HELP - Need a doctor in Milwaukee, WI

[HeidiKangas]

HI All,

I have been Hypothyroid for over 10 yrs. now and never have recovered from hypo symptoms (hair loss, dry skin, weight gain, cold hands/feet, depression, etc). Been on Synthroid, Armour, and now on Synthroid/Cytomel combo; but, my T3 levels are still low (a month ago on Armour, I was 80 - lab low is 87; switched to combo and I'm still low at 0.7 - lab low is 0.8). My Endo refused to believe it's my thyroid, so I will not be going back to him and need to find a doctor in the Milwaukee, WI area that is a little more open minded and willing to look at my symptoms and lab results altogether (instead of looking at me like I'm crazy). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Feeling very disheartened, and frustrated to say the least!

Thanks,
Heidi

[gimel]

I just sent you a PM with info.  To access, just click on your name and then from your personal page, click on messages.

[lcjohan]

Just joined your community of thyroid HELP forum and am hoping to find a Good Endo in the Downers Grove, Il. area with out having to go more than 20 miles...Any suggestions?

[gimel]

I just sent a PM with info.  To access, just click on your name and then from your personal page, click on messages.  

[gimel]

I just sent you a PM with info.  To access, just click on your name and then from your personal page, click on messages.  

[PureLauren]

I just left a note on your wall. Can you please send me your recommendation for a doctor in Green Bay? or anywhere in a 150 mile radius (yes, i am that desperate).

[HeidiKangas]

I was wondering if anyone has found an Endo in the Milwaukee area (or within 50 miles) that they recommend? Mine retired and I was passed along to a very young doctor (looks like he could be my son), who does not like that I am on Cytomel at all and would love to stop the script. I really need someone that takes medical insurance too.

[gimel]

As you have picked up, you never want to medicate a hypothyroid patient based on TSH.  TSH is a pituitary hormone that is supposed to accurately reflect levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3; however, TSH does not correlate well with either, much less with symptoms, which should be the most important consideration.  When already taking thyroid med, TSH basically is a useless test.  

A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypothyroid patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T4 and Free T3 as needed to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  You can get some good insight from this link written by a good thyroid doctor.

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

Your lab results show that your T4 dose is higher than needed, and your body is not adequately converting the T4 to T3.  Note that you were tested for Total T3, not Free T3.  You should always make sure they test for both Free T4 and Free T3.  So, with your low T3 level, you need to get your doctor to reduce your T4 med and add a source of T3, like Cytomel, or a generic.  Another option would be to switch to a desiccated type med, like Armour Thyroid or NatureThroid, which contain both T4 and T3.  When already taking T4 med it is usually easier to just add needed T3 med and then they can be adjusted independently.  

In addition, hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin.  Low levels can cause symptoms.  Low D or ferritin can adversely affect metabolism of thyroid hormone.  D should be about 55-60, B12 in the very pper end of its range, and ferritin should be about 70 minimum.  You need to get those tested and then supplement as needed to optimize.  

If your doctor is unwilling to treat clinically as described, and also prescribe T3 meds, then you will need to find a good thyroid doctor that will do so.  If that is the case, I will see if I can locate one and let you know.  (jmje95 just let me know that the doctor I gave her had moved out of state, so I am looking further.)

[jmje95]

Thank you for your quick reply.
The T4 Free is 1.88 w/ range of .93-1.70
The T3 Total is .88 w/ range of .80-2.00

This is the first time I have been tested for these.
Thank you again
Sharon

[gimel]

Please double check those lab results for T4 and T3, and make sure they are not reversed  Also please post reference ranges shown on the lab report.  

[gimel]

jmje95  I just sent you a PM with info.  To access, just click on your name and from your personal page click on messages.

[gimel]

I just sent a PM with info for you.  To access, just click on your name and then from your personal page, click on messages.

[jmje95]

Hello, I would like to get information on the doctor you are referring to in the Milwaukee and Green Bay area.  Thank you.

[jmje95]

Hello, Thank you for this forum and the information and guidance you provide. Looking for Milw. doctor, etc.,
I am just beginning to educate myself and am overwhlemed by the various website and blogs - WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND to READ?/FOLLOW?

I would like to get information on the doctor you are referring to in the Milwaukee and Green Bay area for Thyroid.  I am 64 YOA, female, diagnosed approx. 20+ years ago. Always only been on Synthroid.
I currently use my GP and after just newly learning there is more to my thryoid then TSH asked for full panel including reverse T3 and antibodies, etc., she usually only runs TSH. She said Yes, but then when I received test results back only did TSH, T4 & T3.
She keeps changing medication (Synthroid) from .88 to .100 based on my labs every 3-6 months.  I am very frustrated with being unable to lose weight even though I have a very healthy/clean diet and exercise with intensity 5x a week.  I also have fatigue.  
Here is a bit of history: Dec 2015 - Dr. now .88 after these labs it was .100
TSH .372
T4 1..88  
T3 .88
Oct 2015- TSH 6.24 - changed dose .88 in Sept, changed to .100 in October after these labs
April 2015 - TSH 2.63
Feb 2015 - TSH 1.01
Nov 2014 - TSH 1.12
Sep 29, 2014 - TSH 6.7
Sep 23, 2014 - TSH 4.7
March 2014 - TSH 2.02
Dec 2013 - 2.39
Oct 2013 - 0.13
Dec 2012 - 3.56
Thank you.
Sharon

[Beardog9752]

I  have no thyroid and my dr. Tells me my blood work is fine, Ian taking armor and I feel tired,weight gain,muscle hurt ,loss of hair I would love to see a specialist but don't know of one in the ozaukee,or Milwaukee area if you can help me.

[abbier06]

Your post is nearly a year old, but I am in your exact spot. Both mother and grandmother had thyroid cancer after hypo and I have every single symptom but my doctor will not do any other than the "basic" tests and she says that I am just at the low end of the range but not completely out of the range and to come back in a year. I can't keep living like this. Have you found a doctor? Thank you!

[flyingfool]

I have a name of a Dr but my wife has not seen this Dr so it is totally based upon word of mouth.

This Dr is in Madison.  The name is Dr. Bharat Raman and the Dr is part of the Dean Health Systems HMO.  I believe the office is in the heart of the city of Madison itself.

I know this is longer than 50 miles but I thought I'd offer this Dr up.

my wife may be switching to this Dr as teh Endo my wife was seeing has retired last month!

[ccariello]

Hi,

Just saw your post.  My apology for not responding sooner.
I do not know if I have Has his.

I have a history of thyroid issues with women in the family so I believe it is "not in my head."  Having a hard time finding a DR that will do a complete work up beyond the standard test or they think I am in the normal range.

Live in Racine, but would be willing to travel apx. 50 miles for the right DR.

Thanks again!

[kkat1]

Hi,
I am still looking.  I did go to an alternative MD in Oak Creek and he told me to go gluten free. I did.  That was May 2012 and now all  my numbers are in check and I have gone from three nodules on thyroid to two.  I follow up with an Endo in Milwaukee, dr Saftkus, but she is hard to understand and basically is just monitoring me.  Do you have Hashis?

[ccariello]

Hi,  New to the site and am hoping to find a forward thinking thyroid specialist.  I am in SE Wis. (Racine) but would travel for the right specialist. Any thoughts?  Thanks so much.

[Barb135]

Thanks for the update on your recent appointment.  I'd agree that doctor probably wouldn't be one to recommend.

I haven't looked at this thread for a while, but I noticed a comment from ChasingMonkeys and the mention of "POTS"....... I believe she meant POP, which stands for Pelvic Organ Prolapse and can cause bladder issues, such as frequent urination and/or infections.  It's can be from constipation caused by inadequate thyroid treatment/hypothyroidism.  It's particularly common in those who have had hysterectomy, because that leaves a "void" in the body for other organs to fall into.

Swelling/puffiness in hands/feet/face can be a symptom of hypo.

[HeidiKangas]

Dr. Jacobson is very friendly but is VERY old school Endocrinology and told me that he only has one patient on Synthroid/Cytomel combo and only prescribes Synthroid for ALL other patients. Agreed that my labs looked good on combo though and said he would recommend I stay on both of them since it's already seems to be working. (since my F4 is low, said that he would "consider" increasing Synthroid slightly, but didn't think it needed to be done since T4 is for conversion to T3 and my T3 levels were fine. Then he proceeded to tell us that he felt that prescribing meds and lab results were "an exact science", and even if people continue to have symptoms when their labs show their hormone levels are within normal range, they would still be considered Eurothyroid and wouldn't change anything.

So, with that said, I don't think he is the doctor for anyone on this site to visit, but that is up to them!

[HeidiKangas]

Thank you for the FYI about the urinating thing. My GP said she thinks its from bowel issues from thyroid putting pressure on the bladder, but I will look into what POTS is.

My appointment with the new Endo is tomorrow at 2:00, so I will let you know how it goes. I have lots of anticipation about my appointment and am very glad to have my husband going along.

[ChasingMonkeys]

I am in Sheboygan and would love any names of DRs that are treating based on family history and symptoms. My free t3 and t4 are on the low end of normal, but the symptoms are prettty weary. Just wasted 2 hours at the Dr this morning trying to go through my history, only to be told that this DR doesn't treat with Armour. Sigh... Willing to go to GB or MKE, as it stands I am going to see a Dr out of state that a friend goes to if I can't find something before June.
I'm new to this site, just found it on a search.  Hope to learn more from this post.
PS the urinating thing could be related to something called POTS, look into it.

[HeidiKangas]

I have not been to him yet (my appointment is on May 2nd), so I cannot recommend him yet. But, his name is Dr. M. Jacobson [phone]

[kkat1]

Can you give the name of the endo in Milwaukee?  I am from the Racine area and am having thyroid issues.  Thanks~

[HeidiKangas]

Thank you for your replies. I will finally get to go to the Endo in Milwaukee on May 2nd. My husband is going with me because he is concerned that they are not listening to me and he feels that they might listen better if he is there to affirm my issues that I continue to have even on meds. Pray he listens and is open to helping me instead of being a "meathead" and only looking at lab results, LOL! (Trying to keep a sense of humor about it, otherwise, it is very depressing). I'll let you all know how it goes in a couple of weeks.

BTW, wondering if anyone else has ever had bladder issues due to their thyroid problems? Not sure if it's a new thing or not, but when I eat salty things, I swell up "really" bad (can't get rings off and real puffy under eyes), and I have to urinate like every 30 minutes to hour, and my bladder feels like it is spasming. It is a real pain.

[Sami543]

Don't give up trying to find a do doctor that listens!!!!!! I'm going threw the same thing and they all look at me like I'm crazy.. I have a very low t3 and lower ranges of t4 and tsh... Her excuse was that " ur not obese... So ur fine" but I feel like crap. Please message me to let me know if the mawaki MI endo is any better. Wish u luck ! Mean while ..Don't give up eat lots of Greek yougart peanutbutter fruit and veggies don't stress

[flyingfool]

Stella5349 who was active on this site for quite some time is from SE Wisconsin.  But I have not seen her active on the site recently.  She is still listed in the top thyroid answers on the right side of this forums page.

You may want to try sending her a Private Message and see if she reply's. She may know a Dr. somewhere in the Milwaukee area.  Worth a try anyhow.