diagnosed with various thyroid problems, symptoms becoming more severe.

[tlm21491]

I have been diagnosed with a thyroid problem for nearly a year now, however it was existing about a year before it was noticed. I have a sizable goiter in my throat. I was initially diagnosed as hypothyroid and my doctor set me on a waiting period of 6 months, i returned and she informed me it had changed to hyperthyroid. However, she does not want to give me treatment, as she said my nodules are not currently active. I am a sophomore in college and recently this year i have been experiencing bouts of extreme dizziness followed by passing out. When i told my doctor this she told me to "get accustomed to it". I am wondering if the passing out is really coming from the thyroid or if there is some other underlying cause, furthermore I am curious as to what i should do as far as pursuing treatment because honestly the growing accustomed thing is not working, I fell tonight and hit my head pretty hard. Basically, I am wondering if anybody else has any similar symptoms and how they have dealt with them. Any help or comments would be appreciated. Thank you :)

[gimel]

Have a look at this list of Top Thyroid Doctors in Kentucky and see if there are any that look like prospects for you.  I've found this list to be helpful in locating doctors for members.  Make sure to read the patient reviews.  They are very helpful.

http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/kentucky.htm


If you find a good prospect, then you might consider using a technique I've used successfully many times.   I call and say that I'm looking for a good thyroid doctor, but before making an appointment, I'd like to speak to a nurse and ask a couple of questions.  Then I ask if the doctor is willing to treat a thyroid patient clinically, by testing and adjusting free T3 and free T4 levels as necessary to relieve symptoms, rather than relying on TSH as the diagnostic.  If the answer is yes, then I ask if the doctor is willing to prescribe meds other than T4 types.  Of course, if either answer is no, then I just move on and keep looking.

For a little more info on clinical treatment, here is a link to a letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he is consulting with from a distance.  The letter is sent to the patient's PCP, to help guide treatment.  

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

When you locate a good prospect and want to make an appointment, make sure to mention the serious symptoms you are currently having and the need for an early appointment.

[tlm21491]

I am located in Eastern Kentucky, i am currently seeing a doctor in Lexington

[gimel]

Where are you located?  Maybe a member could recommend a good thyroid doctor.

[tlm21491]

Also, the tests i have had done has been 2 uptake scans and various blood tests, however the results have hardly been discussed with me, my last appointment was in october, where she scheduled another apt for april, sent me for more tests, then, after a week of trying to obtain my results, she responded saying it had changed from hypo-hyper but she didnt want to seek treatment, and to be prepared to be anxious, sleepless, and depressed.

[tlm21491]

I am currently not on any medication, other than my birth control which i have been taking for about 8 months now. yes, i agree i do need a new doctor however i am having difficulty finding one. I am tired of just "dealing with it" because upon passing out this weekend i really hurt my head. I have been trying to contact my doctor in order to talk to her, however any calls result in me being placed on hold and then no call backs, this has been the process for any test results, sometimes i have even been told the results were lost. I will post my results when i am able to finally contact my dr. My blood pressure is good, however my blood sugar, i do not know. My other symptoms have been increasing anxiety, so much so its beginning to interfere with my school work at times, additionally i have difficulty concentrating and my bowel movements (when they happen) are terrible, regardless of what i have eaten. Thank you both for responding, and as more information comes my way i will post it.

[FTB4]

Barb is right, "Get used to it" is not a good response from an MD Get rid of Him/Her
I have Hashimoyo's and I have the dizzyness on and off, although the passing out has not happened to me, I was taking Trazodone for digestive issues and stopped because the warning said May cause Dizzyness, and low blood sugar and/or low blood pressure can make you dizzy when changing positions very quick, as in standing too quick or bending over then standing. I would check all the side effects of what meds you are taking also.
You can go to Drugs.com and register, input your meds and do an interaction search or just check out side effects. My md told me that Thyroid will cause dizzyness, but its a little different than blacking out. You also need to determine if it is caused by imbalance with the ear, that will also cause a feeling of dizzyness called Vertigo. Good Luck FTB4

[Barb135]

The first thing I might recommend is a different doctor!!  

Have you been tested for thyroid antibodies?  You may have an autoimmune thyroid disease, either Graves Disease or Hashimoto's Thyroiditis or both.  It's not uncommon to swing back and forth, hyper to hypo.

In regards to the dizziness, I have to wonder if that's totally thyroid related, as there are other things that can cause that.  Have you had your blood sugar levels tested to make sure you are hypoglycemic?  How's your blood pressure?  What other symptoms do you have?

Do you know what tests she's doing to check your thyroid?  If you have copies of your thyroid labs, please post the results, along with reference ranges for each test, as these ranges vary from lab to lab, so must come from your report.  If your doctor doesn't give you copies of your labs, she's obligated to upon request.  I never leave my doctor's office without copies of my labs, for my records.