Newly diagnosed- How long could I have had this?

[logical]

Hi, I am newly (1/29/07) diagnosed with Hypothyroid. My TSH is 11. I am wondering how long it can take before it gets there. I have felt AWFUL for a long time and have changed my PC. Have learned more in last 5 months than in 16 yrs. I have had a positive ANA. For several yrs have had an elevated Sed Rate with no cause. I am getting a copy of bloodwork so I know what T3 and T4 are. I was sooo happy and relieved to finally have a test result to show why I feel so crappy. I appreciate any info.

Thanks!!!

[logical]

Yes I do have the tingling,etc. It has been better since I stopped doing the exercises the "quack" gave me. Right now I see a specialist for pain--he helps with pain but more important gets you back on your feet. The "quack" has a bit of an ego also--he only trusts himself to take your BP--not even his own nurses. He didn't even trust my other Dr.(Gyn.) when he was concerned. I have a Very Good Gyn- he had me go to a Cardiologist before my Hysterectomy last year. He thought that I was most likely alright but wanted to be sure. I have another Rhuemy-- I've only seen him 1 time. I go back to primary in 3 weeks to check on Thyroid, I was going to ask about Endo. then. I've only taken 3 Synthroid so far. How does the Thyroid problems effect your Fibro. and Sleep Apnea? I am having breathing problems and haven't been using my CPAP. Do you use one?  I was going to be reevaluated but am not sure if I should wait on Synthroid for a few weeks. I've left 2 messages with the Respitory Dept. at Sleep clinic, but haven't heard back. I'll call again tomorrow. I tried the CPAP last few nights. I woke up alot first night, slept thru second night and felt a little better, but after third night I felt much worse. How do you know (if you can) what your symptoms are coming from? I also have vertigo and I'm taking a Diaretic for that. I've read that Thyroid can cause vertigo, so now I'm wondering if I should be taking this.  I'm not sure how much to persue or if I should just hang back until I have been taking the Synthroid for 4 weeks, have my bloodwork done and see my PCP. Any suggestions?  

Thanks, Logical

[idesofmarch]

P.S.    Do you have any pain, tingling,pins & needles, numbness in the neck shoulder or arms? If you have any of these symptoms you should see an orthopedic or neurosurgeon and ask for a MRI to be done.  That doctor that freely gave you codiene for pain that he didn't see what caused it was a quack.  He just wanted to shut you up.  Also thyroid being a 10 or 5 is high.  Some people even feel bad when it's a 3.  I am glad that you found a knowledgeable doctor who cares!

[idesofmarch]

I have fibro, hypothyroidism, sleep apnea, ovarian cysts, and so much more.  I tried female doctors for the same reason as other poster.  I thought that she would listen, take time with me, have a good bedside manner; Well she was none of those, she belittled me and brushed me off.  Couldn't even cure my ear infection.  I will change Primary Dr. when I find one worthy of my copay!  I do have a very good Ruem. who is female, she takes care of whatever bothers me at the time of appointments even if it isn't her speciallty.  My GYN is male and very good at everything he has done for me.  I don't think it is a MALE OR FEMALE thing.  You have to shop for a good doctor and make sure that they even believe in what you think or know you have.  Some DRS. don't believe in Fibromyalgia or natural remedies or prayer.  You really need to interview a doctor before you commit to one, write down all your concerns, questions & ailments and use your gut instincts as the DR. answers them.  If they have an ego problem or gets insulted by your interview -then he is not for you.  Even if he has the knowledge you seek but lacks compassion he is not for you. As for thyroid an ENDO is your Doctor!  As for Fibromyalgia get a RHEUMOTOLIGIST.  Female problems stick with a GYN.  Primary physicians are good for normal stuff like colds, flu, simple infections, stomachaches and REFERRALS TO THE SPECIALISTS. Good luck with doctor shopping you all.

[utahmomma]

Wow - I am *SO* sorry for all you have been through and, especially, that a medical "professional" kept you suffering for years longer than necessary.

The ovary, fibromyalgia, and gallbladder problems are something that many of us thyroid kids on this forum share.  

As for male versus female doctors.  My endo and primary care physicians are both male and I love them both.  My OB/GYN is male but I went through three females first thinking they could relate to my problems - they couldn't so I just went with the best.  My surgeon is female and is the best surgeon I've ever had (I think I've had 4 others).  The neurologist I'm in the process of replacing is female and I swear she has a broom parked somewhere!  I haven't found a correlation between male/female and medical competency.

[Shebah]

I had to laugh at your comment about men! I was just reading a long article the other day about men with typical woman illnesses, and that exact thought hit me. Good luck!

[scarlet37]

It's hard to be uncomplicated when our doctors don't listen! You're not complicated just misunderstood!

welcome aboard  to kindness and tons of understanding!


          

[logical]

Thanks for the response and welcome-

I don't have an Endo. yet.I just found out 2 days ago and started Synthroid 25mcg. 1 day ago. Five months ago I changed Primary Doc.- tired of hearing that I had no reason to feel so bad ( even blamed it on my family-- said that only stress I had was from them--that isn't enough on it's own??) LOL Since then I've found out about problems I have but was never told and some new ones. He even told me once that I had protein in my urine, but not enough to send to lab. As far as I know you shouldn't have any. My mom has Hypothyroid, he is her Dr.(not for long- she is changing to mine). She takes 200 mcg of Synthroid. I asked about myself because of my symptoms. I thought it was logical because it can run in families and nothing else I had was bad enough for how I felt. But he said all was normal. I didn't know about T3, ect. so I didn't ask what they were. I'm not sure if he checked them. My family also has history of autoimmune disease.  I saw their Rheumatologist but he sent me back to my PC for care. At that time their were only about 5 in the area and they weren't taking new patients unless you were almost dead and then you still had to wait 3 months. If he hadn't had my family as patients I would have had to go about 1-2 hours away for one, so I was greatful to see him. Plus I was was just feeling bad not awful yet, I was doing too much. Anyways, I have Tourette's, ADHD, OCD, Sleep Apnea, Vertigo, Fibromyalgia and I had an Ovarian Cyst removed after it ruptured and was growing back. At that time I found out that I had severe Endometriosis. I never had much pain just got really tired every other month. So the Gyno. an I were both surprised. My Dr. knew about all this. Since change in Dr.I found out that I also have a disc out in neck and back.Old Dr gave me Codeine for pain he said I shouldn't be having, and more when that wasn't enough. Granted he didn't know about disc when he gave me Codeine but should have sent me for more tests or Specialist first. He gave me exercises that made neck worse and didn't understand why. He had 1st report by then. Got 2nd report from tests in 2006 and I was told by secretary they were nonspecific. Told me it was prob. from Fibro. and should go for therapy. Didn't mention a specialist - couldn't afford therapy. I've felt so bad I haven't been able to work-just burned out one day. I slept for the next 2 weeks. I dropped down to 20 hrs a week and struggled with that. I told him that I was doing nothing else. I couldn't help my family any longer and was gradually doing less and less- cut out cleaning, cooking, shopping. Husband doing those- all I did was struggle thru work. I Last worked Sept 27,2005. Ironically I worked for his wife -cleaning house , cooking, shopping at times, taking care of their child since he was 18 months old, he turned 18 in 2006. Lots of ironing and organizing - everything I wish I could do at home. 15 years with her! I even saw him a few times a week at his house. I was very active but still gained alot of weight-80 lbs.  Well, instead of therapy I got a new Doctor--best thing I ever did. She listened to my symptoms had me choose top 3 complaints. I had referrals and appointments before I left the office on my first visit!  The longest was the Rheumy just saw him 2 weeks ago, he had extra tests run (7 tubes of blood drawn) New Dr. sent me to a Specialist and he wanted to know who told me to do the neck exercises because I shouldn't be doing these with a disc out. I said --what disc? Went for 2nd injection today for back. 1st helped more than Codeine.  Also found out Gallbladder needs to be taken out, it's abnormal.  
Sorry got off track- Saw new Dr. this past Monday and she had results from Rhuem. My TSH is 11. I am getting a copy so I'll know what other tests show. Was so glad to have a diagnosis! I waited for Rx. I usually drop off and come back later or next day. I was so anxious that I dropped it off at drive-thru, went to other drive-thru for a drink, came right back and waited at drive-thru til RX was ready (no one was behind me) and took pill right away. I explained to the girl but I think she still thought I was nuts- Oh well. Not the first time I ever heard that!! My Sed Rate is elevated- it has been for years. It was higher a few yrs ago.  My ANA was negative this time, last Sept. it was positive. Since then it has been taken at different places though. I was expecting it to be positive because of a swollen and painfull lymph- node on back of neck.
I know that my TSH was somwhere under 2 about 1 1/2 yrs ago, but don't know about anything else. I found that out from my Psychologist not my old Dr. I wish I had been diagnosed before May 2006. I had a full abdominal Hysterectomy ( more Endometriosis, Ovarian Cysts again and 3 Fibroids, a lg one on top under my bladder.) Not alot of pain again, irregular periods and sheer exhaustion every 4 weeks or so. It will probably be more difficult to regulate things now. I am on Premarin for hot flashes- at least it is a low dose .625.

I will let you know what my other tests show and maybe you can help me figure them out. I looked up some info. but it's very confusing. There isn't even agreement on what the normal TSH range should be.  I wonder if things would be different if this was more common in men? I hate to think that in 2007 that would be true. Has anyone noticed if there is a difference being diagnosed depending on your Primary Dr. being male or female?? Just a thought!!

Thanks for your time and info.
Logical

Sorry So Long ---I have been told that I am complicated!!

[Shebah]

Hi,
I can relate to your problem. Most doctors will not treat thyroid problems until TSH has reached a level of about 10. This can be frustrating for people like you and me. I was lucky enough to find a doctor who was willing to treat me with a TSH of 5, but it took a year of symptoms before I reached that level. What doctors don't seem to understand is that many people are very symptomatic even with a TSH just above normal.

I am only just starting medication for my hypothyroidism and reading as much as I can about the subject. I am currently on synthetic meds (levoxin), and waiting to see what kind of results I get from it. I have been reading alot of forums and I have found that alot of people have more results from meds like Armour.

I have only been on meds for a little over a week and from what I read it can take 6-8 weeks for your body to adjust to the meds. I guess that means that it will be some while before I will know how I feel on this medication.

Hope you find relief real soon.

Good luck!

[utahmomma]

It's impossible to tell how long you have had thyroid problems.  A positive ANA could mean many things - either you have an autoimmune disorder or you don't.  :-) Sometimes ANAs can spike for a simple infection.  I had very high ANAs about 15 years ago and was referred to a rheumatologist.  He gave me a book on making peace with God, told me I have Lupus, then scheduled an appointment for six months later.  I went home, checked out every book on Lupus I could find, and freaked out!  A month later I saw a different Rheumy, he ran additional tests, found that I have fibromyalgia and had just gotten over a bad viral infection.  No imminent death.  :-)

If you don't already have an endocrinologist, please get one.  Endos are the specialists you need for a thyroid disorder.  There are additional tests that can be run to see if you have a thyroid autoimmune disorder (Hashimoto's or others) or just what is causing your hypothyroidism.  Either way, you'll probably be put on a dose of thyroid replacement hormones - nothing big, most of us on this forum are on them.

Personally my TSH can jump wildly very quickly, others it takes quite a while.  If you have been feeling badly for a long time I'd bet that's when you started becoming hypo (sometimes we can feel it before our labs show it).

I don't know if anything I said helped or not but welcome to the forum - you have lots of great company here!!