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nobimbo · 03-31-2006, 01:18 PM

Aliki, you're not alone! Sorting out thyroid problems is one of the most confusing and complicated medical issues there is. A big problem is that most docs aren't trained properly in diagnosing and treating thyroid disorders. You have many symptoms for hypothyroidism (the eyebrow thing is a big red flag on top of everything else) and you are at a high risk for it (post-pregnancy combined with PCOS). You definitely need to have a free T3 test. With a free T4 that low I suspect that your free T3 will be even lower. You also need a TPO antibodies test to rule out Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (the most common form of hypothyroidism, and very common in those with PCOS).

Have you checked the "Top Thyroid Docs" list for Missouri yet? Here is the link:

http://thyroid.about.com/gi/dynamic/...2Fmissouri.htm

There is one of the docs on that list for St. Louis that I want to warn you about (I went to him in 04). His name is E.J. Cunningham. He prescribes Cytomel ONLY for all of his thyroid patients, which is a big red flag right there. He also monitors progress on Cytomel by body temps and how the patient feels ALONE (he doesn't believe it's helpful to do blood tests to monitor). He wrote me a prescription for Cytomel before ever running blood tests just based on my history. He also told me my thyroid gland was enlarged, but when I had my PCP and my gyn examine me they both said it wasn't. I had to beg Cunningham to order a free T3 and a TPO test. I got my tests done but I would never go back to him!

There is an endo at Barnes West by the name of Robert Saltman (314-878-6008) who I've heard good things about and who is listed on the Armour Thyroid site as one of the docs in this area who will prescribe Armour, so he may be more willing to think out of the box and may be able to handle female hormone issues naturally as well. He requires a referral from a PCP, though.

Also, there is a doc that someone raved about on the about.com-thyroid site that is in south county. Here is her review of him (it's not on the top thyroid docs list). I found it in the message boards there; the post was from 2001). In another post she said that he accepts most insurance plans.:

Quote:

At last as promised, I am writing to tell you of my success in finally finding a doctor who thinks as we do. He treats with Armour Natural Thyroid starting out with 60mg twice a day. He says he treats people by how they feel, not just by their lab numbers. He says that many people don't feel best at the upper range of lab normals and even if your TSH is at the upper normal range he wll continue to adjust your medication until you are feeling good, even if that takes you down to the 1 to 2 range (which as a matter of fact he says he agrees that most people feel best there!).

He is a OB GYN and a D.O (not an M.D.) and DOES insist on seeing you as such in addition to treating the thyroid. He says that he is not comfortable treating just thyroid and not the whole woman. So if you don't mind switching GYNs then run, don't walk, to this doctor. He is still accepting new patients. His office is at:

Dr. David L. Super D.O
9701 Landmark Parkway Dr
Ste 207
Saint Louis, MO 63127-1665
(314) 842-4802

I walked out of his office on my first visit with a prescription for Armour Thyroid and a 'script to have my blood tested. He is going to check my T4, T3, TSH and will adjust my medication accordingly once he gets the results back. I just had my blood drawn today for the test.

Good luck!

SugarBane
http://lowcarb4life.sugarbane.com

http://forums.about.com/n/main.asp?...=relevance&be=0

HTH,
Linda