TSH & Hashimotos

[irekei]

I have suffered with symptoms of hair loss/thinning, fatigue, dry skin for many years. I was diagnosed with Hashimotos Thyroiditis but with no treatment. My recent Thyroid test Free T4 is 0.9 and TSH panel value is 6.97. My doctor says thyroid is low but no medication is needed at this time.  As mentioned, my hair is falling out so much that it is getting hard to style without seeing my scalp.  I have insomnia, fatigue and irritability probably due to lack of sleep and weight gain.  I am frustrated. When the doctor/test show I need medication, my concern is will I have any hair left on my head.  No good for my self esteem!

[Barb135]

Fibromyalgia is a set of symptoms for which there is no explanation.  Symptoms are often alleviated when one gets on a thyroid medication and thyroid hormones are adequate.  

Fibromyalgia only came into being, when the TSH test became the gold standard to thyroid testing and synthroid became the hormone of choice, back in the late 70's/early 80's.

You might research that and possibly mention it to your doctor.

[irekei]

Thank you so much for your comments//advice.  When I expressed my concern about my thinning hair, fatigue, heart palpitations and dry skin, my doctor said he didn't feel those symptoms were a result from my Thyroid! Even I, a lay person knows they are indeed symptoms of Thyroid disease.  I have an HMO/Kaiser so I have to go through my Primary who is the doctor in question to refer me to a specialist, which they do not do if they could help it.  I will be requesting to see a Endocrinologist and if he doesn't give me a referral, I will have to file a complaint.  I have Fibromyalgia as well and I am just so tired of feeling sick. Again, Thank you so much.  

[flowergal23]

I second Barb's advice, you definitely need a new doctor.  

I, too, had a doctor a few years back who wouldn't  let me see my lab results because he said it wasn't necessary.  I was feeling more and more ill, so I finally demanded the labs (it is a patient's right) and when I saw my TSH was hovering around 6 for over a year, I was shocked.

I asked him why he wasn't raising my dosage he said, "I like to keep my patients at 6 because that is the top of the old reference range before it was lowered to 3.  I think the new reference range is far too low, most people feel better at 6."  

I left his office that day and never looked back.  (And for his information I feel lousy at any TSH over 1.)

I'm done being a 'good patient' and simply following doctor's orders when those orders are ruining my health.  If your doctor was in your shoes, suffering as you are, I bet you he/she would be medicated!

I hate to tell you how many doctors I've been through in the last 20 years, but it seems thyroid patients in particular have to keep searching until we can find a practitioner who understands this disease and treats symptoms and not reference ranges.  I'm just starting with Dr. #16 this coming week...and I keep my fingers crossed.  

You're off to a good start on this forum, there are many knowledgeable members here who will help you as they've already helped me in knowing what questions to ask and what to look for in a new MD.  Just keep asking questions and you'll find help here.

[Barb135]

You need a different doctor... any doctor who won't prescribe medication with high TSH, low FT levels and symptoms like yours, will keep you ill.  He's simply practicing "reference range endocrinology"... that doesn't work for anyone.

Did he, by any chance, do an FT3 test?