hypo?

[Meghann]

Hello,

I was treated at 18 for Grave's with PTU and have been fine since (now 39).  However, about 1 1/2 years ago I developed ankle and abdominal edema.  Cause not found, and I am on bumex.  Recently I felt very ill (nausea, headache, shaky) and I took my temp to see if I had a fever.  My temp was 94.8!!  Confirmed with another shake-down thermometer (read below 95, the lowest limit).  It happened again and I got 94.1.  I looked at my most recent test result for TSH of 1 year and a few months ago and saw it was 4.38.  I have read conflicting opinions of proper TSH range but some say this could indicate hypo.  I also have the cold intolerance, I don't sweat when I exercise, and my skin is very dry.  What is your opinion on my symptoms and TSH level?

Thanks.

[ancientmariner]

Dr. Broda Barnes studied thyroid extensively and he stated that low body temperature is ALWAYS a sign of low thyroid, Many think it's a better indicator than the TSH test. Anyway, temperatures that low are an indication that something is wrong, you are not "normal". Sounds like you don't feel normal, either. I would ask for additional thyroid testing, such as antibodies (if you had one autoimmune disease, you are prone to have others), and Free T3 and Free T4 (make sure they're FREE and not Total). You might also be interested in www.drrind.com - there's a temperature graph you can print. You can chart your temps for a couple of weeks and there are instructions on how to interpret the results.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Symptoms may be related to hypo -- except the nausea/shakiness are not typical.  The low temp is not clearly thyroid.  If the repeat TSH is still around 4 or more then a trial of thyroid replacement meds is wortwhile to see if symptoms improve. I would not be surprised if you have autoimmune thyroid disease that is now looking more like Hashimotos.

[HashiMan]

Emka, I would not be surprized if your temp really does go that low, have heard other people report similar temps with hypo. Yours may go up to the 97.s, once up and around, plus the anxiousness most of us have at the Doc's office.
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While I'm on here, I just thought I would list some things of interest for all you autoimmune thyroid disease patients, I've been finding on one main website these past three years. These articles are on a website made available by "The National Library of Medicine" in association with "The National Institutes of Health" (www.pubmed.gov). If you go to the site, you have to put search words in the search-bar and have to be patient putting different combos of words in it, to find related articles but here are some fascinating facts I have found through this site:
1. A systemic inflammatory reaction associated with thyroiditis antibodies, is believed to cause rheumatic manifestions (mild non-erosive arthritis, myalgia, polyarthralgia) and not from the hypothyroidism itself, Even euthyroid patients (not yet hypothyroid)with anibodies have been found to suffer these.
2. Studies of fibromyalgia patients, revealed they have a high incidence of thyroid antibodies (especially TPO) and the most common thyroid condition associated with fibromyalgia in their study, was "sub-clinical hypothyroidism" (SCHT).
3. A certain degree of "peripheral immune deficiency" is present in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and should be regarded as a polygenic disease (affecting overall immune system, rather than just thyroid).
The above research results from studies conducted, is why autoimmune thyroid disease puts patients at higher risk for other autoimmune diseases. "The American Association of Autoimmune Disease Related Illnesses", states that 25% of autoimmune thyroid disease patients, will develop other autoimmune disorders ( 1 in 4). I hope this estimate is high! The above website also reports possible "pathogenesis" or an overlap between autoimmune thyroiditis and rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and others.
"Some" Dr.s don't inform thyroid patients about these risks or feel their rheumatic symptoms or weakened immune system is not related to the thyroid disease. I mean nothing insulting when I say this, but I will believe medical research bodies, especially ones either recognized by our Gov. Health Institutes or studies done by the NIH, together with these other medicals, before an individual's opinion. The same Gov., offering these study results, through the National Library of Medicine, is same Gov., that regulates requirements for granting medical licenses.
Just thought the above might interesting for thyroid patients.

[Chocobabe]

Ankle and abdominal edema, cold intolerance, dry skin, low temp, nausea---those are CLASSIC hypothyroid symptoms! And your temp can fluctuate, and even when you were 97-something, that is STILL hypo!! And I'll tell you this--many of us have figured out that the TSH is a lousy way to diagnose hypo, as well as treat hypo!! There's a lot about this at www.stopthethyroidmadness.com. My doctor tests my free T3 and free T4, because you can have a so-called "normal" TSH and a LOW free T3--the latter which is indicative of hypo! Listen to your symptoms, as doctors did for DECADES before the lousy TSH came into existence!!

[HashiMan]

That body temp., is way too low. Whatever you do, don't go swimming in cold water, you'll go into full-blown hypothermia (already looks like hypothermia).
As lildeb said, it's important to get more thyroid testing! Something is causing that low metabolism and thyroid is always first consideration! I would try not to delay in getting it checked, that temp should have been of more concern to your Doc!

[lildeb]

You need an updated full thyroid panel. Ask for the TSH, Free T3, and the Free T4 lab tests. Due to the fact that you have a history of Graves Disease, you should have had the full panel all along. Doctors sometimes use the TSH as a screening method to diagnose a thyroid problem. Unfortunatly, other hormones can interfer with this result, so many people go undiagnosed. With your symptoms and your history ask for a full thyroid panel, do not take no for an answer. If they still won't do it, go elsewhere.  

Also, the reason you get conflicting results from people regarding the TSH lab test is that in different geographical areas, people consume more iodine than in other regions. Such as people who live near the ocean will have more iodine in the soil, so when the vegetables grow in that soil, and they eat those vegetables, their iodine intake would be higher and their ranges higher on lab tests then someone who lives in Colorado away from the ocean. So There are different ranges in different parts of the country. When posting lab results online, it is always helpful to post the ranges next to the result. Those ranges are set for your geographical region.

lil deb

[Meghann]

Thanks guys for your comments.  What I meant about conflicting results is official limits are 5 but I've read endocrinologists think 3 should be the max.  I went to the doc today and of course my temp was 97.5.  He drew a blood panel.  I couldn't have two broken thermometers could I?  Especially if it went up after wrapping myself up and I use the same one on my daughter who has had fevers with it.  I'm so confused.