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Finding a doctor who understands thyroid/adrenal problems
Hello, I am helping my cousin out who has suddenly (in the last 3 weeks) became homebound because she is so ill. She saw a holistic doctor who said that her thyroid is low and that she has adrenal fatigue. She has all the symptoms of both. After a detox diet which coincided with her quick and steep decline, he told her "to think happy thoughts" to decrease her stress. If only it was so easy to get better.
Everything that I read on the internet tells me how important it is to find a doctor who treats both the thyroid and the adrenal gland, and doesn't blow it all off as a psychiatric problem. She said that she doesn't even have the energy to pick up the phone and make calls, so I want to find a doctor for her. I'm finding it hard to find to find recommendations for a good endocrinologist in NYC, so I'm left to just calling doctors blind. What should I be asking them on the phone to find out if the doctor is good? I don't want my cousin going from doctor to doctor and being sick for years because she needs 120 mg of T4 and she's only getting 30 mg, or something like that.
Thanks.
Everything that I read on the internet tells me how important it is to find a doctor who treats both the thyroid and the adrenal gland, and doesn't blow it all off as a psychiatric problem. She said that she doesn't even have the energy to pick up the phone and make calls, so I want to find a doctor for her. I'm finding it hard to find to find recommendations for a good endocrinologist in NYC, so I'm left to just calling doctors blind. What should I be asking them on the phone to find out if the doctor is good? I don't want my cousin going from doctor to doctor and being sick for years because she needs 120 mg of T4 and she's only getting 30 mg, or something like that.
Thanks.
The Hashimoto indicator is the TPOab and Tgab test. Thank you for clarifying the Rt3 has nothing to do with Hashimoto.
Thanks for your post, and I do understand how you got the impression you did.
I left some things out about my 2nd appt with the doctor that also have me wondering if she was a good choice.
At our 1st appt, based upon the symptoms I stated and a couple of in-office tests she performed, the dr initially was adamant I had adrenal fatigue, was possibly menopausal (I've had a hysterectomy so we can't tell the usual way), probably had hypoglycemia, and a host of deficiencies, and the lab results would give her a plethora of diagnoses that would allow her to begin treatment and extend my disability.
On the 2nd visit, she had no idea who I was. She did not remember our 2 hour appointment 10 days ago. She made no mention of adrenal fatigue or any of the other disorders. She said I was premenopausal and I said, "The results show I'm pre-menopausaul?" She said, "You still menstruate right?" I reminded her I had a hysterectomy. She apologised and said she forgot. My anxiety did rise up quite a bit because she seemed to have no idea why I was even there. We had to remind her of the pending 24-hr cortisol tests.
She did agree to extend my disability, and when she was filling out the forms, she said she didn't know what the diagnoses codes are. So 1st she tried looking at the blood work up order, which has codes on it. Then I gave her notes from my therapist, which she copied verbatim because the dr said she didn't know what Axis I, II, III, or IV meant.
This troubled my husband and me that she wasn't familiar with some medical terminology as well.
My husband says he was completely fooled from the 1st appt, he thought she was going to be great. He went away from the 2nd appt very upset (for me) and angry (he never showed her this).
I'm happy my husband was with me because he was able to see this a bit more objectively than I.
We'll go back to her when the cortisol tests come back to see what they say.
But we both were disappointed in her lack of preparedness and lack of knowledge of how the adrenal and thyroid interact.
I left some things out about my 2nd appt with the doctor that also have me wondering if she was a good choice.
At our 1st appt, based upon the symptoms I stated and a couple of in-office tests she performed, the dr initially was adamant I had adrenal fatigue, was possibly menopausal (I've had a hysterectomy so we can't tell the usual way), probably had hypoglycemia, and a host of deficiencies, and the lab results would give her a plethora of diagnoses that would allow her to begin treatment and extend my disability.
On the 2nd visit, she had no idea who I was. She did not remember our 2 hour appointment 10 days ago. She made no mention of adrenal fatigue or any of the other disorders. She said I was premenopausal and I said, "The results show I'm pre-menopausaul?" She said, "You still menstruate right?" I reminded her I had a hysterectomy. She apologised and said she forgot. My anxiety did rise up quite a bit because she seemed to have no idea why I was even there. We had to remind her of the pending 24-hr cortisol tests.
She did agree to extend my disability, and when she was filling out the forms, she said she didn't know what the diagnoses codes are. So 1st she tried looking at the blood work up order, which has codes on it. Then I gave her notes from my therapist, which she copied verbatim because the dr said she didn't know what Axis I, II, III, or IV meant.
This troubled my husband and me that she wasn't familiar with some medical terminology as well.
My husband says he was completely fooled from the 1st appt, he thought she was going to be great. He went away from the 2nd appt very upset (for me) and angry (he never showed her this).
I'm happy my husband was with me because he was able to see this a bit more objectively than I.
We'll go back to her when the cortisol tests come back to see what they say.
But we both were disappointed in her lack of preparedness and lack of knowledge of how the adrenal and thyroid interact.
Hi Jane........I can't help but notice, by reading the progression of your posts.......that your anxiety seems to play a large roll in how you're responding to the results of your blood tests.On the one hand, you seemed rather confident in your latest doctors ability to get to the bottom of your problems. But.......after the test results.......your confidence seemed to plummet and you asked many of the well meaning people in this forum for their opinions. It seems you'll get many, many, differing opinions as to what your results mean.........whereas it's my opinion that you return to the doctor in whose confidence you believed.......and ask her........what do the low B's mean ?..........should I be taking synthroid before we settle the adrenal problems ? all the questions you have.......ask her directly and see if you can't again build the confidence you had. I'm also sure that you're aware that the diazepam you've been on for quite a few years......is valium......and can act as a depressant for some people. I would speak to your psychiatrist about that issue.......it could be playing with your head with all this anxiety you're feeling. I guess what I mostly have gotten from reading your posts........is......that you're getting lots of differing and sometimes conflicting advice from some very well meaning people..........but..........they're not doctors.........and if you ask more than one doctor.......you may get many differing opinions.........so.......it boils down to picking one person to believe in.......then.......do what they say. I wish you nothing but the very best in your quest for answers.........I can hear the panic in your posts and it's very understandable..........good luck............peace and love......Norma
Thanks all of you so much for posting. My anxiety is increasing by the minute, and I've had to take more diazepam to stop crying. Your posts do make me think I've picked the wrong doctor, though.
The doctor didn't say anything about adrenal fatigue at our last visit. She didn't say anything about low sodium or low B's being linked to adrenal fatigue. All she talked about was maybe I would get Hashimoto's and that it would be OK to take synthroid even though I said I'm concerned about my adrenals getting messed up even further.
I mentioned Armour and she's willing to prescribe that, but I read on some other sites that it may not help someone like me who is so very sensitivie to meds/vitamins/supplements. Something about the ratio of T4 to T3 being very high.
The problem with B's is if I take even small doses in a multivitamin, I get very jittery. Maybe I should take a children's dosage?
My doctor said nothing about the low Bs and that bothers me a lot, as well as her not saying anything about the low sodium.
How in the world does someone find a doctor who knows what he/she is doing? I dont' have the stamina or motivation to call a bunch of places and keep repeating my case. I'm on disability from work for the past 6 weeks, but they'll only wait so long before they terminate me. Which adds a lot more stress.
My husband has been taking off so much work time to try to help me, and it's taking a huge toll on his emotional reserves.
I though of going to an ER, but I'm worried they'll put me in a psych ward and not even look at the physical side of things. My anxiety is out of control and I have to get help with that, but then what? I am so scared.
The doctor didn't say anything about adrenal fatigue at our last visit. She didn't say anything about low sodium or low B's being linked to adrenal fatigue. All she talked about was maybe I would get Hashimoto's and that it would be OK to take synthroid even though I said I'm concerned about my adrenals getting messed up even further.
I mentioned Armour and she's willing to prescribe that, but I read on some other sites that it may not help someone like me who is so very sensitivie to meds/vitamins/supplements. Something about the ratio of T4 to T3 being very high.
The problem with B's is if I take even small doses in a multivitamin, I get very jittery. Maybe I should take a children's dosage?
My doctor said nothing about the low Bs and that bothers me a lot, as well as her not saying anything about the low sodium.
How in the world does someone find a doctor who knows what he/she is doing? I dont' have the stamina or motivation to call a bunch of places and keep repeating my case. I'm on disability from work for the past 6 weeks, but they'll only wait so long before they terminate me. Which adds a lot more stress.
My husband has been taking off so much work time to try to help me, and it's taking a huge toll on his emotional reserves.
I though of going to an ER, but I'm worried they'll put me in a psych ward and not even look at the physical side of things. My anxiety is out of control and I have to get help with that, but then what? I am so scared.
Oops - made a mistake. A high Reverse T3 is NOT an indicator of Hashimotos. There's another test (don't know it) and if the presence of antibodies is positive, then it's called Hashimotos Thyroiditis.
And sorry, moderator - I didn't know that mentioning other groups was not OK - won't do it again. Jane, if you want to know the location of those groups, send me an email.
And sorry, moderator - I didn't know that mentioning other groups was not OK - won't do it again. Jane, if you want to know the location of those groups, send me an email.
Hi Jane, You should definitely join two ***** ******:
NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS
NaturalThyroidHormones
The people there, Janie, Val and others are amazing with the support and knowledge. They analyze lab results and have experienced exactly what you are feeling. Another invaluable website is www.stopthethyroidmadness.com.
From everything that I've read, Armour Thyroid is superior to Synthroid. With just a little research (search google for 'armour vs. synthorid' or 'benefits of synthroid' which just turned up results of the disadvantages) you'll learn a lot more about Armour.
Re: your labs, I know very little but do know that the Free T3 should be at the top of the range, and the reverse T3 looks too high which is an indicator of Hashimotos.
Sometimes, a doctor/RN is open minded to trying different thyroid meds.
But, if there's one piece of advice that I can give, and that is to join those 2 ***** ******.
NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS
NaturalThyroidHormones
The people there, Janie, Val and others are amazing with the support and knowledge. They analyze lab results and have experienced exactly what you are feeling. Another invaluable website is www.stopthethyroidmadness.com.
From everything that I've read, Armour Thyroid is superior to Synthroid. With just a little research (search google for 'armour vs. synthorid' or 'benefits of synthroid' which just turned up results of the disadvantages) you'll learn a lot more about Armour.
Re: your labs, I know very little but do know that the Free T3 should be at the top of the range, and the reverse T3 looks too high which is an indicator of Hashimotos.
Sometimes, a doctor/RN is open minded to trying different thyroid meds.
But, if there's one piece of advice that I can give, and that is to join those 2 ***** ******.
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