Okay, I'm a little concerned about my thyroid. With PCOS and feeling like I have so many things wrong with me, I've been ignoring my thyroid (or trying to) for quite a while now. I found out years ago that my thyroid antibodies were high, but my Thyroid hormone levels at the time were normal. My gp kept an eye on them every now and again, but it's probably close to 3 years (and a child later) since I've had any work up done on it at all. I had a gp suggest I have my thyroid checked recently because I have had depression on and off for a few years now. After reading a bit on here I am now thoroughly confused about what tests I should have done and if they will actually pick anything up. I don't want to feel like a hypochondriac, but if my depression and abnormal periods are actually due to my thyroid I would like to be correctly diagnosed. Has anyone any suggestions of what I should have done as a work up? I don't think anyone has ever even palpated my throid before to see if it is enlarged.
__________________ xx Pale Pink Aura
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DD (7) - conceived via IVF (FET) after 2 years of infertility treatment
DS (3) - conceived after 2 years of natural therapies
TSH
Free T4
Free T3
TPO antibodies
Progesterone
Estrogen
Iron panel (including ferritin)
The reason you should also have your progesterone/estrogen levels checked is because those levels can effect thyroid function. Estrogen binds thyroid hormone, and progesterone is necessary for optimal thyroid function.
Low ferritin (the measure of iron stores) can mimic hypothyroid symptoms, which is why it is important to have that tested as well.
HTH,
Linda
__________________ dx pcos 1984, type II diabetes 2001, also hypertension
Met 2000mg since 2001, started Glucophage XR 4/22/04, then switched to Met ER 6/04; also: multi, Vit. C, Vit. E, B12/folic acid combo, fish oil & borage oil combo, garlic capsules, cinnamon, Vitex, calcium with magnesium/zinc, biotin, CoQ10, selenium,iron
Other meds: Verapamil and Altace(for blood pressure)
Started laser hair removal 7/29/03, completed 3/04 (it works!)
UAE for fibroid 3/24/03 and 3/16/04
Don't feel like a hypchondriac for getting your thyroid checked...many of us have gone for years undiagnosed because we weren't ballsy enough to take a stand for our health. Be bold! Don't be afraid!
By the way...new studies have shown that just the existence of the antibodies can cause hypothyroid symptoms (depression is one of the biggies here) and when a drug like synthroid is given to someone who's just got the antibodies, it helps to treat the person...
I also wanted to add, are you seeing an endocrinologist? If not, they are really the ones who deal with thyroid issues and they are the best bet to be checking on you.
Good luck and let us know how things go...
__________________ Celtic Spirit
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Don't feel like a hypchondriac for getting your thyroid checked...many of us have gone for years undiagnosed because we weren't ballsy enough to take a stand for our health. Be bold! Don't be afraid!
I agree DON'T BE AFRAID! ASK FOR WHAT YOU NEED! The doctors are there to serve you, not the other way around.
After years and years of begging for a full work up, I went to a health fair last spring and finally got the low tsh result which I took with me to my GP's office. Then I insisted on the full work up.
When the results came back indicative of Graves' I actually got an APOLOGY for the years I suffered and was ignored! I had switched GPS by then, but she still apologised for the other doctors.
Wow this is confusing 
