Re: Saw new doctor, need your advice

[Guest guest]

Francoise,

I had symptoms at least as pronounced as yours, and have had for many

years. For the past 10 years I have not been able to walk more than a

few feet at a time (actually, I lurch), and that with a lot of pain.

I was told I have " fibromyalgia " (and Chronic fatigue)-- all the

symptoms you mention here, and more. I went back to a new doctor 6

months ago, who told me my TSH done three years ago (just over 3)

means I do not have hypoT. The doctor was wrong. I started taking

thyroid supplement (T4) three months ago on my own, am on 125 mcg

now, and I am slowly getting better. I also felt improvement almost

immediately I went from 100 to 125 mcg. TSH is not the be-all and end-

all, and in fact can lag behind symptoms. Fibromyalgia, in my case,

and I'm willing to bet, in your case, is hypothyroidism untreated (in

my case) or undertreated (in your case). If the symptoms come back

(as they were doing for me after 6 weeks on the lower dose, it meant

for me, and a lot of other people as far as I can see, that you need

a higher dose. Fibromyalgia is a " syndrome " , not a disease.

Fibromyalgia caused by a disease-- in my case and yours, the disease

is hypoT. Once you get onto the optimum dose for you, the

fibromyalgia will resolve. It may take time, but I know it will

happen. Hypothyroidism can affect every part of your body, including

the brain (I had fibro-fog and depression for donkeys' years, still

have it, though getting better now) and the clearing of my brain is

due to the T4. I am not depressed hardly at all anymore. I am so

sorry this new doctor has scared you, because unless there's

something you haven't told us here, or something he saw that you

haven't mentioned, if I were you, I would just assume you will get

entirely better on Synthroid, given time. I bet you do not have

bigger problems!

Gail

> Hi everyone,

>

> I had my firdt appointment with an endocrinologist who is highly

> praised in this city (including Shomon's web site, Top Doctor

> rankings, etc.) So this doctor spends an hour with me, reads my

test

> results, asks me a zillion questions, examines my neck, etc. I've

> always been borderline and my GP put me on Synthroid 5 months ago.

It

> worked for about 4 months and lately I seem to be getting all my

> symptoms back. I wanted to go up again but my GP wouldn't so I

> changed docs. This doctor is increasing my dose to 0.125mcg. So

> that's good news. Now here's the bad news:

>

> He says that someone with borderline TSH like mine (never went over

> 9) rarely has symptoms as pronounced as mine (migraines, dizziness,

> fatigue, muscle cramps, etc) so he thinks there may be something

> else, like fibromyalgia (oh no!). He also said that Synthroid takes

> week to actually have an effect on the thyroid and the fact that I

> have felt almost immediate improvements after dose increases points

> to something in the brain. Synthroid may act as some form of

> antidepressant on depressive patients. Has anyone heard anything

like

> that?

>

> I am both happy to have found a good doctor who listens and sad to

> know that I may have bigger problems. If anyone can relate, please

> let me know. I feel so alone all of a sudden!

>

> Francoise

[Guest guest]

ACCCCCHHHHHHH

Danger danger Francoise, this doc is very confused and in over his head.

You are not " borderline " hypothyroid, you are VERY hypothyroid. I was

extremely hypothyroid with a TSH of 1.12.

Fibromyalgia is untreated hypothyroidism.

Thyroid treatment does indeed affect the brain, especially T3 and adrenal

hormones. All I can think of is that this doc is very ignorant and

dangerous, or he wants to make money off of you---lots of tests and office

visits. I don't think he is a good doc, I think he is a charlatan. You can

get more info at http://www.thyroid.about.com. Also people who have

fibromyalgia usually have " normal " TSH (but certainly NOT 9!!!!!!).

Gracia

> Hi everyone,

>

> I had my firdt appointment with an endocrinologist who is highly

> praised in this city (including Shomon's web site, Top Doctor

> rankings, etc.) So this doctor spends an hour with me, reads my test

> results, asks me a zillion questions, examines my neck, etc. I've

> always been borderline and my GP put me on Synthroid 5 months ago. It

> worked for about 4 months and lately I seem to be getting all my

> symptoms back. I wanted to go up again but my GP wouldn't so I

> changed docs. This doctor is increasing my dose to 0.125mcg. So

> that's good news. Now here's the bad news:

>

> He says that someone with borderline TSH like mine (never went over

> 9) rarely has symptoms as pronounced as mine (migraines, dizziness,

> fatigue, muscle cramps, etc) so he thinks there may be something

> else, like fibromyalgia (oh no!). He also said that Synthroid takes

> week to actually have an effect on the thyroid and the fact that I

> have felt almost immediate improvements after dose increases points

> to something in the brain. Synthroid may act as some form of

> antidepressant on depressive patients. Has anyone heard anything like

> that?

>

> I am both happy to have found a good doctor who listens and sad to

> know that I may have bigger problems. If anyone can relate, please

> let me know. I feel so alone all of a sudden!

>

> Francoise

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for your response, Gail. It makes me feel much

better. I hardly slept last night thinking I may have fibro or

something else. I actually like this doctor because he seems to have

a lot of experience and listens to me. He said if the symptoms do not

improve in a few weeks, he will start treating me with T3. That's a

sign he is pretty open minded I think.

I can't help thinking that he has a point though. He said I am hypo

and I need thyroid hormone but he thinks the dizziness (my precursor

symptom when I relapse) points to something else. It actually feels

like my body starts oscillating whenever something stressful happens.

Then it usually turn into exhaustion and headaches. I am thinking

this could be adrenal fatigue?

Francoise

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I had my firdt appointment with an endocrinologist who is highly

> > praised in this city (including Shomon's web site, Top

Doctor

> > rankings, etc.) So this doctor spends an hour with me, reads my

> test

> > results, asks me a zillion questions, examines my neck, etc. I've

> > always been borderline and my GP put me on Synthroid 5 months

ago.

> It

> > worked for about 4 months and lately I seem to be getting all my

> > symptoms back. I wanted to go up again but my GP wouldn't so I

> > changed docs. This doctor is increasing my dose to 0.125mcg. So

> > that's good news. Now here's the bad news:

> >

> > He says that someone with borderline TSH like mine (never went

over

> > 9) rarely has symptoms as pronounced as mine (migraines,

dizziness,

> > fatigue, muscle cramps, etc) so he thinks there may be something

> > else, like fibromyalgia (oh no!). He also said that Synthroid

takes

> > week to actually have an effect on the thyroid and the fact that

I

> > have felt almost immediate improvements after dose increases

points

> > to something in the brain. Synthroid may act as some form of

> > antidepressant on depressive patients. Has anyone heard anything

> like

> > that?

> >

> > I am both happy to have found a good doctor who listens and sad

to

> > know that I may have bigger problems. If anyone can relate,

please

> > let me know. I feel so alone all of a sudden!

> >

> > Francoise

[Guest guest]

When I first got my doc to treat me I was at 8, and I

felt like I was dying, he even put me on a 2 week

course of oral steroids as I was so 'Flat' as he put

it, why oh why do they wait so long and let us suffer

so much before they do something?????

Sorry but for so long I felt ill and in pain and all I

got was 'well its borderline, its nothing to worry

about' and now I know that isn't the case and I do

feel resentful.

I feel many doctors don't know how to treat it and so

they try to ignore it.

Cynically (lol) yours

Lyn

--- Gracia <circe@...> wrote:

>

> ACCCCCHHHHHHH

> Danger danger Francoise, this doc is very confused

> and in over his head.

> You are not " borderline " hypothyroid, you are VERY

> hypothyroid. I was

> extremely hypothyroid with a TSH of 1.12.

> Fibromyalgia is untreated hypothyroidism.

> Thyroid treatment does indeed affect the brain,

> especially T3 and adrenal

> hormones. All I can think of is that this doc is

> very ignorant and

> dangerous, or he wants to make money off of

> you---lots of tests and office

> visits. I don't think he is a good doc, I think he

> is a charlatan. You can

> get more info at http://www.thyroid.about.com.

> Also people who have

> fibromyalgia usually have " normal " TSH (but

> certainly NOT 9!!!!!!).

> Gracia

>

>

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I had my firdt appointment with an endocrinologist

> who is highly

> > praised in this city (including Shomon's web

> site, Top Doctor

> > rankings, etc.) So this doctor spends an hour with

> me, reads my test

> > results, asks me a zillion questions, examines my

> neck, etc. I've

> > always been borderline and my GP put me on

> Synthroid 5 months ago. It

> > worked for about 4 months and lately I seem to be

> getting all my

> > symptoms back. I wanted to go up again but my GP

> wouldn't so I

> > changed docs. This doctor is increasing my dose to

> 0.125mcg. So

> > that's good news. Now here's the bad news:

> >

> > He says that someone with borderline TSH like mine

> (never went over

> > 9) rarely has symptoms as pronounced as mine

> (migraines, dizziness,

> > fatigue, muscle cramps, etc) so he thinks there

> may be something

> > else, like fibromyalgia (oh no!). He also said

> that Synthroid takes

> > week to actually have an effect on the thyroid and

> the fact that I

> > have felt almost immediate improvements after dose

> increases points

> > to something in the brain. Synthroid may act as

> some form of

> > antidepressant on depressive patients. Has anyone

> heard anything like

> > that?

> >

> > I am both happy to have found a good doctor who

> listens and sad to

> > know that I may have bigger problems. If anyone

> can relate, please

> > let me know. I feel so alone all of a sudden!

> >

> > Francoise

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Lyn,

Thanks for your reply. Are you feeling better now? What medication

are you currently on?

>

> >

> > ACCCCCHHHHHHH

> > Danger danger Francoise, this doc is very confused

> > and in over his head.

> > You are not " borderline " hypothyroid, you are VERY

> > hypothyroid. I was

> > extremely hypothyroid with a TSH of 1.12.

> > Fibromyalgia is untreated hypothyroidism.

> > Thyroid treatment does indeed affect the brain,

> > especially T3 and adrenal

> > hormones. All I can think of is that this doc is

> > very ignorant and

> > dangerous, or he wants to make money off of

> > you---lots of tests and office

> > visits. I don't think he is a good doc, I think he

> > is a charlatan. You can

> > get more info at http://www.thyroid.about.com.

> > Also people who have

> > fibromyalgia usually have " normal " TSH (but

> > certainly NOT 9!!!!!!).

> > Gracia

> >

> >

> > > Hi everyone,

> > >

> > > I had my firdt appointment with an endocrinologist

> > who is highly

> > > praised in this city (including Shomon's web

> > site, Top Doctor

> > > rankings, etc.) So this doctor spends an hour with

> > me, reads my test

> > > results, asks me a zillion questions, examines my

> > neck, etc. I've

> > > always been borderline and my GP put me on

> > Synthroid 5 months ago. It

> > > worked for about 4 months and lately I seem to be

> > getting all my

> > > symptoms back. I wanted to go up again but my GP

> > wouldn't so I

> > > changed docs. This doctor is increasing my dose to

> > 0.125mcg. So

> > > that's good news. Now here's the bad news:

> > >

> > > He says that someone with borderline TSH like mine

> > (never went over

> > > 9) rarely has symptoms as pronounced as mine

> > (migraines, dizziness,

> > > fatigue, muscle cramps, etc) so he thinks there

> > may be something

> > > else, like fibromyalgia (oh no!). He also said

> > that Synthroid takes

> > > week to actually have an effect on the thyroid and

> > the fact that I

> > > have felt almost immediate improvements after dose

> > increases points

> > > to something in the brain. Synthroid may act as

> > some form of

> > > antidepressant on depressive patients. Has anyone

> > heard anything like

> > > that?

> > >

> > > I am both happy to have found a good doctor who

> > listens and sad to

> > > know that I may have bigger problems. If anyone

> > can relate, please

> > > let me know. I feel so alone all of a sudden!

> > >

> > > Francoise

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Thanks Gracia. I wonder my doctor did not suggest that. As an endo,

wouldn't he know about adrenal fatigue?

>

> yes it's adrenal, either from untreated hypo or exhausted

adrenals. You

> will feel much better with T3. especially with fibro symptoms.

> Gracia

>

> > Thank you so much for your response, Gail. It makes me feel much

> > better. I hardly slept last night thinking I may have fibro or

> > something else. I actually like this doctor because he seems to

have

> > a lot of experience and listens to me. He said if the symptoms do

not

> > improve in a few weeks, he will start treating me with T3. That's

a

> > sign he is pretty open minded I think.

> >

> > I can't help thinking that he has a point though. He said I am

hypo

> > and I need thyroid hormone but he thinks the dizziness (my

precursor

> > symptom when I relapse) points to something else. It actually

feels

> > like my body starts oscillating whenever something stressful

happens.

> > Then it usually turn into exhaustion and headaches. I am thinking

> > this could be adrenal fatigue?

> >

> > Francoise

> >

[Guest guest]

Thanks Gracia. I wonder my doctor did not suggest that. As an endo,

wouldn't he know about adrenal fatigue?

>

> yes it's adrenal, either from untreated hypo or exhausted

adrenals. You

> will feel much better with T3. especially with fibro symptoms.

> Gracia

>

> > Thank you so much for your response, Gail. It makes me feel much

> > better. I hardly slept last night thinking I may have fibro or

> > something else. I actually like this doctor because he seems to

have

> > a lot of experience and listens to me. He said if the symptoms do

not

> > improve in a few weeks, he will start treating me with T3. That's

a

> > sign he is pretty open minded I think.

> >

> > I can't help thinking that he has a point though. He said I am

hypo

> > and I need thyroid hormone but he thinks the dizziness (my

precursor

> > symptom when I relapse) points to something else. It actually

feels

> > like my body starts oscillating whenever something stressful

happens.

> > Then it usually turn into exhaustion and headaches. I am thinking

> > this could be adrenal fatigue?

> >

> > Francoise

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I am very much better now! I am on 100mcg Thyroxine

and need to have a blood test in 8 weeks time when it

may be raised again. I am just glad to be on the

mend!!!!!!!!! LOL

Bye for now

Lyn

--- franquinette <farmand@...> wrote:

> Lyn,

>

> Thanks for your reply. Are you feeling better now?

> What medication

> are you currently on?

>

>

>

> >

> > >

> > > ACCCCCHHHHHHH

> > > Danger danger Francoise, this doc is very

> confused

> > > and in over his head.

> > > You are not " borderline " hypothyroid, you are

> VERY

> > > hypothyroid. I was

> > > extremely hypothyroid with a TSH of 1.12.

> > > Fibromyalgia is untreated hypothyroidism.

> > > Thyroid treatment does indeed affect the brain,

> > > especially T3 and adrenal

> > > hormones. All I can think of is that this doc

> is

> > > very ignorant and

> > > dangerous, or he wants to make money off of

> > > you---lots of tests and office

> > > visits. I don't think he is a good doc, I think

> he

> > > is a charlatan. You can

> > > get more info at http://www.thyroid.about.com.

> > > Also people who have

> > > fibromyalgia usually have " normal " TSH (but

> > > certainly NOT 9!!!!!!).

> > > Gracia

> > >

> > >

> > > > Hi everyone,

> > > >

> > > > I had my firdt appointment with an

> endocrinologist

> > > who is highly

> > > > praised in this city (including Shomon's

> web

> > > site, Top Doctor

> > > > rankings, etc.) So this doctor spends an hour

> with

> > > me, reads my test

> > > > results, asks me a zillion questions, examines

> my

> > > neck, etc. I've

> > > > always been borderline and my GP put me on

> > > Synthroid 5 months ago. It

> > > > worked for about 4 months and lately I seem to

> be

> > > getting all my

> > > > symptoms back. I wanted to go up again but my

> GP

> > > wouldn't so I

> > > > changed docs. This doctor is increasing my

> dose to

> > > 0.125mcg. So

> > > > that's good news. Now here's the bad news:

> > > >

> > > > He says that someone with borderline TSH like

> mine

> > > (never went over

> > > > 9) rarely has symptoms as pronounced as mine

> > > (migraines, dizziness,

> > > > fatigue, muscle cramps, etc) so he thinks

> there

> > > may be something

> > > > else, like fibromyalgia (oh no!). He also said

> > > that Synthroid takes

> > > > week to actually have an effect on the thyroid

> and

> > > the fact that I

> > > > have felt almost immediate improvements after

> dose

> > > increases points

> > > > to something in the brain. Synthroid may act

> as

> > > some form of

> > > > antidepressant on depressive patients. Has

> anyone

> > > heard anything like

> > > > that?

> > > >

> > > > I am both happy to have found a good doctor

> who

> > > listens and sad to

> > > > know that I may have bigger problems. If

> anyone

> > > can relate, please

> > > > let me know. I feel so alone all of a sudden!

> > > >

> > > > Francoise

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

[Guest guest]

NO he will only know about the extremes, 's and Cushings. This is

like only treating hypothyroid when the patient goes into myxadema coma.

Look at http://www.drrind.com

Gracia

> Thanks Gracia. I wonder my doctor did not suggest that. As an endo,

> wouldn't he know about adrenal fatigue?

>

>

[Guest guest]

I personally don't believe in FM. I think it is just poorly treated

hypothyroidism.

Also, calling a TSH of 9 " borderline " is nuts. I was an invalid and my

TSH never even reached 6.0. The fact that a " top doctor " believes in a

direct correlation between TSH and symptoms is appalling.

Jan

franquinette wrote:

>Hi everyone,

>

>I had my firdt appointment with an endocrinologist who is highly

>praised in this city (including Shomon's web site, Top Doctor

>rankings, etc.) So this doctor spends an hour with me, reads my test

>results, asks me a zillion questions, examines my neck, etc. I've

>always been borderline and my GP put me on Synthroid 5 months ago. It

>worked for about 4 months and lately I seem to be getting all my

>symptoms back. I wanted to go up again but my GP wouldn't so I

>changed docs. This doctor is increasing my dose to 0.125mcg. So

>that's good news. Now here's the bad news:

>

>He says that someone with borderline TSH like mine (never went over

>9) rarely has symptoms as pronounced as mine (migraines, dizziness,

>fatigue, muscle cramps, etc) so he thinks there may be something

>else, like fibromyalgia (oh no!). He also said that Synthroid takes

>week to actually have an effect on the thyroid and the fact that I

>have felt almost immediate improvements after dose increases points

>to something in the brain. Synthroid may act as some form of

>antidepressant on depressive patients. Has anyone heard anything like

>that?

>

>I am both happy to have found a good doctor who listens and sad to

>know that I may have bigger problems. If anyone can relate, please

>let me know. I feel so alone all of a sudden!

>

>Francoise

>

>