions that us thyroid patients have a hard time with anyway.  You saved yourself some grief in that respect, so congratulate yourself for that!

Hope this new dr works out for you. I hate to sound pessimistic but you might have to see more drs(as many others can attest) before you find the right one. But hang in there, you know your body more than any dr does.

[Barb135]

Hang in there - we've all had our share of problems with the doctors.  I'm going through the same thing with my PCP too.  I see a new endo next week, so hoping that will work out.  

[4helen]

Hi Jennifer - So sorry you had all that wait and hassle; is Ireland like here in the UK w the NHS? I relate!!  Very little we can do sometimes and energy zapping fighting THE system! Great news you've got a new doc and hope you feel better soon!   : )

[Jennifer1987]

New doc thinks anxiety has nothing to do with thyroid!!! Thinks I should go to counselling, Might give it a go.. He offered me anti depressants but I refused them. He seems really nice and spends the time to find out about me so Im going to go for a few sessiond, cant hurt!

Ya Ireland is like England in the area of health services, I hope I find a solution and soon..My college gas really suffered from it all!!

[kitty9309]

Perhaps this article would be enlightening and educational for your doctor:

http://www.drrichardhall.com/anxiety.htm

I went through the same thing. Argh!

[clearstock]

If the anti depressants don't work.  It probably your thyroid levels.  If your doctor won't listen to you on that look at your Cholestrol levels if they are high ask him if you can get a trail of Synthroid.  If it lowers your cholestrol, they will let you stay on.  Trust me, "I feel depressed"  won't get you any medication besides anti depressants.

Good Luck, I hope you feel better.

[Jennifer1987]

Im not on the anti depressants, I don't want to go down that road, i don't see anything wrong with it but its not for me! Iv another appointment next week with him so Il explain it all to him, My hair is coming out now over the past few weeks! Im going crazy, being tired is one thing but going bald is a whole other problem! :(

[gimel]

Don't know why it popped into my head, but after reading your blood test results, which were not what I expected, I wondered if your symptoms could be at all related to adrenal insufficiency.  This is an area I know very little about and understand even less than I know, but maybe some of the other members who are knowledgeable in this area will enlighten us.

[kitty9309]

My hair falls out when the TSH is over 2.

My cholesterol dropped 57 points when my TSH went from the 3.5-6.0 range down to about 1+/-. No other lifestyle changes. Original PCP wanted me on a statin instead of thyroid med!

[Jennifer1987]

My doctor wont rise my meds, he said 2.41 is within the normal ranges...... He just said I have an anxiety disorder..even though i just woke up one morning feeling like this! Im going mad and losing faith in the doctors!!!!

[Smilerdeb]

With a TSH of 2.41, it seems (like me ) that you are very sensitive to symptoms.
I have had a TSH of 2.0 and been great but when it rose to 2.3 I felt like the world was going to come to an end!
The anxiety was unreal so do know where you are coming from.
To combat the rise when mine went up, I increased my dosage to 62.5mcg 4 times a week instead of 3 times a week (spaced out) and it did wonders within days.
I am not telling you to increase but my suggestion would be to take the approach with your Doctor that you would like to increase and that should you go Hyper (or feel hyper) that you will go back to the original dose.
Basically trick reversal is needed.
Rather than saying to him ..'I want to increase my meds'.
I would be saying..."What do you think about me increasing my dosage and if I go Hyper than going back to the original dose? I really have nothing to lose?".
This way you are making the Doctor feel HE is in control but in actual fact...YOU are the one in control.

Just a thought.
Worked for me lol

Let us know how you go.

[Jennifer1987]

Il try that, I have an appointment with him next tuesday but might try get an earlier app... I think everyone thinks Im going insane now! no-one will listen to me, I was thinking about taking a rise by myself but I better not.. Could make things worse...

[kitty9309]

Jennifer:

Please, show this to the doctor:

http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/Hypothyroidism%20_web_booklet.pdf

page 18.

[Jennifer1987]

Thanks, I just looked at it there, Im going to tell my doctor all this and insist on an increase! I think I need to stand up for myself more! I think if I can get my TSH down to 1ish Il be much better!