I am sending you a PM with some info. To access, just click on your name and then from your personal page click on messages.
You don't necessarily need an Endo. Most of them would give you the same response as the current doctor. You need a good thyroid doctor that will treat clinically, by raising your FT4 and FT3 levels as needed to relieve symptoms, without being influenced by TSH. If you will give us your location perhaps we can suggest a doctor that has been recommended by other thyroid patients. Also, how far are you willing to travel to find a good thyroid doctor?
Grace, the following link is a summary of a very important scientific study that quantified for the first time the effect of Free T3 on symptoms. there is also a link to the full paper.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29396968
It is almost like this study was done for you. They concluded that, "Hypothyroid symptom relief was associated with both a T4 dose giving TSH-suppression below the lower reference limit and FT3 elevated further into the upper half of its reference range. " In the full paper there is even a graph in 1a on page 4, showing the incidence of hypo symptoms correlated with Free T3 level. Only when FT3 is at least about 60 % of the range do hypo symptoms go away. If the doctor wants to see the data, she can use this link, which requires membership or a payment.
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0043-125064
If you give that to the doctor and she refuses to do anything, then isn't there an appeal board to go to?
It is not really "ethics" but probably VA rules about treatment. If so, it will be tough to get around. AS for hyper patients with same symptoms: not likely unless she is talking about under treated hypo patients like you who have a suppressed TSH, which she is interpreting as hyper.
So she had no interest in finding out what is causing your symptoms so that something could be done?
Thought I had already posted a reply, but it doesn't show. Anyway I wanted to ask if the doctor read the letter? If so, what was her response. Since she doesn't think you need a dose increase, what is her explanation for your symptoms? Also when she mentioned ethic standards, what was she referring to I wonder?
Did the doctor read the letter? If so, what was her comment? What do you understand she meant about ethic standards? What did she say about the symptoms you have? What options do you have for finding another doctor?