new and looking for advice
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new and looking for advice
| Wed, 12-01-2004 - 9:02pm |
I'm sure you all have heard this question a million times... but i've looked throught the discusions and still have unanswered questions. I recently went to my GP with several symptoms- Extreme Fatigue, sensitivity to heat/cold, wieght gain (gained over 30 lbs in past year and can't lose it), irritated skin, dry/ falling out hair, horrible memory, trouble concentrating and finishing simple tasks, mood swings and anxiety attacks, infrequent periods, trouble concieving (unprotected sex for 2 years and no pregnancy), along with many others which are irrelevant. I'm only 20 so all these problems were scaring me! I went in for a full exam and my doctor told me that he was going to check my blood for diabetes and thyroid disorder. So when I cam home I did some research while waiting for the results and I was suprised to learn that I actually had all the symptoms of a thyroid disorder, I was actually excited that this might be the answer for what's wrong with me. Well, the results came in today that everything is normal and my doctor is going to treat me for depression! I know for a fact that I don't have that! I'm so frustrated, and confused over what my next step should be! Please help! Thanks in advance
-Nicole
-Nicole

Hi backwardsangel welcome to the board...you have found a most informative and supportive place to be!
You have the symptoms of HYPOthyroidism. I have it too. Things can get back to normal once your TSH levels are right for YOUR body!
What you have experienced is almost the "norm" around here. Many posters on this board cannot get their thyroid issues diagnosed correctly. There are many reasons for this, not the least of which is many GP's are not really "qualified" to correctly diagnose thyroid problems. They request the tests, and if the results fall into what they deem a "normal" range, then they decide you do not have a problem.
I have a couple of suggestions for you. First, see if your doc will refer you to an endocrinologist (the specialist for thyroid issues, among other things). Ask for a FULL thyroid panel (including T3, T4, antibodies, etc.) not just the TSH number. I have searched and searched looking for a post about what those levels "should" be, but I can't find it...hopefully someone else will come along to give you the exact numbers. Here's the general idea: If your TSH levels were between 1 and 5 your doctor probably reads that as "normal". But recent studies have determined that a TSH of 1 to 2 (roughly) may be better for many people. Problem is many doctors (especially GP's) don't know this, or haven't quite gotten the message. If you get all the numbers from your doc and post them here, there are several people who can help you interpret them.
At any rate...you may very well have to do what many people on this board have to do...FIGHT!!! Fight for treatment that is right for YOU and YOUR BODY! Try talking again to your doctor, tell him you are not depressed and that you want another answer. If he doesn't work with you, find another doctor! And keep looking until you find one who will listen to you.
If you hang around a bit and read some of the other messages, you will learn more than you ever realized. But ask any questions you have...it doesn't matter how many times someone's answered your questions before, the facts and answers ALWAYS bear repeating! Who knows who might be "lurking" to get the same answer!
Best of luck to you and keep us posted on how things are going!
dazed
Dazed
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Omg- I am dealing with the same thing you are. I feel like I have all the symptoms of a thyroid disorder- the hair loss, anxiety attacks, mood swings etc....but just like you my dr said my results came back "great" meaning no thyroid problem. And, again, like you- my dr. thinks I might need to be treated for depression/anxiety!! The thought of that depresses me because I don't think that's what's wrong!!!
I dont know what to do!
The thing is that when I was about 25 years old, the left lobe of my thyroid had been removed because of a goiter. The doctor who ordered this surgery told me I would have to be on thyroid medication the rest of my life. Well, life happens, we went through a period of no insurance, and therefore no medication. When we did have insurance again, and I went to see a doctor to have my medication (Synthroid, I believe), the standard thyroid blood tests were performed and I was always "low-normal" and therefore didn't need medications. I didn't know better... I trusted these medical experts... Over the past two to three years I began noticing a sort of lump in the front of my neck, between the collarbone where there's normally an inward indentation (I hope you know what I mean). I went to the doctor, they did a one day Nuclear Thyroid scan and a fine needle biopsy and said "You're fine". They did, however, put me on a low dose of Levothyroid to keep the "lump" from getting any bigger. It's gotten bigger, and seems to now be growing up into my neck underneath my ear. To make a really long story a bit shorter, this past September I saw a new doctor after mine was tragically killed in a car accident, pointed the lump out to her and she ordered an Ultrasound. The Ultrasound came back as a "complex mass", but (again) the "experts" couldn't tell what it was. A two day Nuclear Thyroid Scan was ordered, which I just went through this past Monday and Tuesday (and have been left with Vertigo, which they say isn't connected???), and now I just have to wait for the results of that before I know what is to be done for me. All through this lump growth period, all the thyroid blood tests came back "low normal". Now an interesting thing is this, while the nurse was checking my vitals, I asked her if my blood tests results had come back and she said, "Yes, hmmm, the TSH seems to be a bit high (I think she said high, not low)", yet when the doctor looked over the results, SHE said everything looked normal. Well, a complex mass growing in ones throat is NOT normal! All this, and I hope you're still with me, is to ask you to please follow Daze's instructions and don't stop until you find a doctor who is willing to do something for you! What you are experiencing is NOT normal! And why these EXPERTS want to make us believe that it's all in our heads, I don't know, but keep bugging them until something is done to help you! Don't end up like me! I haven't felt right in 15 years, that's way too long!
Good luck, and God bless,
Carole
I have an appt. with my GP this afternoon, so I will definitely take your advice, I've even found a endo that I would love to see! hopefully my doc won't be stubborn, although he is a very pushy doc... time to find another probably:)
-nicole
-Nicole
-Nicole
Hi Nicole and welcome - I'm sorry I don't have time to read everyone else's responses so forgive me if I say the same thing. if you are not depressed, don't take antidepressants!! :) This seems to be the diagnosis that doctors give when they don't know what else to do.
Can you call your doctor's office and get the actual number results of your thyroid tests. That would give us something to work with to see where you're at. Many times, doctors are reluctant to diagnosis hypothyroidism is the TSH level isn't sky high. So call and get your results and post them back for us, ok? Just tell them that you're curious as to your results and want to know the actual numbers. Stand firm no matter how uncomfortable you might feel or if the nurse gives you a hard time. Just be nice about it and don't give in til you get your results.
Is there any history of thyroid disease in your family? Cathy :)
I actually asked for my lab results and the doc instructed me to check them on the internet, which didn't work so I'll call them tomorrow and post it. And my Grandmother had a thyroid problem hyper I believe and had her thyroid removed several years ago.
-Nicole