Doctor refuses T3

[Josiecatgrl]

My beloved doctor left her practice about a year ago. Her replacement is unsatisfactory to me.  In Oct. of this year I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism & anemia. I have been taking levothyroxine for well over two months and am still having hypo symptoms, such as hair loss, brain fog, slight weight gain, reduced energy levels, heavy & prolonged periods, despite now normal TSH levels & improved iron levels. My Free T3 level remains low - those numbers haven't even budged! Here's the thing: My new doctor flat out refuses to prescribe a small dose of Cytomel along with the levothyroxine, claiming that it's only used for psychiatric patients. I know this isn't true. Instead she wants to give me expensive tests and synthetic progestin for excessive menstrual bleeding rather than trying the T3 & seeing if that helps. I made it clear to her that I have had very negative reactions to progestins in the past & that I would rather try micronized progesterone (Prometrium). Even my old doc recommended that I avoid progestin. She responded with "Yes, this is progesterone. It's the same," as she was typing the Rx into her computer. When I got to the pharmacy to pick up the prescription lo & behold it was synthetic progestin!! She just doesn't listen & seems to dismiss my symptoms. I've asked for a referral to an endocrinologist, who was highly recommended to me by a co-worker, but the doctor is being obstinate about giving me the referral!! What can I do??? My insurance requires a referral. I need a new doctor!

[Barb135]

What are the actual results of your most recent thyroid labs?  What dosage of med are you on?  

Please post your labs, with reference ranges, since these vary from lab to lab, so must come from your own report.

You might also do some research on a new T4 med called Tirosint, which is a gel cap and you get better absorption than with pills. You can find out more here:

http://www.tirosintgelcaps.com/

[gimel]

You could always try to get her attention and see if she has any possibility of accepting that she could be wrong by giving her copies of these two great links that are written by doctors and then discussing the info with her.  In the second article it is even pointed out that  FT3 and FT4 in the lower half of their ranges frequently results in hypo symptoms.  
http://www.drkaslow.com/html/thyroid.html


http://www.hormonerestoration.com/Thyroid.html

You could go further and explain to the doctor that the reason for this is that the ranges for FT3 and FT4 have never been purged of suspect hypo patient data as was done for TSH when the reference range was corrected from .5 - 5.0, down to .3 - 3.0, which was a huge change.  If the ranges for FT3 and FT4 were similarly corrected, the new ranges would be more like the upper half of the current ranges.  I'm sure that is the reason why we hear from so many members with FT3 and FT4 in the lower part of the ranges, yet they still have hypo symptoms.  

You could also give the doctor a copy of this abstract of a scientific study that conclusively showed that the thyroid test that correlated best with hypo symptoms is FT3.  FT4 and TSH did not correlate with symptoms at all.

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/routledg/cjne/2000/00000010/00000002/art00002

If all this fails to impress the doctor, then I think it is a lost cause.  

My only other thought is that if the doctor is so reluctant to consider Cytomel, then why not a combo T4/T3 med, such as Armour, or NatureThroid, or Erfa (from Canada)?