Recommendations for ENDO in Tampa,FL?

[SunshineFLA]

Is anyone able to recommend a Doctor (Endocrinologist?) in my area? Tampa, FL.  Any advice, tips, recommendations will be greatly appreciated.

Lab results:
Free T4:2.4 (1.4-3.8)
T4: 7.9 (4.5-12.00)
T3uptake:30% (22%-35%)
Tsh:0.94 (0.4-4.5)

I've been to many PCP's and now an Endocrinologist. Who said I don't have a thyroid problem. Endo said I need to "lose weight & do the south beach diet." Also wants me to have another ultrasound sound done at his office. He doesn't think other places are as accurate.

I already had an ultrasound a month ago confirming I have a Goiter. Goiter is  "choking" me & wakes me up because I choke in my sleep. Hard to swallow medicine/food. I'm being told (3rd time) low vitamin D & that's what is causing all my symptoms.

Medications:
I've been taking vitamin D for 2yrs, B12-2yrs, Fish oil-4yrs, magnesium 4yrs, Prenatal vitamins for 6yrs. (Also, Metformin for PCOS. I take magnesium to "treat" uterine fibroids)
PCP prescribed cholesterol medicine. I told the Endo it is hurting my stomach (nonstop aching pain) he said "Then don't take it"...??? My cholesterol jumped to 295.

Symptoms:
I went from 180lbs to 225lbs within a year. I've lost so much hair I have bald spots. The few hairs I have feel like hay. I have insomnia, living off 3-4hrs of sleep for 2yrs now. Nails break off, my feet are painfully cold 24/7. IBS has worsened. My panic/anxiety disorder has worsened, maybe from lack of sleep?(I know it's mental & I need therapy). I feel extremely weak, I can't open a twist cap on a plastic milk jug or even my medicine bottles. My memory is horrible. I try to push myself to workout but if I do anything other than walking I get lightheaded & can't get enough air. Walking 15 feet and I'm already feeling like I can't get enough air. I have to take quick showers or I start to blackout. But its not just from being fat. It feels like a different type of struggle to breathe.
depression is getting worse.

If it matters:
I don't drink alcohol, don't smoke anything & I don't abuse any drugs. Never been diagnosed (or checked?) with asthma, I do have 24/7 allergies but take nothing for it. Sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes.

[gimel]

That is just awful that the doctor did not adequately test you, then ignored your symptoms, and basically blamed your problems on you.   The tests for T3 Uptake and Total T4 are basically outdated and not very useful.  Instead you should always make sure they test for both of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3.   Free T3 is metabolized by all the cells of your body to provide needed energy.  Also, even though your TSH is relatively low in the range, that does not preclude hypothyroidism,with all your classic hypothyroid symptoms, it only means there is the likelihood of central hypothyroidism.  With central hypothyroidism there is a dysfunction in the  hypothalamus/pituitary system that results in TSH levels that are too low to adequately stimulate the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormone.  

A good thyroid doctor will diagnose a potential hypothyroid patient primarily on symptoms, followed by levels of Free T4 and Free T3.  Even if FT4 and FT3 are within range, that does not preclude hypothyroidism since the ranges are far too broad to be functional for many people.  After diagnosis of probably hypothyroidism, a good thyroid doctor will treat the patient clinically by testing and adjusting FT4 and FT3 levels as needed to relieve hypothyroid symptoms, without being influenced by resultant TSH levels.  You can confirm all this by reading at least the first two pages of the following link.  I suggest reading even further to get into the discussion and scientific evidence supporting all the suggestions on page 2, which includes recommended tests.  

http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/TUK_PDFs/diagnosis_and_treatment_of_hypothyroidism_issue_1.pdf

So, you do need to get to a good thyroid doctor.  I am sending you a PM with a recommendation.  To access, just click on your name and then from your personal page click on messages.  Please let us know how things progress for you.

[SunshineFLA]

Thank you for the information & the link for a doctor! I will be contacting the Doctor's office tomorrow. Thank you so much again!