Gynecologist or endocrinologist?

[AnnaLaura]

Hi everyone! Happy Halloween! Hope everyone sees a real witch today and not that OTHER witch.

I have another question, sorry. I'm always asking for help. I told myself last week that if AF didn't show up over the weekend, I'd go for a second opinion since my regular gynecologist turned out to be, well, useless. My GP is the one who sent me to him. Now my husband has suggested I see an endocrinologist first. It seemed like a reasonable idea and now I'm not sure what is the best thing to do. Have any of you taken this route and if so, was it helpful?

Background: I'm on cd73 and have been lightly spotting for nine days. I'm pretty uncomfortable. I'm having creeping weight gain, hot flashes and low temperatures (<97.60) during the hot flashes. It just doesn't make sense. I had hormone and thyroid tests in March and an ultrasound in September and everything came back fine.

 

[sumatwsimit]

i know exactly how you feel when you don't know where to turn first. dh and i have been trying since june, with one cp in august. it was looked upon as 'premature' to go and get blood work done etc, but decided to do it last week. had the full internal scan on my ovaries etc and relevant blood tests.

i am so thankful that i went. little did i know but i have thyroid problem and i'm now waiting on further tests. this was totally unexpected, very few symptoms (only tiredness, fuzzy headed and feeling depressed which i put down to stress) no weight gain or anything else.

i personally went for peace of mind, i didn't get the results i wanted but happy to know this can be sorted very easily after a few weeks of taking medication. i'm now reluctantly on pause ttc until my level goes down to normal.

i say go for the endocrinologist first. it may be a virus you have which is currently knocking you off balance or it may be a hormonal thing that needs tweaking. if it is, it will be easily sorted and you'll feel relieved feeling in control.

best of luck.

 

[keekeesaurus]

Happy hallowe'en to you too AnnaLaura!
I've just seen my GP and she is referring me to a gyn first to see if everything is a-ok "down there" so I guess seeing an endocrinologist wouldn't hurt if you've had good test results so far. I'm not really sure, so not much help sorry!
GL though and keep us posted!

 

[readyformore]

Just looking at the title, my first thought was see both!

It really sounds like thyroid to me.
Some gyns won't treat unless your levels are horrible. I'd check with the endocrinologist and have them draw their own set of blood work to see what's going on. If it's slightly off, that can affect how you feel and your chances with conception. Endo docs can adjust with meds if necessary.

Go to a new gyn too. Just to cover all of your bases.

Good luck.

 

[Natsby]

Oh exciting I didn´t know what an endocrinologist was so I just looked it up, now I want to see one too. I agree if you can see both why not. Mind you I would see anyone who might help now, sadly we don´t have private health insurance and the health system here is a mess, but if I could I would. Why wait? if someone can see if your ok or if there is a problem then great! let us know how you get on.

 

[AnnaLaura]

Thank you all for your input. I thought about it all day and decided to see the gynecologist first, mostly for practical reasons. I see the new gynecologist tomorrow at 6:30.

Sumatwsimit, that's interesting that you didn't really have lots of thyroid symptoms. I've been suspicious of my thyroid for awhile which is why I had the tests in March, but they were fine. I do have a nodule that doesn't do anything. I think I do have something metabolic going on since this weight I've gained is right around my waist. Do you mind me asking what has shown up on your tests, that is, where you were deficient?

Keekeesaurus, I think this is what I'll do. I had a pap smear and ultrasound in Sept. so I'm hoping the new guy will have some new ideas.

Readyformore, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks it sounds like thyroid. The only test I haven't had is the one for antibodies. I don't know how much a subclinical situation would affect TTC as we only were supposed to start really trying on my Sept. cycle (which never came) but certainly I wouldn't feel right, either.

Natsby, you're in Spain, right? The "system" here, if you want to call it that, is pretty open. I don't need a referral to see anyone, don't need lab orders, don't even need a prescription for most medicines. You should see our medicine cabinet, we are ready if they drop the bomb. I have to keep my own medical file, too. This has a big downside in that I have to initiate most courses of action myself, like I'm doing now. I think that in any country we have to be 100% proactive about our health, but here you have to be 1000%!!

Thank you all again

 

[readyformore]

Annalaura do you know what your TSH and T4 results were?

And, where are you? Your description of health care is interesting.

 

[sumatwsimit]

annalaura, the TSH level was high at 8.2 and they said it needs to be below 4 and preferably around the 2 mark for safe pregnancy. so it is hypothyroid, not working as should which slows everything down. it just shows that anyone can have it but with minimal physical symptoms. just the ones i mentioned before and the dry skin and no weight gain which is bizarre.
it's certainly worth a check, even though you were tested in march. it's something that's easily fixed.

 

[AnnaLaura]

Annalaura do you know what your TSH and T4 results were?

And, where are you? Your description of health care is interesting.

My TSH was 1.55 and my T4 was 11.8. So both within normal range. The lab value here for TSH is 0.4-4.0 and the T4 value is 5.2-12.5. So while I suspected thyroid, the tests just don't bear this out. I don't want anything to be wrong with my thyroid, of course, but would like to know why things went berserk.

I live in Greece.

 

[AnnaLaura]

annalaura, the TSH level was high at 8.2 and they said it needs to be below 4 and preferably around the 2 mark for safe pregnancy. so it is hypothyroid, not working as should which slows everything down. it just shows that anyone can have it but with minimal physical symptoms. just the ones i mentioned before and the dry skin and no weight gain which is bizarre.
it's certainly worth a check, even though you were tested in march. it's something that's easily fixed.

Have you gotten your TSH down to a good level yet? I don't know your story. Were you TTC long before you discovered this? I apologize if that's too personal.

Either way, if it's something like this or some kind of hormonal apocalypse, I hope it can get worked out. I feel like a fraud on this board half the time because many of you ladies have been working on this for months/years and I can't even get started!

 

[readyformore]

I feel like a fraud on this board half the time because many of you ladies have been working on this for months/years and I can't even get started!

Just stop!! That's ridiculous!!

You want a baby, that's all that is important!
You are not a fraud.

 

[sumatwsimit]

morning anna, no my level hasn't gone down yet, they only discovered it last week. dh and i have only been trying to conceive since june, and i've already had a chemical pregn in august. i was just very eager to know my body and my ttc situation. it was an excellent move in my mind. everything else has come back good but my tsh level. i'm off for further tests today so hopefully will get some pills in me by the end of this week.

best wishes, and agree with ready's last comment. we are all on the same journey

 

[AnnaLaura]

morning anna, no my level hasn't gone down yet, they only discovered it last week. dh and i have only been trying to conceive since june, and i've already had a chemical pregn in august. i was just very eager to know my body and my ttc situation. it was an excellent move in my mind. everything else has come back good but my tsh level. i'm off for further tests today so hopefully will get some pills in me by the end of this week.

best wishes, and agree with ready's last comment. we are all on the same journey

The good thing is that thyroid is one of the "easier" things to fix, if that makes sense. I think the hardest part is figuring out the optimal amount of medication. I'd like to know how you get along with this.

Thank you for your encouragement!

 

[AnnaLaura]

I feel like a fraud on this board half the time because many of you ladies have been working on this for months/years and I can't even get started!

Just stop!! That's ridiculous!!

You want a baby, that's all that is important!
You are not a fraud.

Thank you. I really have a tremendous amount of respect for you and the others here who have never stopped trying, never given up.

 

[SabrinaKat]

Both.

I saw the gyno in January to confirm that all was well (we had been trying for about a year since a m/c in August 2009, but didn't start ttc until March-April 2010); and then, we decided to start IVF, and in those blood tests, it was revealed that I had an underactive thyroid (Jan); in the last run of tests before our first cycle of IVF, my GP noticed that my thyroid was still slightly underactive and doubled my dose to 50mg of the thyroid stuff; had a perfect 28 cycle and was all ready to start the hormones, etc., but got pregnant naturally and am now almost 23 wks...(so far, so good). My doctor is a neonatal specialist and they checked my thyroid in the first weeks of the pregnancy and all seems ok.

Having seen both gyno and consultant endo, I know that I could get pregnant and that there was nothing fundamentally wrong with me, if that makes sense. Incidentially, was 43 when I got pregnant (now 44), so am so glad that I went and did both as luckily, have a chance for our own (I was more than happy to do IVF with mine or donor eggs).

best wishes

 

[dodgercpkl]

My OB referred me to an endocrinologist and I'm soooo thankful! I've found out SO much about myself and my body because of my Endo! She is looking into my whole life wellbeing - losing weight healthfully, my sleep, my feet, my skin, etc. Because of her, I now know that I have PCOS and probably have all my life. I've also lost 33 pounds since my first visit with my OB because of changing my diet on my Endo's recommendation, gotten a CPAP for my sleep apnea, found out I have bone spurs in my heels and athelete's foot, and will be seeing a dermatologist in a couple of days about my psoriasis and other skin issues.

There were so many little things that I just shluffed off that she's really pushed me to look into and find out about and I'm so greatful!

 

[mamadonna]

hi i hope you dont mind me butting in

i too see an endo for over active thyroid we were ttc since april 2010,in that time i had a mc and an ectopic resulting in me loosing my left tube,i only discovered i was over active in july but my endo said i would have to be on the meds for about a yr to get my levels well within the normal range,because i am 36 i really dont wanna wait too much longer so i have opted to have surgery to have mine removed,so hopefully i'll be back to ttc soon

 

[sumatwsimit]

Both.

I saw the gyno in January to confirm that all was well (we had been trying for about a year since a m/c in August 2009, but didn't start ttc until March-April 2010); and then, we decided to start IVF, and in those blood tests, it was revealed that I had an underactive thyroid (Jan); in the last run of tests before our first cycle of IVF, my GP noticed that my thyroid was still slightly underactive and doubled my dose to 50mg of the thyroid stuff; had a perfect 28 cycle and was all ready to start the hormones, etc., but got pregnant naturally and am now almost 23 wks...(so far, so good). My doctor is a neonatal specialist and they checked my thyroid in the first weeks of the pregnancy and all seems ok.

Having seen both gyno and consultant endo, I know that I could get pregnant and that there was nothing fundamentally wrong with me, if that makes sense. Incidentially, was 43 when I got pregnant (now 44), so am so glad that I went and did both as luckily, have a chance for our own (I was more than happy to do IVF with mine or donor eggs).

best wishes

congrats on your pregnancy. you have totally settled my mind this morning

 

[peacebaby]

Thanks for this thread !

I've been looking into the the thyroid issue alot and it seems it really is important to get it checked out properly.

AnnaLaura, do you have any underactive thyroid symptoms that made you think it could be a problem? The reason I ask is because looking at your TSH results it seems that all is good but often low iron/anemia can mimmick thyroid symptoms so maybe it will be good if you can get that checked too.

Suma, it is amazing that you don't have many of the classic hypothyroid symptoms given your TSH count, it probably means that everything else is working super-fine and once you get the TSH count down...success!

SabrinaKat, thanks for sharing your inspirational story. Just goes to show how vital the thyroid test is for fertility. Congrats and hope the rest of your pregnancy is all good!

 

[AnnaLaura]

Thanks for this thread !

I've been looking into the the thyroid issue alot and it seems it really is important to get it checked out properly.

AnnaLaura, do you have any underactive thyroid symptoms that made you think it could be a problem? The reason I ask is because looking at your TSH results it seems that all is good but often low iron/anemia can mimmick thyroid symptoms so maybe it will be good if you can get that checked too.

Thank you! You're right, and many things we come in contact with can affect it--have you read about the link between fluoride and thyroid problems? Also MSG can have a negative effect. Things we may come in contact with without even knowing it.

My iron is fine--everything is fine except that I have a highish fasting blood sugar (105-110) and a slightly elevated HbA1c (6.3). This makes no sense since I avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates. I have the puffy face (sometimes), tired a lot, gain weight very easy, can hardly lose anything without a LOT of effort, freezing hands. I may have to accept that in the last couple of years my "metabolism" has just worsened and I always have to work extra hard to stay even. I guess it's partly (or a lot) my age but I was hoping that would hold off for just a little longer.

On the good side, I am CD 1 today!! It's still much lighter than normal but definitely not spotting any more. The doctor told me to go in and have the Day 3 and thyroid tests again since the last ones were nine months ago.


Dodgercpkl, what did your endo tell you about sleep? I've read that sleep patterns and habits can affect our cycles and even interfere with ovulation. I sympathize with you over the spurs. I had a horrible bout of plantar fasciitis this year, but with no spurs, thankfully.