In answer to your subject question, in case you haven't been around
alt.support.thyroid for long:  No, there are no docs around, endo or
otherwise.  I have deleted the other newsgroups from this post, simply
because of the cross-talk that that generates.

It is in the nature of this newsgroup to tie positively everything
to the thyroid.  It is surprising, perhaps, how this can be done.
Everything CAN have a relation to the thyroid.  Everything.  Doesn't
mean that there really is a cause/effect relationship, though.

Testing isn't without flaws, but repeatedly getting results "in range"
for the appropriate tests, should be a suggestion that maybe it would
be wise to cast the net a bit wider, and look beyond the thyroid.
Before I get flamed by the group, I'll expand a bit on "appropriate
tests".  Certainly TSH alone is a mistake, since it is a pituitary
hormone, not a thyroid one.  T3 is the active thyroid hormone, so it
should be included.  However, most of the thyroid hormones are bound
to proteins in the serum, so measuring BOTH total-hormone and free-
hormone can be diagnostic.  An indirect measure of the binding proteins
is accomplished in the T3-uptake test; this with a total-hormone, esp
T4, can pass without need for direct measures of free-T4.  Because
those binding proteins have effects beyond just our little world of the
thyroid, it can be a very useful test (esp for women, since estrogen plays
a large role here, but men can benefit, too).

If swinging back and forth between hypo to hyper symptoms, or hypo
and normal, etc, then a scan for nodules may help.  Similarly, looking
for antibodies can be a help in predicting failure.  Evaluating any
and all drugs (which includes "healthfood" supplements) is also
important.

Now then, to get back to where I was going, given the constant nature
of your having depression for 20 years, and repeated thyroid testing
has come back "normal",  I personally am less inclined to blame the
thyroid.  None of the symptoms you relate are specific or unique to
the thyroid.  Although depression is an symptom in its own right, it
can lead to things that can contribute to other symptoms, such as
eating/gaining weight, lack of interest/exercise, or poor nutrition, etc,
which then contribute to those other symptoms you have noted.  There are
bazillions of causes of depression, and so far you have ruled out the
thyroid, despite your desires.  Nutritionally, the more common things
might be pernicious anemia, iron excess, magnesium imbalance....have
any of these been checked?  Bradycardia and circulation problems
leading to cold intolerance, esp in the extremeties, suggest the
adrenal system, kidney function and so forth.  How wide are you allowing
the net to be cast beyond the thyroid?  

What else has been tested?  What has been your experience with anti-
depression medications?  Have any helped?

Just suggestions......

--
Ted Huston                              dr...@umich.edu
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.