Hypothyroidism Support Group
Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyrohormone by the thyroid gland. There are several distinct causes for chronic hypothyroidism, the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism. Advanced hypothyroidism may cause severe complications, the most serious one of which is...
I went in for my new PCP/GP's ordered blood work and found out by the lab that she only ordered TSH testing...
How can GP's be so uninformed? I get it that they are called GP's for a reason, but then you think they'd recognize they cannot know EVERYTHING and send you to someone who specializes in whatever!
**SIGH** She will probably call me in a few days with some uninformed decision about my meds. I don't go back to see her for 2 weeks, so I guess my follow up will have to wait till then..
Ok... I feel better for venting, I think :)
How can GP's be so uninformed? I get it that they are called GP's for a reason, but then you think they'd recognize they cannot know EVERYTHING and send you to someone who specializes in whatever!
**SIGH** She will probably call me in a few days with some uninformed decision about my meds. I don't go back to see her for 2 weeks, so I guess my follow up will have to wait till then..
Ok... I feel better for venting, I think :)
You have an endocrinological disorder, brought about by an autoimmune disease. You should be able to see an endo.
Also, do let the GP know that the TSH can be affected by different situations, including Hashimoto's that will make the results unreliable.
Here's a link to some good info you might want to print out: http://thyroid.about.com/od/thyroidbasicsthyroid101/a/Challenges-To-Getting-A-Proper-Hypothyroidism-Diagnosis.htm
And here's another link showing the different things that can affect TSH levels: http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/tsh-fluctuating.htm
This one I think you should definitely hand to your doctor and then politely request that the Ft4 and Ft3 tests also be included so you can see what the free, unbound and available thyroid hormone levels are in your body.
Remind your doctor the TSH is a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid hormone which makes it a secondary inference test.
I would then look at these three great links from the same website:
http://nahypothyroidism.org/deiodinases/
http://nahypothyroidism.org/how-accurate-is-tsh-testing/
http://nahypothyroidism.org/why-doesnt-my-doctor-know-all-of-this/
The information posted on this website is based off of recent scientific studies that most doctors, GPs and endos, don't read/keep up on.
And if you're hungry for more, let me know :)
Good luck!
It got so bad for me that I had to order my own meds online(like many others do) to keep from being so sick.
The last time I saw my doctor she said all we need to check is the TSH, but she did not look at me in the face. I can tell she didn't want to say that. I should have spoke up but then thought " would she listen to me"? She had also checked my Ft4 and it was right below the middle of the range and just never paid any attention.
Good luck to you. Yeah Narc is just full of information.
Tell her you want CONSISTENCY IN BLOOD TESTS for FT3 AND FT4.
CONSISTENCY shows what direction that you're going.
IF blood work is not consistent, it's hard to tell which direction your going.
A doctor's office is no different from any other establishment;They're PERFORMING A SERVICE. SHE SHOULD TAKE YOUR REQUEST, THIS IS YOUR APPOINTMENT, NOT HERS.
IF, you don't get what you want, then go somewhere else, where YOUR opinion is golden.
A doctor who is not open to your opinion, it's usually a sign that he/she is old practice and NOT open to NEW treatment.
So when the TSH comes in, comment on your hormone levels:
How much T3 AND T4 do I have in my blood!!
Does the TSH MEASURE or SHOW THE T3 AND T4 levels!!?
How do I know what my T3 AND T4 levels are?
If she brings on a stupid answer or seems to be lying, fire her.
It's your turn to make her FEEL stupid because that's exactly what she is -- practicing TSH levels is just stupid!!
It took a long time to find a doctor that lets me TELL her what to do, WE decide together. She does what I NEED and she does what she needs. Combining this, WE both get what we want and in the end she admitted that she learned from me. This may be what you need to look for in a doctor.
Good luck!