Drs who treat thyroid in DC

[Anonymous]

I have always had thyroid function on the low end of normal. I’ve had previous doctors comment that it was low but I seemed fine so no need to treat. I’m now 35 and having problems conceiving and think it might be thyroid related. From reading this board and others, it seems that not all REs will treat thyroid that’s low end of normal. Any refs for someone who does? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Dr Shabina Ahmed - just outside the DC border in downtown Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

What’s your TSH?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s your TSH?

I don’t have numbers in front of me but it’s right at the bottom of the range that’s considered “normal.” I had recent tests with that result and went back and checked old lab results and it’s always been at low end of normal.

[Anonymous]

It takes about 3-4 months to get a new patient appointment with Dr. Ahmed. Dr. Linda Liu in Rockville is also an option, but insist on only seeing her and not any of the other doctors in that practice.

[Anonymous]

As someone above asked, what is your TSH? I think the drs want below 2
I go to Dr. West in DC and thought he was great during my entire pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

You want tsh btwn 1-2 to conceive. You can see a regular endocrinologist and have them get your thyroid in check. Might be faster than getting in with a RE. Endo can follow you throughout pregnancy if you’re able to conceive. I like Dr. Adler at GW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You want tsh btwn 1-2 to conceive. You can see a regular endocrinologist and have them get your thyroid in check. Might be faster than getting in with a RE. Endo can follow you throughout pregnancy if you’re able to conceive. I like Dr. Adler at GW.

My TSH was 3 when I started with an RE at the GW IVF clinic. She said a TSH of that level was fine since I was not positive for anti-TPO antibodies. Five months and two losses later, I scheduled an appointment with an endocrinologist for a second opinion. She ordered a thryoid ultrasound and a battery of additional blood tests. Within 2 weeks of my initial appointment she started me on Synthroid. It made a big difference in my energy level, so much so that I started to exercise and finally lost some weight. I then switched to a new fertility clinic, where we successfully conceived about 8 weeks later.

OP, I highly recommend going straight to an endocrinologist for thyroid+fertility concerns. The specialist I see is at Rockville Internal Medicine Group, and unfortunately right now she has a 6-8 week wait time for an appointment. The PP's suggestion of an endocrinologist at GW seems like a good avenue to investigate. Many of their doctors allow you to book via Zocdoc.

[Anonymous]

OP here. TSH is 3.17. Thanks to those who offered up names.

[Anonymous]

I see Dr. Mark Sklar. His office is located near GW. He is endocrinologist that I was seeing before I got pregnant (have had thyroid issues since I was a teenager) and he monitors me throughout to make sure my TSH stays where it needs to be.