Hello Everyone!

I have just joined this list, so I am sure my questions are not new to
anyone.  I have just been diagnosed with Hashimoto's, however, my
general practitioner refuses to refer me to an endocrinologist.  After
reading a few posts, I realize that it is important to do this.  And, of
course, the insurance won't pay for the endocrinologist unless I am
refered. My Dr. says that Hashimoto's is common and she has treated lots
of it, etc. etc. etc.  What can I say to encourage her to refer me.  I
have the name of an excellent Dr. refered to me by friends.

Thanks,

Barbara Whitt




idelle port wrote:
>
> The tests that are usually done for thyroid screening do NOT pick up all
> the thyroid problems...you can have a normal TSH and T4 and still be
> subclinically or hypo or even probably hyper thyroid...in my case,
> Hashimoto's was diagnosed on the basis of elevated antithyroid
> antibodies and a slightly exaggerated TRH response test, but I had
> plenty of symptoms of low thyroid function that would be obvious to
> anyone who LOOKED...yellow skin, sudden weight gain, horizontal ridging
> of my thumbnails, slow achilles tendon reflex, etc....it took me three
> years to get diagnosed, even though I knew there were thyroid problems
> in my family....and six years of fibromyalgia to find a regimen of
> thyroid replacement that would put my free T3 into the normal
> range...your symptoms may not be thyroid related, but I doubt that
> you've been adequately worked up to rule it out...
>
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