Problems for 13 years and frustrated

[naomijones]

Hello,

I have been dealing with multiple symptoms I believe are related to hypothyroidism for nearly 13 years now.  My first symptom started with slight to moderate hair loss (all over, yikes) as well as a change in hair texture.  Afterwards I've experienced tiredness, forgetfulness, numbnes and tingling in hands feet and side of the face, blurry vision at times, sudden rapid heart rate, joint pain, etc.   After researching in 2001 and reading about hypothyroidism, I went my Dr to get bloodwork and my first TSH test was 3.2, however I was told that was well within the acceptable lab range of 0.4 - 5.5.  Since then I found out that my grandmother was hypothroid and my sister recently was treated for hyperthyroidism, so there's definitely thyroid problems in the family.  Subsequent testing always had my TSH levels above 3.0 with the highest being 4.75 yet my doctors have refused to treat me.  I read on an American Endocrinology Society web site that anything over 3.0 should consider treatment.  

My question is am I on the right path with trying to nail down treatment?  Am I really considered Euthyroid? And what can I do to find someone who can help me?

Thanks,

Naomi

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

With the family history and TSH levels you likely have Hashimoto's -- ask for antibody testing and if positive, that would support the diagnosis -- if symptoms, then treating a TSH >3 is worth a try in most cases.

[Thindy]

I had the same symptoms as you. The frightening hair loss is what made me go to the dr. I am not hypothyroid yet but do have hashimotos-an autoimmune disease that destroys the thyroid. They found this out by testing me for my antibody levels (mine are very elevated). I have been put on Levoxyl and the hair loss has subsided some. I do feel a little better on the medicine but have only been on it for 2 months. It can take a while to see results. Sounds like you need to get your antibodies tested if they haven't done so already.

[naomijones]

Thanks for your responses.  Yes I've had thyroid antibody tests (I think that's Hashimoto's tests) and they came back negative.  Not quite sure what's going on.

[rohit_786]

check AB thyroidpreoxidase and AB antirhyroglbin antibody to make sure auto immune

[wyoming_wind]

I have all the symptoms you do but have hypothyroid. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and now have an internist treating my thyroid. Family Doctors are often amazingly unknowledgable regarding thyroid.