Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsD
That is just one doctor's opinion. If you lined up 100 doctors and asked a medical question, you'd be amazed at the answers!
I'd say...the orange pigmentation in the skin is biggie ..it was for me. Also the cholesterol. The problem is that the thyroid affects everything...and in some people one or two things more than others. There is also an edema that comes with hypo, and a significant brain fog. The tongue can swell in the mouth as well.
Feeling tired and weight gain, are less convincing to doctors because they hear these complaints all day long from just about everyone.
We do know that lab ranges are just statistical averages. My lab ranges were iffy... so I got a scan finally and that showed major problems. If it hadn't I'd still be hypo I bet! As it was the endo made me wait another 6months, to get treated, in case the scan was revealing a temporary abnormal condition. I was not happy about THAT either. But I finally got my treatment.
And my internist comments: "I always thought you were hypo, but could not justify treatment based solely on your blood work". How's that for infuriating?
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No doubt. Reading the private email exchange between two doctors discussing hypo treatments was very interesting. Saying there are so many who are winging it was disconcerting - and something the general public should know. Then they can read widely before they pick one method.
It boggles the mind how such things as T3 and Mg which are in every cell get so little research and expertise. You'd think this would be the starting point and top priority.
I have been lucky enough not to have weight gain issues, but the PN and lack of sweat is bad enough.
Low core temperatures, lack of sweat, adrenal/energy problems, and PN are key indicators for me even if I reject the blood work results as unreliable.
I feel more comfortable trying a thyroid protocol of some kind now that my BP is normal and CoQ10 levels are about normal (and I'm taking 300 mg/day). My heart is in better shape to handle the potential side effects of thyroid including higher blood pressure and heart palpitations.
My current plan is to try the circadian thyroid protocol, hoping that if I fix my thyroid, the adrenals will take care of themselves.
My ND wants me to do the saliva test. I understand that test is popular, but it seems redundant. Obviously anyone whose sleep is disrupted every day is going to be tired and that will affect their cortisol levels.
By the way, I called my doctor's office this afternoon to check on the results, including a second set of thyroid tests. I believe I was told the new test results show I'm in the normal range (the new normal). And this second test was only several weeks after the first one which said I was twice as high as it should be. It seems to indicate my suspicion to rely solely on one test was valid, but I'll wait till I have the print out to make sure.
It just seems really risky to subject your body to potential heart problems based on only one blood sample!
P.S. Since my doc had ordered a pelvic/abdominal ultrasound, I was sneaky and added a check mark to the box below in the form for, you guessed it, thyroid! (Partly because of the low lighting the technician last week didn't take a closer look.) Those results should be available to me this week.