Test results are wrong

boomboom011

So i had this conversation the other day with someone.
they have had some testing done to see if there is something wrong with their thyroid because "no matter what they do, they cant lose weight".
blood work comes back and the thyroid is perfectly fine.
this person says "im getting a 2nd opinion cause I think its wrong. i do everything i can to lose weight and I cant"

Now let me say this, this conversation took place while said person was sipping on a 32oz dr pepper. This person also DOES NOT work out.

That's all. I just wanted to share this with you all cause I havent been able to talk to anyone about this until now. Im a bit frustrated.

BAMFMeredith

While obviously, homegirl has other issues than a thyroid problem, sometimes doctors don't do the right tests unless they are Thyroid specialists. In fact, I had my full blood work done last summer and my doctor told me everything came back normal, no thyroid issues. I had them fax me my lab results and it said right there plain as day that one of my levels was off, so I got a 2nd opinion from a thyroid specialist. I've controlled it with diet and exercise to this point and have not needed meds.

But after her 2nd opinion comes back "normal" she should probs put down the DP and hit the treadmill!

mstaser

Did you inform that person that "everything" they do is WRONG and its probably not the docs fault, its theirs.

amybg1

if she says she's doing everything to lose weight, yet drink a Dr. Pepper and doesn't work out...she clearly isn't doing everything humanly possible to lose weight, and even if she does have a bit of a problem thyroid, if the 2nd opinion shows she has a thyroid problem...Then to go see a specialist and follow what they say to the letter.

But yes, drop the pop and go do some serious cardio to get you started! Is what I'd tell her!!

boomboom011

well i normally tell her to stop drinking the DPs and get off her butt and go for a dang walk but I have been labeled "cruel and hateful" by her to OUR mother. So this time I said "wow that sucks" but I dont want to leave it at that. I know she hates how she feels and i do feel if I could just get her to try something she would love it.

I guess I just want more for her than she does for herself.

tlschlp

Why don't you invite her for walks 3-5 times a week? You don't have to tell her that it's "exercise" ... you can use that time to allow her to vent about how much the other people are wrong.

Just a suggestion.

ncbrowneyes97

I guess I just want more for her than she does for herself.
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I think you hit the nail on the head with this one- if she gets her second opinion and everything is okay maybe then you can get through to her- good luck!

boomboom011

Why don't you invite her for walks 3-5 times a week? You don't have to tell her that it's "exercise" ... you can use that time to allow her to vent about how much the other people are wrong.

Just a suggestion.

well that would be great but we done live near each other. i was thinking about starting a family challenge though. she isnt the only person in my family that needs help. obviously since Im here.

MikeSEA

You can't argue with people who have this mindset. When someone is in this phase, they can see a nutritionist who has some tricks up their sleeve for dealing with this attitude. There's really only so much you can do for someone who wants to deceive themselves about their own activities.

WhittRak

Sometimes it does not matter what you say to the person because they are in constant denial. I would not bother pointing it out, she knows, and if she wants to continue being in denial....let her. When she wants to change...she will.

XXXMinnieXXX

That's a difficult one and must be really frustrating. Does she eat badly the rest of the time? Maybe the dr pepper is a one off? X

cyclerjenn

You must have been talking to everyone I know IRL that wants to lose weight. Not willing to make a change in their diet or exercise and will make excuses for why they cannot loss weight.

thekarens

Unfortunately deciding to get healthy is as much a mental state as a physical state. I, like so many others, had to be mentally ready to get serious before I will willing to make the effort and stick with it.

I also wanted to share what a family member once told me....I've tried everything to loose weight, but the only thing that works is to starve myself and I'm not willing to do that. They didn't want to hear it was just a matter of healhy eating and moderate exercise, no starvation needed.

Lauren8239

Did you recommend mfp? I would. Might be an eye opener for your friend.

Elizadolots

Urgh, you might have to eat those words! The standard blood test they do for thyroid function (in the UK) very often don't pick up on underactive thyroid. Also, off course overweight is by far not the only symptom, many other unpleasant signs might make your friend feel it is worth pursuing a second opinion. But certainly worth trying to gently encourage her to get that butt moving! (BTW, rather difficult at first if you do have underactive thyroid because you are so damn tired all the time!)

"you need to know your Free T3 level too because this will often show low if you are not converting, and high if you have blocked receptor cells. Even if you are converting, the body needs the extra T3 that a normal thyroid produces.

The Broda Barnes Foundation tell us "Dr Barnes found that the primary reason for the inaccuracy of the blood tests for thyroid function is that the thyroid hormones are not utilized in the blood, but are utilized intracellularly. Therefore a patient can have enough thyroid hormones circulating in the blood to give a "normal" reading, but if the hormones are not getting into the cells, the patient will be hypothyroid.

Also, there is a problem of low blood volume in hypothyroid patients. This means that any blood test value will appear higher than it actually is because the patient has a lower than normal blood volume. In many patients with "normal" or "high" thyroid blood levels, but many clinical symptoms, the patient's blood levels actually drop lower once the patient is given thyroid hormones simply because their blood volume increases."

theartichoke

Tell her to join MFP and begin tracking her calories so that she can "show the doctor how great she does" and help prove that "something" is wrong with her. Present it as a concerned friend. She would see real quick where the problem truly is. If she refuses you can politely remove yourself from further discussion of the topic like this...I tried to help you find a tool to take charge of, own and manage your health. You don't want to do that, okay but from here on I will no longer speak to you about this topic.

macpatti

Did you recommend mfp? I would. Might be an eye opener for your friend.

Oh, yes! Tell her to join MFP and start a topic on how her thyroid MUST be off because she can't lose any weight. Then you won't ever be accused of being mean again because she'll get loads of comments there!

DBiddle69

I am not a Dr. however, I am willing to offer a second opinion....her thyroid results are fine and accurate.

Take
Heed
Your
Reason for
Overweight
Is
Dr Pepper

THYROID!!!!

lizard053

I've actually had my test results come back as "normal" for my thyroid, but I was still super low energy. So this person may actually have a thyroid issue. But I've never struggled more with my weight as I have following my diagnosis with hypothyroidism! So, besides the no exercise and the Dr. Pepper, they are not doing "everything" to lose weight. Sorry! I lost 50 pounds prior to treatment. It's possible to do with a thyroid problem!

With that in mind, be sympathetic, but until THEY decide they need to change, all you're doing is banging your head against some other bugger's wall! Not worth the effort!

jamiesadler

It does really bother me that people complain about being so overweight and how they cant lose any weight but they eat McDonald for lunch every day and sip on sodas. That being said I had thyroid cancer any my test results came back normal.

plarcade

While obviously, homegirl has other issues than a thyroid problem, sometimes doctors don't do the right tests unless they are Thyroid specialists. In fact, I had my full blood work done last summer and my doctor told me everything came back normal, no thyroid issues. I had them fax me my lab results and it said right there plain as day that one of my levels was off, so I got a 2nd opinion from a thyroid specialist. I've controlled it with diet and exercise to this point and have not needed meds.

But after her 2nd opinion comes back "normal" she should probs put down the DP and hit the treadmill!

I had a very similar experience to yours; my mother and grandmother are both hypothyroid so it stood to reason that I would be also. My GP in the UK ran tests and everything came back 'normal'. I then went privately to an endocrinologist who ran blood tests and an ultrasound and I had nodules on the gland and reduced function.
In the case of the OP's friend though, I rather suspect it's not her thyroid she should be blaming...

suemar74

That was me about two years ago..."Wha-? But it HAS to be my thyroid! I've been trying to lose weight and nothing doing" (snarf, snarf, chomp, chomp, nomnomnom) :laugh:

sabinecbauer

We don't need to discuss the Dr. Pepper issue. That's just so wrong on so many levels! :laugh:

However, as several people mentioned already, the standard blood tests for thyroid function are unreliable. I've been getting back 'normal' blood work all my life, which never impressed that whole slew of symptoms I've been having. A couple of months ago I finally was fed up with losing my hair, feeling constantly cold, having weird muscle pain, and consistently gaining weight on 1200 kcal a day :explode: Went to see my doctor yet again, and was put on synthroid--at last!

Guess what happened? Still not losing massive amounts, but I'm losing, I'm no longer shivering at normal room temperature, and maybe my hair will be growing back too...

boomboom011

Did you recommend mfp? I would. Might be an eye opener for your friend.

Oh, yes! Tell her to join MFP and start a topic on how her thyroid MUST be off because she can't lose any weight. Then you won't ever be accused of being mean again because she'll get loads of comments there!

ha! yes i have suggested MFP MANY MANY MANY times. She joined once to shut me up. I guess I just have to set a good example for her. Maybe one day.

WifeNMama

Ask a follow up question: "so what have you tried?" If she can give you some actual answers, then maybe a 2nd doctor's opinion is required. If she stares at you blankly, maybe she will realize that she has not exhausted every weightloss option. And really, that list is limited: eat less junk, move more trunk. Ha.

NancyNiles

Well ... maybe, maybe not. She's clearly not doing everything she can.... but 2 years ago I was gaining weight hand over fist and thought it was my thyroid as well. I went to my doc who basically ignored the issue for a year because my blood test came back slightly outside "normal range" but not enough to cause concern. Turns out I actually had a golf-ball sized tumor on my thyroid.

The whole thing came out a year ago and I'm working on losing the 80 pounds I gained from the issue... but if the doc had taken the first test result seriously, I'd have had the surgery much sooner. Plus, it could have spread to my lymph nodes or my brain if we didn't catch it in time.

I wouldn't discount her claims totally just because she's a soda junkie and doesn't workout. I didn't work out until after my surgery when I was told that I now needed to lose that 80 lbs the "old fashioned way."

boomboom011

Ask a follow up question: "so what have you tried?" If she can give you some actual answers, then maybe a 2nd doctor's opinion is required. If she stares at you blankly, maybe she will realize that she has not exhausted every weightloss option. And really, that list is limited: eat less junk, move more trunk. Ha.

now that is a great suggestion. thank you!

BrianSharpe

Maybe switching from the 64oz DP to the 32oz is her idea of dieting? :laugh:

katielauren2001

Has she been tested for any other medical issues? It could perhaps be PCOS, I was initally tested for thyroid though it came back negative

CrazyTrackLady

Instead of trying to help her, why don't you help yourself with your frustration and stop worrying about what you can't control?

This is her path to walk, not yours.

jonchew

Instead of trying to help her, why don't you help yourself with your frustration and stop worrying about what you can't control?

This is her path to walk, not yours.

I'm in agreement with wordnerd here - you're helping her out the best way that you can, by example. Now, you can beat-yourself to a pulp trying to convert your friends, but your friends won't live healthier until THEY want to live healthier - take it from someone who struggles to live that healthier life... for himself!