Hypo / Hyper symptoms

[Lynn8889]

I am currently on 75 mcg of levothyroxine as I was treated with radioactive iodine for Graves (hyperthyroidism).  
I had my thyroid levels checked approx. 3 to 4 weeks ago.  The T3 and T4 were normal, however my TSH was 6.5.  My regular Dr. checks my levels, I don't see an endo.  Anyway, my regular dr. wasn't available and I ended up seeing one of her collegues, whom told me the TSH was fine.  My TSH levels have been running above normal for quite sometime (over a year) anywhere from 6.5 to 11.  My regular Dr. says it's subclinical hypothroidism and chooses to keep me at the 75mcg of levothyroxine. I have not felt good for some time - tired alot, moody, extremely cold (my dr. checked my temp yesterday and it was 95.7), muscles and joints hurt and ache, chest and back discomfort, frequent nausea I could go on and on here.   I also have had diarrhea for sometime.  The stool test and other gastro test came back fine.  Is it possible to have both hypo and hyper symptoms? Do the symptoms listed above indicate hypo? I have increased PVC's - can one have these when they are hypo? If I was your patient with subclinical hypothroidism - what course of action, if any, would you take?  It just seems like ever since I had the radioactive iodine, I haven't felt the same since.
I appreciate your input!  Thank you!!!

[kelly smith]

sorry , forgot to mention , after surgery the report came back stating the nodule shows backround of Hashimoto disease . thanks again.

[kelly smith]

hi there... its been aprx 8 months of feeling awful . at first it started with achy bones and swelling around the neck .I then i was diagnosed with a couple of nodules... one on the right lobe and one on the left . I had a biopsy done and it showed suspisious. I then had my right lobe removed and it came back non cancerous... but the problem is I still feel really sick . I have sore muscles ( with major cracking ) , hair loss, feeling very cold , no energy , full feeling on the neck ( on the left side now )  ,major shakes  and lately my heart beat is a bit faster then normal. I had my blood test done and i beleive the t3 showed 4.38 and t4 is showing 14 . My family doctor says its normal but I think he is wrong . I wont be able to see my specialist until November 25 and this is stressing me out soo much .. If you can help me at all it will be greatly apreciated.

[Lynn8889]

Thanks for your comment.  I know what you mean about being on an emotional rollercoaster.  Right now I am on 75 mcg. of medicine.  My Dr. called me yesterday (I just had bloodwork done...again) and she said my TSH level is 9.  She stated she is going to increase my medicine to 88 mcg.  I hoped she was going to say that she wanted to send me to an Endo.  I feel horrible alot.....to the point that I wonder if something else underlying, other than the thyroid, is going on.

[LAURIEL]

be careful increase  medicine slowly you dont want to get hyper again. I was sick in bed 6 weeks this summer with hyper thyroid and that was miserable. Now I am low thyroid and my doctor is going slow with medicine. I quess it takes time to get normal TSH. I know this thyroid problem is hard dealing with .I have been thru  a emotional roller coaster. I take multi Vitamin and of course the hair vitamin since i lost alot of hair. One of the things that made a big differance in how I feel is Vit.B12 sublingual. My endo did a test and told me alot people with hypothyroid need B12 but make sure it sublingual.

[Lynn8889]

Thank you for your comment. I'll work on getting her to increase my dose some.  She has stated to me a few times that she was leary about increasing my dose and it causing more palpitations.  I do have palpitations and have been through many tests (echos, stress tests, cardiac caths, ekgs) and other than PACS, PVC's they have told me after each test that my heart is fine.  As I said in my first post.....I have never had any problems until my thyroid issues began and the problems started after I was treated with radioactive iodine.  Thats when the my health seemed to go down hill.  I am in my mid 30's and I just know it's not normal for my age to feel the way I do.  I just keep blaming it all on my thyroid.

[Isis498]

A Dr. who thinks that high a TSH is "sub-clinical" is off the wall!  You need more medication! If she won't do it, get another Dr.  You should not have to suffer like that.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

You need a dose increase -- target TSH is around 1.0.  PVCs can occur with hypo as well -- but watch the frequency of PVCs as the dose is increased.

[Lynn8889]

Thanks for your response.  They have checked for adrenal problems via bloodtest, which my Dr. said it was normal.  I didn't know there was a saliva test to test for adrenal problems. If I may ask, what symptoms were you experience with adrenal insufficiency?  I could go on and on listing my symptoms and how bad I feel.  I keep hoping that if my thyroid medicine is increased. I have stated to my Dr. that I think it's my thyroid levels, she said it may be part of it but she feels there is something underlying that they are missing.

[djdor1]

I totally understand your symptoms, have had very similar. I would just add a couple of comments based on my research and experience. Your symptoms are classic HypoT. By most standard today a TSH of 6.5 is not normal, most of the new ranges are max 3.0.
You might also consider supplementing with T3 alone or using Armour or something similar that has T3 in it also. It would be helpful to see your T3 and T4 including ranges.
Labs are helpful but not the be all and end all, as they do not tell you how you feel!
Lastly, have you had your adrenals tested. I recently used the ASI saliva test and it really pointed to what I had known for a long time, severe adrenal insufficiency, which normally won't show up with just blood tests.
I just know it is no fun to not feel well, and you do not have to continue to be miserable there is HOPE out there, sometimes you just have to look in the right places ;)

Good luck to you....

[Lynn8889]

I apoligize, I left out that I was treated with radioactive iodine 4 1/2 years ago. Thanks again!