So for years I have suggested to my doctor that I have thyroid issues. But she stubbornly refuses to do anything but order a TSH.

My evidence:
- despite a family history of high blood pressure, I have low blood pressure even though I am over weight. She feels I should thank my lucky stars.
- In the last five years my heart rate has dropped even though I am over weight and largely a couch potato. My heart rate is 55 to 60.
- I had my metabolism tested and it is SUPER low. We are talking at the total bottom of the scale.
- my body temp is no higher than 97.1 and falls to 96 at night.

(these are the objective factors)

The subjective factors
- I am tried and cold all the time.
-I gain weight easily
- I have extremely brittle nails
- IMHO I am not healing well. I had surgery on my foot in November and I am still not fully healed.

So I asked again and my doctor set me up for the TSH test. Disgusted I went and got my own "full" panel of tests. While looking at the results I did find a problem. Something called low T3. Basically some people can have normal TSH and thyroid but cannot convert it to the active form. That is me. I have low T3 but high T4 and high reverse T3 which sort of interferes with T4.

So go to a doctor about this right? But at least in my area there are just not a lot of doctors to see. So far I found about 7 doctors and, out of 7, 5 have turned out to be a problem. Either they aren't taking new patients or haven't even called back.

So I decided on self help and researched all the things that can supposedly cause this problem. The problem IMHO is that I have objective proof none of these things apply to me.
- chronic inflammation? Nope I recently had my SED RATE taken and it was low.
- Excessive Estrogen-- nope also recently had prolactin and it was normal
- Liver issues - nope recently had enzymes tested they were great.

I am just frustrated. I have a serious problem and it seems like I can't get help. I continue to search for a doctor..

[Travelinglady]

That's strange. I think you should look for a new doctor, too.

I agree looking for a new doctor is what is needed.

I have hyporthyroidism. I went to my doctor because I had some of your symptoms, He did a blood test and it came back as positive. My thyroid levels were so low that my doctor thinks I had it maybe 2 years without knowing it.

I hope that you get answers soon.

Have you considered going to an endocrinologist or internist?

Originally Posted by lolagrace

Have you considered going to an endocrinologist or internist?

I did get a referral to an endocrinologist last week. This is what happened.
1. I called before the referral. She wouldn't see me until I got a referral, though that is NOT the policy for the practice group and, I have a PPO insurance so I can see anyone.
2. When I got the referral I called but her receptionist said, I had to wait for her scheduler to call me.
3. When she got back to me, a day later, I was told that there was a problem with the referral. it was for "obesity" (typical my doctors always lead with that even though I am like 2 lbs over the line from overweight to obese) and this lady doesn't see people for obesity. I said to the girl well obviously it is thyroid related obesity. Too bad... so sad.
4. I called my primary care and asked for another referral specifying thyroid. This referral said, Obesity/ thyroid.
5. Endo wouldn't see me until I got one that just said thyroid.

I gave up.. paid for my own labs and had my results 3 days after the blood was taken.

Today I emailed an integrative practice for hopefully some real help.

My TSH is 1.12
T4 total is 9.8 (range 4.5-12.0)
Free T4 is 1.10 (range 0.8 to 1.18)
Total T3 is 103 (range 76 to 181)
T3 Free is 2.5 (range 2.2 to 4.2)
Reverse T3 is 19 (range 8-25)

[htoun]

Have you checked your vitamin levels. Your body can't convert the Ts with out proper levels. It's a real balancing act to get them up and keep them there. My first blood test my TSH was 203. It's been a twenty year battle that I'm still working on

Originally Posted by htoun

Have you checked your vitamin levels. Your body can't convert the Ts with out proper levels. It's a real balancing act to get them up and keep them there. My first blood test my TSH was 203. It's been a twenty year battle that I'm still working on

I guess I just don't really believe that nutrient problems could effect this. Selenium and Zinc right? I suppose that is an avenue for exploration.. I might do this.

My theory is that it might be genetic or due to dieting. In 2012 I did a liquid diet and I think I was basically starving myself for like 2 years. My mom though she had high blood pressure, had almost every other symptom.
- excessively low metabolism
- low heart rate
- tried all the time.
- high cholesterol.

It seems a LOT of people have this T4 to T3 problem. I might conclude it is a normal state of affairs but so many people report when they get the T3 up they feel amazing. So seems like it should be higher and something is repressing it.

[Jenna120]

I have heard that vitamin D3 helps the thyroid. But big-time you need to find a new primary care doctor. All those symptoms are screaming red flags. If you have depression, that's another red flag right there.

Do you have reliable transportation? Sometimes it's worth the gas money to see a doctor farther away.

Does your pdoc test your thyroid on a regular basis? If you have depression problems, your pdoc definitely should be ordering thyroid tests.

Unless I'm not understanding something, your test results all lie in the normal range.

Originally Posted by lolagrace

Unless I'm not understanding something, your test results all lie in the normal range.

Your not. Numerous doctors believe that the normal ranges are not really correct and that if you have symptoms of hypothyroid, which I do, but your TSH and T4 are normal... then if your T3 and Reverse T3 are low on the range and high on the range respectively.. you have a T3 problem. T3 being the active hormone that actually makes your body feel good.

So I have had for years (and my mother did too) these symptoms that no doctor will treat because I am in the "normal range"

I hae a severely low RMR - 1200 for a 220 lbs person,
I have low blood pressure even though my entire family has high
I have low heart rate 52-60 usually
Terrible nails
Tired all the time

Every doctor that I have ever been too just ignores all this and says I am normal.. but I am not.

I have an inability to convert t4 to t3 and or.. too much reverse t3 (which pushes down your T3).

I read yesterday that hypothyroid can cause heart failure.. what did mom have? You guessed it. I am actually considering going to a doctor far from where I live to just find someone who will treat me.

Originally Posted by Jenna120

Does your pdoc test your thyroid on a regular basis? If you have depression problems, your pdoc definitely should be ordering thyroid tests.

Oh yeh.. she tests TSH and that is it. Then she declares all is well. I pushed recently for more and she gave me T4. That tells me nothing. So I got my own tests.

I don't have depression and I do have a car but I can't believe I have to travel just to find a doctor that knows something.

[Fresia]

Coming from a lab perspective, your ratios are normal. Most of the other values you listed are normal as well. The values cannot be compared to your family and does not make them abnormal if they are different from them; just because your family has something does not necessarily mean you will. For screening to rule things out, I would ask for a B12 level, folate level, iron level, and a liver function panel be checked at this point given the results of the other labs and if those were my symptoms that you have listed in the various posts.

No matter what, find a doctor you are comfortable with. We know when we don't feel right and it is a matter of persisting until we find the right doc and the answer that makes the most sense. Do what you need to to take care of you. I do hope you feel better and find some answers soon!

Originally Posted by Fresia

For screening to rule things out, I would ask for a B12 level, folate level, iron level, and a liver function panel be checked at this point given the results of the other labs and if those were my symptoms that you have listed in the various posts.

I have recently had a liver function panel.. and I had a CBC which though it isn't iron... all my tests on that were normal so that tells me I am probably ok. I actually have had my iron be too high in the past so I am confident it will not go low.

The B-12 well.. every time I have that test it is, IMHO low.. but my doctor sees "normal" and that is the end of that.

I called the Integrative practice this week but they don't have an appointment until July and they don't seem to have anyone to help me. They apparently don't prescribe drugs so I feel while they might be sympathetic they will just throw supplements at me.

I continue to search but if I don't find something soon I think I am just going to take a vacation and while there see a doctor that has written something about this on line.

Whoever suggested the B12 test, gold star for you.

It was 250 pc/ml though "normal" it is substantially lower than the last two times I had it taken 500 pc ng... and extremely close to the low end 180 pg/ml... though SHOCKER... my doctor says that is "normal" and no need to do anything.

I will supplement and retest. Also, I took a iron test, now this is tricky. Everything points to a little low on Iron. But in the past I supplemented with Iron.. and I ended up severely high on every single result. So I might have a steak once per week but I am not sure.. i should supplement.

[LonesomeTonight]

Originally Posted by Emily Fox Seaton

I have recently had a liver function panel.. and I had a CBC which though it isn't iron... all my tests on that were normal so that tells me I am probably ok. I actually have had my iron be too high in the past so I am confident it will not go low.

The B-12 well.. every time I have that test it is, IMHO low.. but my doctor sees "normal" and that is the end of that.

I called the Integrative practice this week but they don't have an appointment until July and they don't seem to have anyone to help me. They apparently don't prescribe drugs so I feel while they might be sympathetic they will just throw supplements at me.

I continue to search but if I don't find something soon I think I am just going to take a vacation and while there see a doctor that has written something about this on line.

I'd call the integrative place back, make an appointment, even if not till July, then see if you can get on a cancellation list. I've been seeing an integrative doctor for a year or so, and she tests things much more thoroughly than regular doctors and treats more based on symptoms rather than exact lab results. There are lots of supplements out there that can be very helpful. My doctor did a urine panel that checked for all kinds of vitamin/mineral, amino acid, and other deficiencies. It was amazing how much info was in this one test!

Also, if your B12 is low, you might have trouble absorbing B12 from food, so you might need B12 shots, which they could probably do. In the meantime, if you're trying B12, get the sublingual kind (you hold it under your tongue)--easier for the body to absorb.