A lot has happened since the last time I blogged. I was referred out to a "specialist" Endocrinologist. She was nice enough, but when she ordered my blood tests, she missed a lot of necessary tests to determine whether I have hypothyroid (or another common autoimmune disorder--Hashimoto's).
My blood was drawn on June 4th at 8:30am. By June 12th, I had my results...and according to her, all of my--many--hypothyroid issues were most likely from Sleep Apnea as my thyroid panel came back "clear" and she called me "beautifully healthy".
Talk about another let-down. I really wanted some kind of answer that would tell me why I'm having the symptoms I'm having. Everyone agrees that I'm having symptoms, but at the same time they all say that I'm perfectly healthy. I've been offered anti-depressants (to help me deal with the issues, apparently), I've been told to "stop being lazy and exercise more" (in regards to my complaint of continually gaining weight) and then when I started complaining about my muscle aches and pains, I would get the rolled eyes and the exasperated sigh...because I'm obviously being a hypochondriac and a whiner.
Since I've been having these symptoms for almost 11 years now, with no real help, I grabbed a copy of my tests and set out to find answers for myself. I literally stayed up all night looking up each test and what the results of each test could mean. I contacted a friend and told her the situation and she referred me to her Endocrinologist and then pointed me towards a website geared to helping people who are dealing with Thyroid Issues (Stop the Thyroid Madness).
Once, there I was floored at the information I was finding out all kinds of thyroid issues. I uploaded my test results to several long-term members and they said that while my labs were in range, there were a few concerning areas (a high TSH number). I listened to everything that was said to me, taking all of the information in...
And then the next morning, I called the doctor my friend had referred me to. Perfect timing because as I was on the phone with them to make an appointment, someone else had canceled their appointment and a 1 1/2 month wait ended up being a couple hour wait (I was able to be seen the same day).
At the appointment, the doctor looked over my labs and stated that most of the labs that were run were a good starting point, but without the rest of the labs, they were useless. He ordered several more blood tests (T3, reverse T3, anti-TPO and TgAb, and Ferritin).My original labs tested for TSH, T3, and T4. TSH came back at 2.8. My last doctor claimed this was "middle ground" and perfect. My new doctor stated that labs give a range. That range is based on everyone who has ever had that test done. So, my labwork was being compared from the very hyperthyroid to the very hypothyroid and I was labeled as "fine", not because I was fine...but because I fell in the middle range.
The truth is...in order to gauge how sick someone is, you need to compare them to someone who is not sick. The "ideal" or "functional" range of TSH should be 1.0-1.5. I'm at 2.8, which means that my TSH is almost 3x's what it should be. And while that is a sign of hypothyroid, we really need to see that reverse T3 (and other labs) to really confirm it.
I have learned a lot about the medical field in the past few weeks that has shocked me (and angered me). I am upset that I have spent the last 11 years trying to figure out what was wrong with me to be ignored and lied to (basically having my illness deemed as "fine" because I'm not as sick as someone else, instead of being compared to someone healthy). And more than anything, I have learned that doctors do not know everything. They want to get angry and insulted that patients would research things on Google. But, you know what? I spent the last 11 years trying to get answers to my ever growing list of concerning symptoms. I was told that I should get on anti-depressants...or that I needed to make a "choice" to eat healthy and exercise (as if I wasn't already)...stop being lazy...or my favorite, "Stop acting like there is a problem."
The reason I am at the point I am at is due to my diligence and refusal to take the answer, "You're fine.". I'm not fine. I don't feel fine. It's not normal to have the symptoms I have. There has to be an answer and a way to fix the problem.
If you have symptoms or you do not feel right...please do not take anyone's word that you're "fine". Keep searching, keep digging, keep moving forward until you find some answers. If something doesn't sound right, you have the right to get a 2nd, 3rd, even 4th opinion.
The rest of my labs were just done yesterday. I should have the results within the week. My next appointment with the "new" doctor is in August. Hopefully then, I'll have some answers, some guidance, and be able to start on the path to recovery and feeling good...finally. :)
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