Hello! This is my first time posting here. I saw another post by googling and thought someone might be able to offer some advice/help. The back story: I've had zero thyroid function since I was at least 12 when I was diagnosed. I'm not sure if they ever told my parents if it was Hashimoto's or not (they don't remember). I've been on Levothyroxine since then.
I'm currently 27. It has taken me a little while to be concerned/interested enough to try to understand it more than I had before. I'm a Tricare Prime patient, which means I have to see a doctor on base (unless I can get a referral--which is what I'm hoping you can help me in advocating for).
Since having children, I've had more trouble keeping a "normal" range, and that's what peaked my interested in learning more about it.
In July, I asked for a lab test so that I could get a refill on my medicine. (The doctors don't follow or keep up with anything---it's all up to the patient, for the most part). They called to tell me that my lab results were only "slightly above" normal and that they weren't going to change my medicine. It was fine as I noticed no symptoms to indicate that I was having an issue.
I realized afterward that my periods were being closer together, despite being on birth control (same one for the last 2.5 years, which I take at night so as not to interfere with my morning thyroid pills). In August, I started tracking them specifically. My last period was August 21 and lasted for 8 days (about 2 days longer than usual) and today (september 12) I started another period. I decided to call the doctor back and ask for another lab test, even though it hasn't been very long. They were obviously irritable about it, but they ordered the test and I won't have the results for 7 days. I stopped by and got a copy of the last lab results (from July 15).
TSH: 5.38
Thyroxine Free: 1.5
Thyroxine: 11.3
If my TSH is on the high side, my T4 should be lower than that, right? I know the T4 is in the "normal range", but it's on the very high side of normal for both, and I am confused about how that could be. If my body is producing more TSH, doesn't that mean it isn't detecting enough T4, which would mean the T4 should be low? Or could it be that it isn't detecting enough T3? Does synthroid give you T3, too? Is T3 probably the answer (they haven't checked T3).
The last thing I need to mention is that I have been very steadily trying (very hard) to lose weight, and I have been successful. Since November 2012, I have lost 31 pounds (which I realize isn't very much for working on it almost an entire year). I've exercised 4 times a week and use myfitnesspal to track my food, which I keep between 1400 and 1600 calories per day.
In order to be referred to be seen by a "specialist", I'm going to have to know what to ask for and what I need and why this could be my thyroid. I can't just say, "this doesn't make sense", or they're going to tell me to deal with it.
I want to have another baby at some point, and I don't want my fertility to be all messed up just because I have a sucky doctor.