Thyroid Ultrasound

[DebE13]

I established care with a new doctor and have mixed feelings but more positive than anything since we are moving in some direction. I was very nervous about appearing to be a know-it-all or just a plain nut. I explained to her I wanted treatment for my thyroid even though my blood tests are normal. My visit was a bit more difficult since I actually changed facilities and my 2012 labs and information did not transfer. That was disappointing but we are moving forward with more detailed blood work which I now can't remember. sigh. She told me she would not over treat a thyroid. (meaning nothing for me if my blood work comes back normal) so that was very disappointing but she did not lead me to believe we would then give up and call it as good as it gets. A possible referral to the endocrinologist if needed but we need to wait and see.

I do however, have to have an ultra sound of my thyroid because one side is larger than the other and she mentioned a possible nodule. It could be something but equally could be nothing but needs to be checked out. She did make it clear that even if there is something to it, it generally would not interfere with thyroid function. sigh

She wasn't thrilled with the 4,000IU of D3 and 1,000 micrograms of methyl B12 and recommended a standard multi vitamin and a calcium supplement. Not sure how to adjust that but I think for now I will wait until my labs come back. She was very respectful of this site and advice I get here and respectful in general

I'll have labs drawn in the morning and won't get results until next week so I will wait a bit longer and hopefully find some answer that will help

[tex]

DebE,

I reckon we'll have to wait and see. Are you by any chance monitoring your temperature and keeping records? Your average temp first thing after you awaken in the morning, and along about mid-afternoon are very important for determining thyroid status. If you're going to try to convince a doctor to treat you for hypothyroidism despite normal lab results, you will need this temp data. And even with that data, you may need to locate a doctor old enough to remember when doctors use to treat hypothyroidism according to symptoms, rather than according to lab results. Here's some info, if you haven't already seen this:

Take your temp!

Note the comments there about the connection of adrenal issues (low cortisol) with temperatures that fluctuate.

Tex

[TXBrenda]

I wish you lived closer to my doctor in Houston, http://www.hotzehwc.com. Based on my appointment in 2009, they treat based on symptoms as well as lab values. They renew my prescriptions yearly based on an annual phone appointment and labwork. It was well worth the 800 mile trip! The lab they prefer to use is LabCorp. Coincidentally the lab at my PCP office is LabCorp also.

[tex]

It was well worth the 800 mile trip!

It's a long way across Texas, isn't it.

Thanks for the info. I may need to check with them one of these days. I'm less than 200 miles from Houston.

Tex

[DebE13]

Thanks for link Tex- I wasn't aware of temperature but will start tracking it.

My cortisol level will be one of the labs done in the morning. She said something about three tests for that but we'd start with the morning cortisol test. There was also something about three cheek swabs to check for something but then she changed her mind and said that would be better done by an endocrinologist if a referral was needed since that doctor would be set up for that kind of testing.

I feel like an idiot for not remembering everything. I even took notes while there. But I'm actually just pleasantly surprised that she is at least willing to look further into my long list of complaints. She had an intern in with her which really turned out to be beneficial because she kept pulling up my old records and making comments.

It will be interesting and I'm always cautious about becoming too hopeful. Although, at some point I have to stumble across some answers. I told her I would not accept that my life as it is right now is as good as it's going to get. She smiled and who knows what she was thinking.

Brenda, I have an uncle who lives in Colleen Texas- maybe I'll have to go visit and make an appointment. Pretty sure that would be out of network, though.