Need help deciding if I should get a 2nd opinion
sjmn
Posts: 13 Member
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 doc 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!
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 doc 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!
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Replies
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Couple numbers jump out to me: TSH shouldn't be more than 3 (your doctor is using an outdated range), and you have detectable thyroglobulin antibodies, which indicates Hashimotos. Too bad they didn't test for Free T3, as that's the usable hormone... but your total T3 is at the bottom of the range, so that's not good.
I would definitely get a second opinion, and try to get in to see a doctor who treats symptoms, and doesn't just go off numbers. I'm not sure where you are located, but http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ has a list of doctors that other people have had success with (not sure how often it is updated).
My story is similar to yours (but I don't have kids), had symptoms for years, had a blood test during my senior year of high school that showed low levels of thyroid antibodies, and a TSH ~4. The doctor said everything was normal... Fast forward 7 years, TSH is 60, cholesterol is 350+, and my thyroid antibodies were so high, the lab reported them as "out of range" and just stopped counting. I had the full range of symptoms and was in danger of losing my job due to oversleeping/lack of energy. I often wonder if my thyroid, which is now basically non-functional, would have fared better had someone been willing to help me at the first signs of disease.
Also, this may be helpful: http://thyroid.about.com/cs/basics_starthere/a/antibody.htm
Hope that helps - good luck (and send me a friend request, if you'd like).0 -
Thanks so much for your response! Do you think it could be Hashimoto's even though I am only 1 point outside of the "range"? Should I be more worried than if it was just hypothyroidism? I checked out a ton of books from the library today and will get reading right away. Thanks again!0
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Yes, I am sure - you should never have antibodies to yourself. :-)
Most hypothyroid people (who haven't had their thyroid removed due to Graves Disease or injury), have the autoimmune version, though the autoimmune stuff comes with it's own "interesting" challenges (immune system flare ups, nodules, goiters, etc.)
I highly recommend any book by Mary Shomon, but especially:
http://www.amazon.com/Living-Well-Hypothyroidism-Doctor-ebook/dp/B000FCJZ36/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381980528&sr=1-3&keywords=mary+shomon
I just hope you can find a decent doctor. Good luck, and keep me updated. :-)0 -
Yup, get another doc! I agree with kcvance, your Free T3 should have been tested too. In addition to the suggestion about the stop the thyroid madness site, if you are on facebook, try the page "Thyroid Sexy". There is a doctor list in the notes section. Asking for a sonogram to be done on your thyroid couldn't hurt either, to rule out any nodules, etc.0
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Thanks so much guys! This sucks, but at least I am closer to getting some answers
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