Got my labs back

[flyingfool]

Well I got my blood labs back.  last week when going in for my cholesterol check I asked the Doctor for TSH, FT3 & FT4.   We discussed on the phone for some time about my minor but still consistent symptoms of Hypo.  Including incidentally high cholesterol.  I was unable to talk him into the FT3 but I did get him to order the FT4 which is the first time for me having previously a TSH test more than a year ago.  At the time I discussed with him that I would bet that my FT4 was below mid range.  And that a very small dose of Levo would be my guess.

Anyway here are the results.

TSH 1.58 (0.36 - 4.67)
FT4 0.80 (0.75 - 1.54)

Well  I Guess I won the bet.  But he or the letter stated that was within normal range and therefore that is that!

The mild Symptoms I've had my whole adult life as I remember even childhood.

Cold hands and feet. I used to joke that my toes would be cold on the beach in Florida in the summer!  Deer hunting or ice fishing etc is murder.
Ringing of the ears. I've always had this as long as I can remember
Low basal body temp.  Not bad but at least 0.5 degrees or so below what is normal
Constipation - Again this even from childhood.
higher cholesterol
Chronic joint pain
Heart PVC's - palpitations per-ventricular contractions (NOT A-fib)  eliminating Caffeine seems to have stopped this but I've always wondered why I was susceptible to this at all?
Weight gain - This is more recent and may be age related as metabolism slows. But maybe not.  I swim 3 to 5 days a week and the weight won't come off.

I'd sure love to try 12.5 mcg of Levo even if every other day and see how I would feel.

With the history with my wife not getting proper medication.  I don't feel I stand a chance to get a darn thing either!

Anyhow I thought I'd post this and see what you all thought!

[flyingfool]

Well there is only a few week open window to change HMO's with my job.  The deed has to be completed by 10/28.  So only have a short time to make a decision.  I can next year change back or change again.

I'm not sure how i could go too far wrong.  The HMO that we are considering is a cooperative.  The Dr's are salaried Dr's and the patients rate each Dr. and quality of service is one of the rating factors.  Talking with a couple of people who are in this HMO they said that the Dr's seem to really listen to them and are pretty quick to give referrals to specialists etc.  Of the HMO's that I can choose from, this one is rated the highest.  Although it may only be by a touch.  But still what else does one have to go on to make a decision???

My wifes co-teacher and her mother go to this HMO.  And her mother has Thyroid issues so at least we have one name of a Dr. who is working with Thyroid with a patient. They seem to like this Dr.  We'll see.  maybe we can call her office and ask some questions.  I'd really want to know about FT3 testing and the possibility of treating with Cytomel or Armour.  Or what their stance is on these things etc.

[Barb135]

I'd probably guess, too, that your FT3 is pretty low in its range.  Sorry to hear that your doctor wasn't any more cooperative than your wife's doctor is.  I really do think you need to look at changing doctors or HMO's, but before changing HMO's do find out it it's the HMO restricting the doctors regarding thyroid tests/treatments or if the doctors simply aren't up to speed on the thyroid treatment.

If it turns out to be the HMO restricting the doctors (somehow I don't think so), make sure the new HMO isn't equally restrictive.

[flyingfool]

My Wife and I have the opportunity through my work to change HMO medical care providers.  We are heavily leaning towards switching HMO's.

maybe we can have better luck finding a Dr who will listen to us and actually get treatment that we need.

All I know is the last year or so has been nothing but frustration.  So how could this be much worse?

The improper treatment of Thyroid is I think one of the major problems in the medical industry.  How many drugs to they sell to cover up symptoms that simply proper treatment of Thyroid could solve with one?  I personally am starting to think this is on purpose.  the big pharmacutical companies can make more money selling 6 different drugs to cover up 6 symptoms than selling one generic Thyroid med.  So why would the want the reference ranges to change.

i personally think that fibromyliga is primarily sub clinical hypothyroidism.  It is left untreated and these people suffer symptoms that seemingly can not be explained.  However I've seen recent articles miraculously finding out that fibromyliga patients that are treated with Thyroid meds "mysteriously" obtain some symptom relief.  GEE I WONDER WHY.  When you look at a lot f these patients lab reports they are on the lower edges of the reference ranges.  But the Dr's refuse to believe that it is Thyroid because their labs are "within normal range".  It is pathetic at best and negligent at worst!

[gimel]

With those symptoms and test results, I'd bet that your FT3 is in the low end of the range as well.  It's too bad that your doctor either doesn't understand about thyroid issues, or else the HMO has them under such tight constraints, that they are not allowed to do anything for you.  Maybe your best course of action is to gather up all the info you can find that supports that FT3 needs to be tested and that it should be in the upper part of its range to relieve hypo symptoms, and then present all that to the HMO and push them hard to allow your doctor to prescribe thyroid meds for you and your wife.  

If the HMO were made to understood how many problems hypothyroidism causes, and that it would be much less expensive for them to treat hypothyroidism, than the myriad of other problems that hypo patients end up having , such as high cholesterol, low metabolism/weight gain, depression, and many others, maybe they would reconsider both the testing and treatment.