New Doctor Today

[Muffett35]

Went to a new doc today. In between this doc and my last doc I had tons of lab work done. My thyroid came back at 4.750 and then one week later at 4.140. My T4 was 1.02 and my T3 was 3.3.The nurse just called in Levothyroxine .025mg 1xd. I had to switch doctors due to insurance change.

He asks what my problems are and then as I am telling him he kept interuppting stating "your thyroid is out of whack" over and over. He stated my hormone levels are normal even though I am on a large amount of Estrogen. I asked him if I should keep taking it. He asked me if it made me feel better. Well considering I feel like **** pretty much all the time I dont realy know. So he said to quit taking it. He was just so short, unsympathetic,rude and treated me as I should already know what was wrong with me and quit asking questions kind of attitude. He didnt discuss what meds I should take or not take other than stopping the estrogen. He just kept stating my thyroid is out of whack. He also wanted to know what kind of excersice I do. I said not any because I am in so much pain. He told me to get in a pool. So basically today I learned I am fat, need to excersice, and my thryoid is out of whack. No mention of my other conditions or anything. So I asked him, am I supposed to do nothing until 5 weeks and retest then come back. He looked at me and said "I did say get in a pool!" So I am really upset. My body is betraying me, my doctor could care less and if I was to have a major problem like thyroid cancer, how would I know with that kind of care? I currently am on 10 different meds. I am shocked at todays appointment!

[laura1967]

Oh my....but at least he admitted your thyroid is out of wack! lol
Basically you need to start your thyroid meds and retest in 5 weeks and see if you are on enough.'
Pertaining to the estrogen.....your levels tested normal ON estrogen???  If you go off estrogen then your levels will change and you will need to retest those. Are you on bio identical estrogen??
We all need to exercise and most of us don't because of fatigue and pain. Exercise will boost your immune system and help your hormone levels. It is just very hard to get yourself doing it.
Even though this dr is short and direct,hang in there and see if he is going to keep treating your thyroid issue properly.  Next appt I would ask for thyroid ultrasound if you haven't had one done.

[Muffett35]

Oh, yes, many times I learned that. lol The scary thing is if this was said to my mother she would have no idea what he was talking about. I knew ahead of this appt. the test results and researched and researched it. My other doctor was so kind and understanding. She would listen to all concerns, document them, and order tests that she thought were appropriate. She would explain everything she was doing, what the test were for, and when they came back she would explain the next step. She would explain the drugs she prescribed with side effects and what to watch for. She was very aggresive in the testing to find out what was going on.

I have been on the thyroid meds for almost two weeks now and dont see a difference yet. Except I have a cough now and  I cannot get warm and we live in AZ and its still in the high 70's. Before I was always so hot. So I have an appt. to retest at the 5 week mark and go to him one week after that. He said its such a low dose I probably wont see any difference. My thought was why didnt he increase it then? I also explained to him that I have my TSH tested every 6 months and its always been normal. I have had these symptoms for over two years. I told him that I have multiple lesions on my spine and Dr. Pyter was going to order an MRI of the brain and refer me on to a nuerologist to be tested for MS. He said it wasnt nessecary until my thyroid levels were normal. I dont even know what a normal level would be.

I am taking Estradoil. So I am not for sure if that is bio identical estrogen.

I used to be a very active person. It was when the symptoms started that I could no longer do what I normally did. So if the pain was not so bad,I would love to exercise and be active like I used to be.

He is the type of physician that I would be scared to ask for anything. He didnt seem to be the kind of physician that likes patients to have any control over their health care. My daughters and husband see him this week. If he is as rude to them as he was to me then I am not going back. He had to be the rudest physician I have ever met. I work in the medical field also.

[Muffett35]

Oh, I forgot to ask is my T3 and T4 normal?

[laura1967]

Yes your T4 level is low. Optimal ranges are mid normal for T4 and mid to mid high normal for free t3.  Take a look at the ranges your lab used.
No you shouldn't settle for someone treating you like doodoo. :)
In the mean time do what he said, retest, and continue your search for a thyroid specialist to take care of your thyroid needs.
I am always saying to others to be your own advocate.....you and your dr should be partners in your treatment.....not him acting like a Natzi. :)

PS- you also need to have antibody testing done for Hashimoto's and Grave's. You need to know the cause of your thyroid problem.  And....you should have a thyroid ultrasound done to see if you have nodules. A physical exam of thyroid is not enough.

[Muffett35]

Thank you so much for all your advice and help. I am going back to my old physician and just paying cash for her. My insurance will pay for all the tests and she can referr me to who I need to go to. On my re-test in 5 weeks it only is for the TSH and nothing else. He didnt even explain what hypothyroidism is. So I agree with you that we should be working together on this and I didnt get that vibe from him. He didnt even feel where my thyroid is. Just up where my glands are under my jawline.
I will write down the tests you mentioned and have my other physician order them. Thanks again so much for your help. I was starting to feel quite alone in this.