- endocrinologist

July 16, 2004

, I would ask for the referral. An endocrinologist can help you

sort things out. Hashimoto's is the most common form of thyroiditis, and

Synthroid would be an appropriate therapy for it (I'm assuming you're

still taking it), but it would be nice to know for sure what's going on,

especially if different treatment would be indicated based on a

different diagnosis.

I'm 45, don't really have symptoms of hypothyroidism either, but I have

fairly high levels of antithyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies. It's

fairly amusing to listen to the theories of the doctors I've seen

(including one endocrinologist) about what this means, if anything. It's

running about 50/50 about whether I have Hashimoto's.

For the last several years, there has been much argument about

whether the current thyroid function tests and their cutoffs for

" normal " need to be revised. In January 2003, the American Association

of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) released new guidelines regarding

the testing and interpretation of TSH values, and your GP may be unaware

of them. Check this out:

About.com

Thyroid Disease

Shomon

" Does Your Doctor Know About the New TSH Lab Standards? " :

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

[ ] Re: Question about SED rate

> Thanks so much, . I have not been to an endocrinologist. My GP

> seems to think that the thyroid nodules and possible hashi's are not

> a problem since my tsh level is normal and I don't have symptoms of

> hypothyroidism (I do have fatigue, of course, but have lots of other

> things I could attribute that to.) When I told my gynecologist about

> the ra and thyroid problems, she also asked if I were going to an

> endo since they're both endocrine problems. Plus, I haven't had any

> menopause symptoms I recognize, but at 49, it's right around the

> corner and could easily be part of the whole mix. I'm thinking about

> asking my GP for a referral.

>

Recommended Posts