Brain trauma = changes in body, thyroid

[CMyers068]

I am a 31yo male that was in a motorcycle accident late 2009. I had 2 cranial fractures on the occipital region. Surgery went excellent considering my 20% chance of living.

Here's the facts..... Pre-acccident body temp normally hung around 99.1-99.3. High but normal for me. Constantly kept body weight healthy and averaged around 220. Built very strong and muscular.

Post accident.... Body temp 95.2-96.2, very hard to loose weight. I was laid up for 3 months and gained 40-50lbs. Since then very hard for me to loose anything.

Went and had a physical done, everything within norms. That being said not sure on my thyroid hormone level, but within normals of this physician.

I am a paramedic and understand that the physiological response is probably normal but wonder about my problems. 3 degrees is a huge difference. Trying to loose weight is going to be 3,4 times harder for me since my low temp. Plus to add s/s of hypothyroidism are present if family. I have an older brother who started turning grey at the age of 15-16. Mother has hypothyroid. Aunt on mother's side has a non-functioning thyroid and was taken out. I know about T3 and T4 but don't want to explore unless it is indicated.

So there's my questions, any advice would be of great help!

[Red_Star]

With classic hypothyroidism symptoms, central hypothyroidism due to traumatic brain injury is a good possibility. It's worth testing TSH, free T4, and free T3.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

"Thyroid symptoms" are very nonspecific and cannot be used to make a diagnosis - would rely on TSH and Free T4 to assess thyroid-pituitary axis.