doctor won't treat me

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2003
doctor won't treat me
3
Wed, 11-03-2004 - 4:53pm
Hello, I am new to this board, and I have a question for you. I have been trying to concieve for over 15 months, and I recently had some bloodwork done to try to find the cause of my infertility. My TSH came back at 4.9, and everything else looked good. My acupuncturist told me that I needed to get treated for hypothyroidism, but when I went to the doctor today she told me that was still within the normal range and she would not treat me. From the research that I have done, my understanding is that anything over 2 hampers your ability to concieve. I also have all of the classic symptoms...weight gain, hair loss, fatigue and I already miscarried twice. I went back and told her that I wanted to be treated and she said she would do another blood test..which I had done today, and if it was still 4.9, she will not treat me. What is your opinion? She thinks it's anemia, rather than hypothyroidism..even though the labwork is right in front of her. My other question is, when you get on the medication will it help with weight loss, I have always been really really skinny, so this is so weird for me to be gaining weight like a bear.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2004
Wed, 11-03-2004 - 4:58pm

Hello.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Wed, 11-03-2004 - 8:52pm
Hi and welcome - I think April's idea is excellent; a reproductive endo will understand your need to be treated for hypothyroidism. You have all the classic symptoms and I'm sorry for your miscarriages. That, unfortunately, is an effect of the hypothyroidism. And yes, once you are on medication and your TSH is stablized between 1.0 and 2.0, you have your best shot at losing the weight you've gained. And of becoming pregnant and carrying the baby to term. Why not see if you can find a reproductive endo in your area? Here's a site to try: http://www.thyroid.org/index.php3?M_Session=9994cd41eb24e7a8b784b42c34ca745a

and another one: http://www.aace.com/memsearch.php

Let us know what happens. Cathy :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2003
Thu, 11-04-2004 - 11:02am
Thank you for your reply. Those websites are packed full of info, and will help a lot. After discussing this with my husband last night, we decided that a reproductive endocrinologist would be the best way to go. However, the doctor retested my TSH yesterday and I will get my results on Friday, so if the level has increased, she said she would give me a small dose of the thyroid medication to see what happens. So, I'm going to see how that goes first. I know my level is increasing because I called one of my old doctors and in July it was 3.5. The doctor said that it didn't matter because they were from two different labs. What is up with that? Anyway, I can't wait to be treated...I am suffering immensely.