Help!

[PutterSmith]

June 2006 I noticed massive hair loss, constipation and extremely tired.  I also was dieting b/c of 20 lb weight gain.  Year prior I went to doctor b/c hand weakness and a form of cramping. At the June 06 visit he said, he did not see anything wrong and that he thought my hair was breaking off.  I purchased expensive treatments from my salon and obviously this did not work.  Went back to doctor and he refered me to a dermatologist . He treated me for female pattern baldness and eventually conducted a scalp biopsy which came up negative.   April 2007 -I finally went to a doctor who helped people lose weight.  I was desperate.  By this time, the hair loss was affecting my self esteem, weight gain was frustrating, very irratible, bottom of feet and tips of toes turning blue and face was swelling and turned bright red on cheeks and nose.  This doctor ran a few blood test and found my cholestrol high and TSH level of 35.  I placed on Synthroid .50mcg.   As of today, redness on my face is fading, lost 15lbs, and face swelling decreased.  I am still experiencing a tremendous amount of hair loss (half the amount of hair I had a year ago),  my pulse is very speradic (56-141/minute),  I want to sleep all the time,  I am developing bruises on my legs and arms (unknown reasons), very irriatible, depressed, hard time swalling when I am eating, often feel as if I am having a hard time breathing - tightness in the chest,  sharp short lived headaches, and sinus/allergies not responding to Zyrtec.  Please help.  I am desperate and my family doctor is making me feel like I am making these symptoms up.  

[PutterSmith]

Thank you so much for the feedback.   I am 35 almost 36yrs old.

My family doctor is not sold that it is hypothyroidism b/c his blood panels came back as a 3.8 (Aug 2006) and 4.2 (May 2007 after I had been taking .50mcg Synthroid for a month) but the other doctor I visited pulled the 35 (April 2007)(each doctor used same test, same varibles, and same lab).   So since I am not under the care of the second doctor who wants to treat me for a stress disorder( I was advised to change my job and make other major changes in my life) no other testing has been done.   I have contacted my insurance company and asked for an endocrinologist in my area.  I have an appointment Aug 23. Thank you again.  I will keep you posted.

[kitcurious]

Yes, just to echo what Dac said. Please see both an endocrinologist and a cardiologist.
Your possibly long undiagnosed hypothtyroidism could have caused your cholesterol to increase as well.

[DLA]

Your feet turning blue, the swelling red face, the tightness in chest, and sporadic pulse makes me think heart problem.  Have they run any kind of heart tests on you?  EKG, echo cardiogram, blood tests checking heart and blood levels?  I would seriously look into this if I was you.  

The blue feet sound like a circulatory problem.  A swollen red face is also a symptom of heart stress.  The sproadic pulse speaks for itself, I think.  Headaches could also be sign of heart trouble.  Please have your dr check on it or send you to cardiologist.  Do not know your age or anything about you to know if you may not fit the stereotypical heart candidate.  If not drs don't always consider it or think it is possible.

Praying you find answers soon.
Dac

[MJ13]

Sorry to hear you're going through so much.  First, you should find a good endocrinologist who specializes in thryroid problems (some do just diabetes).  Most PCP's don't know a heck of a lot about treating thyroid problems.  A TSH of 35 is severe hypothyroid.  It's a wonder you can function at all.   A lot of hypothyroid people have problems with their weight.  My question is has your doctor told you what is causing your hypothyroidism?  Has he done a nuclear thyroid scan (determines thyroid function) or an ultrasound to find out if you have any nodules? The trouble swallowing could be caused from an enlarged thyroid or nodules pressing on things in your throat.   When is the last time you had your TSH tested?  Depression is a common occurance with hypothyroidism.  Have  your thought of asking your doctor for anti-depressants?