Comments on: Endocrinologists and the looney tune TSH lab test

By: Laura Magee

Laura Magee — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:47:13 +0000

4 grains? I am having the problems with the new armour– could you tell me what your height and weight? The only reason I ask is that 1.5 grains is not working and I am at at a loss. The olde armour had me on the money and I was fine. Do you use a supplement of the naturthyroid and armour? Thanks

(Laura, you’ll probably find yourself here: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/mistakes-patients-make )

By: Bee

Bee — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 19:22:02 +0000

After many doctors, hemithyroidectomy, and many years of being sick I finally decided to self-treat. When my last endochrinologist told me that he does not treat by “symptoms” but only treats by “TSH” numbers then I knew that I was on my own. I had carefully typed a list of my symptoms and he never looked at them (they matched all the obvious hypo symptoms on this site). It takes a while, but we all ultimately learn that there is nobody who will take care of us besides ourselves. It was absolutely critical for me to maintain my health and employment. I have no wealthy parents or spouse to pay my bills. I had reached a point in my life where my health had caused my job to be at stake. No employer will tolerate an employee who is unable to contribute with energetic involvement in the workplace. Loss of employment is a devastating possiblity with thyroid disease. I have seen many women have their thyroids removed and then leave their careers afterwards. I did not want to become a homeless bag lady! With that in mind, I decided to do whatever necessary … even if it means getting on a plane and going to another country to get treatment. Yes, I will fight my hardest to live. So I have found non-prescription sources for my natural thyroid medication and I have researched extensively and monitored myself as I increased my dose to 4 grains over a period of 2 years. The end result has been gainful employment, being alert in the afternoons, stabilization of my weight, elimination of hair loss, and the ability to have a relationship. I can’t begin to describe how thrilled I am to have the opportunity to live each day fully.

By: Terry

Terry — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 03:48:32 +0000

Everyone, I am so angry, that I cannot express it!!! I am on my 16th doctor in 16 years. I only feel well when my TSH is 0 and below. I recently got new test results from tests ordered from a new doctor. The TSH was below o of course but my FT4 and Ft3 were normal(Ft3)and on the high side of normal (FT3). They called me with the results and told me how I needed to lower my dosage. I told them I was coming in to talk in two weeks. Anyhow I went to the pharmacy to pick up my T4, a refill I had ordered over the weekend, and the pharmacy assistant said that someone had already called in to lower my T3 dosage. They had not even talked to me yet and they had already lowered the dose and called it in, ahhhhhhhhhhh! Oh my God they treat you like you are not even there; like you are nothing! It is nothing short of mental abuse. I am presently on several drugs (bandaids) for all the problems I have that I believe are caused directly or indirectly from the undertreated hypothyroidism. (I still need to increase my T4 and they are lowering the T3.) They are literally killing me. I now have osteoporosis, seven years of pre-cancerous cells that I cannot get rid of in spite of two surgeries and the list goes on. I have developed restless leg, have chronic high chloresterol, refux, fibromyalgia. That isn’t counting the useral, dry skin, depression, anxiety, skin problems, puffiness, fatigue, confusion, two second memory, PMS, pigmentaion around eyes etc. I have decided to raise my T4 myself, talk to this doctor about using the FT3 and Ft4 tests to monitor my levels. If she refuses, I have one more source to try before just monitoring it myself. I wouldn’t even go to an MD except for the fact they have forced me to take several medications for all the problems I have developed and I can’t just quit the drug. All because they are obsessed with the Fool’s Gold standard test. I can see it now I am dying and collapsed on the floor with a large tumor protuding from my neck. The endocrinologist comes over to me and says, “good news your TSH test result is normal, there is nothing wrong with you!”

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:39:09 +0000

A well-stated commentary on our society; I agree 100%!

By: Jessica Williams

Jessica Williams — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 02:51:06 +0000

I find it not just a medical nightmare but a representation of how women are generally treated by "authority figures" in the USA and elsewhere. In airports, we seem to be the ones on the no-fly lists. In cafes, we seem to become invisible when it's our turn. In the area of heart health, most doctors still believe that "women don't have heart disease". It is our number one killer! It's time to FIRE the doctors, the politicians, the bankers, and the corporate elite, almost ALL of whom are MEN. I am feminista and I am proud of it. I do not hate men. I distrust their logic and their absolutism. And I take strong issue their POWER over others. Any sane doctor knows by now that the TSH is a flawed, misleading test, one that gives little in the way of information about T3 and T4 in the bloodstream. "T4 only" works ok on men, it is true. This is because they have little estrogen in their bodies to bind with the T3 that's created. Otherwise, T4 only meds should NEVER be used on a hypothyroid female. NEVER.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:50:20 +0000

Exactly! Years ago, when one implied that I might be “depressed” because I was still freezing all the time while on synthroid, (Btw, there is NO connection to being cold and depression!) I felt compelled to say “the only thing that depresses me is ignorant doctors!!”

By: Starrie

Starrie — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:16:15 +0000

It really is ridiculous that we understand the science behind thyroid hormones better than these stupid endocrinologists. When I take into account how much money they make from misdiagnosing people it makes me SICK!

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:39:46 +0000

I am finally getting around to watching the Today show clip. I love her story, love that she’s lost weight and doing better on hormone replacement, wondering if she’s on Synthroid or dessicated?

But, most of all, I LOVE her kitchen! I am needing ideas for colors for cabinets and decorating ideas too. Currently I am on a painting kick, I have lived in this house for 16 years in hypo hell and have never had the energy to fix things up. Well, after a couple years on dessicated thyroid, look out.

Anyway, I love her cabinets and the grey and white. Another option to consider for my colors!

By: Elizabeth Hitchcock

Elizabeth Hitchcock — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:03:08 +0000

I fired my endo for relying solely on that #!@$%**! TSH test and insisting that I reduce my dose of Armour from 90 mg to 60 because my TSH was “on the low side”! My FT3 and FT4 were also on the “low side”, but that did not matter to her! Enough of this TSH crap!! I suffered horribly for over 17 years because of Synthroid, stupid doctors, and the “most sensitive” TSH test!! (AND, little did she know I was really taking 180 mg of Armour and feeling better than I had in 20 years!)

By: Cris

Cris — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:38:55 +0000

I’ve been studying thyroid for 15 years, and sex hormone interactions for about 10. Being high estrogen/low progesterone will screw with your thyroid and adrenal hormones, as well as your DHEA levels. You will usually have “normal” thyroid panels yet be clinically severely hypo thyroid. Dr. Norman Shealey has a very informative booklet, a quick read and cheap, on using progesterone cream to help relieve a lot of the triple crown of symptoms (hypo T, adrenal and low progesterone/high estrogen share MANY symptoms!). Also, Dr. John Lee’s book has some information in What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause (not just for menopausal women).

Once you get your progesterone levels back up (use Dr. Shames Canary Club for the saliva testing) THEN work on what is left lacking in thyroid and adrenals as they often start working again after the progesterone levels are back up to optimum. Not all progesterone creams work, you need to find reliable sources or have your doctor put you on troches (sublingual lozenges). Low progesterone sickness applies to men too. If you are overweight, you have high estrogen. High estrogen also causes insulin resistance as well as resistance to thyroid, adrenal and sex hormones necessitating higher than normal doses for the same benefits others get on ‘normal’ doses.