Re: confused newbie with a question

[Guest guest]

It is not unusual for a woman to have both hypothyroidism and PCOS and/or diabetes. But I do not know what the exact connection may be.

Have your testosterone levels been tested? High testosterone is one of the features of PCOS. Insulin resistance is another. Insulin resistance is a feature of, or precursor to, Type II Diabetes. Fasting insulin may be another useful test. Even with a diagnosis of diabetes, diet would be the first line of defense. Drugs are generally only given when diet is insufficient.

Do you have any hypothyroid symptoms besides the weight gain? Are you inappropriately cold? Losing hair? Do you have dry skin and/or hair? Constipation? Fatigue? Low sex drive? Fertility problems? Depression? Sleep too much, but not well?

What about thyroid blood work? TSH, Free T3, Free T4? Lipids? Do ask for and insist on getting hard copies of all lab work.

As for the endo, wait until she has successfully treated you to sing her praises. . . .we have seen too many of them drop the ball. . . .

rlkrug wrote:

Howdy everyone!My name is . My story is that I gained about 40 pounds in two years, and showed alot of signs that I thought should've been Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. I had a family doc and an ob/gyn who listened to my list of symptoms and put me on Metformin(Glucophage) without even testing me!!! Nice huh? So I quit taking the Met because I was afraid of taking medication without being properly diagnosed and recently made a visit to a really wonderful endo. Dr. Zaniewski-Singh in Conroe. There, they discovered my thyroid felt irregular and gave me a ultrasound. Can we say cyst-city!?!? All over yet none over 1cm. So of course I'm due for a variety of tests. The only one thing I can't figure out is that I was sent on a 5 HOUR Glucose Tolerance Test first (ouch, and I look like swiss cheese).... do diabetes and thyroid

disorders go hand in hand... or are they just trying to figure out if I am one or the other. (My paternal gramma had late onset diabetes and I was tested once with a meter that said I was hypoglycemic) Any advice would be gratefully appreciated as I am pretty scared. Thanks and God Bless Y'all!

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[Guest guest]

In 2 weeks I go for my testosterone and thyroid bloodwork... I was tapped out of

blood yesterday for fasting insulin and glucose tolerance, plus they want me to

be on

my week off from BCPs while I test for the above stuff. Actually, I'm usually

very hot

and sweaty during the day, cold as heck at night. Dry hair. Very fatigued,

depressed,

sleep alot but very restless sleep. Periods are very irregular when not on BCPs.

I give

Dr. Zaniewski some credit because she actually listened to my symptoms and

doesn't

treat me like I'm nuts. And she's the first to order complete tests instead of

just

shoving some drugs at me.

> Howdy everyone!

> My name is . My story is that I gained about 40 pounds in two years,

and

> showed alot of signs that I thought should've been Polycystic Ovarian

Syndrome. I

had

> a family doc and an ob/gyn who listened to my list of symptoms and put me on

> Metformin(Glucophage) without even testing me!!! Nice huh? So I quit taking

the

Met

> because I was afraid of taking medication without being properly diagnosed and

> recently made a visit to a really wonderful endo. Dr. Zaniewski-Singh in

Conroe.

> There, they discovered my thyroid felt irregular and gave me a ultrasound. Can

we

> say cyst-city!?!? All over yet none over 1cm. So of course I'm due for a

variety of

tests.

> The only one thing I can't figure out is that I was sent on a 5 HOUR Glucose

Tolerance

> Test first (ouch, and I look like swiss cheese).... do diabetes and thyroid

disorders

go

> hand in hand... or are they just trying to figure out if I am one or the

other. (My

> paternal gramma had late onset diabetes and I was tested once with a meter

that

said

> I was hypoglycemic) Any advice would be gratefully appreciated as I am pretty

scared.

>

> Thanks and God Bless Y'all!

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Yahoo! Sports

> Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy Football

[Guest guest]

My BC is progesterone based, well the reason I'm still on BC is because when the

quacks assumed I was PCOS, it slowed down the severe weight gain, acne, and

other

nasty side effects. Plus they still think I should have a cycle.

> > Howdy everyone!

> > My name is . My story is that I gained about 40 pounds in two years,

and

> > showed alot of signs that I thought should've been Polycystic Ovarian

Syndrome.

I

> had

> > a family doc and an ob/gyn who listened to my list of symptoms and put me on

> > Metformin(Glucophage) without even testing me!!! Nice huh? So I quit taking

the

> Met

> > because I was afraid of taking medication without being properly diagnosed

and

> > recently made a visit to a really wonderful endo. Dr. Zaniewski-Singh in

Conroe.

> > There, they discovered my thyroid felt irregular and gave me a ultrasound.

Can

we

> > say cyst-city!?!? All over yet none over 1cm. So of course I'm due for a

variety of

> tests.

> > The only one thing I can't figure out is that I was sent on a 5 HOUR Glucose

> Tolerance

> > Test first (ouch, and I look like swiss cheese).... do diabetes and thyroid

disorders

> go

> > hand in hand... or are they just trying to figure out if I am one or the

other. (My

> > paternal gramma had late onset diabetes and I was tested once with a meter

that

> said

> > I was hypoglycemic) Any advice would be gratefully appreciated as I am

pretty

> scared.

> >

> > Thanks and God Bless Y'all!

> >

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Well, ya know, I have to take what I am given, Jan. If it is recommended to have

a

cycle, I will keep having one, plus of my age, I don't feel the need to burden

myself

with any additional weight gain. Unfortunately I am not a pharmacist, so I can't

write

my own prescriptions. I joined this group looking for support and I already feel

some

negativity here. I am only 31, a full time mom, wife, college student and I just

got told

I have abnormal growths on my thyroid, so I'm a bit scared.

> > > Howdy everyone!

> > > My name is . My story is that I gained about 40 pounds in two

years,

and

> > > showed alot of signs that I thought should've been Polycystic Ovarian

Syndrome.

> I

> > had

> > > a family doc and an ob/gyn who listened to my list of symptoms and put me

on

> > > Metformin(Glucophage) without even testing me!!! Nice huh? So I quit

taking

the

> > Met

> > > because I was afraid of taking medication without being properly diagnosed

and

> > > recently made a visit to a really wonderful endo. Dr. Zaniewski-Singh in

Conroe.

> > > There, they discovered my thyroid felt irregular and gave me a ultrasound.

Can

> we

> > > say cyst-city!?!? All over yet none over 1cm. So of course I'm due for a

variety

of

> > tests.

> > > The only one thing I can't figure out is that I was sent on a 5 HOUR

Glucose

> > Tolerance

> > > Test first (ouch, and I look like swiss cheese).... do diabetes and

thyroid

> disorders

> > go

> > > hand in hand... or are they just trying to figure out if I am one or the

other. (My

> > > paternal gramma had late onset diabetes and I was tested once with a meter

that

> > said

> > > I was hypoglycemic) Any advice would be gratefully appreciated as I am

pretty

> > scared.

> > >

> > > Thanks and God Bless Y'all!

> > >

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

:

Are you familiar with the work of Dr. R. Lee? There's a link a

few posts back to his website. It should give the titles of his

books. Many, many women have been helped by his advice about

hormones and perimenopause, menopause, etc.

What you perceive to be negativity may simply be someone's own

frustration, as we all are or have been, at one time or another, in

the same boat regarding our health and quality (or lack thereof)

healthcare.

Don't get frustrated, get informed! It's the best thing you can do

for yourself.

Also, have you been to www.thyroid.about.com? There are folders in

their forum re: PCOS, hormone imbalance, and bookoo info re: thyroid.

God bless you and take care!

Janet

> > > > Howdy everyone!

> > > > My name is . My story is that I gained about 40

pounds in two years,

> and

> > > > showed alot of signs that I thought should've been

Polycystic Ovarian

> Syndrome.

> > I

> > > had

> > > > a family doc and an ob/gyn who listened to my list of

symptoms and put me

> on

> > > > Metformin(Glucophage) without even testing me!!! Nice huh?

So I quit taking

> the

> > > Met

> > > > because I was afraid of taking medication without being

properly diagnosed

> and

> > > > recently made a visit to a really wonderful endo. Dr.

Zaniewski-Singh in

> Conroe.

> > > > There, they discovered my thyroid felt irregular and gave me

a ultrasound. Can

> > we

> > > > say cyst-city!?!? All over yet none over 1cm. So of course

I'm due for a variety

> of

> > > tests.

> > > > The only one thing I can't figure out is that I was sent on

a 5 HOUR Glucose

> > > Tolerance

> > > > Test first (ouch, and I look like swiss cheese).... do

diabetes and thyroid

> > disorders

> > > go

> > > > hand in hand... or are they just trying to figure out if I

am one or the other. (My

> > > > paternal gramma had late onset diabetes and I was tested

once with a meter

> that

> > > said

> > > > I was hypoglycemic) Any advice would be gratefully

appreciated as I am pretty

> > > scared.

> > > >

> > > > Thanks and God Bless Y'all!

> > > >

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >

[Guest guest]

Jan:

Are higher TSH levels what causes nodules? With the problems I'm

having with the bleeding and all, I'm already suspecting my TSH is

too high, but I also found out a few weeks ago that I have a few

tiny nodules. Think there's a connection?

I'm going to the doctor on Monday and I pray that I'm seeing a light

at the end of this very long tunnel I've been in.

Janet

Janet

> > > > Howdy everyone!

> > > > My name is . My story is that I gained about 40

pounds in two years,

> and

> > > > showed alot of signs that I thought should've been

Polycystic Ovarian

> Syndrome.

> > I

> > > had

> > > > a family doc and an ob/gyn who listened to my list of

symptoms and put me

> on

> > > > Metformin(Glucophage) without even testing me!!! Nice huh?

So I quit taking

> the

> > > Met

> > > > because I was afraid of taking medication without being

properly diagnosed

> and

> > > > recently made a visit to a really wonderful endo. Dr.

Zaniewski-Singh in

> Conroe.

> > > > There, they discovered my thyroid felt irregular and gave me

a ultrasound. Can

> > we

> > > > say cyst-city!?!? All over yet none over 1cm. So of course

I'm due for a variety

> of

> > > tests.

> > > > The only one thing I can't figure out is that I was sent on

a 5 HOUR Glucose

> > > Tolerance

> > > > Test first (ouch, and I look like swiss cheese).... do

diabetes and thyroid

> > disorders

> > > go

> > > > hand in hand... or are they just trying to figure out if I

am one or the other. (My

> > > > paternal gramma had late onset diabetes and I was tested

once with a meter

> that

> > > said

> > > > I was hypoglycemic) Any advice would be gratefully

appreciated as I am pretty

> > > scared.

> > > >

> > > > Thanks and God Bless Y'all!

> > > >

>

> ---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Nodules are common in Hashi's patients too. I can't remember, such

brain fog at times, if you have been tested for antibodies, Janet.

Good luck at the doctor on Monday!

Jan:

>

> Are higher TSH levels what causes nodules? With the problems I'm

> having with the bleeding and all, I'm already suspecting my TSH is

> too high, but I also found out a few weeks ago that I have a few

> tiny nodules. Think there's a connection?

>

> I'm going to the doctor on Monday and I pray that I'm seeing a

light

> at the end of this very long tunnel I've been in.

>

> Janet

[Guest guest]

I was initially tested for thyroid peroxidase antibodies and it came

up slightly elevated. I was told I had Graves and had the RAI.

Since then another endo told me that wasn't the definative test for

Graves, that he would have done a TRab for better Graves accuracy.

He didn't run it though because in his mind it was water under the

bridge.

Ozan did all kinds of antibodies tests in October, including one for

Graves. I have a slightly elevated ANA but follow up labs showed no

lupus or RA, or any of the other associated diseases. I've had mono

in the past and that probably accounts for the ANA elevation. No

Graves or other thyroid antibodies. I probably had hashi's all

along but the first endo was gung-ho to nuke my thyroid, which I

wouldn't have done if it was not Graves.

Janet

Jan:

> >

> > Are higher TSH levels what causes nodules? With the problems

I'm

> > having with the bleeding and all, I'm already suspecting my TSH

is

> > too high, but I also found out a few weeks ago that I have a few

> > tiny nodules. Think there's a connection?

> >

> > I'm going to the doctor on Monday and I pray that I'm seeing a

> light

> > at the end of this very long tunnel I've been in.

> >

> > Janet

[Guest guest]

Well, the one good thing is that I at least don't have any thyroid

antibodies left in my system, according to my recent labs. I guess

that's because the RAI pretty much destroyed the whole gland. I'm

very angry but I'm trying to move forward.

I talked to my doctor about it today because I still have pretty big

trust issues with MD's that affects my relationship with him. I said

that I felt I'd been harmed in the past with this whole situation

and that it's going to take awhile before I could even trust him and

not be so damned resistant to every thing he says, even though so

far he's helped me immensely. He was understanding, agreeing that a

wrong had been done, and said that he's a patient person. After

today's visit I feel like I can finally exhale.

After 5 years I'm finally in a good place, " thyroidally " (such a

word??). Now it's the perimenopause that we're going to have to

deal with.

As far as the endoquack who ripped me off, well that's water under

the bridge. I can't make myself sick over it or get my thyroid

back, but sometimes I entertain thoughts that I shouldn't. I'm

afraid if I even send the witch a nasty letter I'll wind up in jail

for terroristic threats or something. Maybe my current doc will be

just the right Rx for getting over all this crap and the fears.

This is my prayer.

Janet

> You did have Hashimoto's, and the original doctor needed/needs to

be kicked

> to the curb for an inexcusable blunder in your diagnosis. I have

said all

> along, however, that if I got so uncomfortable with a lot of

nodules that

> couldn't be corrected, and, if I felt like I was choking all the

time and it

> couldn't be corrected, then I would want my thyroid out. Even at

this

> point, I am so tired of the ups and downs, ups and downs of the

Hashi's

> antibodies, that I'm tired of the confusion of it, and I really do

want my

> thyroid out, so that maybe these antibodies would go away and stop

hassling

> me. I am very strong on this, when it has reached this point. At

least I

> know, generally, what I would be replacing it with-----total

replacement of

> ALL the hormone, without all the ups and downs of hormonal changes

in the

> thyroid hormones themselves. Certainly not everyone feels the way

I do, in

> fact, maybe not very many.

>

>

>

> Re: confused newbie with a question

>

>

> > I was initially tested for thyroid peroxidase antibodies and it

came

> > up slightly elevated. I was told I had Graves and had the RAI.

> >

> > Since then another endo told me that wasn't the definative test

for

> > Graves, that he would have done a TRab for better Graves

accuracy.

> > He didn't run it though because in his mind it was water under

the

> > bridge.

> >

> > Ozan did all kinds of antibodies tests in October, including one

for

> > Graves. I have a slightly elevated ANA but follow up labs

showed no

> > lupus or RA, or any of the other associated diseases. I've had

mono

> > in the past and that probably accounts for the ANA elevation. No

> > Graves or other thyroid antibodies. I probably had hashi's all

> > along but the first endo was gung-ho to nuke my thyroid, which I

> > wouldn't have done if it was not Graves.

> >

> > Janet