How did you get dx'ed?

Navi · 12-27-2007, 12:02 AM

For the longest time now I've been wondering if my thyroid is acting up...

I've been reading about both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism and I seem to have a mix of symptoms from both - is it possible to have hypothyroid if you don't have all the symptoms?

Once upon a time my former RE ordered bloodwork that included TSH but I don't have the results anymore, and anyway I don't think they did T3 and T4. I'm supposed to see my current doctor on the 10th next month and I was planning to ask him for a copy, and what he thinks about my symptoms, see if he's willing to look into it.

Renee3600 · 12-27-2007, 05:46 PM

Yeah, its is possible to have hypothyroid without having all the sypmtoms, just like it is possible to have PCOS without having all of the symptoms. It couldn't hurt to ask the doc about it. I personally would ask for at least the TSH and T4 bloodwork. A lot of people are hypothroid and have a normal TSH, but their T4 is low.
Good luck to you!

alaskaflygirl · 12-28-2007, 02:55 PM

The doctors are still puzzled why my symptoms are all over the place.

I had my thyroid removed due to cancer a few years ago, and it took them a couple of years to figure out the perfect dose of replacement thyroid hormone for me. I've had TSH as low as 0.1 and all the way up to 115 (hoooo weee that was fun: talk about feeling like a zombie!).

When I'm severely hyperthyroid (which I'm supposed to be for the rest of my life to deter advancement of any remaining cancer cells), I'm incredibly tired. Yet when I go off the meds for tests and become severely hypothyroid, I get enough energy to last me 18 hours without stopping.

So, really, to each their own. You can have a whole bevy of symptoms that don't match the list, but only your bloodwork can tell the real story.

seats · 12-28-2007, 06:34 PM

well i was dx'ed by my gyno. she wanted to test it because we have been having problems with getting pregnant and she said that is one of the first things she tests for. and that was a year ago. (but i am still having problems getting pregnant and i am clomid well i took my last pill of clomid on christmas and now i am waiting to Ovulate and then wait to see if i get pregnant.)

Navi · 12-28-2007, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seats

well i was dx'ed by my gyno. she wanted to test it because we have been having problems with getting pregnant and she said that is one of the first things she tests for. and that was a year ago. (but i am still having problems getting pregnant and i am clomid well i took my last pill of clomid on christmas and now i am waiting to Ovulate and then wait to see if i get pregnant.)

Really? That's interesting. I tried calling my GYN today to see if he would at least order me a blood test or something, since I can't see him until about 3 days before I have to go back to school, and his NP totally blew me off. She said even if I could convince him to order me testing, he can't treat me anyway and I might as well just go back to my GP (who ignored my problems twice already).

I don't even know if it's worth trying to get dx'ed anymore...but thanks for the help...

Renee3600 · 12-28-2007, 10:16 PM

The one piece of advice I would like to give you is don't be afraid to feal like a hypocondriac. You never know when you might be onto something. I got diagnosed with hypothyroid right away, but my endo didn't think I had PCOS for quite a while because as she so eliquently put "you're not fat". I'm 5'8 and weight about 138lbs. I had ultrasounds of my ovaries which had the the "string of pearl" cysts. So I asked for my testosterone to be tested and it was high. She gave me a low dose of metformin. I honestly think I have a mild form of PCOS, but the point is I asked for the test. I'de rather come across as a hypercondriac and have tests than to not know the anwsers to my questions.
Good luck to you and I hope you find the ansrews you're looking for.

Cateyes13850 · 12-28-2007, 10:26 PM

I was Dx by my primary, I have only had 1 period sense march, but severe cramps, I have a crap load of hair........everywhere, so she ordered blood work. My testasterone (sp?) level was high 75, so she said I think it's PCOS, she ordered an pelvic ultrasound and that showed multiple cysts on my ovaries/follicles. So............she determined PCOS. Now waiting for Endo appointment and med's. She said it was strange though because I had 4 kid's before age 22. I am 36 now and have had symptoms for the last 9 or so years. But during all of my pregnancies, I had to take med's to keep them in, I started labor at 4 months with each............maybe that was a sign.

My fav story is about 5 yrs ago I went to Dr. and complained about chin hair, she said I am not going to do anything about chin hair................If she only listened then!!

ErikaG · 12-30-2007, 10:14 PM

I asked my OB to order a thyroid panel (TSH, T3, T4 etc) along with the blood work he was ordering as usual. My thyroid numbers have been borderline for years-I come in just under the clinical cutoff for hypothyroid based on numbers alone, but I have hypothyroid symptoms. I've always had the OB's office draw the numbers because I know I'm there most consistently at the same time each year, and for years the borderline numbers were left alone. I switched OB/GYNs when we moved, and asked about the numbers after the PCOS diagnosis. My current OB/GYN is a little more aggressive than most, and said "You know, they look fine to me, but I'm not an endocrinoloist. Go see her, she may see something that I don't." He also said it was smart of me to ask. The endo looked at the numbers and looked at my symptoms, and prescribed Synthroid.

It's possible to have some hypo symptoms and not every one of them just like it's possible to have some PCOS symptoms but not others. If you're having both hypo and hyper symptoms, you may also want to look at thyroid antibodies-there are other thyroid conditions that can cause one to swing back and forth between the two extremes. If the NP is blowing you off, make an appointment with the doctor, or if you don't require a referral, make an appointment with an endocrinologist and pursue that route-they're often more well versed and more aggressive about treatment than OB/GYNs or GPs.

evilbee · 01-03-2008, 03:55 PM

I was diagnosed hypothyroid a couple years ago after feeling tired, weak, cranky and depressed. Some of the other symptoms I had that I realized AFTER I was diagnosed: my hair was brittle and dull, my skin was dull and flaking constantly, I had no appetite but very overweight. I thought it was because of low iron/b12 as I've ALWAYS had a problem hanging onto that and was anemic as a teenager.

It took a bit to find the right dosage, but I've stayed at 112mg for awhile now. I once accidentally took two pills and it felt like I was on speed!!!

If you're feeling tired and weak, I suggest doing the GOLD TEST!!!! It really works!!! Take some gold (a ring works best) and drag it across your face firmly. It HAS to be your face, not your arm or your hand or anywhere else. If a black streak shows up, you're iron deficient. Don't believe me? Have it confirmed with a blood test. You'll notice just after a meal the black streak will be lighter or not there. After taking iron supplements for awhile, try it again and you'll notice that you don't get a black streak. Most women don't even know that they're iron deficient.

I told my doctor about this test and he said if everyone knew about it (the medical profession) that it would save hundreds of thousands of dollars in expensive blood tests. So tell your friends!

Okay, off my soap box. Good luck with getting your thyroid diagnosed!!! I know I kept being tested as normal for years... it only started two years ago.

sandstar · 01-04-2008, 09:47 PM

I was diagnosed by my OBGYN as well. I have never really had a problem with my weight, and after a bout with a sleep disorder, I gained a bunch, then sorta tapered up, but I had been gaining weight consistently at about 1-2 pounds per month over about 8 months even though I was dieting and trying to get enough exercise. I had my annual OBGYN appointment coming up and my mom (who is a nurse) told me to talk to her about my weight gain and ask about checking thyroid function. When I asked about it, she said she agreed that it would be a good idea and that as long as she was taking blood, she was going to order tests to make sure my ovaries were producing the right mix of hormones. When she got the results back, lo and behold, I had hypothyroidism and signs of PCOS. She wanted to do a sonogram to confirm her finding, but I reminded them that I had a sonogram a month earlier because of horrible pains that would leave me curled in a ball crying. When she pulled my sonogram results, it was definatley PCOS. I had heard of PCOS once or twice, but had no clue about it and was never worried about it either. Lucky me (sarcasm), I got both diagnoses at the same time.

pretzelpirate07 · 01-08-2008, 01:48 PM

I gained 150 pounds and was dx in 2003 with hypothyroidism, my hair was falling out was puking blood, severe swelling of the legs

em112000 · 01-08-2008, 02:01 PM

I was not diagnosed hypothyroid by my OB. She diagnosed me with PCOS and sent me to a regular endocrinologist. My first endo did not think I had hypothyroidism either.... but my 2nd one redid my testing and sure enough, that was part of my problems.

graphicsgirl · 01-13-2008, 09:28 PM

I was diagnosed hypothyroid about 2 years ago when I *begged* my doctor to test me for it. I had been losing hair, felt depressed and overall very sluggish, was cold constantly, etc. A nutritionist friend told me to get tested.

Once I started on the meds I felt like I had more energy and the hair loss stopped. I am still always cold, though!

Navi · 01-16-2008, 11:07 PM

Since I started this topic I'll ask here - what is considered a normal TSH level?

My OB/GYN graciously tested my TSH (no T3 or T4) last week but he said it was "normal" when he called me. I just found my old, old b/w (last spring) and it reads my TSH was 3.24 and the cut-off was about 4.

I thought I saw someone on this board say a stable TSH would be 1.0?

It would just make a lot of sense...I really think something is wrong with my thyroid and I feel worse everyday.

If I decide I have reason to, I might just find a new GP when I move back to school next week so I can get a proper test...

paula0471 · 01-21-2008, 05:30 AM

I was dx after a Chemcial last July.. They did a partial M/C panel and found my TSH was elevated. My doctor wanted to see my levels between 1.0-2.0.. My last two test were 5.84 and then 1.68 ...