MY THYROID- MY NEMESIS

Options
Mowgli1984
Mowgli1984 Posts: 5
in Health and Weight Loss
Hello,

This is my first time posting here, but I am really frustrated and figured maybe ANYONE could have some suggestions that my Dr. is really not helping with. What makes this worse is that I lose my job soon and insurance along with it...

Recently, I had lost 30 lbs on my own after a little over a year, working out 5 days a week, water aerobics on the weekends, eating well with the help of a weight loss clinic. I have spent SO much money to lose very little. In sept, I was in a car accident and was out of commision for a few weeks and could not work out, although I tried to stick very close to my healthy diet. Weight gain was expected, especially on pain killers...

For months, I had gone to my Dr asking for my thyroid to be checked, I was so tired and lethargic and still FAT for someone who worked out so much, drank so much water, ate so healthy...everytime they said it was normal. Finally, I demanded an ultrasound on my thyroid (I had also mentioned to them I have difficulty swallowing pills now, and my right side of my throat felt....umm....I guess, swollen inside?

The results came back and there is a lump on my right side. It runs in the fam, my mother has hashimotos disease. My dr doesnt believe in pills and said the lump is not large enough for her to recommend removal. I KNOW this is part of my weight loss issue and being lathargic and puffy all the time no matter what I do/how much I work out. Is there anything homeopathic that I can take? or a Dr anyone in PHX can recommend within the next couple of months (before ins runs out?)

I am so upset by this and how little help she has given me when i KNOW my body and i KNOW something is up, some days I just want to give up, but I don't want to go back to being the girl who broke a sweat while tying her shoes. I keep going at this healthy lifestyle and exercising full force, and weeks go by and only 3 lbs down......I'm losing hope.

Help! :(

Replies

  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    Options
    Your doctor doesn't believe in pills?

    Find a doctor who does.

    I don't think you even need someone in Phoenix on here to recommend one. Pretty much any endocrinologist in the world will not let a goiter go untreated. Especially if it's affecting swallowing (which is a big side-effect docs look for with thyroid issues).
  • 1ConcreteGirl
    1ConcreteGirl Posts: 3,677 Member
    Options
    Your doctor doesn't believe in pills?

    Find a doctor who does.

    I don't think you even need someone in Phoenix on here to recommend one. Pretty much any endocrinologist in the world will not let a goiter go untreated. Especially if it's affecting swallowing (which is a big side-effect docs look for with thyroid issues).

    This girl knows about thyroids. She doesn't even have one.
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    Options
    Your doctor doesn't believe in pills?

    Find a doctor who does.

    I don't think you even need someone in Phoenix on here to recommend one. Pretty much any endocrinologist in the world will not let a goiter go untreated. Especially if it's affecting swallowing (which is a big side-effect docs look for with thyroid issues).

    This girl knows about thyroids. She doesn't even have one.

    Never forget.
  • kats3boys
    kats3boys Posts: 61
    Options
    A lump as in a nodule or as in more swollen on the right than the left? Any lumps ( nodules) should be biopsied at a minimum but if you difficulty swallowing then your thyroid needs to be treated.

    I would definitely see a different doctor..
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    Options
    If she doesnt even have one, how much can she REALLY know?
  • Julia_Schmitt
    Julia_Schmitt Posts: 21
    Options
    im sorry to hear that! and how terrible that your doctor is so unprofessional. Unfortunately i have expereinced many docotrs like that too....Gaving a thyroid disease is NO joke,,,,it affects your whole body, all functions, hormone production and therefore your overall well-being .

    Ive felt down, lethargic, had depressional phases, gained weight although working out regularly and eating healthy, i can see that my body is storing water and i feel watery/swollen....

    Finally i found a doc who found that i had an underfunction...I am now on synthetical hormones (L-Thyroxin) and my levels are going in the right direction. By the end of the year I should have reached my recommended thyroid levels.

    I want to encourage you, go find a specialist (endocrynologist), he will question you about symptoms, and take a detailed bloodtest. Depending on the results he will treat you. A lot of females have thyroid diseases, they just dont know about it.
    Dont fell down, it is easy to treat once you have the results!

    I can honestly tell you that I feel myself again ...i havent felt this positive and energetic in YEARS ! Unfortunatey i have not yet seen major weight loss through the pills (only about 5 pounds with heavy workouts) but I also only started 3 months ago with the treatment...it takes a while for the pills to kick in and have an effect on the thyroid. But what has changed is my spirit..i finally feel MYSELF again...i am not down for no reason anymore and i have a new lust for life that is incredible!

    Inbox me if you need more information or encouragement. You will be fine, but you need to leave your doctor....you need one who is taking tests on you and treats you accordingly!
  • dare2love81
    dare2love81 Posts: 928 Member
    Options
    Like firstsip says, find a different doctor - one who is willing to listen to you. Or bypass the GP and go straight to the endo. A lot of doctors follow a scale that is too wide for the "normal" range. Endo's follow a stricter scale and take all of your symptoms into account. My first doc basically told me I was crazy and that my ranges were all normal on bloodwork. Went to an endo and they put me on Levothyroxine pretty much right away.

    Definitely get a second opinion.
  • tweety612013
    tweety612013 Posts: 24
    Options
    My doctor doesn't believe in pills.

    First of all change doctors! If this doctor doesn't want to run any further tests or prescribe something, then he/she doesn't belong in the medical field. I am not saying he/she is one of these doctors, but there are some out there that do as little as possible and they get a kickback from the insurance companies. But you should immediately change doctors if your insurance is gong to run out in the next couple of months. As far as the weight loss, I am having the same problem, only mine is Lupus and steroids and when you are on steroids it is like three steps forward, 6 steps back. So hang in there and change your doctor and if you can't for some reason, talk to whoever handles your insurance and tell them, or usually every city or state has a place to call if you are not getting proper medical care from your physician.
  • Ryanmariem
    Ryanmariem Posts: 46 Member
    Options
    I am really sorry about the carwreck then finding something out w/your thyroid. It sounds like you were on the right track, but yes when your thryroid is not working properly then it does not seem to matter what we do. I have type 2 Hypothyroidism, which was just diagnosed last month. It took me over two years to find a doctor to take me seriously about my thyroid. This diagnoses for a lot of main stream doctors is considered contraversal because my blood work comes back fine, but I have all the phsyical symptoms of low thyroid.

    I did a lot of my own research and found the books called the Thyroid Solution & Thyroid Diet by Mary Shomom was very informative and useful on things I could do to help my thyroid. A new book I found also has been great and talks about thryroid problems among other diseases is called the Blook Sugar Solution by Dr. Mark Hyman and the Calcium Lie by Dr. Robert Thompson.

    I would suggest to find a dr that will listen to you, the above books have whole areas to show your doctor to help you get diagnosed and get the medicine you need. I am seeing an OBGYN who is also an Endocrinologist.

    Now for thryroid medicine I reccomd the Armour as it is natural and comes from pigs and has zero to minimal side effects. The other thryroid meds are chemically made and I have had several family members complain of side effects, plus the above books also recomend the Armour Thyroid over the pharmacutical brands.

    I am surprised they are not attending your thyroid problem. You most definetly have something that can be seen, where as my thryoid condition was hidden, so I would think you should have better luck at getting a Dr. to take you seriously.

    I will keep you in my prayers that your problem will be resolved soon. Good Luck and don't stop being that squeeky wheel esp. when it comes to your health. =)
  • MidwestAngel
    MidwestAngel Posts: 1,897 Member
    Options
    Your doctor doesn't believe in pills?

    Find a doctor who does.

    I don't think you even need someone in Phoenix on here to recommend one. Pretty much any endocrinologist in the world will not let a goiter go untreated. Especially if it's affecting swallowing (which is a big side-effect docs look for with thyroid issues).

    This girl knows about thyroids. She doesn't even have one.

    Never forget.
    I might as well not have one, she knows what she is talking about.
  • caribougal
    caribougal Posts: 865 Member
    Options
    I eat Paleo and follow lots of Paleo blogs, and one thing that seems to be an common thread is the number of women who suffer from both thyroid issues like Hashimoto's or Graves, and who are gluten sensitive/celiac.

    The story often goes like this...

    Woman suffers... finally gets diagnosed with Hashimoto's/Graves disease.
    Has thyroid removed and/or goes on thyroid meds
    Feels better, but not great.
    Gets tested for celiac, or just tries cutting out gluten for a few weeks
    Amazement at how much better she feels
    Starts a blog to document her journey back to health

    I see it over and over again. Your endocrinologist might never mention gluten, and might poo-poo the connection. But celiac is an auto-immune disorder, and it could be exacerbating an auto-immune attack on your thyroid. If not celiac, just gluten sensitivity could cause systemic inflammation which would also affect your Hashi.

    I'm not trying to bang on the celiac/gluten-free drum just to make noise. It just makes me crazy that people don't ever hear about the potential connection until after suffering for years and years.

    You can do google searches or PubMed searches for hashi/gluten, thyroid/gluten, graves/gluten. There is an association between these auto-immune conditions that is an active area of research.

    Good luck. If you do decide to try going gluten free for a few weeks, pop over to the Paleo/Primal group. There are several women with thyroid issues that can speak to significantly reducing their thyroid meds by eating Paleo.
  • azrrt76
    azrrt76 Posts: 59 Member
    Options
    Hello,

    This is my first time posting here, but I am really frustrated and figured maybe ANYONE could have some suggestions that my Dr. is really not helping with. What makes this worse is that I lose my job soon and insurance along with it...

    Recently, I had lost 30 lbs on my own after a little over a year, working out 5 days a week, water aerobics on the weekends, eating well with the help of a weight loss clinic. I have spent SO much money to lose very little. In sept, I was in a car accident and was out of commision for a few weeks and could not work out, although I tried to stick very close to my healthy diet. Weight gain was expected, especially on pain killers...

    For months, I had gone to my Dr asking for my thyroid to be checked, I was so tired and lethargic and still FAT for someone who worked out so much, drank so much water, ate so healthy...everytime they said it was normal. Finally, I demanded an ultrasound on my thyroid (I had also mentioned to them I have difficulty swallowing pills now, and my right side of my throat felt....umm....I guess, swollen inside?

    The results came back and there is a lump on my right side. It runs in the fam, my mother has hashimotos disease. My dr doesnt believe in pills and said the lump is not large enough for her to recommend removal. I KNOW this is part of my weight loss issue and being lathargic and puffy all the time no matter what I do/how much I work out. Is there anything homeopathic that I can take? or a Dr anyone in PHX can recommend within the next couple of months (before ins runs out?)

    I am so upset by this and how little help she has given me when i KNOW my body and i KNOW something is up, some days I just want to give up, but I don't want to go back to being the girl who broke a sweat while tying her shoes. I keep going at this healthy lifestyle and exercising full force, and weeks go by and only 3 lbs down......I'm losing hope.

    Help! :(

    http://www.sunridgemedical.com/
    I have Hashimotos and I'm looking into this center for further work up. Maybe you could go there and get checked out?
  • Mowgli1984
    Mowgli1984 Posts: 5
    Options
    thanks everyone for your thoughts and for suggestions! It's nice to know I'm not just imagining things like the dr seems to want me to believe. I felt like I couldnt even get some of these suggestions out of HER, so it's nice to have gotten them somewhere from people with experience!! She didnt even mention seeing a specialist and then just send me out the door with no answers or direction. I will definately look into seeing an endocrinologist and letting them see my thyroid ultrasounds.
  • Peanutbutterx
    Peanutbutterx Posts: 332
    Options
    your doctor sounds really annoying. i would find another doc if i were you and go to an endocrinologist asap! if no one around where you live knows of a good one, you can google doctors in your area and see the ratings that people left for them. I'm sorry your having such a hard time. My mom had thyroid issues when i was little and had to have some of it removed, i would find a new doc asap if i were you and not see this one your seeing again. i hope everything works out well for you, God bless! :)
  • qqureshi
    qqureshi Posts: 6 Member
    Options
    Everything you need to know about the thyroid: Dr Ray Peat

    www.raypeat.com
  • waldmank
    waldmank Posts: 3 Member
    Options
    Hey,
    I'm Kat.
    Listen, I have Hashimoto's disease too and I can tell you that a thyroid pill does work! I take an extremely small dose. So small (most doctor's probably would be like huh?) but when I don't take it I am lethargic, depressed, bloated/gaining weight, lazy, and that lump in my throat hurts.

    Find a new doctor who will write you a prescription! It really is worth it! And it helps with weight loss/gain as well!

    Good luck!
  • Dulcemami4ever
    Dulcemami4ever Posts: 344 Member
    Options
    You need to find another doctor before your insurance ends. Get them to do a full physical including thyroid. Whether your Dr believes in pills or not, if you have a Hypo or Hyper thyroid, it can be dangerous to you if left unchecked. For years I suffered from muscle weakness, palpitations when I got up, sweaty palms, chemical inbalance and depression, until one day a doctor said he would check it. So please dont worry about what this doctor wants. Do what you know is right for your health. Take you're medical information and go to another Dr.
  • islandmonkey
    islandmonkey Posts: 546 Member
    Options
    My dr doesnt believe in pills

    Your doctor is an idiot and doesn't know anything about thyroids. A pill for thyroid hormone replacement is like putting gas in your car - it's something your body is meant to run on, and needs.


    and said the lump is not large enough for her to recommend removal.

    Ok, now she's REALLY an idiot. You need to find yourself a good thryoid doctor - doesn't necessarily have to be an endo as they often focus on diabetes, but it's a good place to start.

    You need a proper, full thyroid panel: TSH, free (not total) T3 and free T4, and testing for Hashimoto's (anti-TPO antibodies).

    This is insane that your doctor didn't test you for this when you have a family history! But it's sadly all too common when it comes to thyroid management.


    Potential doctors:
    * Dr. Barnett in Chandler - I have a friend who is VERY knowledgable about thyroids who swears by him.
    * This one was recommended on a thyroid board: http://www.drkrystaltellier.com/


    Hashimoto's
    Hashi's is an autoimmune disease where anti-TPO antibodies constantly attack your thyroid, making your levels unstable and usually hypo. Taking thyroid meds managing the hypothyroid symptoms, and also lowers your antibody levels so reduces the attack.

    Many people also report feeling better by taking a selenium supplement, and by going gluten-free.

    Whichever doctor you go to, ask what type of meds they are open to. You want someone who will at least be open to prescribing a natural combo T3/T4 med, and not just a synthetic T4-only med.
  • islandmonkey
    islandmonkey Posts: 546 Member
    Options
    I'm super angry that she brushed off nodules, as they are classic Hashimoto's.

    As well, it's standard to biopsy them just in case. Most are benign but some are not.

    Taking thyroids meds, especially the combo T3/T4 meds, can help shrink nodules.
  • Mowgli1984
    Mowgli1984 Posts: 5
    Options
    Potential doctors:
    * Dr. Barnett in Chandler - I have a friend who is VERY knowledgable about thyroids who swears by him.
    * This one was recommended on a thyroid board: http://www.drkrystaltellier.com/

    Thanks so much for this, I have been searching all morning and most Dr's within my area all have horrible reviews, so I already know I will have to venture outside my 10 mile radius, which is fine and completely worth it, I will look into that information, I appreciate it!!!

    .




    [

Categories