Is the doc. right?

[Jennifer1987]

Went and got my bloods retested this morning! I asked the doctor to do an antibodie test and he asked me how I knew about the antibodies. I told him I looked it up and he actually gave out to me. Told me I shouldnt be doing that! Anyway thats not my question! He told me that its not hashimoto's because my TSH wasn't that high (6.5), But that he will do it anyway! Im suffering bad from anxiety and wondering if he is right....Any input will be great! It will be 10 days to 2 weeks before I get the results back!

[Jennifer1987]

Not sure about my one yet on the whole thyroid subject..I know more about his attitude when I get my results back!!

[bebehoward]

That is soooo interesting.  Thanks for the info.  Hope you get yours under control.  Drs.
wear me out, trying to find the right one.  Hope yours is better.

[Jennifer1987]

I didn't even know it existed till I got all this.. Its where the anti bodies that are supposed to protect your thyroid against infections start attacking it. Don't know why but they just turn on it and kill it! It results in hypothyroidism. try google it, you will get more detailed info on it. Plus all the symptoms etc!

[bebehoward]

What the heck is Hasimoto's?  I am new and am sorta informed on my thyroid issues..
Don't know the difference in it and Hasimoto...

[stella5349]

Hashimoto's requires a TPOab test.

[Jennifer1987]

I had to ask my doc. to test me. He didn't see the ponit in it though! He said that if my TSH was highter they automatically test it... That 6.5 wasn't hight enough but now I know that TSh has nothing got to do with it really! If your TSH is 5.762 it means your hypot. and should be medicated. Ask him to test your anti bodies and tell him it runs in the family! Hope hes more open minded than my doc!

[iamthepuzzleman]

I am suspecting I may have thyroid problems. I am getting head aches every day, a ringing in my ears, dizzy all the time. it feels like there is a lump in my throught but I can't see anything by just looking at my neck, my anxiety levels have gone through the roof and I break down and cry at random times. I had my T3 T4  TSH test done and my results were 5.762. I took it to my doctor and he did his own blood work. I think it was the same T3 T4 TSH test but i'm not sure. Both my mother and grandmother have hashamoto's. How do I know if he tested me for hashamoto's or is that part of the T3 T4 TSH test?

[azqtpies]

Jennifer

I had a mayo clinic endo when I had half my thyroid removed.. I immediatley did not feel right after the surgery.. I kept feeling sad and my anxiety levels were increasing I called him and he kept telling me NOPE not your thyroid wish I could help you.

MInd you 3  months later I was in servere depression EVERY day I could barely function, my body hurt my mind was my one worst enemy I thought I was dying. but nope he said not my thyroid, i went to my gp had him pull my tsh and it was 4.75
CLEARY very hypo for me.. I was at .69 prior to surgery so my body was in shock.

I took my results back to my endo and he argued with me said he begs to differ with the results as hos sensitive tsh on me was 2.50  he hesitantly gave me 50mcg of synthroid and said only for 6 weeks, if I am not better he is taking  me off as he did not think my symptoms were thyroid related.

Well 6 weeks later I felt reborn I had finally begun to heal... went back to him and he said well clearly your body likes to be a 1.0 or below looking at my pre-op results!!
WELL sh** did he not see that before..he is the biggest quack ever he then told me I did not need him my gp could handle it from here.

So he made me suffer for months.your tsh is very high and very well be causing your anxiety and depression and not healthy thoughts!  You need a differnt doc.. I think  I  might of finally found one that listens to me! I too just got tested for antibodies after 4 years my mayo endo never tested me for that either! and I have thyroid antibodies and who knows for how long.

This doctore tick me off beyond belief! where the heck did they get there medical license.. isnt it why they call praciting medicine as we are all so very different. There is no NORMAL that fits everyone.

Good luck, sure hope you get your results back quicker! I agree 2 weeks thats insane! it takes 24-48 hr turn around.. lazy doc!

[Jennifer1987]

She scares me thought LOL..Look at me sounding like a child!! the last time on the phone I did stand my ground!! I was proud of myself!!!! But I wouldnt do it face to face!!

[Smilerdeb]

Wow!
In regards to the Doctors wife...shes his wife, his receptionist and she sleeps with her hubby but she is NOT your Doctor and under the privacy act, you do not have to disclose to anyone what you want to see the Doctor about.
My Doctor has a LOVELY receptionist like yours and she got told lol.
I told her it was a private matter, a personal matter and that I wasnt at liberty to discuss it with anyone but that I needed to see the Doctor urgently.
She then told me she would book me in for 2 weeks later. To which I replied ...'Ok , thats fine. But if I end up in Hospital because of your ignorance then I will sue you.'
She took it upon herself to decide that my case wasnt urgent.
She was very wrong.
I ended up in the Hospital 5 hours later with Atrial Fibrillation (Thyroid Storm).
From that day, she has never questioned me about anything and although  I got an apology from my Doctor....I never ever once got one from her and she avoids me like the plague.
I am not out to be rude to anyone, only exercise my rights as a Patient.
You should do the same.

[Barb135]

My doctor is very similar to yours when it comes to doing the research - it seems that the doctors don't want us to know anything except what they tell us!!  My PCP got pretty angry when he found out I'd been researching and even refused to look at notes and records I'd kept, etc - he's already dx'd hypo, but didn't want to look for anything else; got pretty upset when my ENT sent me for TPOab and ultra sound!!  ENT dx'd Hashi's, but I'm not sure my PCP even knows that yet!!!!!!!!  

Because of my PCP's attitude, the ENT has referred me to an endo, whom I'm to see on the 27th.  

I used to live in a very small town too and I know it's not easy to stand up for yourself with someone who is well respected, etc - people do tend to take that rather badly.  lol

Good luck

[Jennifer1987]

It runs in my family to. my lil brother has it and my moms aunt aswell. Don't think I told him but he knows about my brother as he is his doc. to! Maybe he should open his mind wider than his mouth!LOL Glas you got sorted, its a pain living like this, literally!

[PPhelps]

I live in a small town in the U.S. My doctor tested my thyroid TSH only. Said everything was fine there, you have IBS. Take more fiber. I've heard this for 2 years. When I read the symptoms of hypo, you could've knocked me over with a feather. If my GP was standing in front of me when my endo told me I had Hashimoto's, I think I could've punched him in the nose. I TOLD him thyroid problems run in my family. I spent 2 miserable years trying to get him to listen to me. Well I found this site, and today was my first day on synthroid for Hashimoto's. Every test my endo spec. has ordered I have sent the results to my GP also, hopefully he takes it as the slap in the face I mean for it to be. This is how you test for thyroid problems when you have the symptoms and it runs in the family.  You've got to stand up for yourself, because the doctor won't do it for you. Don't go through feeling like **** all the time just because your doctor thinks he has x-ray vision and can see there isn't antigens floating in your blood.

[Jennifer1987]

Thanks!! This whole thyroid thing has knocked me out, mentally and physically! Just want to get to the root cause of it now, then maybe I can focus on gettin better! Im going to stand my ground, I cant live like this anymore so I have to push for it!!!
Thanks again!

[kitty9309]

My (former) PCP was almost like yours.
My TSH went to 6, and I had severe anxiety and insomnia.
He said he would not treat until TSH was over 10!
I asked him to check antibodies. He said , I can, but I still won't treat you.
He said treating me would make my situation worse. He was happy to rx antidepressants, sleep and anxiety meds! No problem there.
I wound up in the hospital due to the exhaustion of being unable to sleep.
The traige nurse told me to get my thyroid checked! I told her the story, she was awesome.
I got to an endo who said I needed to be treated and this was going on for a long while.
I knew that, why didn't the doctor? (rhetorical question lol)

Stand your ground, If I had listened to the doctor, I don't know where I would be. I was nearly ready to jump off the edge.

[Jennifer1987]

Wow, thats great, I thought I was going mad especially sitting in front of him when he was saying its probably not it..... Its the wait now that Iv to over come..another 2 weeks..yepeeeee!!!! things seem a lot faster in America.Sometimes I think maybe its easier to lie down a die!LOL....Less fuss!

[grneweene]

i know the feeling. my endo is less than understanding. and quite honestly i do not beleive she truely understands the emotional rollarcoaster those of us with a thyroid problem experience. instead of him saying"probably don't have" wouldn't it seem more appropriate for him to test and rule it out?? that is not a true answer, hello, tell him regardless of his standing in your town, that they used to think the world was flat. but they ruled that out, by looking! do not be intimidated by ones standing in society. because in the end it is about your well being, you needing answers, and you never settle for a probably. always expect, demand, a without a doubt it is...., your worth it, you deserve it, and eventually you will realize that regardless of his standing in society, he may not be the doctor for you.  i have graves antibodies and according  to my endo  i also have hashimoto's antibodies. but my graves is currently the control freak!. my tsh went from 0.0015 to 58.72 in less than a month!  which put me in the hypo mode,. now i am completley off all anti thyroid med's. last night my b/p was 148/105, heart rate was 138, temp 101. called my endo today, and her nurse called back and said do not take anti thyroid med's until test from yesterday comes back. with a heart rate of 138 i'm afraid i'll stroke out or my heart will give out!  i'm taking the inderal, and the tapazole, because i know my body and i know it has flopped back over to the hyper mode. i am not happy with my endo, and i am getting a second opinion. and that is what you need to do. you don't want to hurt his feelings, tell him you want a copy of all of your tests and results and that you don't want your records moved you just feel that you need a second opinion. or go to another doctor, tell him/her what your symptoms are, and see what happens.

i found the following on the Mayo Clinic site.

"In general, your doctor may test for Hashimoto's disease if you're feeling increasingly tired or sluggish, have dry skin, constipation and a hoarse voice, or have had previous thyroid problems or goiter.

Diagnosis of Hashimoto's disease is based on your signs and symptoms and the results of blood tests that measure levels of thyroid hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). These may include:

A hormone test. Blood tests can determine the amount of hormones produced by your thyroid and pituitary glands. If your thyroid is underactive, the level of thyroid hormone is low. At the same time, the level of TSH is elevated because your pituitary gland tries to stimulate your thyroid gland to produce more thyroid hormone.
An antibody test. Because Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune disorder, the cause involves production of abnormal antibodies. A blood test may confirm the presence of such antibodies.
In the past, doctors were unable to detect underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), the main indicator of Hashimoto's disease, until signs and symptoms were fairly advanced. But by using the sensitive TSH test, doctors are able to diagnose thyroid disorders much earlier, often before you experience any signs and symptoms. Because the TSH test is the best screening test, your doctor will likely check TSH first and follow with a thyroid hormone test if needed. TSH tests also play an important role in managing hypothyroidism. These tests also help your doctor determine the right dosage of medication, both initially and over time."

[Jennifer1987]

I know I should tell her where to go!LOL...But to be honset it would just cause more trouble than needed! They are very respected people in out town so I better stay on their good side LOL. Im just really feed up, I dont know why Iv the anxiety and why it just happen all of a sudden... I think my doctor thinks Im mad, He said that I probably dont have hashimotos as TSH of 6.5 is not high! My t4 is 10 (range 8-22) which I think is low/borderline! So Im confused now, do you have to have a high TSH to have Hashi's???

[grneweene]

do not let the receptionist nazi intimidate you. i don't care if she's the dr's wife or not. next time she asks why you want to see him let her have it. tell her it's a medical problem i am having and i don't feel very comfortable telling you because you are not a doctor/tell her you''ll be glad to explain to the nurse and dr what exactly the problem is when you are in the room. or mess with her head, tell her you just got the results back from you pregnancy test and you want to know what he's gonna do about it. lol. that'll put her panties in a a wad. course, laugh and say just kidding. or maybe you could just tell her i don't like you and i have no desire to tell you why i need to see him. and when you do see him. tell him about the little battle axe. most doctor's have no clue that their receptionists(wife or no wife) are being rude to the patients. but then he doesn't exactly sound like a real winner either. How dare he tell you those things. i guess he thinks ignorance is bliss.i have a dr i am not happy with. my gp called me yesterday and gave me a referral. she said it would be 3 months before the new dr. would consider whether or not to take my case! so my gp sent in my latest test results and all the notes, from the endo, because i have them sent to my gp everytime. 2 hours later the new dr's office called and it was the dr  saying that they'll take my case, and to be in their office on the 23. So the receptionist in my case was totally off and personally i feel out of line by telling my gp that it would be 3 months. You need to remember that these people work for you, you don't work for them. you pay them. they don't pay you.it's your body and you have more than anyone else they right  to question the treatment you are getting or not getting. and any dr that would have a problem with your questions or the fact that you are learning about what you may have, you need to toss him/her aside, and get a new doctor.and make sure when you do, you let them know why you left.

[Jennifer1987]

Im seriously afraid of the receptionist in the docs. place.She always gives out to me, I think because Im young and to her Iv no clue about anything, barely gives me appointments and always asks the reason I want to see him even if its personal (shes the docs wife). So I will jus wait the 2 weeks and see then don't want to get my head bit off.. If they don't do anyhting to help me Im considering changing doctors!

[stella5349]

I was giving her office an extra day for comfort  :)

[Smilerdeb]

Sorry...forgot to mention...
My antibodies tests were back the next day although they do say allow 48 hours.

[Smilerdeb]

6.5 IS HIGH.
And hes not in a position to say whether you have Hashimotos or not until he does the antibodies tests.
You may have Thyroiditis (inflammation) but he doesnt know that either.
My one question to him would be...
"How can you be certain I do not have Hashi's if the antibodies havent been tested?'
No ultrasound or FNA will tell you if you have  Hashi's or not...only the blood tests.

[stella5349]

Ahhhhhh

10 days  to get a lab back. Where is he sending it -- MARS??

Call the office with in 72 hrs and inquire about the lab. If he still does not have "it" back - ask what lab he uses. That is important to know anyway.

Most likely with his attitude - he is not running all the tests he needs to anyway.

If you really want to force a team approach ask him to run the

TSI
TPOab
TSH
Free T3
Free T4

Before you sound off on getting those labs done - better make sure you know what each one does in case he wants to question you.

Our Heath pages have a resource of lab tests you can start with to approach up with that information.

Nice attitude on his part.  You haveno idea how often thyroid patients are up against that type of thing.

It no longer bothers me much on my treatment.