Re: Thyroid Exam

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/3/2004 5:29:04 PM Eastern Standard Time,

kalo777@... writes:

> My TSH was 2.8.

>

> Carol,

> When I read stories like yours, I do not feel so alone. I have copies of

> two TSH labs from the 90s...both were over 2.5...but docs said " normal " . I

had

> one TSH test in late 80s at my request but don't have a copy of that

> one...but I had gone to the doctor specifically because I have thryoid related

> symptoms. None of these docs (three of them) ever checked for Hashimoto's

> either...which I have.

>

> Since being diagnosed with hypo and Hashi's in February (the TSH finally got

> high enough for them), I have experienced episodes of both anger and

> depression for the struggle I went through during those years without hormone

> treatment. I can not get those years back.

>

> My husband tells me I just need to concentrate on the years ahead and think

> about getting better...but sometimes I feel my body has been stressed by this

> so much...that I wonder how to keep going. But again, knowing that I am not

> alone in being failed by the medical establishment gives me some courage and

> strength.

> Cindi

[Guest guest]

I don't think I've been checked for goiters but I have had reflexes

checked. Aprox 8 years ago after FINALLY reading " Hypothyroidism the

unsuspected Illness " by Broda , I headed off to see a new HMO

doctor with book in hand. He did an exam and told me I had delayed

ankle reflexes which could be a sign of low thyroid. He also noted

that I had symptoms. However he said " The TSH is the ultimate and I

hope for your sake it shows up " . Well, of course it didn't. When I

asked him why I had a below normal temp and why it dropped even

lower leaving me so fatigued his reply was " Let me tell you what they

told us in medical school. Anything between 96 and 99 can be

considered normal " . He admitted I had some long term health

challanges but was honest in that he didn't deal with women like me.

He told me to come back when I was through with menopause and he

would put me on hormones which would SOLVE ALL of lifes challanges.

After learning so much about thyroid the past year and that all top

docs consider any TSH over 2 and sometimes 1.5 as low and in need of

treatment I found my test from that doctor. My TSH was 2.8. My

current doctor whom I love also found delayed reflexes (after I

mentioned it to him) and said that they ONLY point to low thyroid.

Sorry for rambling. Hugs, Carol B

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol B, as well as Everyone else,

uhmmmm, I agree that slow reflexes normally point to thyroid

problems. However, here is the Monkey wrench...(sorry about this)

slow reflexes may also indicate injury to the spinal coloumn or to

the nerves of the arms or legs. Like in a car accident or a

repetitive injury such as what I get to live with...grumble...

Gossimer

<<snip>>

My TSH was 2.8. My

> current doctor whom I love also found delayed reflexes (after I

> mentioned it to him) and said that they ONLY point to low thyroid.

> Sorry for rambling. Hugs, Carol B

[Guest guest]

> Hi Carol B, as well as Everyone else,

> uhmmmm, I agree that slow reflexes normally point to thyroid

> problems. However, here is the Monkey wrench...(sorry about this)

> slow reflexes may also indicate injury to the spinal coloumn or to

> the nerves of the arms or legs. Like in a car accident or a

> repetitive injury such as what I get to live with...grumble...

>

Yah, and let me add this: my reflexes in February was super duper

responsive. Go figure!

[Guest guest]

Hi Cindi. If you read my health history (not sure if a summary of it

is in the files section of this group or not. It is on the other

thyroid group) which is 7 pages long and starts at birth you will see

that I was probably born with a low thyroid problem. Mild enough to

evade diagnosis and treatment. As a teenager my mother kept taking me

to the medical clinic trying to prove that I was anemic. They would

prick my finger and respond " There is NOTHING wrong with her. QUIT

wasting our time and yours " . WHY????????? did they never suggest

thyroid? After the birth of our first child in 74 my husband called

our pastor and said " Something is definately wrong with Carol and I'm

concerned " . I was told to go get a physical to find out what was

wrong with me so we'd know what we were dealing with. My obgyn

said " Let's check your thyroid (I didn't know what that was). That

can cause you to be tired " . Of course I came back and he said " Your

thyroid is fine. As to the gas (that I had from head to toe, now

known as muscle fatigue and weakness) he said " Here's a prescription

for vallium " . I had it filled, took one and then told DH to come

watch this. I dumped the rest down the toilet telling Sterling

that " This is NOT my problem and I REFUSE to live life this way " .

Anyways, I kept progessively getting worse with all sorts of

different symptoms and I'll be 55 in June. 19 years ago I gave up on

doctors and began reading EVERYTHING I could under the sun. a year

ago on my guaifenesin support group (for fibromyalgia) I met a nurse

who is wife to a top doc. I had finally found a wonderful doc who

agrees I'm low thyroid. However he was young and still learning and I

was never on enough Armour to do me any good. She felt I was CLASSIC

low thyroid and adrenal and that I needed a higher dose of Armour. My

family drove for hours to see her and her husband and I started back

on Armour last August with the ability to self treat. I'm currently

on 6 grains. Turns out without going into detail that I have

something else besides thyroid going on. Probably sinus/allergies.

Reason? According to the allergist I went to, I was so sick growing

up that I threw my immune system into overdrive. All this from an

untreated thryoid! Well, sorry for rambling. But yes, you and

thousands of others are NOT alone. Hugs, Carol B