Thyroid

[Brooksie16]

I take .75 of synthyroid.  Been taking for 4 yrs, but I still have all the symptoms of hypo, leg cramps @ night, insomnia, no sex drive, chronic dry eyes & skin, forgetfulness, etc.  I went to an endo, but all he wanted to check was my total TSH and tell me I had Hashimotos Disease.  All he did was check my neck.  Should I try another dr?  My dr. sent me to one because he thought I may need Free T3 and T4 checked.  I also have nodules, but this endo said ultrasounds were no longer necessary was having one once a yr to ck growth of nodule and all I needed checked was total TSH.

[Steph_MHModerator]

Hi All~

Let's please keep this on topic to the question in the original post.  

Thank you!

Stephanie
Moderator

[allmymarbles]

You have my sympathy.

[allmymarbles]

There are many loonies out there who designate themselves "alternative." I want nothing to do with them. My references are to properly educated MD's who look for a broader spectrum of treatment. The good ones excel at hard-to-diagnose chronic ailments. They are more involved in nutrition and in less toxic but effective medications than mainstream medicine. They also tend to look for alternatives to surgery when practicable. Good alternative doctors do not ignore traditional practice; they straddle the fence.

I came to alternative medicine quite by accident, or out of desperation, I don't know which. My young semi-invalid daughter was cured of her crippling ailment after 2-1/2 weeks of treatment with an alternative. She had been ill for four years and had been taken to the very best pediatric specialists. No only couldn't they treat her, they couldn't even diagnose her (or the diagnosis kept changing). As I said above, I am a pragmatist. If it works, it's good.

[allmymarbles]

Anything that mainstream medicine does not practice is considered "unconventional." I had to continue to pound Johns Hopkins in their newsletter to acknowledge the value of saw palmetto to prevent and/or treat enlarged prostate. They finally gave weak mention of its value. In Europe saw palmetto is the first-line treatment. Perhaps in Europe the American approach is considered unconventional.

I mentioned above why time-consuming tests, or tests requiring the compliance of the patient, are not popular in the medical community. The urine test saved me from being incorrectly treated for hypothyroidism. I am a pragmatist.

[allmymarbles]

I have been in the medical community my whole life. Your view of medicine is narrow. Mine is broad. If your purpose is to think of yourself as more clever than I, I offer you that luxury.

[allmymarbles]

Mainstream medicine has serious limitations which is why alternative medicine is in such favor with the educated middle class. "Unconventional" is sometimes a compliment.

[allmymarbles]

My adrenal test involved both saliva samples plus a 24- hour urine sample. I think the reason most MD's don't bother with the more accurate tests is that it involves the patent going home with the kit, taking the samples, and mailing them in. There is obviously a delay and more follow-up time. With one-shot blood tests they can get a whole bunch of results, some good, some bad, some indifferent but, by sheer volume, impressive. Some call this "defensive medicine," the idea being to reduce the possibility of law suits

[flyingfool]

Many of us had heard of a 24 hour saliva or urine test for Cortisol. But this is the first time I've ever heard of a 24 hour urine test for Thyroid. Interesting!

[allmymarbles]

You may not have heard of it, but that does not mean it does not exist. Look up Rocky Mountain Analytical on the internet. It is my experience that alternative medicine MD's do more exacting testing than strictly traditional physicians. The above test was used for me and my condition was handled properly. My daughter has recently been diagnosed as hypothyroid but there has been a problem choosing the proper medication and getting the dosage right. I realized she had not taken the correct test. She is going to have the 24 hour test done.

Another example is adrenal function testing. For what was thought to be a cortisol problem, several periodic saliva samples were collected. This test showed that I had a cortisol level that rose during the day instead of falling. The ordinary test taken will nilly some time during the day was negative for a cortisol problem.

[allmymarbles]

The only accurate test for T3 and T4 is a 24-hour urine test. The others are unreliable and lead to less than proper treatment.

[flyingfool]

Yes find another Dr that will test Free T4 and Free T3.  A Dr who only tests TSH will almost assuredly keep you feeling ill or at least feeling less well than you could or should!

Please post any lab results you have so people can potentially help get a better handle on your situation.