Help!

sjmn

Hi everyone,
Thanks so much for taking the time to read this. I was recently diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism but my doctor refuses to treat me and wants to just monitor me. Here's some background. I first went to the gyno because my periods have been lasting 14-18 days every single month for probably the last 9 months. Fibroids/cysts were ruled out through a hysterosonogram, so thyroid bloodwork was ordered. The results were:

TSH: 4.95 (.45-4.5) *
T4, Free: 1.16 (.82-1.77)
T4 Total: 7.4 (4.5-12.0)
T3 Total: 77 (76-181)
TgAb: 21 (<20) *

Besides the 2 week long periods, other (possibly related) symptoms are extremely dry skin, dry feet with deep cracks, recurring fungal infections on hands and feet despite oral prescription pills, slight weight gain (10 pounds), thinning hair on head, thinning eyebrows (I look like I have half of an eyebrow on one side), always deficient in Vit. D every time tested (even though I live in sunny So. Cal?) and always tired (but I'm a mom to young kids so thought this was just normal)....

Do any of my numbers jump out at you? Do you think I should get a second opinion? Any thoughts/advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

samhradh

Hi SJ,

Your results suggest in my opinion that you need treatment, this wait and see Bull from your Dr, is typical.

TSH: 4.95 (.45-4.5) * Updated range is (0.3-3) so you are well hypo
T4, Free: 1.16 (.82-1.77) most Hypo people need this to be in the upper 75% of the range
T4 Total: 7.4 (4.5-12.0)
T3 Total: 77 (76-181)
TgAb: 21 (<20) * may suggest autoimmune thyroiditis but need to be investigated further.

All the symptoms you have listed are typical with under-treated hypothyroidism or in your case no treatment.
You also need to have your Free T3 tested as this is the active hormone that is needed in every cell in the body.
Yes i believe that you should seek a second opinion, but finding the right doctor is tricky.
Sign up to a couple of patient support groups to get recommendation for good doctors in your area.

https://www.facebook.com/thyroidsexy?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/groups/FTPOThyroid/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/iodine4health/

I am not an expert and i regularly use these groups to bounce ideas off or get information.

It may take some time for you to regain good health, it is a tricky balancing act when trying to correct hormones.
Find the right doctor and things will get better.

Good luck
Linda

katscoots

DEFINATELY get a second opinion - as stated by sjmn - the new range - put out several years ago for doctors to follow for TSH is 0.3-3 - and most people with hypo feel better the closer they are to the lower end of that range. Low T3 is another sign of being hypo and you are at the very bottom of the indicated range..

For your health and well being - please find another doctor.

RoseTears143

All the advice given above is fantastic advice. Please find a new Dr. So many of us go through several docs before we find one that will listen. It's a senseless struggle, but once you find one that listens and helps you it will all be worth it.

sjmn

Thanks ladies! I made an appointment with an endo in my network but can't get in for a month I really wanted to find a more holistic doctor but of course they don't seem to take insurance. In the meantime, I checked out tons of hypothyroidism/thyroid books from the library and I am reading about everything I can.

RoseTears143

Thanks ladies! I made an appointment with an endo in my network but can't get in for a month I really wanted to find a more holistic doctor but of course they don't seem to take insurance. In the meantime, I checked out tons of hypothyroidism/thyroid books from the library and I am reading about everything I can.

you will get there. Better to get yourself educated before you go in so you don't let your Dr walk all over you and try convincing you that you're just depressed -_- lol.