Aa
Daughter needs help
I had papillary carcinoma with small amt of follicular cancer in 2005. My daughter is 22 and has had sporadic problems since she was 17. I thought it was her birth control making her hypothyroid so took her off them completely. She cannot gain weight, tired all the time, poor concentration, low sex drive, bad acne and now is experiencing numbness and cramping in her hands, they lock up on her and hurt. 4 different docs in past 6 months, tons of blood work and 3 thyroid ultrasounds, 2 pelvic have shown that she had a gold ball size cyst on her right ovary which has since ruptured by itself. Gyno gave her a Nuva ring that she took out after 2 weeks, was causing pain, cramps and since then she has had a full period every 2 weeks for 3 months. 1st Ultrasound on thyroid showed a nodule .9 mm (TSH at same time was 49.33) she was on Armour thyroid at my request for next 2 months. When 2nd ultrasound was done 2 months after 1st it didn't show any nodule and TSH was down to 4.55. She stopped taking the armour thyroid and had a 3rd Ultrasound a month later which showed the same results and TSH was still around 4.5.
All the dos have come up with is that she probably has Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (ultrasound showed a ring of cysts around ovaries) and told her to take birth control to deal with it. Said her testosterone was normal but she could take something else to block it completely to counteract the acne problem and that she has Hashimoto (didn't explain this at all, just a thyroid dysfunction.) that he doesn't feel needs to be treated right now but to come back in 2 months to have him recheck her. Her Gno now has her using Yaz birth control and she is bleeding like crazy again. All of her lab work is in normal ranges except her bun/creatine ratio was High at 23, her red blood cell count was low at 3.72, her MCH high at 35.2 and the main one, her thyroglobulin antibodies as high at 215. She is really having an issue with her hands cramping and locking up on her. I cannot seem to find a doctor who will diagnose and find the cause of what is wrong instead of just treating the symptoms and it is scaring the heall out of me. She is my only child and I can't seem to help her. I live in Houston, best medical facilities in the country I am told but good luck finding the right person to treat her. Please help if you can.
All the dos have come up with is that she probably has Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (ultrasound showed a ring of cysts around ovaries) and told her to take birth control to deal with it. Said her testosterone was normal but she could take something else to block it completely to counteract the acne problem and that she has Hashimoto (didn't explain this at all, just a thyroid dysfunction.) that he doesn't feel needs to be treated right now but to come back in 2 months to have him recheck her. Her Gno now has her using Yaz birth control and she is bleeding like crazy again. All of her lab work is in normal ranges except her bun/creatine ratio was High at 23, her red blood cell count was low at 3.72, her MCH high at 35.2 and the main one, her thyroglobulin antibodies as high at 215. She is really having an issue with her hands cramping and locking up on her. I cannot seem to find a doctor who will diagnose and find the cause of what is wrong instead of just treating the symptoms and it is scaring the heall out of me. She is my only child and I can't seem to help her. I live in Houston, best medical facilities in the country I am told but good luck finding the right person to treat her. Please help if you can.
Windspirit -
I would visit another Endocrinologist and get a third opinion. I'm not a doctor, but it certainly sounds like your daughter is experiencing some trouble with her thyroid. If it is Hashimoto's - that comes with all of the symptoms you described her having, including the muscle soreness and arthritis-like feeling in her hands. I am 23 and was just recently diagnosed with Hashimoto's. I have been having my period every 2 weeks, I have the muscle soreness, I have 3 goiters 1 cm each. I was told by my Endocrinologist that one autoimmune disease is usually followed by another and commonly arthritis is one Hashimoto's patients get. I have greatly restricted movement in my right hand and seem to suffer from chronic carpal tunnel syndrome.
My doctor, just today, told me there was nothing I could do to treat my discomfort because the trend in the medical field these days is to no longer treat Hashimoto's Disease with synthroid. He told me that my only option was to have my thyroid removed. I don't think that is my ONLY option and will go for a second opinion. In the meantime, I am getting a biopsy on my thyroid goiters (which is abrasive) and will visit a Gastonologist to get a better look at my esophagus. We want to see if there are any issues in the neck area that could be contributing to my problems.
I don't know if this is helpful at all, but my recommendation is to seek out another opinion - one you can trust - and then maybe look into some altnernative medicine options. Here in Albuquerque there is a doctor named Aaron Kaufman (that may be mispelled) who is an Alternative Medicine practicioner covered by my insurance who apparently specializes in thyroid disorders. I will certainly be looking at my options with this doctor. The doctor came highly recommended from my gyno who was the one who caught the thyroid problem.
For your daughter, I would encourage her to relax as much as possible, eat a healthy diet (foods that make the body feel good) and get in some light exercise. If she feels anything like I have felt for the past two months, then I can tell you it is easy to feel "down" and not want to do anything. Birth control probably doesn't help.
If I receive any further information in my quest for answers, I will seek you out.
-Danielle
I would visit another Endocrinologist and get a third opinion. I'm not a doctor, but it certainly sounds like your daughter is experiencing some trouble with her thyroid. If it is Hashimoto's - that comes with all of the symptoms you described her having, including the muscle soreness and arthritis-like feeling in her hands. I am 23 and was just recently diagnosed with Hashimoto's. I have been having my period every 2 weeks, I have the muscle soreness, I have 3 goiters 1 cm each. I was told by my Endocrinologist that one autoimmune disease is usually followed by another and commonly arthritis is one Hashimoto's patients get. I have greatly restricted movement in my right hand and seem to suffer from chronic carpal tunnel syndrome.
My doctor, just today, told me there was nothing I could do to treat my discomfort because the trend in the medical field these days is to no longer treat Hashimoto's Disease with synthroid. He told me that my only option was to have my thyroid removed. I don't think that is my ONLY option and will go for a second opinion. In the meantime, I am getting a biopsy on my thyroid goiters (which is abrasive) and will visit a Gastonologist to get a better look at my esophagus. We want to see if there are any issues in the neck area that could be contributing to my problems.
I don't know if this is helpful at all, but my recommendation is to seek out another opinion - one you can trust - and then maybe look into some altnernative medicine options. Here in Albuquerque there is a doctor named Aaron Kaufman (that may be mispelled) who is an Alternative Medicine practicioner covered by my insurance who apparently specializes in thyroid disorders. I will certainly be looking at my options with this doctor. The doctor came highly recommended from my gyno who was the one who caught the thyroid problem.
For your daughter, I would encourage her to relax as much as possible, eat a healthy diet (foods that make the body feel good) and get in some light exercise. If she feels anything like I have felt for the past two months, then I can tell you it is easy to feel "down" and not want to do anything. Birth control probably doesn't help.
If I receive any further information in my quest for answers, I will seek you out.
-Danielle
Has she been tested for Lupus, fibromyalgia, MS, had a CAT scan or MRI? Has she had her adrenals tested? She could be low on DHEA, cortisol, VIT D or B12. Has she had a full metabolic panel done? These are some things to consider.
She has been to a GP, 2 Endrocrinologists, one of whom is also an Internal Medicine doc. and a Gynolcologist and none of them seem to want to find out what's wrong or can't. They just want to gie her more drugs.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
