Drmark?

[ShannieK]

Hi, just a question.  I have Hashimoto's, was diagnosed last year.  Ever since my diagnoses last year, I have been within normal range, maybe a tad above, in the beginning.  I started at a 3.9, and since have had TSH readings of a .9 and 1.3 here recently.  My endo has always been pleased with my levels, however I stil have so many symptoms of hypo.  Weight gain, acne, bloating, constipation, dry skin, fatigue, hair loss, and so on.  No matter what my level, I always feel the same.  I stick strictly to a low carb/low fat diet, but yet can gain 10 pounds every week.  I cannot keep any hair on my head, but yet, i'm shaving it off everywhere else, cause I have hair growing like  crazy everywhere else.  I've noticed it on my chest, stomach, and even my face.  My endo has checked testosterone, and said it is normal.  I have been through the ringer with adrenal tests, that sometimes, show my cortisol low and other times, everything is normal.  Even with an adrenal insuff. though, this is not really a symptom.  Endo says, I have more prominant symptoms of an overproduction of cortisol, however no blood or lab tests to back that up.  Any thoughts?  Can female hormones, such as estrogen or anything like that maybe be a cause of some of this hair growth?  I had a FSH test and LH test taken, but doc says these are normal, I was however in the middle of my mensus when I took these tests, would that make a difference?  Just curious.  I have forgotten many times to tell my endo about the body hair, Does this all point a certain direction with you?  Thanks for your time. Shannon

[ShannieK]

Hi, I just wanted to add, that I really appreciate you getting on here and offering your help the way that you do.  So many of us on here are just at the end of our ropes when it comes to our symptoms and just trying to live normal lives.  You seem to be very caring and very helpful to so many of us, and i've noticed that you are being requested more and more on here.  I jsut hope you know, that we aren't wanting to take advantage of you or get any free advice, just wanting you to know that you are appreciated, and i'm sure others will back me up.  Thanks again. Shannon

[ShannieK]

Hi, thanks so much for everyone's responses, Thanks Drmark for your input, i'm thinking of going to see my gyno, to maybe rule out anything that might be messed up there.  That is the only place that I haven't been.  When I got real sick last October and was diagnosed with hashimoto's, I did appear to have some strange symptoms thrown in with my thyroid complaints.  I got hot flashes all the time, extreme night sweats, and my breasts became engorged.  I was positive I was preganant.  I had never felt that way before unless I was, it wasn't until 4 home preganancy tests came back negative, that I went to see my doc.  I was diagnosed with thyroid problems, started on synthroid, and nothing else was done, but I don't feel any better. Hot flashes made my GP test my FSH and LH, but said all was normal.  DRmark, I stopped taking my propranolol, and feel worlds better as far as the pressure in my head, and the dizziness, could this have been causing this the whole time?  Mandy, I have 3 children, and have suffered two miscarriages in the last two years.  DrMark, my endo, has checked my cortisol,  Dhea, testosterone,and bioavailable testosterone, she said all are normal.  I have had the cortisol blood and 24 urine tests 3 times now, and all comes back fine, but my ACTH comes back high.  The range being 0-46, the first test came back 92, the second came back 130.  Endo says hard to say, could be stress also.  Do have twins, anythings possible(Ha Ha) Had an MRI on pituitary, almost 2 weeks ago, haven't heard nothing yet, i'm thinking it's fine, she always contacts me right away, if there is a problem.  Thanks for both of your input!!! I just know there is something else in there causing a problem, maybe some gyno tests can help shed some light.  All i know is my thyroid has been fine for awhile, always in good range, but just feel terrible all the time, and really am going bald fast.  Since this last hyper flare up I just had, my chest pain and heart palps are gone.  this whole last year, I have suffered from that, but now I'm not having any problems, makes me wonder if my synthroid dose may have been too high, and since my flare up, has evened out, don't know!!  Thanks Mandy for your comments as well, I have been told by friends that an excess of estrogen can mimick alot of the same symptoms of thyroid, I looked it up on the web, and everything matches, but I would think that my two tests would have come back abnormal, if there was a problem with my estrogen.  I will keep searching for answers, thanks so much. shannon

[Mandy44]

Shannon did you say earlier that you had two kids? PCOS might be unlikely in that case as most women I know with PCOS have a lot of difficulty having children, some remain infertile, it really depends on the individual- but often once a woman with PCOS does conceive generally the PCOS goes away. I have said before on here that I think it is really hard to tell between PCOS and thyroid. I was diagnosed with PCOS- I have had high DHEA levels along with high testosterone- hair loss etc. But I have never been obese which is generally a classic symptom for PCOS- but again everyone is different- I still don't know if I ever had PCOS because of my thyroid problems- Def have your gyno look at DHEA, testosterone and maybe an ultrasound of your ovaries- Just some ideas- Good luck.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

tough situation.  The TSH seems properly treated. The palpitations suggest that increasing the synthroid or adding t3 may be complicated by worsening cardiac symptoms.

PCOS is what I was thinking and I am glad JimLow mentioned it.  Sometimes it is tough to diagnose - classically there are 8 or fewer menstrual cycles/year along with a sign of excess male hormone (even with normal levesl).  It is more likely if family history of diabetes.

Cortisol excess is also tough to diagnose at times - 24 hour urine cortisol is helpful - in highly suspicious cases that may have cyclical cortisol production, midnight salivary cortisol for 14 days straight may show a pattern.  University of Florida has used that approach at times.

Good luck.

[ShannieK]

Hi Jimlow, thanks for the info on PCOS, I looked it all up, there are alot of symptoms that are the same, but than I just read it said, that having PCOS, symptoms do not mean you have it, but could have a thyroid problem or adrenal.  That just kinda sums me up.(Ha Ha)  Maybe it's just time to go to a gynecologist, and get some stuff checked out.  I did have those two hormone tests ran on me, that I mentioned above, I think those check estrogen and progesterone levels, and those came back fine, the doc said. I don't know, I just know that i feel terrible right now, I really wish that I had some answers. the pressure in my head today is really bothersome to me.  I feel especially tired, but when I sleep and wake up, I don't feel any better. I don't remember it being this bad, however when I started my hyper flare up a couple weeks ago, I went back to taking 2 of the propranolol a day, cause I was not wanting the palpitations, am still taking that, maybe now that it's all calmed down, and i've hit hypo, maybe the meds are bothering me, we'll see.  Sorry to get on here and whine all the time, I really feel that I'm always complaining, and I never feel good.  Just depressed, i guess, really just want some answers.  Hope you all are doing fine. Will keep in touch, Shannon.  Thanks so much for all your responses Jimlow and all your suggestions, I'll check with my gyno, maybe it's something to look into.

[Jimlow]

Hi, may I jump in here while you await info from drmark?  If you remember Shannon, I told you about my wife having sugery for endometrosis and that we suspected she might have PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). We had her hormones tested and she did have highly elevated estrogen levels but her testosterone, dhea and other "androgens" were normal-range.
I didn't know about your excess hair growth until you mentioned it above but knew only about your hair loss. Your mention reminded me of my wife and my "researching" about "Excess Androgens" in women. The endometriosis & PCOS are also sometimes tied into this but IT CAN CAUSE BOTH HAIR LOSS & EXCESS HAIR GROWTH in some women. You might do a search using "Excess Androgens" & symptoms. It's adrenal-related.
(below for everyone>>>>)
Also while I'm at it, here's some Q & A some of you might appreciate;  QUESTION: Why do people fervently search for answers when suffering an illness? ANSWER: Because sometimes they're not getting any. QUESTION: What will they research? ANSWER: Things that present with the SAME MAJOR SYMPTOMS they are experiencing. QUESTION: What is the definition of a hypochondriac? ANSWER: someone who imagines they have all the illnesses they find out about. QUESTION: Should we give more credit to most people for having more common sense than that? ANSWER: Yes, because when they have an illness with spells so severe thay can hardly leave bed or crawl across a floor, it would be even more moronic for them not to search for answers, especially when their lives have all but almost been taken away from them. QUESTION: Just because a person is treated for one illness, does that rule out another co-existing one? ANSWER: People with major illnesses (ei:Thyroid) are at higher risk of developing others, as stated by medical resources. QUESTION: If an illness like heart disease or bleeding ulcers etc... is caused by stress, does this mean just treat the stress or both illnessses as stress(antidepressants etc...). ANSWER: No, once a medical illness developes, even if stress is the cause, it has to be treated as a seperate intity, otherwise it PROGRESSES. The stress can be treated too.
I will not hinder, be sarcastic or make someone feel silly for proactively trying to recover their lives. It is a slap in the face to them and no one deserves that.  THANKS.