Does anyone have or know of a good endocrinologist, that has some knowledge of training as well. My endo is terrible, i don't think she's ever worked with an athlete. I have Hashimoto's, and am hoping to qualify for the marathon Trials. 2:21 PR, but have felt shitty for the past year.
I live in the midwest, but would go anywhere to talk to someone good. Thanks for any help. Doc Fullem?
Hashimoto's ? What is that?
Hashimoto's disease is a thyroid disorder manifested by antibodies to one's own thyroid gland (anti-microsomal antibodies). Initially, the thyroid produces excess thyroid hormone, then basically produces less than the normal amount. Maybe you ought to head to the Mayo Clinic- Rochester, MN- Jacksonville, FL- Scottsdale, AZ. I guarantee you they could advise you in a way you'd be satisfied with. Basically, you might just start with the usual stuff- tsh, t3, t4, rt3, etc.
Get tested regularly. If your thyroid is "low", take synthroid to get it to normal. If high, then thyroid suppressing drugs. If high indefintely/permanently, have thyroid "dissolved" (radio iodine) and go on synthroid the rest of your life. That is what I had done. I tinkered with the right amount, and now have amount of synthetic hormone down pat. Get tested periodically to make sure amount is right.
This shared knowledge is helpful. I'm getting tested tomorrow. A poster sent me some useful medical articles that I passed on to my doctor (not an endocrinolgist, unfortunately). I have that #$%@&* Raynaud's syndrome which one extract targeted as improving with the use of T3 even without symptoms of thyroidism issues.
I do wonder if we damage our thyroids with the mega-training we do and have done. Think there is any link with mitochondrial myopathy?
Van,sorry to hear about your problems. I know that people with thryoid problems will sometimes have an intolerance to cold. I have always thought of Raynaud's as a separate entity. It is sometimes associated with other diseases, such as in something known as CREST disease.
Thyroidopolis, I have a good friend (previous 28:50 type) that has battled Hashimoto's in the past as well. He was in an HMO and had trouble getting good help as well. I think you got excellent advice about places to go. Being in the Midwest, you can't go wrong with the Mayo Clinic. I don't know any Endocrinologists that deal with athletes, but if you get to a good one I am sure they can take your high caliber athletics into account. Since Hashimoto's is an inflammation of the thyroid, my friend used to take anti-inflammatories along with the levothyroxin (to get the TSH and T4 level up to normal)
here is a link to an article about a runner/triathlete that had tendonitis in a bunch of places and finally had a blood workup to diagnose hypothyroidism:
http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/1997/01jan/knopp.htm
Good luck
Brian