Confusing Test Results & Hashimoto's

[Nikki0407]

Hello,
I have been going through testing for a couple of years now.  I have nodules on my throid.  Biopsy came back fine.  I experience low blood sugar feelings, but my blood sugar is in the normal range 80's.  I get times that my arms will tingle inside. There have been times when just a finger(pinky) or toe(big) has become numb feeling. Sometimes my body feels so weak and tired.  I had a blood glucose test and came back with reactive hypoglycemia.  Can anything mimic the feelings of low blood sugar?  I went through a period of thyroiditis.  TSH went to .001, up to 4.6 and now has regulated at 2.64.  I have been diagnosed with Hashimoto's.  The thing that is odd to me is that it seems the TPO and Thyroglobulin results are usually really high.  My results are just minimally elevated.  TPO is 89.7 (<35) and Thyroglobulin 31.3 (<20).  My endo. is unable to help me and my PCP now wants me to see a rheumatologist because of the tingling that I get.  I have an appointment next week.  My grandma had Lupus, so autoimmune diseases run in the family.  Any thoughts would greatly be appreciated.  I feel like I'm constantly pulling at straws.    

[kitty9309]

The level of thyroid antibodies does not indicate disease severity. Most people think that the higher level means you are sicker. Not true.
Each of us produce antibody levels at different rates, even with the same disease. It is just how your body chooses to respond.

I get dizzy too. :(((

[Nikki0407]

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond.  I'm sorry that you are feeling the way you do too.  My PCP told me "just because nothing is showing up doesn't mean that something is wrong."  I just broke down crying because I said that some doctor's make you feel that everything you are experiencing is in your head.  I've been to 3 endo.'s now.  They seem really hard to find one that will really sit there and listen to you.  They always take the wait and see approach with me.  I was never put on medication.  I'm so frustrated because I've gained weight and because of the blood sugar feelings, I have trouble dieting.  I get the shakes and get very weak when I cut my calories.  I don't believe that they tested me for lupus in the past.

I went through two episodes where I could not lift my head off my pillow for the entire morning because I was so dizzy.  My stomach was also nauseas with it.  The first time it happened, my PCP told me it was probably a virus.  The second time, the endo told me that the thyroid can cause spells like that.  I get tired, inner shakes, tingling in arms, muscle weakness, brain fog.  I believe only one of my nodules is hyper.  The rest are hypo.

Blessings,
Nikki

[bncrump]

I am sorry to hear that you are struggling the way that you are. I don't have any answers for you but I wanted to tell you that I  know how you feel. I think that you would benefit from calling around to find an endo that specializes in thyroid...even if you have to travel a little. Just start calling around. Talk to people...word of mouth is great!

I have Hashimoto's and have been having trouble for many years. I did not start taking medication until April of this year, 5 months after I had my son. My TSH was 202 but no one ever checked my antibodies. The rheum found the antibodies 3 years ago when my GP ran an ANA test and it came back positive. My grandmother also had lupus and died from it at the age of 60. Rheum said I didn't have lupus but could in the future BUT the thyroid antibodies were causing the ANA to come up positive. I asked her what I was supposed to do about it and she said NOTHING! Even though I was exhausted, achy, dizzy, itchy, headaches, twitching and tingly all over. You have fibromyalgia. I didn't believe her for a second. She sent me on my way and that was it. I go back to see her this Monday. Just to make sure it's not lupus and it is definitely my thyroid.

My endo does not specialize in thyroid (so I am seeing a new one in a few weeks). I have all the symptoms listed above and more now. Ever since I started taking the meds, I have been feeling terrible. Add stomach problems and tremor to the list. He hasn't ran an antibodies test since 12/06 and refuses to. My TSH is normal, so he says and he won't change my dosage of meds or consider switching brands. So, going to see a new dr.

Thanks for letting me share my story, even though that is the very short version!

So...just because your blood tests don't exactly point in one direction doesn't mean that there isn't something wrong. Do you take thyroid meds? Have you been test for lupus before? Do you have any other symptoms?

Feel better, you are not alone!