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How to get Doctor to prescribe Levo??
Ok, I believe I am Hypothyroid, even Dr. Lupo on the expert Thyroid forum has stated twice that he would put me on a low dose Levo but my doctors all say I am fine. My TSH was 4.12, but my labs normal range is .05-4.5, so they said I am fine. I asked for more testing, got my TSH at 3.65 and negative for Tg antibodies but they forgot to test TPO antibodies like I asked. The FT3 and FT4 all in normal range. The TSH went down because my first test I had been fasting because of other tests taken at the same time. Since the TSH was 3.65 they again said you are fine.
I have been trying to conceive for going on 9 months now, and only ovulated 3 times. My doctor thinks I am depressed and wants to put me on anti-depressants but I said no since I am TTC. I cannot lose weight no matter what I do. Well, I went to the OB, told her my labs and she said you are fine. Asked why I am not ovulating she says because I had been on birth control for so long prior to trying. I really don't think birth control would affect my body this long.
My mother was Hyperthyroid, had iodine treatment, now Hypothyroid. So, it runs in my family. But no matter what I do my doctor's will not look at my Thyroid as a problem. I know I can try to get another doctor, but I can't keep switching doctors hoping to find one that will realize the lab ranges are out of date. I just don't know what to do anymore. I am to the point where I am contemplating buying Levo without a prescription and taking it myself. I know that is dangerous but I feel I have to take matters into my own hands now.
Any advice or anyone out there who can relate?
I have been trying to conceive for going on 9 months now, and only ovulated 3 times. My doctor thinks I am depressed and wants to put me on anti-depressants but I said no since I am TTC. I cannot lose weight no matter what I do. Well, I went to the OB, told her my labs and she said you are fine. Asked why I am not ovulating she says because I had been on birth control for so long prior to trying. I really don't think birth control would affect my body this long.
My mother was Hyperthyroid, had iodine treatment, now Hypothyroid. So, it runs in my family. But no matter what I do my doctor's will not look at my Thyroid as a problem. I know I can try to get another doctor, but I can't keep switching doctors hoping to find one that will realize the lab ranges are out of date. I just don't know what to do anymore. I am to the point where I am contemplating buying Levo without a prescription and taking it myself. I know that is dangerous but I feel I have to take matters into my own hands now.
Any advice or anyone out there who can relate?
Oops, forgot a couple of words at the end of this.
Then ask the nurse if the doctor is willing to treat a patient by testing and adjusting levels of the actual, biologically active thyroid hormones, free T3 and free T4, with whatever medication is necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.
Then ask the nurse if the doctor is willing to treat a patient by testing and adjusting levels of the actual, biologically active thyroid hormones, free T3 and free T4, with whatever medication is necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.
Here is a list of supposedly top thyroid doctors in your area. In thinking about which ones might be of interest, I always go through the patient feedback and see what they have to say. that is usually very revealing; Then when you have a couple of prospects, I have found a good approach to be to call their office and say that you are looking for a good thyroid doctor, but would like to ask a few questions of one of the nurses before making an appointment. I have yet to be turned down.
Then ask the nurse if the doctor is willing to treat a patient by testing and adjusting levels of the actual, biologically active thyroid hormones, free T3 and free T4, with whatever medication is necessary to relieve symptoms. If yes, then ask if the doctor is willing to prescribe meds other than T4 only types. If either answer is no, then keep looking for a good thyroid doctor.
http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/california2.htm
Then ask the nurse if the doctor is willing to treat a patient by testing and adjusting levels of the actual, biologically active thyroid hormones, free T3 and free T4, with whatever medication is necessary to relieve symptoms. If yes, then ask if the doctor is willing to prescribe meds other than T4 only types. If either answer is no, then keep looking for a good thyroid doctor.
http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/california2.htm
I have the test results at home....will find them and post them later. I live in Vacaville CA, 95687. It is Northern CA, between Sacramento and San Francisco. I don't believe I can self-refer to an Endo so I am just trying to find a sympathetic MD.
You need to find a good thyroid doctor that understands that you are the customer. You deserve to be treated with respect and treated for your thyroid problems. On the off chance that I might have knowledge of a good thyroid doctor in your area, what is your zip code?
Do you have the FT3 and FT4 results?
Do you have the FT3 and FT4 results?
Hi Gimel, I am aware of the AACE ranges but my doctors could care less, they only go by their lab ranges. One of my doctors even got mad at me and belittled me when I brought it up because he thinks he knows everything.
As far as symptoms here are some of the clasic Hypothyroid sympotms that I have:
Fatigue
Weakness
Weight gain AND increased difficulty losing weight
Hair loss
Cold intolerance
Muscle cramps and frequent muscle aches
Depression
Irritability
Memory loss
Dizziness
Abnormal menstrual cycles (very abnormal)
Decreased libido
I know I need to find another doctor, just so discouraged since my MD and OB both have been extreamly non-helpful. I just don't want to deal with getting another doctor just to have him or her tell me the same thing, you are fine when I know for a fact I am not!
As far as symptoms here are some of the clasic Hypothyroid sympotms that I have:
Fatigue
Weakness
Weight gain AND increased difficulty losing weight
Hair loss
Cold intolerance
Muscle cramps and frequent muscle aches
Depression
Irritability
Memory loss
Dizziness
Abnormal menstrual cycles (very abnormal)
Decreased libido
I know I need to find another doctor, just so discouraged since my MD and OB both have been extreamly non-helpful. I just don't want to deal with getting another doctor just to have him or her tell me the same thing, you are fine when I know for a fact I am not!
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If you look at the list of hypo symptoms on this link, how many would you say you currently have? Were you aware that the Amer. Assn. of Clinical Endocrinologists recommended over 8 years ago that the reference range for TSH should be revised to .3 - 3? Unfortunately most labs and doctors are still clinging to the old range, but many times it helps to point that out to the doctor.
It will also help if you will post the actual results and reference ranges for your FT3 and FT4 tests. Their reference ranges are far too broad, so just being somewhere within the range is frequently inadequate to relieve symptoms.
In my opinion the best way to treat a thyroid patient is to test and adjust levels of the actual, biologically active thyroid hormones, FT3 and FT4, with whatever type of meds are required to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. I think that you need to discuss all this with your doctor and if she is unwilling to treat you in this manner, then you need to start looking for a good thyroid doctor that will do so.