Recommend a Doctor with sports in mind? (Dublin area)

.ak

I'd like to start off that I am NOT looking for any medical advise, just some advise on finding a Doctor with my issue in mind.

A while ago a friend (a nurse) recommended me to get my thyroid checked, as I have a lot of symptoms of it, including:

• Tiredness
• Inability to lose bodyfat (despite a precisely measured clean diet, with variations of cal deficits up to -700cal and a very active life style in the sense I train 3-4 times a week in the gym and 2-3 times with the rugby club, so I train a lot)
• Dry skin
• Hair loss, brittle hair
• Depression (in the medical sense)

Amongst other things.

Anyway, my TSH levels were tested by my local doctor and they came back just within the normal range, like 0.4 or something like that. Very close to being considered under active. After this I felt the symptoms get a bit worse, so 6 months later I tried again with the same doctor and the same result.

So I thought nothing of it. Until I read this article today, which talks about the difference between 'Free T3' levels vs TSH levels.

http://breakingmuscle.com/health-medicine/understanding-the-thyroid-why-you-should-check-your-free-t3


I won't go into details but basically I feel like my doctor is basically just looking at a number rather than addressing how I feel. So I want to get a 2nd opinion.

I understand his point of view, all of my symptoms could be seen in anyone in my age bracket (I'm 28), and it'd be 'easy' for me to address all of these problems as an under active thyroid.

But in the last year I've stepped up my training, I've become far more active, I'm currently doing a strength and conditioning course and my nutrition planning is 100% and if anything the symptoms have gotten worse.

So, I want to go to a doctor that I can express my problems with, any doctors I've been before if I tell them I want to be 10%-12% bodyfat they tend to roll their eyes and think it's silly to aim for such a level, because they use inaccurate and dated indexing methods like BMI etc.

Does anyone know of any doctors like such in the Dublin area, perhaps ones with a sport related background?

MD1990

Dr Joe Conway is a very good Sports Doctor. He is based near UCD college.

.ak

MD1990 wrote: »

Dr Joe Conway is a very good Sports Doctor. He is based near UCD college.

Thanks! I was also looking at this guy..

http://www.d4physioandsportsmed.ie/index.html

I guess my question is, do doctors like these do blood tests for what I'm looking for? They're not just sports injury docs?

MD1990

.ak wrote: »

Thanks! I was also looking at this guy..

http://www.d4physioandsportsmed.ie/index.html

I guess my question is, do doctors like these do blood tests for what I'm looking for? They're not just sports injury docs?

Don't know. Dr Conway is a Sports & Medicine doctor so I'm sure he would do blood tests.

Mr Jinx

.ak wrote: »

I'd like to start off that I am NOT looking for any medical advise, just some advise on finding a Doctor with my issue in mind.

A while ago a friend (a nurse) recommended me to get my thyroid checked, as I have a lot of symptoms of it, including:

• Tiredness
• Inability to lose bodyfat (despite a precisely measured clean diet, with variations of cal deficits up to -700cal and a very active life style in the sense I train 3-4 times a week in the gym and 2-3 times with the rugby club, so I train a lot)
• Dry skin
• Hair loss, brittle hair
• Depression (in the medical sense)

Amongst other things.

Anyway, my TSH levels were tested by my local doctor and they came back just within the normal range, like 0.4 or something like that. Very close to being considered under active. After this I felt the symptoms get a bit worse, so 6 months later I tried again with the same doctor and the same result.

So I thought nothing of it. Until I read this article today, which talks about the difference between 'Free T3' levels vs TSH levels.

http://breakingmuscle.com/health-medicine/understanding-the-thyroid-why-you-should-check-your-free-t3


I won't go into details but basically I feel like my doctor is basically just looking at a number rather than addressing how I feel. So I want to get a 2nd opinion.

I understand his point of view, all of my symptoms could be seen in anyone in my age bracket (I'm 28), and it'd be 'easy' for me to address all of these problems as an under active thyroid.

But in the last year I've stepped up my training, I've become far more active, I'm currently doing a strength and conditioning course and my nutrition planning is 100% and if anything the symptoms have gotten worse.

So, I want to go to a doctor that I can express my problems with, any doctors I've been before if I tell them I want to be 10%-12% bodyfat they tend to roll their eyes and think it's silly to aim for such a level, because they use inaccurate and dated indexing methods like BMI etc.

Does anyone know of any doctors like such in the Dublin area, perhaps ones with a sport related background?

I'd be interested in hearing how you get on with this, you have described my symptoms to a t.

ixus

There's a female Doctor out in Clane who's a specialist in thyroid. Am pretty sure this is her:

Dr Griffin ,Clane hospital she treats patients and symptoms ,not just lab numbers.
She switched me from Eltroxin(I might as well have been taking smarties,it wasn't for me) to Armour and I am doing great.
It is private though 120 euro for each visit and I think 150 for initial consultation.
She also practices at Charlemont Clinic and Bon Secours,Glasnevin,but I am not sure if cost is the same in those clinics.

If you want me to check 100% and get contact details, send me a PM. Have it around somewhere.

.ak

Mr Jinx wrote: »

I'd be interested in hearing how you get on with this, you have described my symptoms to a t.

Will do. Although as I mentioned, about a million things can cause those symptoms.

ixus wrote: »

There's a female Doctor out in Clane who's a specialist in thyroid. Am pretty sure this is her:



If you want me to check 100% and get contact details, send me a PM. Have it around somewhere.

I think I found her on the ol' google. Thanks, have a list of people to check out. Someone also kindly PM'd me details for Dr. Fionnula McHale at UFC. She seems also ideal as she specializes in Functional Medicine.

I suppose I'll probably just go with whoever has the best background in this stuff and probably the most convenient (closest) one to me.

Atleast I'm aware now that there are plenty of people who work with these sort of things out there. Good to know.

Alf Veedersane

.ak wrote: »

Someone also kindly PM'd me details for Dr. Fionnula McHale at UFC. She seems also ideal as she specializes in Functional Medicine.

Very good lifter an' all.

.ak

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Very good lifter an' all.

Yeah, which a big plus, so it means you know she understands what you're talking about straight away.

Palinpropism

It's really free T4 thatd get measured rather than free T3. And your TSH being on the lower limit of normal wouldn't fit with what your describing symptoms as in a hypothyroid state - as in you'd expect it to be raised above normal. An under active thyroid probably wouldn't support what you yourself describe as an active lifestyle going to the gym and rugby training either. But you have genuine complaints so should seek out a better medic if your feeling your not being taken seriously.... doesn't sound like its your thyroid tho tbh. But if you were still worried, try see an endocrinologist. Think the body fat issue would be more suitable to be managed by a good PT or dietician though if found to be non medically related.

Hope I haven't crossed any of boards lines there!

Best of luck with it anyway