Sisterhood of the Uppity Thyroid

Just found this thread, and I have nothing helpful to contribute. I just wanted to say that it's wonderful that we have so many Atookians who can be helpful when we need them. And I'm glad you're feeling better, soz.

How are you Soz? Just checked in to see how you were feeling.

Thanks Bella! You are one whose feedback I was hoping to get on the TSH level (9).

I'm feeling pretty good. Have started working out and that seems to be making a big difference. I've had a few exchanges via email with my doctor, which have been mostly very good. He acknowledged that the symptoms are what put it over the top for him, and if the symptoms are mitigated/ nonexistent now, to go ahead and wait for a couple of months. He said one thing I didn't like, "I would guess it's more likely you'll have a TSH around 20-25 or more in 2-3 months and may be feeling worse by then." :-? That strikes me as scare tactics. 20-25? I don't know when this first appeared but many of what symptoms I have are either life-long or appeared since my pregnancy 6 years ago, and I can't see it spiking like that in a couple of months.

But who knows. I still don't know what happened to get me the result I do have now -- 9 -- so will just have to wait and see.

(Thanks again for checking in with me, that was sweet.)

I was at a .001 TSH level, so we are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Me being hyper you being hypo. Personally, with your lab norms, I'd say you are moderatly hypo. My doctor called me moderatly hyper, and look where my numbers were. You are practically double what the high end of the norm should be.

It really is a combination of your numbers. Not just TSH or T4. Although both are very strong indicators of where your thyroid is functioning. Have you gotten your T4 test?

As for it moving that quickly, I can see it happening that fast because mine did. When I look back, I had intermittent problems that could be linked to my current condition but you don't think to link them at the time. But all of a sudden, it hit me like a ton of bricks. So I think that once things are set in motion, they can move that quickly. I'd just watch and pay attention to your body.

The problem with your doctor is that he isn't a specalist (I am assuming this is your primary physican). Can you get in to see an endocrinologist without a referral or it costing you buco bucks? I think you would benefit from seeing a specialist at this point. My PCP flat out told me that they don't spend a lot of time learning about the thyroid. I don't think he can treat you as well as you should be treated.

That's a good point.

Right now I'm at "if it ain't broke don't fix it", and keeping an eye on things.

Isn't .001 something like one THOUSANDTH of normal, though? (With the normal range starting at 1?) Twice the normal reading is nothing, in comparison. Another way to put it -- assuming the normal range is 1-5, just in terms of numbers the hypo equivalent of .001 is 5,000. (Vs. my li'l ol 9.)

I suspect it's one of those things that doesn't have a straight line on a graph, though -- that is, if you are 1/20th of normal, you probably don't have an equally bad reaction as if you are 20 times normal.

Ok, did some more research for you and found this.

Thyroid Info

It's from my Graves Disease site but gives some good information on TSH tests. And it has this quote:



Now, I know your "normal" ranges are different, but in context, if you put 1-5 in there, anything over 5 would indicate hypothyroidism. I also read that many doctors don't want to treat until you hit a 10.

Soz, I really think you should find an endorinologist and have him/her check you out.

Thanks for your concern, Bella. :-)

This doctor actually wanted to treat me, at 9 -- I have the prescription right here <points>. But he agreed that the symptoms are part of what put his diagnosis over the top and if the symptoms are not currently bothering me (and have other possible causes), fine with him to do a bit of wait and see.

I think for now I'm comfortable with keeping an eye on things (I've had a one-two dose of improved outlook since my physical, the "day off" and then starting to work out last weekend, and I'm feeling really good), having a follow-up appointment/ re-test in a couple of months, and going from there.

If things seem to start going downhill before then, I'll definitely follow up.

I don't have anything to add, but I've been following along and just wanted to say I hope the exercise does it. I'm the same way if I don't get exercise, but I've never been tested for this condition. I often wonder with these things if the causation (hypothyroidism causes depression/weight gain) is so clear cut. Like maybe lack of exercise can cause depression and weight gain, which in turn can cause hypothyroidism? But I confess to being a bit of a voodooist with my own health and easily susceptible to cynicism of the medical profession.

Anyhoo, I just really wanted to say good for you for taking control. Good luck.

Mammogram day -- all clear!

Whew!

But man that thing hurt. I was expecting discomfort, I wasn't expecting agony. (Evidently it happened to be the very worst day of the month to have it done, tenderness-wise, oh well.) But it was only a few seconds per time (6 pics total), and the pain faded completely the instant the vise of death was released, so I'd do it again in a second in exchange for peace of mind.

Now I'm off to read about fibrocystic tissue... (what it is, evidently)...

Thanks again for all of your great information, good wishes, and support, everyone!

Great news, Soz!!

"Negative" is one of the nicest words in the human language.

Congratulations!

Fibrocystic tissue - I have this. It's internal breast topography. The bouys in the enclosed pool, as it were. Or, something like that. And it's why I had an ultrasound for both of my last 2 mammograms (in addition to the jaws o' fun -- apparently no one likes 'em, they stink for everyone, of every size). But they can see on the ultrasound screen that they're just tissue (made of chewing gum and cotton candy, for all I know) and not cancer. So that's a good thing.

The day when someone invents a mammogram machine that allows for the actual roundness of breasts during filming is the day I start investing in medical equipment and writing fan letters to said inventor.

No kidding!

Yeah, I had the ultrasound too. THAT was fine, no problem whatsoever. First the sonogram gal did it, didn't find anything, left me languishing in the dark room with nothing to read for an unspecified amount of time (another terp no-show, requested and promised but nada, I considered raising a major stink but decided I'd rather just get it over with) which ended up being 25 minutes (with me checking the door expecting someone to come in at approximately 2-minute intervals), then doc came in, asked me to show me where it was, I did, he said oh yeah, he did the sonogram, and came up with it I guess. (I couldn't see the sonogram machine and he was both bearded and backlit and he was talking to me but I couldn't see what he was saying, which I kept telling him, and he'd keep nodding, and then keep doing it.... argghhhh...!)

All's well that ends well, anyway.

Did they draw on you?

For the first of the 2 sonos, I was marked up with purple magic marker because they kept losing where the lump was that I had found (it was that small). After a while, I suspect the nursing staff was connecting the dots. But at least no one shouted out, after a while, Oh, look, it's a picture of a duck!

Then they gelled me up and did their thing, then tried to clean everything up with alcohol pads. Good thing I went home after that, rather than to work, as I reeked of rubbing alcohol and gel, and had a temporary purple tattoo all over my front. Very attractive, I'm sure.

The second time was no marker or alcohol, just gel. So, no picture of a duck.

Just gel for me.

But your post where you laid out what happened with you was VERY useful, since except for drawing that's about exactly how it did happen, and sans terp, having an idea of what to expect was very helpful.

<mutter mutter>

I pity the next person who fails to actually get a terp when said terp has been requested because I have rather a lot of pent-up aggression now...

YAY!!!!


What's a terp?


Just one cyst?

Good, sozzle.

When I get my Divorce from Life, I'm going to cite a number of medical indignities.

Several years ago Mr. Noddy had an oozing nipple and I nagged and bitched and harried until he mentioned it to a doctor. The internist sent him over to the Women's Center for a mammogram. The technician apologized--and then yanked his manly chest up to fit the paddles.

He was not happy.

Wow, I'm glad to hear your good news, soz, and sorry that it was such a tribulation. It's a horrifying enough experience even with full communication, so I can't imagine what it was like for you without an interpreter to help you know what people were saying to you.

Oh my!

My grandfather had breast cancer -- hence the whole "family history" thing, since that's a red flag for descendants -- so he must've done the mammogram thing too. I can imagine it'd be tough for guys, unless (especially if?) they are on the corpulent side...

Dlowan, terp = interpreter = ASL interpreter = what allows me to communicate halfway efficiently and/ or non-exhaustingly.

The interpreter was requested when we made the appointment, was promised ("sure, no problem"), and then was not in fact provided. Hiss, boo.