What is an 'endocrinologists'?
LMW
I've been suffering from thyroid disease for a number of years, first Hyper
with MD not willing to treat all the way to severe Hypo. Needless to say, I
like reading all of your posts as it is informative and all. So I feel like
an idiot but, what the heck is an endocrinologists and should I see one?
Jill
of endocrine glands. Thyroid, pancreas, parathyroid, adrenal glands,
pituitary gland, testes and ovaries. These are ductless organs that secret
hormones into the body by blood or lymph systems. They also autoimmune
diseases.
"LMW" <lwate...@rogers.com> wrote in message
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JOYHTON
An endocrinologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment
of glandular diseases.
Many endos treat thyroid diseases. My own primary care physician is an endo,
which was lucky for me, since he knew exactly what I was talking about when I
went to him 3 years ago complaining of extreme fatigue, weight gain, brain fog,
hair loss, swollen feet and legs, and generally feeling like a pile of dung.
If you feel your MD is not treating your thyroid condition adequately, maybe
you should see an endo. Will your MD refer you to an endo?
Joyce
bluebells
LMW wrote:
In addition to the others' comments - how do you feel? Are you happy with your
current doc.?
I wouldn't think a person would want to go "all the way to severe Hypo". How
are now now - still hyper?
Kindest regards,
Diana
LMW
As I mentioned, my MD left my 'hyper' go untreated for years and it was a
new MD that eventually started on treatment for 'hypo'. My TSH went from
something like -7 to 17. I didn't know anything about the thyroid then nor
did I know what the symptoms were so I didn't get the help early enough I
suppose. The symptoms were very different when I was Hyper than they are now
being Hypo. I am on .125 Synthroid and have been for about 1 1/2 years. My
TSH levels have been sticking around 3-4 since then. I still feel very
tired, can't concentrate, I have a lot of troubles with my hair/skin and
nails. But sometimes, not always, I get a very hoarse voice and have trouble
swallowing. I think I have swelling in my throat, but my MD says that my TSH
levels are fine so it can't be my thyroid. I like my MD as she has helped me
out a great deal with many health problems in the past. But I just want to
make sure a potential problem never goes undiagnosed/untreated again. Just
once, I'd love to feel 'alive' again. More often than not, I feel like the
walking dead.
Do I need a referral to see an Endo?
"LMW" <lwate...@rogers.com> wrote in message
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Simon Waters
>
> My TSH went from something like -7 to 17.
Don't tell deT (regular here) that you had negative amounts of
thyroid stimulating hormone, it will upset his world view ;)
Usually the lab tests come back with something like "< 0.15" (Or
other small value depending on where they buy their tests from)
meaning less than this test can measure, when people are first
diagnosed as hyperthyroid.
> The symptoms were very different when I was Hyper than they are now
> being Hypo. I am on .125 Synthroid and have been for about 1 1/2 years. My
> TSH levels have been sticking around 3-4 since then. I still feel very
> tired, can't concentrate, I have a lot of troubles with my hair/skin and
> nails. But sometimes, not always, I get a very hoarse voice and have trouble
> swallowing. I think I have swelling in my throat, but my MD says that my TSH
> levels are fine so it can't be my thyroid. I like my MD as she has helped me
> out a great deal with many health problems in the past. But I just want to
> make sure a potential problem never goes undiagnosed/untreated again. Just
> once, I'd love to feel 'alive' again. More often than not, I feel like the
> walking dead.
What you can sleep normally, and don't suffer in the cold? Not
even a little depression?
> Do I need a referral to see an Endo?
You need a Doctor who has experience of (successfully) dealing
with hypothyroidism, "a referral to an endo" is the simplest way
of expressing that, although we can't guarantee the first endo
you find is any good - shop around or ask here.
Your symptoms are classic hypothyroidism.
The most common problem in treating hypothyroidism is simply not
giving enough thyroid hormone, and it sounds like this may be
happening to you.
I suspect your doctor is falling into the "TSH is inside the lab
range, therefore it is fine" trap, that isn't how hypothyroidism
needs to be approached. The target TSH is usually about 1.3,
certainly less than 2, but people vary.
The lump in your throat is probably a swollen thyroid, an
experienced thyroid Doctor would be able to tell if your thyroid
was swollen just by feeling it through the skin of your throat.
Not rocket science, no pathology lab with radio assay technology
needed, just a gentle touch ;).
Never mind the blood tests even if you didn't have classic
hypothyroid symptoms, a swelling of the thyroid gland should be
investigated.
What made you become hypothyroid after being hyperthyroid? (Some
people it just happens as a result of Hashimoto's).
Get a referral - make sure the endo knows his thyroids.
Even good doctors can't know everything, an endo will agree a
treatment regime with your doctor, so you won't be leaving the
MD your otherwise happy with behind.
bluebells
LMW wrote:
> Hi 'Bluebells',
> As I mentioned, my MD left my 'hyper' go untreated for years and it was a
> new MD that eventually started on treatment for 'hypo'. My TSH went from
> something like -7 to 17.
I do not understand why a doctor would let you go under treated for years, or
that hyper thyroid symptoms could have been missed. What was the eventual
treatment you received? Did you have RAI or a thyroidectomy?
> I didn't know anything about the thyroid then nor
> did I know what the symptoms were so I didn't get the help early enough I
> suppose. The symptoms were very different when I was Hyper than they are now
> being Hypo. I am on .125 Synthroid and have been for about 1 1/2 years. My
> TSH levels have been sticking around 3-4 since then
(maybe this will make you smile - I couldn't remember the number of our house
when I had a TSH of 3.3). Many people here prefer their TSH to be under 2 - so
in your case there would appear to be room for improvement.
> I still feel very
> tired, can't concentrate, I have a lot of troubles with my hair/skin and
> nails. But sometimes, not always, I get a very hoarse voice and have trouble
> swallowing. I think I have swelling in my throat, but my MD says that my TSH
> levels are fine so it can't be my thyroid.
You need to get a copy of your TSH results - post it here - with the range -
and posters can see what the doctor currently things *is* normal.
> I like my MD as she has helped me
> out a great deal with many health problems in the past. But I just want to
> make sure a potential problem never goes undiagnosed/untreated again. Just
> once, I'd love to feel 'alive' again. More often than not, I feel like the
> walking dead.
Sorry about that - so sad. It's good to have a doctor you like, however, in
this case she is being delinquent in her management of you.
Get back to your doctor and ask for more blood tests. You want a TSH, a free t4
and a free t3.
Basically, The Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) 'tells' the thyroid to produce
the hormones t4 and t3 and some other t's. Some of the t4 is converted into
t3. T3 is the donkey work hormone and affects everything in the body. The
'free' is the hormone that is available in the body to do the work (i.e., not
bound).
Read as much as you can so you can discuss with doc. If this doc. won't do
these tests ask for a referral to an endo. Don't forget to obtain a copy of
future results and post them here.
When you have had more blood tests you will see whether if you are getting
enough t4 and t3. If not then you can add t3. This can be synthetic or
naturally derived.
> Do I need a referral to see an Endo?
You need to see any mdic. who can help you to feel well. An MD, an endo, or an
internist. If you live in a small town there might not be much choice.
Read the following AST website for information about hypothyroidism and TSH
results (this is a live link - just click):
http://www.thyroid.bravepages.com
Read the British Medical Journal about a TSH above 2 :
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/314/7088/1175
Read the American Association of Endos. position that the current range is
suspect:
http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/aacereversal.htm
Many doctors are going to have to relearn that their current thinking and
dependence upon an archaic TSH range has become inappropriate and dangerous to
the good health of individuals.
There are a lot of good people here who can help you -- Keep posting. Keep
asking. Keep reading.
Good luck in obtaining your good health.
Kindest regards,
Diana
Simon Waters
>
> (maybe this will make you smile - I couldn't remember the number of our house
> when I had a TSH of 3.3).
Curiously my dad has a terrible memory for names, he even gets
mine wrong on occasion! The thyroid problems are on my mothers
side, but I inherited both.
I spent most of last year unable to remember my GP's name.
Fortunately I just had to put "Doctor" in my cell telephone and
it would tell me her name.
Saw the endo last year, couldn't remember my GP's name, saw a
new doctor this month couldn't remember the endo's name, or the
GP's name.
They'll probably have me in a home by the time I'm 33.
bluebells
Simon Waters wrote:
> bluebells wrote:
> >
> > (maybe this will make you smile - I couldn't remember the number of our house
> > when I had a TSH of 3.3).
>
> Curiously my dad has a terrible memory for names, he even gets
> mine wrong on occasion! The thyroid problems are on my mothers
> side, but I inherited both.
>
That is just so unfortunate, Simon. We had an uncle who introduced his two
daughters as "this is Pauline, and this errr.... is ...errrrr...my other
daughter." May he was related to your father!
> I spent most of last year unable to remember my GP's name.
> Fortunately I just had to put "Doctor" in my cell telephone and
> it would tell me her name.
>
> Saw the endo last year, couldn't remember my GP's name, saw a
> new doctor this month couldn't remember the endo's name, or the
> GP's name.
Thank goodness for modern devices.
> They'll probably have me in a home by the time I'm 33.
Oh don't say that. Anyway, why isn't your memory improving? It must be that part
which you inherited from your father.
Kindest regards,
Diana
Simon Waters
>
> > They'll probably have me in a home by the time I'm 33.
>
> Oh don't say that. Anyway, why isn't your memory improving? It must be that part
> which you inherited from your father.
The hypothyroid memory loss is improving now I've cut the
antithyroid drug dose down - less going into the kitchen and
then realising I can't remember why I went downstairs, or
whether my partner wanted tea or coffee.
I think I'm stuck with the name thing.
Cavaliers
Simon Waters wrote:
> The hypothyroid memory loss is improving now I've cut the
> antithyroid drug dose down - less going into the kitchen and
> then realising I can't remember why I went downstairs, or
> whether my partner wanted tea or coffee.
...that's *your* name don't forget that. I hesitate to suggest that we might write a
book, I can't see it going far...
Diana
LMW
When I was diagnosed with hyper, I was vomiting, eating as though I had been
suffering from malnutrition, sweating profusely, shaking
uncontrollably.....and it's funny now, but I thought I was pregnant and
suffering morning sickness. But as it turns out, it was my thyroid and the
Doc told me that if eating helps, then eat and sent me on my way.
Years later, I began to suffer sudden weight gain, major depression,
sleeping all the time, I was freezing all the time and I really thought that
I was dying of some deadly disease. I was actually falling asleep while
driving, eating etc. It turns out, I was severely anemic and B12 deficient.
My Doc then gave me supplements and I felt really good. But the depression
and feeling super lethargic never really went away and then my TSH levels
came back at 17, and I was diagnosed Hypo. That's about it and as I said
earlier, I feel not bad now, but I don't have any energy and I still can't
concentrate, focus or remember anything if my life depended on it. I wasn't
sure what to think about the hoarse voice, and trouble swallowing, but
thanks for the input. I'll go back to my Doc and ask her to humour me, and
refer me to an endo.
Thanks again.
Lisa
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