Alicia writes:
Last April, after four months of hard exercise and healthy eating with only four pounds of weight lost, my mom suggested I get tested for hypothyroidism. She had recently lost about 40-50 pounds after getting her hypothyroidism under control, and it had also been diagnosed in my grandfather, aunt, and cousin. Considering it’s hereditary, I figured I might as well and set an appointment with a doctor at Austin Regional Clinic to get tested. I’d heard a lot of negative feedback about ARC, mostly that they treat illnesses, but don’t deal with/care for preventative treatments. They were the only people I could afford that took the shitty insurance I had though, so I really didn’t have much of a choice.
When the doctor came in to see me, she didn’t even look me in the eyes before she flipped a page on her chart and said, “You know you’re obese, right?” She didn’t even make fucking EYE CONTACT with me before she just came out with her bullshit BMI calculations to tell me that I needed to lose weight. I said, “Well yeah, that’s why I’m here. I work out hard and nothing happens, so we thought it might be a thyroid problem.” She lectured me for a bit about needing to eat better and work out longer, but didn’t let me explain that I do eat well and I do work out.
The most commonly accepted threshold for TSH levels is 5.0, but I had read some studies saying that the reason those TSH levels were so high was that there were a lot of people with untreated hypothyroidism included in the studies to determine the average. My mom’s doctor, who spotted and subsequently treated my mom’s hypo, follows a couple of studies that came out a few years ago saying that the recommended TSH levels are actually 3.0, with another expected drop to 2.5 in the next few years. To accurately diagnose hypothyroidism though, you need to compare those TSH levels to triglycerides, blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc, and you can’t base a positive or negative diagnosis just on TSH levels. It also helps to have a family history when diagnosing, so you can determine when the spike in TSH levels generally occurs in your family, but when I tried to tell her about the other members of my close/immediate family that experienced this, she shushed me.
After the embarrassing lecture from the completely inept doctor, I tried to bring up the new studies with the lower TSH levels, but I was so frazzled and she was so uninterested that she wrote me off with what amounted to “I’m a doctor and you’re not so shut up.” She shuffled me off to the lab so I could get my blood tested, without telling me what she was actually going to test. I guess I figured “she’s a doctor so she knows what she’s doing” and didn’t question the lab tech about what was on my chart. I got an automated call two days later with my results, a TSH of 2.56, but no explanation or diagnosis of those results.
I called and left three messages for the doctor before getting a returned call from her one week later. She succinctly said, “You don’t have hypothyroidism,” and when I asked her about the other aspects she was supposed to test, she said, “I decided not to test those.” When I told her about the specific scientific journals where I read about the new TSH levels, she basically said she hadn’t read/heard about that and didn’t really care.
I was talking to my mom over Christmas about something I thought was entirely unrelated (okay it was constipation you guys, are you happy?) and she said that was something she experienced a lot of before she started getting her thyroid under control. I went home and looked at related symptoms for hypothyroidism, besides unmanageable weight, and it was basically like a checklist of shit I deal with that I thought was just my own bad luck – unnaturally heavy and unreliable periods, very dry skin, sensitivity to cold, brittle nails, and achy muscles.
So now here I am, almost a year later, and still basically the same exact weight. I work out HARD for about 1.5 hours a day, I eat remarkably well, and have even started eating motherfucking vegetables. I do everything a person is supposed to do to lose weight, and I’ve made practically no progress. My mom and I have decided that I really need to be tested again, and this time by a doctor who actually knows her shit and not some worthless shithead at ARC.
Which leaves me in a jam. I am broke. I make like negative dollars in my paycheck, and I have a lot of bills to pay every month. I don’t have $100 to spare on a monthly basis, but I need insurance if I want to get this treated. My only other option is to pay $353 for the initial tests and hope the doctor can figure everything out on the first try because I can’t imagine being able to scrape that together more than once.
What would you do? Would you stay chubby and hate yourself a little more every day, while losing the will to continue working so hard to lose weight and because you see absolutely no results? Or would you go into debt in the hopes that you do have hypothyroidism and all of this could change, while risking the chance that it isn’t and you’re back to square one?
First, Do No Harm 
vesta44
/ January 7, 2010I would take the risk, if you can scrape together the money you need, and have the tests done by your mother’s doctor (if that’s possible). At least then you will have a definite answer, or as definite an answer as you can get when your health is involved.
If it is hypothyroidism, then you can have it treated (and I would say that any weight loss would be incidental to improving the periods, dry skin, sensitivity to cold, muscle pain, etc).
If it isn’t hypothyroidism, then maybe just take a break from hating on your body, take a look at HAES (health at every size), and regroup. Try eating sensibly, doing exercise that you like and that makes you feel good, find clothes that you like and make you feel good to wear, and tell the rest of the world to fuck off when they tell you that you just aren’t thin enough to be good enough for them. You’re an intelligent woman and the world needs more women like you, no matter what size you are (this is advice I would give to every woman – fat, thin, or anywhere in between). It’s also good advice to take even if you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, IMNSHO.
Fantine
/ January 7, 2010I have had the same experience trying to be diagnosed with PCOS and with hypothyroidism. Doctors refuse to believe that it is anything other than my fat that is causing any health issue I am having.
There is another option besides getting diagnosed or continuing to hate your body and giving up all hope: you can learn about Health at Every Size (start with Linda Bacon’s book) and stop hating your body. It’s not easy and it’s not instant. But I feel a lot better about myself, can eat what my body needs instead of starving it or eating food I hate, and actually enjoy how exercise makes me feel instead of dreading it as one more thing I have to do because I am fat.
That being said, if you have access to a doctor who you think might actually take your concerns seriously, it’s worth trying to scrape the money together and see if you can get a diagnosis.
Lonie Mc.
/ January 7, 2010You might also consider some herbs or alternatives. I know kelp helps with some hypo problems. If you are in Austin, you might try one of the acupuncture clinics. Some health food stores have experts who might give you input as well. Alternative medicine can be significantly cheaper (though watch it — some types can be expensive) and, at times, more effective than traditional medicine.
Using alternative therapies can be tricky. It takes a lot of trial and error. The most important thing, be very conscious of how your body feels. If you can find an expert or someone who has already done the experimentation (try a yahoo hypo list), that helps.
I want to second the emphasis on HAES as well. Sometimes our bodies respond to extreme exercise or to dieting by trying even harder to hold the weight.
Carmen
/ January 7, 2010If you can, see a naturopath. They aren’t necessarily any more expensive and they have an entirely different approach. And they listen. The two I’ve seen keep up with literature and hypothyroidism was one of the first things they looked for. It was clear to me that something *was* wrong, that I wasn’t supposed to feel the way I did. My problem is PCOS, but neither doc was intimidated by that and didn’t immediately reach for the prescription pad. They also both always seemed to have another trick up their sleeves.
It’s worth it, even if you have to save for months. If it *is* hypothyroid, the treatment shouldn’t be too expensive and you will be amazed when you get your life back.
(The first doc I happened to see {recommended to a classmate who worked for her}, specialized in endocrinology. The second didn’t, but is great with “women’s” problems.)
buttercup
/ January 7, 2010Other than the doctor being an asshole, and yes, you need to find a way to get the tests and diagnosis if you can, please work on not hating yourself for being “chubby”. there are lots of us who are fat who do not hate ourselves and relating thinness to self-esteem in your head and heart is going to lead to more problems down the road than an underactive thyroid will.
O.C.
/ January 7, 2010It’s not just a matter of being “chubby”. Having untreated thyroid problems can cause you serious harm, but slowly, and unnoticed, so that by the time you see the damage it’s too late. You really need to get this checked, even if it does mean going into debt for awhile.
Dr. Thomas Blevins was my endocrinologist when I lived in Austin, and I LOVED him. (http://www.texasdiabetes.com/) I saw him for PCOS, another weight-linked metabolic disorder, and he’s really sensitive to the links between body weight and these kinds of disorders. He would never shame you for your size, never. The downside is that because he’s so good it takes awhile to get an appointment. But maybe if you got on the list that would give you time to save up the money for the appointment and tests?
Hang in there. It’s so important that you take care of yourself. Nobody else can do it for you.
Shinobi
/ January 7, 2010Here’s what I would do:
1. Stop hating myself because of my weight and follow the great advice upthread about HAES. This is important because even if you DO get treated for hypothyroidism you might not actually lose any weight. My boyfriend has severe hypothyroid and he never lost any weight on his meds. The solution to your weight problem is to stop seeing your weight as a problem. Focusing on fitness and health will be much more satisfying for you in the long run.
2. Talk to your insurance company, or the people you buy your insurance from (work?). You got poor care from this doctor, it is in their interest to make sure you get good preventative care now before potential complications arise. They should know that this doctor didn’t do a good job. It might not do a lot of good, but they may be able to help you find another doctor that you could go see that would be covered.
Best of luck!
spacedcowgirl
/ January 7, 2010Perhaps others here with hypothyroidism could chime in and state whether the general concept of desiccated thyroid is worth exploring, but there is a site called “Stop the Thyroid Madness” that discusses taking desiccated thyroid instead of just synthetic T4, and some of the nuances that can go into thyroid problems.
Now here is the part that I’m sure nobody will endorse… and I certainly don’t recommend it per se and don’t even really think it’s a good idea. That being said, I have to admit that in the past I have considered “self-diagnosing” and putting myself on a low dose of over-the-counter desiccated thyroid (which is not regulated and therefore has all of the risks you would expect with that sort of thing) to see if it helps what I believe to be my own hypothyroid symptoms–my mom has been on Synthroid my whole life. It is just too soul-sucking (and I am even lucky enough to have decent insurance) to try and find a doctor who will say something other than “your TSH is normal, you just eat too much.” Like yours, my TSH is in the “normal”-but-high range. I find myself making excuses not to make appointments because I know I will never get them to agree to the labs that based on my reading would give the best information. Not that I blame them in some respects… one of the cost-cutting measures we hear about all the time these days is cracking down on unnecessary procedures… but I feel like so often, no matter what the complaint, I spend 5 minutes with a doctor, get told I’m too fat and get some 20-year-old photocopied diet, and essentially waste my copay.
Anyway, that aside, obviously the correct way to do this is to get to a good doctor and have all of the recommended labs done (not just TSH, as you observed) so you can get proper treatment. OC’s recommendation of getting on the waiting list with her doc and trying to scrape together the money in the meantime would seem to be a good one. I am so sorry you are going through this and I know your inadequate insurance and provider options just compound the whole mess.
Tal
/ January 7, 2010I have the same set of symptoms, and I don’t (after multiple tests) have hypothyroid. What I do have is PCOS, anemia, sleep apnea and a chronic vitamin D deficiency. If you can, you may want to get screened for all of those things first, before going on a wild goose chase to try to get hypothyroid diagnosed when that’s not the only answer for that symptom cluster.
La di Da
/ January 7, 2010I went into debt to see a doctor who had been recommended to me by other people who had had the exact same kind of problem. It was worth it. My TSH was about 2.5, and the normal range in Australia is still up to 5.0 for some reason, but this doctor keeps up with the latest research as well as taking into account your symptoms and other lab test results. So she prescribed me desiccated thyroid (eg Armour) and within a few months I felt like a completely different person. Like O.C. said, this is something you really need to get checked out and treated properly, as untreated hypothyroidism will just get worse and cause very serious health problems. Google “top thyroid docs” and you’ll get a list which could be a starting point. There’s also a forum called “Real Thyroid Help” where people can help you find a doctor with a clue and talk to you about what your lab results mean.
Kat
/ January 8, 2010I had a ‘normal’ TSH for years, as I worked out 2 hours a day, ate 1200 calories per day and still was gaining 10-20 pounds per month. Finally had Free T3 and Free T4 tested and the T3 was non-existent! I take the dessicated thyroid and I’m not gaining any weight despite less work outs and more food. I think it is important to have thyroid tests besides TSH done. It may be a good idea to have other testing done too, such as hormones, insulin, stress hormones. There are at-home kits you can use. Just Google or you can e-mail me.
Hopeful
/ January 8, 2010I lost 22 years of my life because doctors didn’t listen to me, and I didn’t know about the problems with diagnosing hypothyroid. I was diagnosed in April of 2009, and I feel like I got my life back, at almost 40 years old. Scrap the money together and do it. If you are diagnosed, my recommnedation is that you do not take synthetic thyroid medication, but “natural” thyroid like Armour thyroid. My doctor at my wellness center is a conventional MD – OB/GYN as well as certified in bariatrics and anti-aging. I’m so glad I found her and her staff. It has made such a difference in my life. I don’t know how old you are, but I so regret not knowing what I know now about myself at a younger age. Do not allow these other doctors to tell you nothing is wrong IF you know that something is. I was also diagnosed with PCOS when I was 28, and the knowledge was very helpful, and made sense when I was diagnosed with hypothyroid.
Good luck to you, whatever you decide to do.
Hopeful
/ January 8, 2010To clarify about not knowing about the problems of diagnosing, I meant that the data and ranges are WAY out of date – I didn’t know until I found this doctor.
Also, although my doctor is conventionally trained, she takes a holistic approach, which I think may have saved my life.
aimgrrrl
/ January 8, 2010First and foremost I am sorry you were treated so horribly. No doctor should ever treat a patient that way, and I’d highly recommend writing a complaint letter to the medical center’s CEO.
There is a GREAT book called “Living Well with Hypothyroid” by Mary Shomon that has a ton of advice about finding doctors, dietary changes that may help, self-advocacy, natural remedy options, and ways to diagnose regardless of TSH levels (sub-clinical diagnosis based on symptoms and history.) Her main goal is feeling better, not losing weight, which is refreshing. She also has a theory that each person has their own optimal thyroid level at which their body functions best. It’s all about finding the number where you feel your best, and taking the amount of medication that gets you there.
I have two copies for some reason, so if you have a PO Box or something I would be more than happy to send it to you. You can email me at aimgrrrl at gmail and we can work something out. Obviously since I’m some stranger off the internet I would be happy to mail it to a local store, pharmacy, office building, whatever, if you can arrange to have them hold onto it and you can pick it up. It’s really so full of good advice. Even if you don’t take me up on the offer to mail it, try to find a copy on half.com or in a library.
lilacsigil
/ January 8, 2010I had thyroid cancer and received the same treatment – it’s not just about your weight, it’s about just about every system in your body. (“Chubby” is irrelevant to your health – the reasons you are “chubby” may not be). You may not need to go to a specialist at all – take your results and keep trying GPs until you get a sane one. Ask on the thyroid lists about doctors in your area and coverage.
Additionally, you might – like me – treat the hypothyroid and still be fat. That’s okay! It’s allowed!
Miss Silver
/ January 8, 2010I’ve had the exact same situation. The doctor I was then seeing refused to believe that I had the possibility of a thyroid issue, despite my mother and brother both being afflicted with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. I was 20 at the time and weighed well over 200 lbs; constantly fatigued, chilly and with serious joint pain.
I changed doctors and quelle surprise: my TSH was 28! And considering that my dosage was being upped continuously, it’s a good bet I have Hashimoto’s as well. I’m now 24, still packing extra in some places, but the Synthroid made a world of difference. I actually feel like a person again.
First: don’t hate yourself. You have one body, regardless of the size of it, it is still yours. Love it for what it is, and take the best care of it as you can outside of doctors. Rest it, work it out, and eat well regardless of the weight aspect.
Second: I second google, and also hit up RateMDs.com. It’s a doctor rating site and I found that every bad doctor I had was reviewed as such on this site. Afterwards, I don’t even think about going to anyone unless the doc got a positive review on that website.
I wish you luck.
SJ Reidhead
/ January 9, 2010Thirty minutes before reading this I basically had a conversation with my mother about my thyroid problem, medical tests, and why even bother. I will be told I am obese, lazy, and will die in 5 years if I do not exercise 2 hours a day. Oh, and I need to get a real job and stop sitting at my computer anywhere from 8 – 14 hours a day writing. (Writing is not a real job in the real world – even if I do have 4 books).
Been there and done that. What’s the use?
SJR
The Pink Flamingo
MargB
/ January 9, 2010Having been totally debilitated for months over what turned out to be a simple treatable iron deficiency (which was totally missed because you know my lethargy had to be due to my high BMI and laziness!) I can only begin to imagine what you are going through. Given your family history, I’d take the risk of going into debt to see your mum’s doctor and have him/her do the tests – there’s a good chance that having treated your mum he/she will know exactly what to look for. Life is about more than struggling for existence and nobody should be made to hate themselves for their body, ESPECIALLY when they are doing the best they can to be as healthy as they can.
Heather
/ January 12, 2010Is there *any* other place that will take your insurance? Because obviously that place is a loss. I realize your financial situation isn’t good, but if there is any way you could see your mom’s doctor? He or she has a better understanding of the situation from the get go, knowing about your family history.
Lynn
/ January 15, 2010Well, your story is very, very familiar, I’m sorry to say. It took me 10 years and 4 endocrinologists and several Primary Care Physicians to finally get diagnosed with Hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s) and PCOS. It is mind boggling how quick they are to dole out all the meds and procedures to treat the symptoms of hypo, but how stingy they are with treating the root cause.
I finally went the route of going to an out of network holistic MD for which I had to pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket. He told me, in between setting up golf games on his cell phone, that I obviously had hypo and why wasn’t my regular doctor taking care of it?
An excellent question. Though this guy was an ass, he did something very important for me: he pissed me the hell off. I have insurance and pretty decent insurance, too. I made up my mind that I was going to get my money’s worth out of my insurance. I went online and found that thyroid-info.com site and found a doctor in my networ who had a clue about thyroid.
This endo tested not just my thryoid but also my thyroid antibodies and diagnosed me with hashi’s. My TSH at it’s highest was “only” 3.56 – but, like you, I had every symptom on the list. My new endo wants to keep my TSH UNDER 1.0 just like…you know…NORMAL people.
This new doctor prescribed armour thyroid and within about 8 days, it felt like someone had switched on the sky. The world was just…brighter…my symptoms began to magically resolve themselves.
Many, many doctors see a fat person – esp. a fat woman – and make some assumptions about us before they even see us. We are obviously lazy, emotionally disturbed liars who must eat cookie dough out of our purses.
Here’s the deal with doctors: they are not doing us a favor by treating us. They are, in fact, our employees. Find another doctor who is in no way associated with this last one who will take your insurance – insurance that you are probably paying something for. When you see that doctor, set things up to succeed.
You may, honestly, have to lie. Make the appointment and when they ask why you are there tell him/her something like this: Well…I’ve decided not to be so stubborn. My old doctor in my old town had been nagging me to get my TSH and thyroid antibodies tested. He has been telling me for years that I have all the signs, but I was sure i could do it through diet and exercise. I’ve thought it over and i’ve decided the doctor is right – esp. since so many people in my family have it. So…schedule the tests..I’ll go ahead and get them done.
Just be matter of fact and remember…YOU are the one in charge of YOUR health. Good luck!!!
wellroundedmama
/ January 18, 20102.5 is still “normal” for TSH even under the revised AACE guidelines, but that doesn’t mean it’s optimal. A lot of fat folk have raised TSH levels, but ones that are not so high as to get treated by most docs…yet many of them find they benefit from treatment anyhow, if they can get it.
Some docs will diagnose subclinical hypothyroidism based on symptoms as well as a marginally raised TSH, so don’t give up on it. It’s not easy to find one of these docs (you may need to try a naturopath) but it’s worth looking for them if it makes you feel better.
The hard part is finding a doctor who “gets” thyroid issues and who will listen to your symptoms and take them seriously. You also want one who will consider the Armour etc. dessicated thyroid products, which most docs totally write off.
Thyroid issues often mean other associated deficiencies, like anemia and low vit D levels. You also have to watch folate and B12 levels in some people. So be sure you get tested for these things too, if you show signs of these.
Getting symptomatic “subclinical” hypothyroidism treated is so important. If this is truly what’s going on with you, you’ll just feel SO much better when you get it treated properly. The hard part is finding a medical professional who will take it seriously; your best bet may be finding a more “alternative” practitioner.
Maren
/ January 19, 2010Consider Medicaid: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/home/medicaid.asp
Your state might also have a subsidized health care plan.
KellyK
/ January 25, 2010I second all the recommendations about finding a better doctor and about looking into HAES and fat acceptance whether you turn out to have hypothyroid or not.
I’ve been through a pretty similar experience, and it wasn’t until I went to Johns Hopkins that I got someone who listened.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do!
Tay
/ January 26, 2010It’s too late now for the should have, could have lecture…but I will say it so anybody else going through what you went through will at least think about this. Get a second opinion. Doctors are not all created equal, some are jerks. I had a lump on my spine and my stupid doctor just looked and said, “looks like a cyst.” No test, no second look, just one glance. I got a second opinion which led to an ultrasound, but at least I had peace of mind to know it wasn’t cancerous. If your doctor isn’t doing what you need them to do, go get a second opinion.
Secondly, it’s too bad your doctor was so offhanded. Not all of them have good bedside manner. I am surprised she decided not to run more tests since more tests mean more charges which means more money. In either case, some people look at people and assume just because they’re fat or skinny that they have an eating problem. It’s not always that simple. If you have been eating healthy proportions (not just healthy, but healthy proportions by way of caloric intake) and you work out regularly, but still don’t see any weight loss I would definitely say go get more tests run. If there is something wrong it is best to catch it early and get treatment before it can cause you any further damage.
Moi
/ February 25, 2010PD. BTW, allow also to recommend this blog: http://www.foodrenegade.com/ and search for “soy and thyroids”. Soy products -as we eat them on this part of the world- are causing a myriad of hormonal related diseases (up to and including hypothyroidism). I believe that processed foods are creating havoc on our bodies (thin or not) and we should go to whole foods to offset the damage. A cake is not a bad thing to eat, a cake laden with chemicals and preservatives IS.
me
/ March 15, 2010You could have normal thyroid labs and still be hypothyroid if you have Hashimoto’s disease. You’d need a thyroid antibodies test to diagnose that.
Check out this to find a doctor who will prescribe Armour Thyroid – they are usually better docs to talk to about thyroid problems: http://www.armourthyroid.com/con_phLocator.aspx
I don’t want to recommend anyone do this until they are ABSOLUTELY SURE that they are hypothyroid – I mean checking adrenals, vitamins D and B12, ferritin, a full or at least decent thyroid panel – but I ordered natural desiccated thyroid online from Thailand without a prescription and I feel wonderful. It has truly been a freaking MIRACLE. I did this because I could no longer afford to search for a good doc. I don’t regret it at all.
Heather
/ April 1, 2010“I don’t want to recommend anyone do this until they are ABSOLUTELY SURE that they are hypothyroid – I mean checking adrenals, vitamins D and B12, ferritin, a full or at least decent thyroid panel – but I ordered natural desiccated thyroid online from Thailand without a prescription and I feel wonderful. It has truly been a freaking MIRACLE. I did this because I could no longer afford to search for a good doc. I don’t regret it at all.”
You were lucky. This is a terrible idea, I can’t believe you recommended it. To anyone thinking of going to one of those “no prescription needed” web site, please don’t. Counterfeit drugs are a huge business these days; you have no way of knowing if you’re getting the real thing or not. Even if it is the real deal–it’s illegal and you run the risk of Customs seizing the package and some legal trouble for yourself.
Matty
/ July 10, 2010me-
I completely understand your ordering thyroid from Thailand. Desperate times call for desperate actions. I believe on the Stop the thyroid Madness Website there is a lab listed that you can order thyroid tests from to monitor your levels. Also there is plenty of info on websites that will tell you the symptoms of hyperthyroidism just in case. I have been tortured with symptoms of anxiety and depression since five years old and I wasn’t given thyroid medicine until I was 39 and then I suffered miserably for another fifteen years without a life as doctors would not give me enough replacement to live a normal life. I couldn’t hold a job during that time and we are finanically ruined because it. If I hadn’t found a doctor that could help me, I would have had to do the same thing or jump off a cliff.
Matty
Jan
/ July 13, 2010Hi Alicia, you really have been going through a tough time with your underactive thyroid. In my experience doctors are trained in all medical conditions but I’ve yet to find a doctor who is an expert in underactive thyroid. We are not just fat !! It took me two and a half years to get my medication right (luckily I’m in the UK where testing and thyroid medication is free). The “Stop the Thyroid Madness” website sounds a good place to start especially if you can get a lab test to confirm your condition. I’ve also read “Living Well with Hypothyroid” by Mary Shomon and Thyroid for Dummies by authors Alan L Rubin and Dr Sarah Brewer, these books are very helpful.
Good luck with everything.
ac@yahoo.com
/ September 30, 2011What’s the name of your doctor and where is she so we don’t go to her. she sounds like a stuck up bitch. i have had hypothyroidism now for years and just found out that aunts on my moms side of our family all have it, and so do 2 of my sisters and my mom so don’t let anyone tell you that you shouldn’t just be tested because it runs in your family because it does matter. My doctor is great and she has told me that the armour thyroid is a animal medication and isn’t good for you. If you do get tested as you should and have it then try what ever will help you lose weight and maintain it. Ane keep up the good work with eating well and exercising. They say walking, running will help with constipation and maintaining weight. Good Luck!
P.S. You know your body so fuck doctors who think they know better, put it to them and get what u need to be tested for.
Keli
/ January 29, 2013Most hospitals can offer a 40% discount to uninsured patients. I would have it checked by a real doctor not some douche that wants to lecture about being overweight. In addition to vanity reasons I would have it looked at since the TSH production can increase to try and stimulate the thyroid to produce. The excessive amounts of TSH can cause goiter. Let me know how it works out for you, I believe that I have the same issue.
Anne Lawrence
/ January 3, 2014A friend of mine was told by her orthodontist ( http://www.jensenorthodontics.com ) that she should get her thyroid checked out. I guess it was really swollen when he was adjusting her braces and it turned out that she had a tumor. Pretty crazy, right?