Doctors like to believe that hypothyroidism is just related to thyroid levels and that they can assess your status by just testing TSH, and sometimes a Free T4 test. In reality hypothyroidism is insufficient T3 effect in tissue throughout the body due to inadequate levels of, or response to, thyroid hormone. So there is a lot more involved than just thyroid hormone levels, that doctors erroneously believe are accurately sensed by the hypothalamus/pituitary system, with resultant secretion of TSH.
Except at extreme levels, (TSH> 10) it is totally inadequate as the primary diagnostic for possible hypothyroidism. TSH has only a weak correlation with thyroid hormone levels, and a negligible correlation with Tissue T3 Effect, which determine a person's thyroid status as either hypothyroid, euthyroid, or hyperthyroid.
The best way to diagnose a potential thyroid patient's thyroid status is with an integrated approach, with a full medical history, an evaluation for signs/symptoms that occur more frequently with hypothyroidism, and comprehensive biochemical testing. That testing should include Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, TSH, TPO ab if TSH is high, TG ab if TSH is high but TPO ab is negative, cortisol, Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin. You can read about this in the following link. I highly recommend reading at least the first two pages, and more, if you want to get into the discussion and scientific evidence for all that is recommended.
http://www.thyroiduk.org/tuk/TUK_PDFs/The%20Diagnosis%20and%20Treatment%20of%20Hypothyroidism%20%20August%202017%20%20Update.pdf
I was going to say that I could not believe that you have not been tested for the actual biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3. But then I noted you were from Canada, and under the dictates of national health care. Even if you get tested for FT4 and FT3, the chances are that they will still be within the so-called "normal" range and the doctor will do nothing. By contrast a good thyroid doctor will pay most attention to the presence of symptoms that occur more frequently with hypothyroidism and support that evaluation with tests. When diagnosed you would be given thyroid med as needed to relieve signs/symptoms of hypothyroidism without creating signs/symptoms of hyperthyroidism. This "sweet spot" is called euthyroidism.
I have no idea if you could find a good thyroid doctor within the national health service there, but i have the name of a doctor that was recommended by another thyroid patient in your area. I will send you a PM with info. To access, just click on your name and then from your personal page, click on messages.
I had to wait 4 years for my TSH to rise to 6 before any doctor would treat me! Sad state of affairs. At the time I didn't know about the integrative doctor working at the beach, perhaps at the time he wasn't..not sure, but there is a good reason there is a three month wait as this doctor does treat what conventional doctor don't or won't. I would also have started at 25 mcg at the beginning as 50mcg was to much for me at the start.
Hello, I am also only 21-years-old but also suffer with Hashimoto's disease and had a similar situation to happen to me. I was just barely out of the normal range but still was experiencing all of the symptoms and my antibodies were out of this world. My hair was falling out, I couldn't get out of bed, and I start gaining a ton of weight. My end I said we'd "monitor" it but I couldn't deal with it any longer. I just switched practices and endocrinologists and so far I have been treated much better. I'm on 25mcg of Synthroid and my hair has stopped falling out and my energy improved(still waiting on the weight loss). My advice to you would to do the same. Switch practices and specialists!
the Original post is maddening, but unfortunately all too common.
Think about this. having Hashi's means that "sooner or later" you WILL be on medication. So what this genius Dr is suggesting, is that he (or she) is willing to let you feel miserable and symptomatic, and wait to start you out on medication that he knows is virtually inevitable.
He is saying you have to feel absolutely horrible terrible, before he will do some thing that he knows he will end up doing at some later point.
Ask yourself this: What kind of Dr would let a patient feel horrible for some undetermined length of time, when he could treat you now to feel well?
Does that make ANY logical sense?