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How do I ask a walk in clinic doctor for Hashimoto's test?

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Thyroid Disorders
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Posted 10/9/2013 4:44 AM (GMT 0)
I am going to a walk in clinic tomorrow for a different test, but I thought while i'm there I might try to ask for a test for Hashimoto's disease, which is something I have been suspecting for a while, as I have many symptoms of it (i've thought I might have Generalized Anxiety, Depression, OCD or Bipolar II disorder, but I have more symptom's of Hashimoto's disease than any of these disorders). I need to go to a walk in clinic because my doctor has not helped me or allowed me to get any tests for possible physical causes or with mental health concerns this year (every time I go to an appointment I leave with no answers, and it's been this way for the past year, and they aren't very nice to me either), so tomorrow I am also applying for a new doctor, but I really want to be tested for Hashimoto's.

I am 21 so I am not the age that this normally occurs, but it's something I think is worth getting tested for, and i'm very frustrated because the doctor I have had does not take my concern of thyroid disorders seriously, saying "it's depression" when I bring up symptoms. I had a TSH test done a year ago and it came back normal, but I also know that with Hashimoto's, TSH isn't always low. I have been thinking back lately to when I was about 15 or 16 (when my more serious depression and anxiety started) and remember being irritable, angry, and tired constantly, but feeling like there was possibly more to my problems than depression or anxiety disoders (which is why i've suspected Bipolar II, but even that doesn't seem right, because, as far as I know, people who have Bipolar disorder have different kinds of moods (going from happy to sad, etc) when my mood is always just low, no matter what. I experience irritability suddenly at times (but usually there is a cause of it).

 I also have physical symptoms of Hashimoto's, which include heat and cold sensitivity, hair loss at different times, bruises that don't heal or easily brusing, a puffy face, and very bad fatigue especially, no matter how much I sleep, and slight weight gain, even though I walk 1-2 hours a day and avoid unhealthy food. I smoke cigarettes, though (trying to quit) which I have also read can sometimes cause or contribute to Hashimoto's disease.

I am very frustrated with this because, whatever I am dealing with, it's taken a very bad toll on my life. I haven't had a social life in years (I have had some social anxiety, but it's mostly just because i'm too tired most of the time to feel like being social) and I feel physically and emotionally worse all of the time, and i've missed out on the past five years (at least) of my life because I haven't felt well. I know there's a good chance as well that I might just have an anxiety or mood disorder, but the fact that I have so many symptoms of Hashimoto's disease, even before I ever experienced really bad anxiety or depression, is too big of a coincidence to ignore, so I decided that I want to get tested specifically for Hashimoto's Disease. I am wondering, though, how I can request this from a doctor at a walk in clinic while I am there for another reason? I tried to do this a few months ago (to get another TSH test) but they wouldn't allow me to get the test. They told me to go see my doctor again.

It has really upset me because I feel like i'm being denied the right to know whether or not this could be my problem, and all I want is to know for sure whether it is or not. I'm hoping, though, that I can get the test because i'm applying for a new doctor, and so I won't have a doctor for a while. I'm just wondering what I can say to get this test done? I am also wondering, besides a TSH test, what other tests are best for diagnosing Hashimoto's disease? I just really want this test done because I don't want to be misdiagnosed with depression or anxiety if the cause is Hashimoto's or another disease, rather than a chemical imbalance. I am also wondering, is there anyone here who noticed symptoms of this or any other disorders and they actually had the disorder? I've just felt for such a long time that something is not right with me, but that it's more than moderate depression and anxiety. I'm sorry this post is so long, i'd appreciate any advice, though.  

Post Edited (anxious0813) : 10/8/2013 10:49:23 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/10/2013 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
If it were me I'd say "Look, I don't want to run the risk of damaging my liver by being prescribed anti depressants and anti anxiety medications when it could be something else."
I might even lie too and say that there are family members who have tested positive for hashi's. (Bad I know.)

Looking back, although I did have a lot of emotional stuff to deal with as a teenager, I developed terrible migraines around puberty, depression and really bad anxiety.
I attempted suicide twice, became addicted to pills and was plagued by panic attacks.
Who knows if this was caused by Hashimoto's.
Two of my daughters, aged 17 and 23 have recently been diagnosed and there is definitely some thyroid activity going on with both of them NOW, so don't believe this is only something that kicks into action later in life.
There are three times in a womans life where great hormonal surges can trigger the auto immune attack of Hashimoto's and that's puberty, pregnancy and perimenopause.

Good luck, I hope you are able to get the test. If this doctor refuses, keep going till you get what you want ( and deserve to know for sure about)
Posted 10/11/2013 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi. Thank you for your suggestions. I am sorry to read of what you went through before being diagnosed with Hashimoto's. I also used to get unexplained migranes on and off for about a year a few years ago, but they went away. I am going to ask for a test today. I'm just hoping they allow me to get the test.
Posted 10/14/2013 12:45 PM (GMT 0)
Any luck?
Posted 10/15/2013 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
I went through so much before a doctor would treat my thyroid issues. Turned out I had Hashimoto's first that burned out my thyroid and now my thyroid doesn't function at all. The test (at least the one I had for it) took 2 days (2 separate days) after I swallowed pills that even the nuclear tech couldn't touch. I just kept getting the usual "Oh! But you don't want to be diagnosed with a thyroid disorder and have to take meds the rest of your life! You're too young." I was in my 30s. By the time they decided to treat me, I literally couldn't hold my head up I was so over-exhausted. If you think you have Hashimoto's, don't stop until you get someone who will order the test for you.
Posted 10/22/2013 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Fibromom1976, wow, I didn't know that there was a test like that for Hashimoto's. Thanks for the suggestion- I am going to keep trying to get tested for it so I know for sure.

I found out that the walk in clinic only does a few tests, and so I had to apply for a new doctor and will
have to wait until I find a new doctor to get these tests (because my last doctor wouldn't help me with anything), which could take a long time, if this new doctor will even listen to my concerns. I'm just hoping for the best, though.
Posted 10/22/2013 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with the above... what test are they referring to? If it is the one where you swallow radioactive iodine.. does that actually diagnose Hashimotos? I thought it tested thyroid function and determines hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.. which is somewhat different than Hashimotos. For me, my hashimotos was diagnosed by antibodies (blood test) A neurologist ordered the test. An OB/Gyn might also order the test because thyroid function affects pregnancy. Prior to that, general doctors did an ultrasound, T3 and t4 test, and radioactive iodine test. All three of them **MISSED** my diagnosis of hashimotos. That is because although I have the antibodies and a goiter, my thyroid is still functioning within acceptable levels. Which makes me appear to be normal even though I am not.
Posted 10/24/2013 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think the radioactive iodine test is done to test for Hashimoto's.
The standard test (as far as I know and have read about and was done for myself and my two daughters) is to test TPO levels. (antithyroid peroxidase) but some doctors refuse, or are unwilling to test these if your other thyroid levels TSH, T4 and T3 levels all fall within the "normal" levels.

Most doctors only treat the thyroid when it begins to malfunction and completely ignore and disregard the auto immune side of the disease. Crazy because it IS an auto immune disease which leads to thyroid dysfunction.
Many people can have completely normal thyroid labs yet they still suffer with symptoms.
Perhaps this is because of the inflammation process going on in the body because the immune system goes into overdrive? Just my hypothesis anyway.

It's a tricky one. First step though is to find out if your body is producing antibodies. This means your body has been triggered and is on it's way to launching an attack on your thyroid gland.
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