Recently, Lisa, a 27-year-old secretary, came to me for a thyroid check. Although her primary care physician told her she didn't have a thyroid problem, she insisted on seeing a specialist anyway.
Her thyroid function tests were perfect: Her TSH was 1.3 and her free [T.sub.4] measured 1.1. "Why do you think it is your thyroid?" I asked.
"Because I have all the symptoms," she said. "I am tired a lot, which I can understand because of my new baby and the stress in my office, but my skin is dry and even though I eat very little, I keep gaining weight."
That same day, another patient, Leslie, also wanted me to check her thyroid. She had gained 20 pounds recently but ...