Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: Anyone else panicking?

This is a long post...but bear with me.

It sounds like you're getting really good advice from everyone. I've been struggling a year now with a mystery illness, and I'd like to share with you what I've discovered:.

1) Do LOTS of internet research -- my caveat would be to double check everything and don't believe anything with an advertisement attached.

2) I went through a lot of bad doctors before i found the one who diagnosed me with polycystic ovary disease, hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, and some nutritional deficiencies. (A GI health panel via a stool sample is pending...).

3) Although you may not fit the bill for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) exactly -- please read about it. It's more common than you think, quite complicated, under-diagnosed, and at least shows us how intricately involved all the hormones in the body are. You'll find that not all PCOS women have the actual polycystic ovaries/obesity/hirsutism...but they do usually have excessive insulin which can cause high cholesterol/triglycerides and the potential for diabetes. Even if you read about it and think "this isn't me"...you might end up thinking "I should at least check to see if I'm insulin resistant".
4) Consider researching "Adrenal Fatigue"
5) Hypothyroidism is actually VERY tricky to diagnose. Most doctors just check TSH. This can be very misleading because often the values for TSH are too broad -- so they'll call you normal when you're not. If you're showing ANY signs (and someone gave a GREAT list here) they should check T3 and T4 with your TSH. Keep in mind that the whole T3 issue is somewhat controversial so read about this, and be prepared for your doctor to argue with you about this, and maybe consider finding an endocrinologist/gynecologist who WANTS to check all three values. My TSH has been all over the board..but always somewhere in "normal range" so I've never been diagnosed even when I'd walk into a doctor's office with a whole list of hypothyroid symptoms, a subnormal temperature and a heart rate of 48.

Finally, THIS doctor checked my T4 and T3 levels. My T4 was normal but my T3 was abnormal. (The body converts T4 to T3 by taking off an iodine and in doing so makes it actually useable for the body). When I asked my doctor why my body wasn't doing this--it turns out when you are anemic or have excessive insulin the body won't do this conversion. So, how many doctors out there are checking T3? How many of you are anemic from eating poorly? How many doctors out there are checking your insulin to see if you are insulin resistant? How many IBS women struggle with their weight (possible sign of insulin resistance, polycystic ovary disease, or hypothyroidism)? How many women in general struggle with excessive water retention? (an indication that one of MANY hormones is out of whack).

If you are having fertility problems/anxiety issues/depression/GI issues -- you could DEFINITELY be having hormonal issues and/or thyroid issues...and the more I learn -- the more I see that every one of your hormones in the endocrine system is interlinked. And unfortunately, doctors tend to ignore the importance of your endocrine system even though it seems like the most important system in the body -- especially in women since we have two major hormones that naturally fluctuate every month. And when you think that the thyroid hormone controls EVERYTHING...it's frightening to consider that you might be called normal when you're not. Some doctors will even consider putting you on a trial of T4/T3 even if you have normal values IF you show enough signs of hypothyroidism -- this seems like a very kind, sympathetic thing to do.

I know this was a long post...but I hope it helped somewhat.

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