Do I have Hypothyroidism??

[MG29]

I have gained about 20 pounds in the last year as well as having at least 3 to 4 sleepless nights a week due to heart palpitations. I read some other posts about how the heart palpitations were so strong for them they felt like the bed was shaking & that's exactly how it feels for me. I have tried to bring this matter up to my doctor a few times and the response I get it to go to bed the same time every night and to exercise everyday. As regards the weight gain she told me to eat healthy, not eat a lot of carbs, etc and says not to worry because I'm not overweight. Which is very frustrating to me because I live a very healthy lifestyle, workout everyday, eat healthy, and try to go to bed at the same time every night. I know my body and things aren't right. My whole family on my moms side has thyroid issues and I have thought for some time that I have hypothyroidism but the heart palpitations are what threw me off. My symptoms are, weight gain, heart palpitations (during the day and at night but more so at night which results in many sleepless nights), loss of energy with an accompanied feeling of exhaustion and sluggishness, achy body (which I felt was from working out but maybe not), also this is embarrassing but my digestion is really off, I get a lot of of gas. Has anyone else experienced the same symptoms? How do I get my Dr to take me seriously? She has tested my thyroid before and says it's within the normal range. But I have friends who have hypothyroidism and were told the same thing. I just want to feel better! Any help would be appreciated.

[graceym66]

After 3 weeks of feeling fatigueed and foggy on the increase of 30 -60 mg of dessicated thyroid I cut back to 30 mg.  I couldn't function on the 60.  It's been three weeks and I'm still experiencing severe sweats, and depression.  I'm thinking just as I was increased too quickly, I reduced too quickly.  I read where people are usually increased by 15 mg for two to three weeks.  I'm wondering with this depression if I should try increasing 15 mg.  What are your thoughts on this?  Appreciate any feed back.  Many Thanks.

[graceym66]

I'm thinking the above  maybe still symptoms from the celexa w.d.  Any feed back would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mau

[graceym66]

Today I'm experiencing brain fogginess, nausea, is this common increase symptoms?   I'm feeling worse on 60 mg than 30mg is this common until my body adjusts?  

[graceym66]

My vitamin D as per lab report.

25 - hydroxy vitamin D

25 (OH) D2     >2

25 (OH) D3    171

Total 25 (OH) D   171

>25 severe deficiency
25-80 moderate to mild deficiency
80 - 200 optimum levels
. 200 toxicity possibe.

[gimel]

Please post the reference range for the Vitamin D result, as shown on the lab report.

[graceym66]

No I'm not supplementing the vitamin D.  Level is 171.

[Barb135]

Are you supplementing the vitamin D? Is your level really 171?  That might be too high for you.

[gimel]

Just my opinion but that doctor sounds like one with the "Immaculate TSH Belief".  She probably thinks that any dosage of thyroid med that gets the TSH below the middle of its range is adequate.  That approach will leave many patients still hypo and suffering with typical hypo symptoms.

I haven't heard of excess thyroid meds (whatever that is per her definition) stressing out adrenal glands trying to keep up with a revved up metabolism.  I'd really like to read any scientific study that proves this to be the case.  I have read that insufficient thyroid hormone levels will cause adrenal fatigue as the adrenals try to offset the low levels of thyroid hormone.  These patients then have adverse reaction to thyroid meds until their cortisol level is addressed, or the thyroid med dosage is kept to a very small amount over a long period to allow the adrenals to recover.  

Stay the course.  If you have concerns about adrenal function, then you can ask for a 24 hour urine cortisol test.

[graceym66]

~ I was just reading the life extension magazine August 2012 issue.  There's an extensive article in there on thyroid.  This Dr. says don't go over board with thyroid meds.  She said some of my patients have the attitude that if some is good, more is better.  She said however too much thyroid medication can stress out the adrenal glands which will then over produce cortisol as well as dysregulate ( impair) the ratio of cortisol and DHEA and epinephrine and norepinephrine.  This will leave you more fatigueed than you were in the first place, because the rest of your body's systems will not be able to produce the energy needed to keep up with your now revved up thyroid!

I'm wondering if this is what has happened to me going from 30 -60 mg.  I'm more fatigueed than I was before, and sometimes seem disjointed.   I lie down for awhile and then I'm fine.  I take it from your previous statement you think it would be wise to stay the course instead of reverting back to the 30 mg.?  I value your opininon.

[gimel]

Two weeks is not enough time to fully reflect the effect of a change in meds, even with desiccated.  The half life of the T4 portion is such that it takes 4-5 weeks to be over 90% of its final level in your blood.   In addition, symptoms tend to lag somewhat behind changes in blood levels of thyroid hormones.  The lag time can be dependent on degree of severity of being hypo and the length of time you were hypo.  

[graceym66]

My vitamin D is a s follows 25 (OH) D2  >2

25 (OH) D3 171

Total 25 (OH) D 171

>25 severe deficiency
25-80 moderate to mild deficiency
80 - 200 optimum levels
. 200 toxicity possibe.

I was also not that fatigueed on 30 mg but seem to be on 60.  I've been at this level for two weeks.  Is this normal, any other members report such?

Thankyou for you time.

[gimel]

For the Free T4 range (9 - 23), the midpoint is 16.   For Free T3 (range of 3.5 - 6.5) the upper half of the range would be above the midpoint, which is 5.0.  both your Free T3 and Free T4 are below the midpoint of their ranges, which is frequently associated with being hypothyroid.  

As I previously mentioned, In order to achieve symptom relief, many members report that Free T3 had to be adjusted into the upper third of its range and Free T4 adjusted to around the middle of its range.   So you need to continue to increase your meds as necessary to relieve symptoms, and  also test for both Free T3 and T4 enough to confirm your levels.  Fortunately for you, your doctor seems to understand this, since he said he wants your free T3 around 6

You haven't mentioned Vitamin D.  That is important to  know as well.  D should be around the midpoint of its range also.  

That level for ferritin is good.  No change needed.  

If you click on the Report  button on any post you will notice there are options to report to a Moderator a post that is Abusive, Spam, or a duplicate post.  Then the Moderator will take appropriate action.

[graceym66]

Just a typo I guess the report is now gone!  Thought I'd done something wrong!

[graceym66]

I don't understand why is there a Report by my questions?

[graceym66]

A question ~ I don't completely understand what would the upper half of the ranges be for my free T3 and T4?  I know I'm focusing on this but don't feel well.

Thanks so much,

Mau

[graceym66]

My ferritin is 106 (12-300)> He didn't say it should be adjusted.  He told me he wqants my freeT3 at 6. ( 3.5 - 6.5).

I'm also very fatigueed.  Have members reported fatigue with an increase or could this still be w.d. symptoms from the A.D.  My mind was so very foggy yesterday and later last evening it just lifted.  I found this weird.

Many Thanks for your assistance.  I need reassurance I'm not crazy!!!

Mau

[gimel]

The main thing I see in your labs is that your Free T3 and Free T4 are too low in the range.  The ranges were originally established erroneously.  As a result healthy patients usually have Free T3 and Free T4 in the upper half of the ranges.  Members here frequently report that symptom relief for them required Free T3 to be adjusted into the upper third of the range and Free T4 adjusted to around the middle of its range.  

Free T3 is the most important because it largely regulates metabolism and many over body functions.  Scientific studies have also shown that Free T3 correlated best with hypo symptoms while Free T4 and TSH did not correlate at all.  So be aware and don't let a doctor try to regulate your meds based on TSH.  That simply doesn't work.  Clinical treatment, adjusting FT3 and FT4 works best.

In answer to your question, members have reported having sweats with either hypo and hyper.  

It seems that your doctor has you on the right track by increasing the med.  Now you just need to give the increase a total of about 5-6 weeks and then re-test Free T3 and Free T4, and continue to gradually increase until you feel well.  

Also, you should request to be tested for ferritin.  Ferritin is a good test to determine available iron level, which is very important to good thyroid function and metabolism.  As with the other tests, you want ferritin level to be near the midpoint or slightly above.  

[graceym66]

This N.D. seems pretty thorough, although his beside manner is teh pits.  He seems to have the attitude I know what I'm doing "trust me", which ticks me off!  he's sending me for thyroid blood work every month.    My July results were free t3 ~ 4.8  (3.5 - 6.5).  Free t4 ~12.7 ( 9.0 - 23.0) Tsh 2.10.

My viatmin A was down ( 1.1) so I'm on 6 drops of that per day, @ 5000 units per drop. The scale is ( 1.5 - 3.5)   Vitamin E  was 27 ( 12-45).  He also has me on vit E.  My sugars were also high6.1 ( 4.3-6.1).  Triglycerides 2.14 high also.  Cortisol was high 639 ( 120-620) .  Vitamin B12 was I think 932 if I'm reading this correctly.  It says normal ^150 pmol/L.  You can maybe enlighten me I don't know how to read the b12, just going by my lab results. I appreciate your thoughts on these results.  many thanks.   I am still suffering A.D. w.d into 8 weeks, but know I can feel well again as I did on the inital 30 mg of decissiated thyroid until the w;d's surfaced.  From your experience do you get the sweats with the thyroid hormone.  I seem to at times!

[gimel]

It is very good that you have had the Free T3 and Free T4 tests done.  When taking thyroid meds, TSH becomes almost useless for treating the patient.  In fact many hypo patients taking meds find their TSH becomes suppressed below range and their doctors erroneously decide the patient is hyper and want to reduce meds.  Wrong!!!!  You are hyper only if having hypo symptoms due to excessive levelsof Free T3 and free T4.

As I described above, a good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results.  You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with from a distance.  The letter is then sent to the PCP of the patient to help guide treatment.

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf

In order to achieve symptom relief, many members report that Free T3 had to be adjusted into the upper third of its range and Free T4 adjusted to round the middle of its range.   So, from your description of your symptoms and Free T3 and Free T4 levels, you have a lot of room to adjust.  Being in Canada, your biggest problem now will be finding that good thyroid doctor that will treat you clinically, as described.  If interested, you might have some interest in this link on Patient nominated Top Thyroid Doctors in Canada.

http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/canada.htm

I should also mention that hypo patients are also frequently deficient in other areas as well.  I suggest that you should test for Vitamin A, D, B12 and ferritin.  Also, be aware that just being in the low end of these range for these is inadequate.   Typically they should be at the midpoint or above, for best effect on your body.  

Please keep us tuned in to your progress.

[graceym66]

> During the past 40 years of my life starting at age 25 I've periodically been overwhelmed with anxiety, depression and insomnia. I was told by the mainstream medical community it was SAD, depression etc. I was perscribed Anti depressants which was frustrating as I was waiting for improvement which never came. During the past year I had another episode and onto a.d.'s. These episodes at times happened in the fall/winter after an evening dinner out, consuming sweets, and alcohol. Drs. then said low blood sugar caused anxiety etc. In June I consulted an M.D. who pracitces naturopathy in our city. I recorded my basal temp for a week, which was between 95-97. He perscribed 30 mg of thyroid hormone, as I was tapering off of celexa. I felt improved in a week. This lasted 6 weeks. Two weeks ago depression hit me which he said is still withdrawl from the celexa. I've been off this 7 weeks but I guess it screws up your
> brain chemistry. He increased my dosage to 60 mg. I feel somewhat more relaxed but still very tired and on edge.  I;'m wondering does fatigue go along with increases in thyroid meds., or is it perhaps still celexa w.d.  I'm thinking it is.  

I'm canadian also and can identify with mG29.  In desperation I went to a holistic Dr. who is also an M.D. and paid $$ to have complete blood work done.  My free t4 and t3 levels are the same as hers.  My tsh is at 2.14 and he says he wnats it at 1.  Your thoughts?  Do you think I'm on the right track after all these years?

[gimel]

Wouldn't your doctor do all those tests in the interim?  Just because a doctor is an Endo does not mean a good thyroid doctor.  Many of them specialize in diabetes and not thyroid.  Also, many have the "Immaculate TSH Belief" and only want to use TSH to diagnose and treat a hypo patient.  That is wrong.  Others only use Reference range Endocrinology" and will tell you that a thyroid test that falls anywhere within the range is adequate.  That is also wrong.  

If you will post your location here, and also send me a PM with the Endo's name, I'll be glad to see what I can find out.  If the doctor is not the good thyroid doctor that you need, why wait until Sept. to find out?

[MG29]

Well, I saw my dr and yippee, she is sending me  to an endocrinologist. My appointment is in September. Just a waiting game.

[MG29]

Just an update, nothing new to report. I'm waiting to see my dr. My dr had no available appointments until June. When I go in June, I will request those tests. I have been getting weekly B12 shots and am feeling a bit better. One great change is that I haven't been having any heart palpitations!

[gimel]

Sorry,  I forgot to give you the link on hypo symptoms.

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

I would try to make another appointment and show the letter, and the list of symptoms, marked to show the ones you have.  Then request testing for TPO ab and TG ab and Vitamin D.