wonderchica Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 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. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 off the top of my head I would wonder about: thyroid HbA1C vitamin deficiencies 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderchica Posted February 26, 2015 Author Share Posted February 26, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderchica Posted February 26, 2015 Author Share Posted February 26, 2015 I don't know. She just said it was normal and didn't need to adjust my dosage. I'm on 112 mcg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaConquest Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I would have the doctor check for PCOS. Typically, they do a GTT and check insulin as well as glucose, testosterone, LH/FSH, DHEAS. If you are insulin resistant, you may want to look into Victoza. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderchica Posted February 27, 2015 Author Share Posted February 27, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 I don't know. She just said it was normal and didn't need to adjust my dosage. I'm on 112 mcg. Then you must ask again and insist that she tell you, and if she didn't do T3 and T4, you must insist that she do that. And you might consider Armour instead of synthroid. Check out Stop the Thyroid Madness. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 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. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Depending upon your age, you might consider asking for a hormone panel that includes the 3 estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone. Cortisol? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeteranMom Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 I'd wonder about food allergies, b12, thyroid, hemoglobin a1c, and vitamin d. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greta Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 People with certain thyroid conditions really feel better when their thyroid is at a certain level. The goal isn't a normal range it is a range where you are feeling best. I would ask for the actual numbers and not whether or not it was normal. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Are you getting enough sleep? Not sleeping well will prevent weight loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderchica Posted February 27, 2015 Author Share Posted February 27, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 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. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RKWAcademy Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof3littles Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderchica Posted March 26, 2015 Author Share Posted March 26, 2015 Bump with update in the first post! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiramisu Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 Congratulations on getting to the bottom of it, even though it's not exactly happy news. I hope this information will help you fell better and lose the weight you want to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 Thank you for the update! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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