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All the symptoms
I have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism, but my labs show normal ranges for TSH, T4, T3, etc. Some of the major symptoms are extreme fatigue, weight gain, puffiness or swollen hands and feet, feeling cold, hair loss, constipation, memory lapses, unexplained joint pain and irregular heatbeat. I have also been diagnosed with an enlarged thyroid, but a recent sono came back normal. Is is possible to have hypothyroidism and still have blood test within normal ranges? Could these symptoms point to a health issue other than hypothyroidism? I have considered chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. Is there something I am missing? I am frustrating with not getting any answers. I have been to several doctors (including an endocrinologist) over the last 10 years that I have been experiencing these symptoms, but have yet to get any relief.
Thanks medicmommy for the parathyroid tip... I'm looking into that one right away. My labs the past decade or so have said that I'm 'normal' though I, too, have had hypo symptoms since I was a child.
I am currently working with an NMD (Naturopath MD, vs an allopath Endocronologist or other traditional MD). My NMD is more concerned with how I feel and function vs the ink on my lab reports. Those labs for sure are the starting point to see what is going on, but normal with aggrevating symptoms of any nature is not 'whole' to a good NMD. So, here's some info from another post I did in case it may help you find someone to work with. Again, those labs ARE important, but ultimately, you are what needs to be treated. If the doc you work with is good, you should be able to start 'ruling out' diagnosis and trying medications that may help you.
My hypo diagnosis is primarily based on my lifelong symptoms: cold hands/feet/nose, severe constipation, easily bruising, thin wispy brittle hair, thin brittle nails, depression that won't lift with ADs (antidepressants), constant fatigue unrelieved by sleep, foggy thinking, irritability, etc etc. My labs (blood work) indicate "normal." But I have to do a saliva test (with the rythm of my cycle, 19th 20th or 21st day) and a stool test for other indicators (minerals, metals, etc). So the testing is valid and important, but in my case, I can't wait for the results before getting some type of help.
Word of caution on 'trying' meds. It's good to try one (no more than 2-3) things at one time. The first medical person I went to was not an MD nor an NMD, she was a nurse practitioner - which should be fine. Except she wanted me to walk out of her office with 5 supplements and 3 scripts for meds. Problem? How would I know which 'thing' actually worked and where to reinvest my $ for monthly supplies? Plus, if I had any adverse reaction, to which thing could I attribute the avarse reaction to??
Our bodies are like our own 'pharmacies.' Sometimes, if we put one thing back 'in balance' the other things can balance themselves out. So having only a couple new things in your system is waaaay better than throwing in too much and not knowing what is affecting what. Me? I'm on Armour right now for the hypo and Progesterone Cream for the Endometriosis/Ovarian Cysts (Estrogen Dominance diagnosis).
My labs should direct things better once more results are in, but my symptoms and their improvement is my (and my NMD's) real concern.
Hope this info on finding and NMD in your area helps... Here is a reply I did for a post/blog on this site for Gardisil (which I will NOT be giving to my teen daughter):
The Gardisil may have something to do with your daughters symptoms, I would look for an NMD that would be willing to evaluate your daughter further, not just look at "normal ranges" on lab reports and say "all is well." A good NMD will take labs into consideration, of course, but really seek to find the source of the symptoms.
Check your state Board of Naturopathic MDs to see what NMDs are currently licensed and practicing near you. NMDs can have the same "bedside manner" issues as allopathic MDs (arrogance, too busy to listen, etc.) so try to "interview" some before making a final selection on who to bring your daughter to. It may take a 2-4 weeks or so to find someone you feel comfortable with, but its worth it in the end. When calling NMD offices, ask if they do FREE consultations (usually 15-20 minutes). If they do, take advantage and get an appt asap. Be sure to have all questions and any medical files with you ready to go so you maximize the free appt.
If they do not offer free consults, try to research the doc to find out as much as you can and find out their fee structure. Sometimes the fee structure is great, but the info on the doc is so sparse that, without the free consult, I would vote no and screen them out. I recently found a good doc with a good fee structure and can hopefully get some of the money back via Out of Netwk insurance filing. NMDs are known for wanting to find the source of symptoms and seeking to identify any relationships to symptoms rather than bandaiding the symptoms independantly...
Best thoughts for you.
I am currently working with an NMD (Naturopath MD, vs an allopath Endocronologist or other traditional MD). My NMD is more concerned with how I feel and function vs the ink on my lab reports. Those labs for sure are the starting point to see what is going on, but normal with aggrevating symptoms of any nature is not 'whole' to a good NMD. So, here's some info from another post I did in case it may help you find someone to work with. Again, those labs ARE important, but ultimately, you are what needs to be treated. If the doc you work with is good, you should be able to start 'ruling out' diagnosis and trying medications that may help you.
My hypo diagnosis is primarily based on my lifelong symptoms: cold hands/feet/nose, severe constipation, easily bruising, thin wispy brittle hair, thin brittle nails, depression that won't lift with ADs (antidepressants), constant fatigue unrelieved by sleep, foggy thinking, irritability, etc etc. My labs (blood work) indicate "normal." But I have to do a saliva test (with the rythm of my cycle, 19th 20th or 21st day) and a stool test for other indicators (minerals, metals, etc). So the testing is valid and important, but in my case, I can't wait for the results before getting some type of help.
Word of caution on 'trying' meds. It's good to try one (no more than 2-3) things at one time. The first medical person I went to was not an MD nor an NMD, she was a nurse practitioner - which should be fine. Except she wanted me to walk out of her office with 5 supplements and 3 scripts for meds. Problem? How would I know which 'thing' actually worked and where to reinvest my $ for monthly supplies? Plus, if I had any adverse reaction, to which thing could I attribute the avarse reaction to??
Our bodies are like our own 'pharmacies.' Sometimes, if we put one thing back 'in balance' the other things can balance themselves out. So having only a couple new things in your system is waaaay better than throwing in too much and not knowing what is affecting what. Me? I'm on Armour right now for the hypo and Progesterone Cream for the Endometriosis/Ovarian Cysts (Estrogen Dominance diagnosis).
My labs should direct things better once more results are in, but my symptoms and their improvement is my (and my NMD's) real concern.
Hope this info on finding and NMD in your area helps... Here is a reply I did for a post/blog on this site for Gardisil (which I will NOT be giving to my teen daughter):
The Gardisil may have something to do with your daughters symptoms, I would look for an NMD that would be willing to evaluate your daughter further, not just look at "normal ranges" on lab reports and say "all is well." A good NMD will take labs into consideration, of course, but really seek to find the source of the symptoms.
Check your state Board of Naturopathic MDs to see what NMDs are currently licensed and practicing near you. NMDs can have the same "bedside manner" issues as allopathic MDs (arrogance, too busy to listen, etc.) so try to "interview" some before making a final selection on who to bring your daughter to. It may take a 2-4 weeks or so to find someone you feel comfortable with, but its worth it in the end. When calling NMD offices, ask if they do FREE consultations (usually 15-20 minutes). If they do, take advantage and get an appt asap. Be sure to have all questions and any medical files with you ready to go so you maximize the free appt.
If they do not offer free consults, try to research the doc to find out as much as you can and find out their fee structure. Sometimes the fee structure is great, but the info on the doc is so sparse that, without the free consult, I would vote no and screen them out. I recently found a good doc with a good fee structure and can hopefully get some of the money back via Out of Netwk insurance filing. NMDs are known for wanting to find the source of symptoms and seeking to identify any relationships to symptoms rather than bandaiding the symptoms independantly...
Best thoughts for you.
Just a thought...many of your symptoms also fit parathyroid troubles...Have you ever had your blood calcium or urine calcium levels checked? Or your Parathyroid hormone (PTH) level? Check out the symptoms on Parathyroid.com...When I had a bad parathyroid, I had several misdiagnoses (including perimenopause at age 38 -Grrr) and my thyroid levels varied somewhat...At one point, in 2 months, I gained 20 lbs even though I hadn't changed my eating or activity habits! I was so weary of the pat-on-the-hand and the gratuitous blow off and the feeling that all of my symptoms were in my head...(Well dear, you need to control your portion sizes, etc) Hang in there! Your body is telling you SOMETHING is wrong. Be your own advocate, collect copies of your labs and procedure results, and when you see a specialist, have a binder with this info ready -and offer it if they begin to make excuses ("Er, I don't have that test result,,,"etc.) You may get an odd look or two, but Drs are happy with anything that make their job more efficient -and most of them really do want to help! Good luck! ~MM
I am a 26 y/o female. I have many of the symptoms of hyrothyroidism, but I have been tested 3 different times in the past. It appears that my test results show a varying thyroid level. Once it was high, once low, and the last time shows that it was normal. But I am not sure what to do. Do I request yet another test, to show if it has changed again? Or do I just deal with it and see if it gets better or worse?
Do you know your lab results? You could be at the high or low end of normal. Some people get symptoms when that happens.
Sorry to say that some doctors treat based off of lab results and if the lab results show within normal they do not give it a second look. Your doctor has to listen to your symptoms.
Look at your test results if you can. I hope your biopsy goes well....
Keep your doctor appts....
Sorry to say that some doctors treat based off of lab results and if the lab results show within normal they do not give it a second look. Your doctor has to listen to your symptoms.
Look at your test results if you can. I hope your biopsy goes well....
Keep your doctor appts....
I am in exactly the same situation except my thyroglobulin levels were high so I had a thyroid ultrasound where they found a multinodular goiter. Waiting to have biopsy done, but since I have been researching thyroid stuff since they found the goiter, I realise I have ALL the symptoms of hypothyroid but the labs for that were normal.
Did you have an ultrasound of your enlarged thyroid? (Is that what a sono is?)
Were there no nodules?
Sorry can't be of more help, please report back if you find out more.
Did you have an ultrasound of your enlarged thyroid? (Is that what a sono is?)
Were there no nodules?
Sorry can't be of more help, please report back if you find out more.
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