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If you were going to the doctor because you have trouble losing weight...UPDATE


wonderchica
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What types of blood work etc would you ask for? I have succesfully lost weight in the past by counting calories and exercising 5-6 days a week. I've been at it since the New Year and lost only 2 pounds, so I figure a physical won't hurt!

 

UPDATE: Thanks again for everyone's kind and thoughtful replies. I went to the doctor a couple weeks ago for a physical. She ordered lots of tests and was mainly concerned about my thyroid and blood sugar. Everything was normal except my thyroid. In November my TSH was 1.89, now it's 10.6! She increased my dosage of Synthroid considerably. I am going for a re-check and a follow up appointment in a few weeks. She is planning to consult with the endocrinologist on staff. I have lost 1 pound. I'm hoping that the increase will help some, I'm feeling pretty hopeless at the moment.

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I am hypothyroid and on meds, it was "normal" in November but a re-check is always in order. I've been feeling fatigued as well. I know it's harder to lose as you get older, but I'm only 27.

 

Do you know for certain-sure that you had T3 and T4 tested and not just TSH? Doctors are notorious for only testing TSH.

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Personally, I would want to know your thyroid numbers, dr's are notorious for saying the thyroid is fine when it is anything but, if they even know what to test for in the first place. With a known thyroid problem that would be the first thing I would push.

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I was diagnosed with PCOS at age 16 but they haven't wanted to do any more testing towards that since. I understand that PCOS and being hypo make it more difficult to lose, it's just so frustrating to have had good results in the past and suddenly almost nothing! I feel I need to lose at least 20 pounds to feel comfortable (could stand to lose more). I gained 15 over the previous very stressful year.

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I was diagnosed with PCOS at age 16 but they haven't wanted to do any more testing towards that since. I understand that PCOS and being hypo make it more difficult to lose, it's just so frustrating to have had good results in the past and suddenly almost nothing! I feel I need to lose at least 20 pounds to feel comfortable (could stand to lose more). I gained 15 over the previous very stressful year.

Yes, your thyroid numbers can and do change. I put on 5 lbs in a week, not surprisingly blood tests results showed that my thyroid numbers had worsened. I'm currently 15 lbs over my usually post-pregnancy weight even with a more restricted diet. I've had 3 babies and never and issue losing and now I'm stuck.

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The PCOS will bring an insulin angle to the losing weight scenario.  You might consider a different way of eating (lower carb/higher fat) and/or you might consult your endocrinologist about other meds like metformin (given your age, I vote for trying the former first, but everyone is different...).

 

In light of the PCOS, I would absolutely want to test HbA1C and possibly other glucose/insulin parameters.

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A glucose tolerance test. It's a pain in the butt because it takes three hours, but it's the single most important thing I would want to know, especially in your shoes since you have PCOS.

 

An easy alternative, though, is that you could buy your own blood glucose monitor and test yourself at home, which would save you not only that three hours at a doctor's office but also a considerable amount of money.

 

Here's how to do it: http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14046889.php

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Thanks for all the good suggestions ladies! I get 8-9 hours of sleep a night so good on that one. My experience with our local endocrinologist was truly terrible so my ob/Gyn has been prescribing my Synthroid. The endo basically rejected all my questions about T3 and T4 and (and Armour) said, "Where have you been hearing about this? The Internet? I went to medical school.". Great.

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If I were having a problem that the medical establishment tends to be dismissive of or snotty about, I'd go to a nurse practitioner because I'd want them to listen to me.

 

This is reinforced by your last post about the endocrinologist. Screw off, snotty endo. You know generalities, not my body. 

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Thanks for all the good suggestions ladies! I get 8-9 hours of sleep a night so good on that one. My experience with our local endocrinologist was truly terrible so my ob/Gyn has been prescribing my Synthroid. The endo basically rejected all my questions about T3 and T4 and (and Armour) said, "Where have you been hearing about this? The Internet? I went to medical school.". Great.

 

Nope, switch Drs that is not ok.

 

I don't see Drs that don't listen to me, I spent years with an undiagnosed chronic condition because Drs weren't listening. NEVER AGAIN!

 

Even if they are dubious about Armour they can discuss it with you not act like you are a child. You are an adult and should be able to expect that you be treated like one.

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I've always felt much better when my TSH is kept very low.  You just have to find a doctor who will listen to you.  Doesn't make the weight fall off, but I always feel better.  I have Hashimoto's which is the autoimmune version of a wonky thyroid.  I think that is why my levels are always all over the board.  Also, they can differ in summer vs winter.  At least for me, it's never as simple as taking a TSH and giving a dose of synthroid.  Ask for T3 and T4.  I think they all panic about Vit D levels now, too.

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A glucose tolerance test WITH insulin levels, not just a regular GTT.  With insulin resistance (which there's a good chance of to some degree given the pcos diagnosis), you need to see not just what happens with your blood sugar, but what happens to your *insulin* in response to a glucose load.  I had a reproductive endo write me a script over a decade ago when I was getting tested, and he wrote GTT *with* insulin levels, and the lab ONLY drew my glucose levels. I had to have it repeated, which is not something you want to do, particularly when you have to fast and the test itself is 2 hrs!

 

 Hemoglobin A1C, thyroid, the panel common for pcos if you need any of that info for your doctor even though you were already diagnosed (androstenedione, lh, fsh, estradiol, free testosterone, serum sex hormone binding globulin, prolactin, progesterone, DHEA-s, etc.).  Sometimes when they rule in or out pcos they also like to watch for Cushings and look at cortisol levels. 

 

You could ask about metformin given the existing PCOS diagnosis, even if your testing doesn't come back as full blown insulin resistance.  Most doctors also watch lipids, hypertension, etc. in those with PCOS since metabolic syndrome is common in those with PCOS and insulin resistance. 

 

Any concerns about sleep apnea? 

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