Does Your Doctor Really Understand Your Thyroid Condition?

Doctors like to look at numbers. Some doctors treatYou should know what to expect when you visit your
you like a number instead of a person who is havingdoctor so you know he is testing your thyroid properly.
symptoms even though the numbers say you shouldYour doctor should use his hands to feel the lower
be fine. If your thyroid hormones are low, your doctorpart of the front of your neck where your thyroid
will prescribe medication and retest your blood. As longgland is. By doing this he may be able to detect if your
as your hormone levels get within the normal range hethyroid is enlarged or has growths on it. He should also
she is happy.take your vital signs since your thyroid can have an
You may still feel miserable. It is rarely as simple aseffect on your respiratory rate, heart rate, blood
that to treat thyroid disease. What's worse are thepressure and body temperature. He should perform a
people who suffer from thyroid disease for months orblood test which reveals your serum TSH (thyroid
years without being properly diagnosed or treated. Thestimulating hormone), T3 and T4 levels. He may also
unfortunate truth is that you can have a blood testwant to consider the following test results: cholesterol
within the normal ranges and yet still suffer with thyroidlevel, blood glucose, triglycerides and B-12 level. To
symptoms.confirm a diagnosis, he may also order a radioactive
It can be a real challenge to reverse your thyroidiodine uptake test to see how well your thyroid
disease. It takes dedication and motivation. You aren'tabsorbs iodine.
being successfully treated until your symptoms goPeople with thyroid disease often complain that they
away and that includes the terrible fatigue, slow weighthave suffered for months or even years and just can't
gain and many other symptoms that come with thisget the right diagnosis or treatment. Don't let this
condition.happen to you. If you feel like you are not getting
You can help your doctor treat you better by beingproper care from your doctor, ask him for a referral or
specific with your symptoms. One of the mostfind another doctor by yourself. An endocrinologist is
common complaints your doctor hears from a patientthe type of doctor who specializes in treating thyroid
is that they are always tired. By itself, that symptomdisorders. Ask your doctor if you would benefit from a
doesn't mean very much because so many differentconsultation with one of these specialists.
things can cause a person to be chronically tired. KeepYour health is too important, especially when you can
detailed records of your symptoms so when you visitfeel so much better with proper treatment. If you
your doctor he can get a clear picture of yoursuspect you have thyroid disease, ask your doctor to
condition.perform the blood tests you require for a definitive
Although it may seem like your doctor gives you thediagnosis. If you are at a loss on where to start looking
brush off when you complain of fatigue andfor a good doctor to treat your thyroid, check with the
depression, it may be a case of your symptoms beingThyroid Association in your area for a referral or ask
so vague and general that he doesn't have a clearsomeone who has the disease and is happy with the
lead on where to begin treatment. In fact,treatment from their physician.
hypothyroidism was listed among the Reader's DigestWorking together with your doctor, you can manage
list for the "10 Diseases Doctors Miss". They claim halfor reverse the symptoms of your thyroid disorder. It
of the cases of hypothyroidism go undiagnosedisn't as easy as taking a pill though. You must also
because their symptoms are mistaken as the naturaladopt a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise,
effects of aging.healthy food and pure water to feel your best.