???

[sophia456]

hi im a 31 year old female and i am currently  experiencing the following symptoms:

◦lack of energy, fatigue
◦decreased sexual desire
◦muscle weakness
◦sleep problems
◦shyness
◦withdrawal from others
◦nervousness, anxiety
◦problem with sleep quality
◦decreased social contact
◦sadness , depression
◦weakness , tiredness
◦headaches
◦poor concentration or memory

i know these are symptoms of the growth hormonw deficiency, what else could it be and how do i proceed?

thank u!

[sophia456]

thanks a lot....i have the thyroid tests at home but didnt get ot check them out...i ll let u know soon :)

[rumpled]

Given your symptoms and your normal thyroid (you did not post the tests, so it is unknown what tests were given, and if it was a normal panel, it may or may not have been useful), I would go see an endo for a full work up and more work on your thyroid just in case you did not get a full work up on the thyroid.

Other hormonal issues can also be at play. Just know that most endos treat diabetes and so they may or may not be so good at pituitary disorders. Make sure to get copies of your tests. That way if there is any issue - you can go on to a pituitary doctor - a neuro-endo. BTW the test for growth hormone is IGF-1. GH is ok, but not as useful. IGF-1 is what the body actually uses after the liver processes the GH the pituitary secretes.

[ducky406]

How fine - mine were in "normal" but "high" range. I had all the classic symptoms of hypothyroidism- weight, depression, sleep problems, skin dryness, high cholesterol, problems with thermoregulation, etc. It finally took my hair to start falling out for someone to think my normal ranges weren't exactly clinical textbook's definition of "normal". And of course I've been saying I've had a problem with my thyroid for years before I convinced a dr to test me for Hashimoto's.

So yeah it might be worth seeing an endocrinologist, especially since you are feeling it's got something to do with that system. I recommend trusting your gut to an extent; you know your body, so you might have better insight on what could be wrong.

I don't think it would be harmful to see the endocrinologist or psychiatrist before one or the other. A good psychiatrist will actually ask about thyroid disorders just to make sure that's not part of the equation. And one won't necessarily directly effect the other. (Although it could be costly.)

3 cigarettes a day isn't that much in comparison to what I was doing, but it's still enough to effect your health. I know it's hard, but try to quit because it can really make a huge difference on your sleep. It also might be a good idea to try to cut back on your coffee. Idk if one coffee is one espresso or one time, but I know of people that have several shots in "one" coffee so if you're among them you might want to cut back.

[sophia456]

oh and my weight is 50Kg

[sophia456]

thank u dacky406! i ve already tested my thyroid levels and they are fine....do u think before i visit a psychiatrist, i should also see a endocrinologist?

i am a smoker, about 3 cigs a day and i drink 1 or 2 coffees daily


thanks again for your advice!

[ducky406]

Depression itself can cause most of those problems (I'm not sure about muscle weakness, although my sister complains of back pains when she's depressed). If you are feeling suicidal seek immediate medical attention. Otherwise it could benefit you to at least talk to a psychiatrist. Never feel pressured into starting an antidepressant if you don't want to, no one should ever make you feel the need to medicate. It could help, it might not- but it's your decision to start meds. Either way a psychiatrist or counselor can really be beneficial.

Hypothyroidism can also cause most of the things on that list. I would recommend you to looking into your thyroid levels and ask your doctor to test for the free T3 and T4 as well as the standard TSH test. Because TSH is only the hormone that helps start/stop the thyroid the actual T3 and T4 that the thyroid uses can be a little more reliable when it comes to telling what's going on with your thyroid.

Sleep problems can also feed into this as they can be a symptom or a cause. If you aren't getting enough sleep, your concentration, emotions, and energy are all out of wack. Inadequate sleep can also cause headaches, nausea, problems with sex drive, etc. I would suggest, if you are overweight or have any history of sleep apnea or other sleep ailments in your family or personal history, to talk to your doctor about a sleep study. They will hook you up to a machine to see if you're getting enough oxygen while you're sleeping and maybe do some other test. Have you tried something herbal like melatonin or herbal teas to help you sleep? Also if you are a smoker, or constantly drinking coffee now may be the time to stop. Nicotine can cause havoc with your sleep cycle as can the obvious caffeine.

Your symptoms are serious enough to talk to a doctor, no doubt. But no fear, you don't need to jump to cancer and tumors. That doesn't mean it might not be serious, but perhaps not as serious.