Why am I not being treated for hypothyroid????

[dmama3]

Hello, I am a 47 (soon to be 48) yr old female who has been suffering for years with hypo symptoms!  Every time I see a dr about this, they tell me Im normal!  I finally had a dr to actually request FT3/FT4 test which has never been done in the past when I asked for it. I always thought T3/T4 was it.  The nurse called me back about the results and said everything was normal...again...and that my free T's were in the middle, what do you think???

TSH  2.87    (0.35-4.0)
FT3   2.7      (2.3-4.2)
FT4   0.95    (0.56-1.66)
T3 TOTAL  110   (90-200)
Do these numbers look in the middle range?  She put on Prozac a week ago for being moody (PMS)...I gain weight so easy, in the past I would have to starve myself and exercise myself to death to lose weight..my knees are killing me!  I have a strong family history of thyroid disease: mother, gma, gpa, aunts, neices and sister!  I have ALL symptoms except constipation, my resting heart rate is in the 40's so she sends me to a cardiologist, they find nothing wrong with my heart, so now she wants me to see a arrythmia specialist...are you kidding me???  I have begged her to treat my for hypothyroid but she insist my TSH is normal.  HELP!!!!!  

[dmama3]

Ok, I did what the doctor ordered and saw the electrophysiologist (arrythmia spec.)..everything is good, my heart is healthy!  So, I go back to dr and explain to her my symptoms could be from my thyroid, she insist my thyroid is PERFECTLY normal!  I pointed out the Ft3 range and how I could possibly benefit with it being in the upper third of the range..she said that had nothing to do with it...are you serious??!!
  
I then tell her I want to get a thyroid antibodies test, she agreed and also suggested an ultra sound...yea!  I also mentioned how my knees are getting worse (pain) and how my mom has Lupus on top of a list of other autoimmune diseases, so she ordered rhuematoid arthritis and an ANA test also.  Monday I go for the ultra sound..atleast she does what I ask on getting my labs, but as far as wanting to treat my thyroid...she refuses to go beyond her medical teachings of treating a thyroid in the so called "normal" range.
I did get a name from gimel of a good endo in my area and will wait to see what labs come back as then make an appointment with him.  
Thanks again everyone on this forum...you're the only ones who understand this battle!!

[gimel]

Lucky you.  I know of a terrific Endo in your area.  Can't post name here, but will send a PM with info.

[dmama3]

Hi gimel, thank you for responding to my post, do you have a list of doctors that are in my area that I could possibly consider seeing?  I understand that the TSH is not the only diagnosing factor here and if my doctor doesnt figure it out, I need to see someone else!  I went ahead and scheduled an appointment with the arrythmia specialist to hopefully rule out my heart as the problem, then maybe she will consider doing an antibodies test and whatever else needed to get my symptoms under control.

I appreciate any feedback you can give...this forum has been so helpful to me just in coping and knowing I'm not alone.  Thank you all!

[Barb135]

Check with gimel; he has a list of member recommended doctors; there might be one in  your area, on his list.

Ask for antibody testing and if your antibodies come back elevated, your doctor might change her mind.  Also ask for the ultra sound.  Nodules might also prompt her to change her mind.  

I know some members who have gone through several doctors before finding one that will work with them. Don't give up.

[dmama3]

Hi Barb135 and thank you for commenting, no I have never been tested for Hashi's and this doctor IS my new doctor...I keep looking for the one who will listen.  This doctor hasn't even felt my neck!!!  She is so concerned over it being my heart causing my problems.  My initial visit to her was for dizzy spells I was having everyday for the last couple of months. ECG and Holter monitor later confirmed it's not my heart.  I told her hypothyroidism can cause these symptoms.  All aside, my blood labs are all good, my HDL was 71!  
I just want relief for my symptoms, I love to exercise but have no desire to fight a losing battle..I have put on 10 lbs this month alone and I haven't changed any eating habits..that alone depresses me!  Thanks again for your input...if anyone knows a good doctor in the Austin, Tx area please let me know

[Barb135]

No, your FT's are not in the middle of their ranges.  They are both actually quite low, and even your TSH is "borderline", since your lab is using an old reference range.  Approximately 8 years ago, the AACE set the range for TSH at 0.3-3.0, so as you see yours is near the top.

It definitely looks like you could benefit from a low dose of thyroid medication.  

Have you been tested for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?  Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disease, in which the body sees the thyroid as foreign, and produces antibodies attack and destroy it.  Hashimoto's ultimately causes the patient to become hypo, and it's not at all unusual for symptoms to appear long before your actual thyroid levels indicate a problem.  

You should also ask to get a thyroid ultra sound, which will confirm/rule out thyroid nodules.

If your current doctor refuses to treat you, you may have to think about finding a different one.

[gimel]

TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many variables that it is totally inadequate as the 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.

Also, just because your Free T3 and Free T4 are in the so-called "normal" range does not mean that is adequate for you.  The ranges are far too broad for that to be true.  I won't get into all the detail of why that is the case, but many of our members, myself included, report that hypo symptom relief for them required that Free T3 was adjusted into the upper third of its range and Free T4 adjusted to around the middle of its range.

A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  symptom relief should be all important, not just test results.   You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he consults with from a  distance.  The letter is sent to the PCP of the patient to help guide treatment.  

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