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277535 tn?1218136198

Hashimoto's or just subacute thyroiditis


Hi,
I was diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism about a month ago.  My test so far are as follows:
9/12 tests
TSH 4.79 (range 0.49-4.67) HIGH
Prolactin 5.47 ng/ml (range 2.64-13.13)

So they decided to check my free T4 and total T4
9/12 tests
T4 free 0.84 ng/dL (range 0.71-1.85)
T4 total 5.1 mcg/dL (range 6.1-12.2) LOW
TSH 8.00 (0.49-4.67) HIGH
Ferritin 16.5 (rr 11-307) low

I finally went to an endo and he checked my antibodies which were
Thyroglobulin Ab <20 (rr <20)
Thyroid Peroxidase 145 (rr <35)
I have been taking synthroid 100mcg for almost one month and started taking 200mcg of selenium when I got my antibodies test back.
My only symptom has been diffuse hair loss for three months but it seems to getting faster.  One doctor called it telogen effluvium which I have researched so hopefully there will be new growth.  Do you consider the hair loss with thyroid issues to be telogen effluvium?
Prior to noticing hair loss I lost around 15 lbs over four months.  I thought my exercise regime was finally working but now I wonder if I was hyper.  I also had experienced insomnia and heart palps when I would lie down to sleep during my weight loss period.  I have read that people with Hashis can go from hyper to hypo.  How common is this?  Is it possible I just have subacute thyroiditis (not chronic) or is it Hashimoto's?  How do you distinguish from the two with tests?  

I was also curious about head rushes.  I have experience head rushes frequently when I go from kneeling to standing but since starting medication it occurs more frequently (sitting to standing and laying down to standing).  Could this possibly mean adrenal issues?  Any information would be appreciated!!  I am starting to feel like I should go back to school and study endocrinology :-)

Thank you very much!
Marianne


5 Responses
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Avatar universal
A TSH of 4.78 is not normal is should be no higher then a 2 - that is why you feel sluggish.  Get a 2nd opinion.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A TSH of 4.78 is not normal is should be no higher then a 2 - that is why you feel sluggish.  Get a 2nd opinion.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was diagnosed with thyroiditis 10 years ago and was treated for about 3 months with beta blocker and a small white pill which I cant remember the name.  I have always felt sluggish and tired and this summer I started having heart palpitations and was found to have hyperthyroid due to an autoimmune antibody of the thyroid.  A month ago I was all of the sudden hypothyroid and my blood work as of 10/2/07 was

Free T4  was 1
TSH  was 4.78

Endo said this is normal now and see you in December, but in the mean time I feel terrible.  My body aches, I feel sluggish and horrible most of the day.  What can a person do to help ease these symptoms of this autoimmune thyroiditis??  He told me this can happen over and over .  Not good news.
Helpful - 0
97953 tn?1440865392
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It is hard to know if this was silent thyroiditis (which is also probably antibody mediated) going into a hypo phase or if this is straightforward early Hashimoto's.  Going hyper to hypo due to autoimmune thyroid disease is not very common.  Not having labs from 2-4 months ago makes it hard to make the diagnosis at this point.  The synthroid could be stopped and levels monitored closely -- if silent thyroiditis the TSH would return towards normal -- but with the positive TPO ab would think it may be best to stay on synthroid in most cases.  Hair loss is common with this and should improve -- it is a cause of telogen effluvium -- stress is the most common cause.

Doubt adrenal with the rush symptoms, but talk to your doctor about these.
Helpful - 0
277535 tn?1218136198
When I wrote subacute thyroiditis I meant silent (painless) thyroiditis...without the postpartum part.
Helpful - 0

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