Elevated Thyroid - what to do?
I'm in Canada.. Had DS in 2005... SW was 243 lbs. Lost 100 lbs over time and maintained it until early 2013 when i started regaining. This coincided with menopause and me quitting smoking (after 30+ years so assumed weight gain was related as i have been eating low carb high fat for 14 years.
Just got lab results back and among other issues, had elevated TSH and PTH readings. My hubby's doc (my doc retired & no docs are taking on new patients) said we can retest TSH in 4 months and if still elevated, he would prescribe synthetic thyroid hormone. Am really disturbed this doc does not take my thyroid problem seriously.
I gained a lot of weight last year, was nearly incapacitated from freezing all the time, suffered from depression and was advised to check thyroid by a mental health professional. So i asked the doc to order labs to test thyroid function along with usual battery of annual blood work. When results came back yesterday, doc had not ordered tests for thyroid antibodies or T3 as i had req'd or all the tests normally conducted on thyroid panel (no such label exists in Canada)
Am in an isolated community and have a host of issues including an ongoing iron deficiency and we have no hematologist in town and i can't get a referral to one out of town or get doc to order iron infusions as he believes they're dangerous. Yeah, so is a persistent iron deficiency on my organs!
Here's my lab results if anyone can advise me what i say to the doc when i go back March 10th to insist on some immediate intervention rather than more blood work in 4 months.
1. Parathyroid Horm-Intact -- Result: 9.3 - HIGH - Reference: 1.6 - 6.9 PMOL/L
* this elevated PTH may have something to do with my low Vit D above.
2. TSH Result: 7.77 - HIGH - Reference: 0.46 - 4.68 mIU/L
* Free T-4 was normal
3. Zinc - Plasma - low
a) Zinc-P result: 573 - LOW - reference: 641 - 1320 UG/L
b) Zinc-P result: 8.8 - LOW - reference: 9.8 - 20.2 UMOL/L
(Note: reference range reported above is for plasma specimens. Serum Zinc results may be up to 16% higher than plasma results due to release from platelets during clotting)
* am planning to add a zinc supplement ... not sure how much or with what other vit & supp i can or cannot take it with
4. Vitamin D: 25-Hydroxy
result: 52
* desirable is >75
* deficient is
I don't feel qualified to respond to all your information. But, I wanted to encourage you to be persistent with your Dr. I have been on Amour Thryroid for over 10 years and I am happy with it. It has been around for over 100 years. a lot of doctors turn their nose up because it is made from dissected pig or cow thyroid. I like it because it addresses both T3 and T4 issues. I would really push to not wait 4 months. Mary Shomon has a website on Thyroid awareness, education and how to be proactive with your care. Don't wait. Be your own advocate. Thyroid controls every cell in your body, including brain function and emotion. Blessings, Josanne
Not sure if this will help at all.... BUT, I have had Thyroid issues too, and working with my Dr. since Dec 13 to get it at a decent level. Even after my WLS.. my weight wasn't moving much, despite the fact I was only on clear liquids. My surgeon said, YES. the thyroid WILL interefere to some extent.. so after the latest adjustment, I FINALLY feel like we are on the right track.. I am now losing weight, NOT constipated.. and skin so dry... ect.. all the issues that go hand and hand with it. I agree with the other post. It is YOUR body... get another opinion, and be persistent. GOOD LUCK!!
