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Dr. Please help with this Thyroid Question
Okay I am back once more with more recent lab work. I am still fighting to get more adrenal testing done with my doctor, however I have some tests that I had done recently for pituitary function AND thyroid antibodies test done, let me give you my results. I will even give the results of my TSH and Free t4 to show that I have low thyroid function.
TSH 1.97 (normal range)
Free T4 0.68 (0.71-1.66) Low
hormones:
FSH 4.4 mIU/ml (4.0-13.0)
LH 3.6 mU/mL (1.0-18.0)
Prolactin 23.0 ng/mL (5.2-26.5)
Thyroglobulin Antibodies <0.3 (0-14.4)
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodi <0.5 (0-3.9)
Cortisone Serum 1.8 mcg/dL A.M. 1.2-3.5
P.M. 0.6-2.8
I had the cortisol test done at noon. I am just confused if my Pituitary tests check out normal, and antibodies are normal, why am I hypothyroid? My Doctor isn't being very helpful right now. I don't know if my adrenals maybe causing the thyroid to be low...? I am going in on Tuesday to get him to do more adrenal tests done, but I am just still confused as to where my hypothyroid comes in. I also am still lactating and have been for 2 years and had my son 2 years ago. I just don't understand why my doc won't treat me if I have an obvious symptoms but the labs are within "normal" range. He gave me levothyroxine 25mcg and it didn't help I felt like I was going hyper even though my t4 was still showing hypo. I am also sufereing from vision troubles such as floaters and "stars." Can you please help oint me in the right direction? Why are all of my tests BUT my thyroid testing normal but I have all these symptoms of throid or hormone disease and can an adrenal insufficiency be my problem? Can it cause hypothyroid?
my symptoms are
-Fatigued
-foggy
-achey in my back and wrists
-vision problems like stars and swelling behind the eye
-some headaches
-sick feeling
-major GERD
-mild tacycardia (upto 130 bpm)
-anxiety
-70 lb weight gain within the past 2 years despite decrease appetite
-low bp (drops to 98/50 at times)
TSH 1.97 (normal range)
Free T4 0.68 (0.71-1.66) Low
hormones:
FSH 4.4 mIU/ml (4.0-13.0)
LH 3.6 mU/mL (1.0-18.0)
Prolactin 23.0 ng/mL (5.2-26.5)
Thyroglobulin Antibodies <0.3 (0-14.4)
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodi <0.5 (0-3.9)
Cortisone Serum 1.8 mcg/dL A.M. 1.2-3.5
P.M. 0.6-2.8
I had the cortisol test done at noon. I am just confused if my Pituitary tests check out normal, and antibodies are normal, why am I hypothyroid? My Doctor isn't being very helpful right now. I don't know if my adrenals maybe causing the thyroid to be low...? I am going in on Tuesday to get him to do more adrenal tests done, but I am just still confused as to where my hypothyroid comes in. I also am still lactating and have been for 2 years and had my son 2 years ago. I just don't understand why my doc won't treat me if I have an obvious symptoms but the labs are within "normal" range. He gave me levothyroxine 25mcg and it didn't help I felt like I was going hyper even though my t4 was still showing hypo. I am also sufereing from vision troubles such as floaters and "stars." Can you please help oint me in the right direction? Why are all of my tests BUT my thyroid testing normal but I have all these symptoms of throid or hormone disease and can an adrenal insufficiency be my problem? Can it cause hypothyroid?
my symptoms are
-Fatigued
-foggy
-achey in my back and wrists
-vision problems like stars and swelling behind the eye
-some headaches
-sick feeling
-major GERD
-mild tacycardia (upto 130 bpm)
-anxiety
-70 lb weight gain within the past 2 years despite decrease appetite
-low bp (drops to 98/50 at times)
I started feeling much better when I started the Cabergoline weekly pill to lower the prolactin and hopefully shrink the small growth. I actually got pregnant as a result of ovulating once again from the lowered prolactin levels so I had to go off the meds(which I was told is optional) and had morning sickness for months. I am 20 weeks now and I feel great but I am looking forward to starting the meds again after I finish nursing.
It seemed scary to be told I had some type of tumor in my brain but quickly learned it wasn't just that uncommon and was mostly harmless if it didnt grow larger. I was told it probably started when I was nursing my newborn daughter(rise in prolactin causing shifts in pituitary function). These prolactin adenomas are very common in women who are of childbearing years. Make sure to go see an Endo!! Ask your pimary Care doctor for an MRI as prolonged lactation is one of the biggest symptoms of a pituitary growth and that is the ony way to 100 percent diagnose it. I would be very upset and surprised if they have not done so already!!!! Sometimes these growths can be miniscule but throwing your whole pituitary function slightly off level.
I am not on here much but feel free to message me if you have any other questions!
It seemed scary to be told I had some type of tumor in my brain but quickly learned it wasn't just that uncommon and was mostly harmless if it didnt grow larger. I was told it probably started when I was nursing my newborn daughter(rise in prolactin causing shifts in pituitary function). These prolactin adenomas are very common in women who are of childbearing years. Make sure to go see an Endo!! Ask your pimary Care doctor for an MRI as prolonged lactation is one of the biggest symptoms of a pituitary growth and that is the ony way to 100 percent diagnose it. I would be very upset and surprised if they have not done so already!!!! Sometimes these growths can be miniscule but throwing your whole pituitary function slightly off level.
I am not on here much but feel free to message me if you have any other questions!
I had the exact same symptoms!!!I have also had a very low thyroid that is managed by a synthroid, I was lactating for a year after my daughters birth and was FINALLY diagnosed with a pituitary growth, it is a small growth that secretes the prolactin hormone, even though my prolaction wasn't off the charts high. Go to an endocrinologist who specializes in pituitary issues and Ask for an MRI!!!!! These adenomas are usually non-threatening and can be manged by a weekly medication. Keep pushing for answers, all my doctors thought I was just a "tired New Mom"...good luck!
okay well maybe it will be better to have the MRI to be specifically on the pituitary gland. I will let you know what happens. Thanks!! :)
I am pretty sure it was a normal MRI that was done to scan the pituitary, The scan just focused on my brain. Keep pushing and make sure you see an Endo who can better manage all of your thyroid and hormone levels. Good luck Tuesday!
I know I am going in Tuesday I really hope he takes me seriously.I am going to tell him that it all makes perfect sense and just because the prolactin isn't sky high he cannot rule out the tumor, I have been lactating for 2 years now AND I have vision problems and spots in vision which are probably blind spots. Thanks for the help. They had to do a special MRI to find the Pit. tumor right? Cuz I had an MRI done 2 years ago that said the pituitary was normal and it was just a normal MRI.
My tests were all normal but my TSH was high(low thyroid) and my prolactin was slightly elevated. I am very shocked that your doctor is ignoring prolonged lactation, have you tried switching doc's? I fought for every answer I got and it wasn't easy!! I could not exercise and gained 40 lbs in a year!!! Some doc's thought I was just lazy even though I had lost every lb since my daughters birth just to gain more.
I am certainly not a doctor but I do think your prolactin is on the high side. Also, if you are having ANY type of vision or eye pain you need to get the MRI fast as this was a sign of the growth growing in my case. Ask your opthamologist to do a visual field test on you to check your peripheral vision, mine was showing slight blind spots(also a sign of the pituitary growth).
I really hope you can get your doctors attention, this is so common in women our age that you shouldn't have to be fighting for an MRI!
I am certainly not a doctor but I do think your prolactin is on the high side. Also, if you are having ANY type of vision or eye pain you need to get the MRI fast as this was a sign of the growth growing in my case. Ask your opthamologist to do a visual field test on you to check your peripheral vision, mine was showing slight blind spots(also a sign of the pituitary growth).
I really hope you can get your doctors attention, this is so common in women our age that you shouldn't have to be fighting for an MRI!
thank so much, I would love to keep in contact with you to see how you are doing. May I just ask, you had all normal lab work accept the thyroid and prolactin was kinda high? But you were lactating also? How did you get your doc to finally do an MRI, because my doctor thinks all I have is sleep apnea and a little bit of hypothyroid because my tests are all falling into normal ranges. Are you able to exercise?
Seriously, I am so glad that there is someone else out there who is going through what I am. Unfortunatel there is no endos here where I live I will have to drive four hours to Salt Lake. How are you doing right now? Any better, do you feel you have your life back?
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