Yes I will do that. Hoping it's not cancerous of course but am thinking fixing this will give me more energy too, so I'm excited about that.

I found a site at about.com with several thyroid quizzes one can take to see if they are more likely to have thyroid problems.

http://thyroid.about.com/lr/thyroid_quizzes/71537/1/

Tammy, they will most likely now have you do a Up Take Scan (a snap to do) to see if it is "hot" or not...

A thyroid scan uses a radioactive tracer and a special camera to measure how much tracer the thyroid gland absorbs from the blood. The tracer can be swallowed or can be injected into a vein. It travels through your body, giving off radiation signals. The camera "sees" the signals and can measure how much tracer the thyroid absorbs from the blood.

A thyroid scan can show the size, shape, and location of the thyroid gland . It can also find areas of the thyroid gland that are overactive or underactive. The camera takes pictures of the thyroid gland from three different angles. The radioactive tracer used in this test is either iodine or technetium.

A radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) test may also be done to find problems with how the thyroid gland works, such as hyperthyroidism. For more information, see the medical test Radioactive Iodine Uptake Test.

Just keep the faith and all will be well, just another little test, doctor visit, co-pay...part of our life with Fibro!

Susan, I got a copy of the ultrasound report and it mentions and the indication as a history of hypothyroidism. That would be part of the cause of my severe fatigue. I can't get in to see my doc until 7/30. Do you think they would be willing to give me RX now to help with the fatigue or will they make me wait until they do all these extra tests. I'm thinking that could be awhile.

Every hospital/clinic does things differently, but I'm surprised they would do an ultrasound before taking simple blood tests. Does that make sense to anyone else? Maybe they were suspecting something else?
My doctor refuses to give me any more thyroid medication than what is needed to bring down the levels of TSH, indicating the improved operation of the thyroid gland. After I threw a fit with him, he sent me to the endocrinologist, who gave me additional medication, which did nothing for my energy level. I hope that others will feel some improvements in their energy levels with the medication, as did PeaceN2You. As my doctor warned me, the additional medication did nothing and I spent yet more money trying to pursue something that will help me.

I'm happy that Peace is having a positive results. I'm sick that it did nothing for me. I guess I'm a little jealous of those who get better, while still being really happy for them and those others who might benefit from that experience. I just can't help but to be sad for myself and others who are still suffering, with no help on the horizon.

Tammy3164, I can't imagine that your doctor would give you medication without the blood test, but he might. In years past, doctors would keep giving you more and more medication until the symptoms were gone, rather than being led by a blood test, with levels of hormones that might mean nothing, for all I know.

I probably shouldn't even post this. I'm in a funk about being so exhausted all the time, with all my close friends and family expecting me to do more than I can. It sucks and I'm sick of being sick. Arrrghhhh.

Marsha, they did the labs AND the ultrasound, the labs came back normal.

If you RX is not doing anything for you then I think you are either on the wrong meds or on the wrong dose. Maybe you have the wrong doctor. Go to the 'Hypothroidism' support group and do some reading in there. I can take up to a year to get the dose you need and it needs be monitored after that. What I've also been reading in the internet is it isn't the TSH that they need to look at as much as the free T3 and free T4. Both of them came back in the normal range for me but borderline low. They say that isn't acceptable if you have any of the symptoms. The docs that are treating those in the hypo group, that have success is bringing that up to at least the mid normal range, some at the higher normal range.

I've also learned in the last year with fibro that you sometimes need to be pro-active with your own medical issues. Get a copy of your labs and go see a new doctor.

Funny you should mention getting a new doctor, Tammy3164, I have been thinking along those lines myself. I think I want to see the endocrinologist again and see about getting an MRI, or untrasound/whatever to see if I have something growing on my thyroid. I have had a sore throat for months and I have trouble swallowing. Or maybe I need to see a ear/nose/throat doc. Wow, it sure is a full-time job keeping up with all the weird symptom FMS gives me. No wonder I'm worn out all the time.

thanks again and keep us posted with the continuing story of your treatments, if you would.

Marsha -Yes absolutely you should ask for an ultrasound with those symptoms. Often there aren't any symptoms for years. I've had symptoms for years and never thought anything of it, so now it's a bit large so I'm expecting them to tell me I should have it out.

Yes I'll keep you posted how it goes.

I am with Marsha a tech does the Ultrasound and the results are normaly giving back to your doctor to go over with you.I have had two Ultrasounds done they can only measure the size of the nodules and not give any results to conclude any illness such as Hypothroidism.

I see a endocrinologist only after each new ultrasound and blood work...and yes my blood work is normal to borderline low....why worry or add more medication if it is not needed?

You need to have the Uptake test done, this is the true test and the only one that can give you peace of mind...Marsha ask for a Ultrasound, blood work and if need a Uptake test before asking to see a endocrinologist once again as he/she will only send you for these first anyway....

I just recently went for bioidentical hormone therapy and they did lots of bloodwork. While my TSH and T4 were in normal ranges, the T3 was low. I was diagnosed with hashimotos a number of years ago and while I was on a T4 only med, it was not converting to T3 like it should have. They recently prescribed a T3 hormone in addition to my T4. Its only been a short time, so I haven't seen any difference yet, but sure hope to in the fatigue dept.

Another tip that my doctor and a drug rep friend both told me was that when it comes to thyroid medications, be sure to take the name brands and not generics. They are not equal.

Pammyann, I've read that as a problem with just taking a T4. I does no good if your body doesn't convert it into T3. Sounds some what common. I've also read some people prefer the natural Armour Thyroid RX over the synthetic. Have you tried that?

I have both a low T3 and T4. T4 is right on the border of low. It's been 3 week since my tests and I won't get in to see my doctor for another week yet. Frustrating. The doc that did the tests then went on vacation so I didn't hear from him for 2 weeks, then only after calling twice, all he said was to make an appt with my reg. doc. who is part time so that is another two weeks. :-(

I had problems with my thryroid after I went through Interferon treatments for HepC. It was one of the side effects.

Anyway I was on Synthroid since 2000 and then in 2010 I decided I wanted to get off some of my pain medications so I started looking for alternative pain management. I came across something called Brain Wave Entertainment. In May of 2010 I started listening to the BWE. I started listening 3 times a day for 30 minutes each and on the fourth or fifth day I noticed I had no pain. I didn't have to do it again until October of the same year. But it was what happened in between that time that is relevant to you.

Whenever I took my Synthroid I would throw it up and on those rare occasions when it did stay down I would experience the same symptoms I was taking the Synthroid for. I had hypothyroidism. As long as I stayed off the Synthroid my symptoms were non existent but as soon as I took it I had the symptoms.

You might want to research your medications and see what their side effects are. I don't think I would be so quick to get on medications. I take Fibromyalgia Relief found at Walgreen's. It's a holistic over-the-counter medication or supplement, which ever you prefer. It has taken care of the fatigue factor for me. The Brain Wave Entertainment has also helped with the fatigue, fibro fog, depression, energy levels and concentration levels. It can be found at www.mentallion.com along with an explanation of just what Brain Wave Entertainment is and can do for you.
No I'm not an affiliate and I don't get paid every time someone goes to their website. I just know what has worked for me and after the Brain Wave Entertainment I have managed to get back just about every thing I was doing before being diagnosed in 1999.

alc554 I'm a little confused by the medication thing. Don't you take Tramadol? It just sounds like you're saying you don't take any meds. Am I just misreading something?

I am still confused why the Doctor would give meds with blood work coming back normal with out first finding out if the Nodules where "hot" or not.....My blood work like your came back normal the lst time but the time before that on the low side of normal hance the uptake test first and since two ultra test to watch the size of the nodulesthat is all that a ultra sound can tell you.

I had blood tests taken, also. Waiting to hear from the Dr., or do I need to call her? She's a new one for me, a real young, cute, mother of two. It still delights me to see more women in the professions.