I asked for a thyroid test the last time, and have never heard back. I'd better follow up and get more proactive. My hair has been thinning for months, and I've felt tired. Doc was wondering if it was a result of major life change or not. My mother had thyroid issues.

Connie, it was the antibody test that diagnosed me - everything else was coming up as normal. So be sure to ask for antithyroid antibodies, as well as the TSH they'd normally give you. And if you feel extra proactive, ask for Free T3 and Free T4, and if you're feeling even more proactive, get Reverse T3, too. I've never had that one done.

For the time being, though, having a doctor who trusts you to know your body is pretty great. So many doctors are strictly CYA and won't do anything they're not a hundred percent comfortable with.

That said, I'm sorry your thyroid is misbehaving.

I've been asking my doctor for a thyroid test and/or to try low-dose thyroid meds, and he just won't do it. My last two thyroid tests (years ago) came back solidly normal, and he's satisfied with that. I'm not. I have all the symptoms of low thyroid, have had for years. I don't understand why we can't do a thorough test and then just fucking try it? He was quite willing to prescribe me several different meds for my moderately high blood pressure, that had horrible side effects and I finally took it upon myself to quit them. Now I'm controlling the blood pressure with diet and exercise and doing fine. If he's willing to screw around with my body testing those drugs, why not the thyroid? I'm exhausted with trying to find a doctor who will listen to me. I like this doctor personally, but I'm rather dissatisfied with him as a doctor.

Especially since he already knows that autoimmune system disorders run in my family, and at least two people in my immediate family have thyroid problems. Isn't that enough?

If this doctor gives more pushback, I may bring out the "You delayed running the test that diagnosed cancer for 2 years" card.

Especially since he already knows that autoimmune system disorders run in my family, and at least two people in my immediate family have thyroid problems. Isn't that enough?

Enough to get a new doctor. if you have the option at all, and he's being intractable, take your business/care elsewhere. You ultimately have to be the judge of your own needs, not someone you see a couple times a year.

Half of my face is still numb from all the dental work I had today. It's weird trying to drink a smoothie with only half your tongue. It was both the upper left and lower, so I had a speech impediment there for awhile.

I have a job interview tomorrow morning, so a few crossed fingers wouldn't go amiss. ;)

Interview~ma, SA!

Also, doctor~ma for folks; here's hoping they 1) listen and 2) prescribe the right stuff.

Connie, are you kidding, I'd be playing that card every time I saw him.

This doctor is the first PCP I've seen since I moved to VA. I saw an endocrinologist, who was satisfied with the results of the test and wouldn't pursue the idea any further. Which, I GET it, the test results are normal, so they don't want to risk overtreating and giving me something I don't need. But they also aren't interested in pursuing the Why of Why do I have all these symptoms, then?

This doctor, almost the first visit, suggested a diet drug to help me lose weight. I resisted it on general principles and finally decided to try it. I did lose about 14 pounds and that's great, but the weight loss stopped and the side effects didn't, so I took myself off of it. Although I do like him personally, the fact that he went straight to a diet drug, without even checking my cholesterol or anything else, is bothersome. The fact that he was glad to try one horrible BP med after another (five total) to treat moderately high BP, and a couple other drugs to control the side effects of the BP drugs, until I had a handful of pills to take every day but actually felt worse than ever, but he won't give me a low-dose thyroid drug, also bothers me.

Well, writing all that out makes it a lot more clear that I should try to find another doctor, even though the thought of it almost makes me want to cry.

Zen, it may help you to know that there are doctor reviews on yelp these days. Good luck finding someone who will work with you.

Interview~ma, SA!

the fact that he went straight to a diet drug, without even checking my cholesterol or anything else, is bothersome.

That is an enormous red flag for me. Oh Zen, I totally feel your feelings on this--I've been to half a dozen new medical personnel in the last six months alone, and it is really nervy and vulnerable trying to find someone who will fit.

I encourage you to use [link] and [link] (for the reviews rather than the booking) as resources to help you make your decisions. I've also found Google reviews to be helpful too, though Yelp are not. And I would always ask people who they would see and would they recommend. It's not easy, but I've been happier with every doctor I've specifically researched and chosen that any random physician I've had.