Could it be my thyroid?

[searcher95]

I am a 16 year old girl, and I am having a variety of symptoms. Right now this is what I am going through: water retention, headaches, fatigue, my hands and feet are always cold, moody, I am getting terrible acne ( I literally have hardly ever had acne), and my menstrual cycle is very irregular. I know this isn't a doctor forum, but I though maybe there might be someone going through or has gone through the same thing as me. First let me start with the water retention. Last year, I was a little underweight, not severely though. I did, however, maintain that weight for quite sometime. Then, in February of this year, everything started going downhill. From then to May I got up to 100 pounds (from 85). Then in June, for some reason, I just lost weight and go back down to 88-90 pounds. I maintained that for a couple of months, then in September, I started gaining weight again. I am now up to 105 pounds. I just don't understand why this is happening. Doctors don't believe anything is wrong because I am not "overweight". But the thing is, it's not the weight i am worried about. I am still small, but I used to be very thin and fit. I exercise and eat very healthy. My waist measurement was 22 inches in January (before all of this and when I got back down to 90). I have gained about 4-5 inches in my waist. That can't be normal.  My stomach just looks so distended. My muscles are usually very defined and you can see them, but ever since I have gained this water weight, you can't even see them. I haven't changed my eating or anything. I have gone from a size 00-0 to a size 5. Somedays I can't even fit my legs in my pants. It's so depressing when you just keep going up and size and you are doing everything in your power to fight it. I am tired all of the time. Yesterday, I woke up at 10 am and fell asleep at 6 pm for two hours. My menstrual cycle is hit or miss. I got it when I was 10, it has been irregular since. It's been absent more than I have had it. It's regular for two months, then I don't have it again. I get this pain in the front of my neck, but not all of the time. It just comes and goes, but when I do get it, it hurts when I laugh and swallow. My joints ache. I just feel miserable. Could all of this be my thyroid? I have been checked but the test came back negative. They only did two blood tests though. I feel like something is just not right. I am waiting to go to the doctor right now because I can't go until January due to my parents' insurance. They are taking me to a local doctor right now though. Hopefully this new doctor will be helpful.

[searcher95]

The Ultrasound only revealed the distended stomach. They said that they couldn't tell what it was due to the test not being detailed enough. However, where I live doctors are awful, so they are refusing to believe that there is something wrong. They do not believe any tests need to be run. When I went to the doctor a couple weeks ago, I told them that I had a thyroid test run, but it was normal. When I told them the front of my neck hurt, he said I just pulled it wrong or something because he didn't feel a goiter or anything. The last thyroid test was run in March. They said since it was normal then, that it would be redundant to run another test.Needless to say, I am going back to my gastroenterologist that I used to go to whom is 4 hours away from where I live. We discontinued due to the cost, but will be returning because my parents' insurance policy has changed for the better. As soon as I get the test done and the results, I will be sure to post them. Thank you so much for all of your help!

[goolarra]

A distended stomach is also a symptom of hypo.  I think the very best thing you could do now is ask your doctor to test FREE T3 and FREE T4.  T3 and T4 are the actual thyroid hormones, whereas TSH is a pituitary hormone and subject to the influence of many factors.

When you get those results, if you post them (with reference ranges that vary lab to lab and have to come from your own lab report), we can help you interpret them.

Did your U/S show any cause for your distended abdomen?

[selizabeth95]

Oh I meant size of a 300 pound person's stomach. My stomach stretches from the middle of my abdomen all the way past my spleen.

[selizabeth95]

btw i couldn't remember my passwords for my account/email so this is the new account :)

[selizabeth95]

My tsh was 1.15, but they for some reason didn't do any other thyroid test. So, now they are exploring why my stomach swells so much. I got an ultrasound done, and they said my stomach is the size of a 300 lb person.

[goolarra]

Thyroid disease does have a tendency to "run in families".  Graves' disease is hyperthyroidism, and your symptoms sound hypo.  However, it's not unusual for different family member to suffer from different conditions.

When we're hypo, it affects every part of our bodies.  I'm sure you don't feel well and that it's affecting your grades.  When you get your results, we'll try to point you in the right direction.  

[searcher95]

I also suffer from constipation. everything seems to be getting worse. My grades in school are starting to be affecting because I have zero focus or concentration.

[searcher95]

Feeling tired (fatigue) and sluggishness
Weight gain
Constipation
Increased sensitivity to cold
Puffy face
Joint and muscle pain, aches, and stiffness
Pale, dry, rough, and thick skin
Coarse hair
irregular menstrual periods
Depression
Slowed heart rate
Swollen ankles
Difficulty catching your breath (severe shortness of breath) when exercising

At the moment I do not have the test results. I do know that they used the "old" range. The one that goes up to 5. They did the thyroxine and T4 test. We don't have very good doctors where I live. I usually go to the doctor that's about 4 hours away, but we haven't been able to afford it. We are going to pick up a copy tomorrow of the results tomorrow or Tuesday. If it is helpful however, my grandma has thyroid problems. She has Grave's disease.

[goolarra]

It's very possible that all those symptoms you relate are thyroid.

Which blood tests did they run?  Do you have a copy?  If not, you can call your doctor and ask for results or a printed copy.  If you get resulats verbally, be sure to ask for reference ("normal") ranges as well because those vary lab to lab.

If you post your results and ranges, we can help steer you in the right direction.  Thyroid reference ranges are severely flawed, so just being "in range" is very often not enough to relieve symptoms.  We can help you interpret your tests.

[gimel]

Have a look at this linting of 26 typical hypothyroid symptoms and tell us which ones you have.  

http://endocrine-system.emedtv.com/hypothyroidism/hypothyroidism-symptoms-and-signs.html

Also, please post your thyroid test and their references shown on the lab report so that members can assess the adequacy of your testing and treatment.