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Falling apart - is this really hypothyroid?
I'm not sure if this is the right section for this, though my only actual diagnosis is hypothyroidism. Sorry it is so long, but I don’t know what is helpful or not.
I’m a 27-year-old female, no kids. I’ve had incredibly oily skin on my face and scalp since puberty as well as terribly heavy periods, though generally not that painful. At 21, I went on the pill to help with the horrible periods, which had gotten even heavier over time. I went from losing weight (trying to get into better shape) to immediately gaining, had my face breakout in acne, started growing facial hair, and completely lost interest in sex (and before hubby and I were like bunnies). Ok, so that pill was not for me. I tried another, supposedly lower testosterone type, but same problems, so I gave up for a year or two and just tried to deal with the periods (herbs, extra pads, planning, etc.). However, despite trying to lose the extra weight and using facial products, I couldn’t get my body back to normal. Acne (along with the same oil problem I had before), black, coarse hair on my chin and “sideburns” (I am naturally blond and have pale skin), and the weight would not change. I eventually went back on the pill as my periods got so terrible. Yasmin did not make the problems worse, so I took it for two years. During the last few months of my prescription, it ceased to help with my heavy periods, so I didn’t renew it.
Meanwhile, I’ve developed problems with joint/muscle/back pain/migraines, sinus pain, acid reflux, fatigue and not being able to sleep/not feeling rested upon awaking when I do, anxiety and TMJ (probably from all the problems!), losing my hair on my head (I’m down to about ¼ of what I had just a year ago) but also gaining more and more coarse hair on my face (even hair elsewhere seems to be darkening), constant weight gain (even when trying to lose), cold hands/incredibly stiff and dry hands and feet in the morning, constipation, hypersensitivity, and low energy and strength. Even my nails are curling. For two or so years (and off and on before that), I have been going to doctors (internal medicine, endocrinologist, gynecologist, ENT, chiropractor, dermatologist), and no one has helped. They keep telling me I don’t meet the “general” criteria for ___ (PCOS, endometriosis, RA, the list goes on). The only thing they think I have by tests and blood work is hypothyroidism, though only borderline. I’ve taken Synthroid for it for two years or so. When a low dose didn’t originally help, they upped me to 75 mcg. Now I test slightly high (TSH mostly, they don’t care much about T3 or T4 specifically), but I still have all the same symptoms of low, and they just keep getting worse.
I’m also on Metformin to lower the slightly high testosterone (not for diabetes – I don’t have that... yet), Spironolactone for high-testosterone symptoms, Phentermine for energy and weight loss, muscle relaxers for jaw and neck pain (one thinks tension in my neck is causing the migraines), Mucinex for often terrible sinus pain (also took antibiotics and steroids), and Lysteda to lesson my periods. Sadly, the Phentermine and Lysteda are the only ones that seem to have any effect whatsoever, though I had to change the Phentermine to every other day or it didn’t seem to have an effect at all. While I was taking the 6-day steroids for my sinus problems, I actually felt a little better – a little less pain, more energy. One of the doctors just keeps trying to prescribe me antidepressants. I tried a couple, but they had bad side effects that I certainly didn’t need on top of everything else. Some seem to think I’m just a hypochondriac; the endocrinologist understands that despite the fact the thyroid and testosterone levels are now more normal, I still have some low-thyroid/high-testosterone symptoms and am even getting worse, but she has absolutely no idea why or what to do; and the gynecologist basically just told me to take a hike today, as she is “not a miracle-worker” and my gyno-related problems just must be genetic.
I’m not asking for a miracle. I just want to live my life – one with enough energy to get through the day and without so much pain. I could barely get out of bed this morning – and I am 27. I’ve thought about just dropping all the meds, especially since we’d like to be able to have children and many of the pills cause birth defects, but I don’t know that that’s a good idea. I keep feeling physically worse, but some of the meds are helping on paper. I just don’t know where to go now, what steps to take. I’ve had a pelvic ultrasound and a CT scan of my sinuses, and both were normal. No one seems to have any ideas, and once they get to that point, they just seem to drop me. I don’t know where to turn.
I’m a 27-year-old female, no kids. I’ve had incredibly oily skin on my face and scalp since puberty as well as terribly heavy periods, though generally not that painful. At 21, I went on the pill to help with the horrible periods, which had gotten even heavier over time. I went from losing weight (trying to get into better shape) to immediately gaining, had my face breakout in acne, started growing facial hair, and completely lost interest in sex (and before hubby and I were like bunnies). Ok, so that pill was not for me. I tried another, supposedly lower testosterone type, but same problems, so I gave up for a year or two and just tried to deal with the periods (herbs, extra pads, planning, etc.). However, despite trying to lose the extra weight and using facial products, I couldn’t get my body back to normal. Acne (along with the same oil problem I had before), black, coarse hair on my chin and “sideburns” (I am naturally blond and have pale skin), and the weight would not change. I eventually went back on the pill as my periods got so terrible. Yasmin did not make the problems worse, so I took it for two years. During the last few months of my prescription, it ceased to help with my heavy periods, so I didn’t renew it.
Meanwhile, I’ve developed problems with joint/muscle/back pain/migraines, sinus pain, acid reflux, fatigue and not being able to sleep/not feeling rested upon awaking when I do, anxiety and TMJ (probably from all the problems!), losing my hair on my head (I’m down to about ¼ of what I had just a year ago) but also gaining more and more coarse hair on my face (even hair elsewhere seems to be darkening), constant weight gain (even when trying to lose), cold hands/incredibly stiff and dry hands and feet in the morning, constipation, hypersensitivity, and low energy and strength. Even my nails are curling. For two or so years (and off and on before that), I have been going to doctors (internal medicine, endocrinologist, gynecologist, ENT, chiropractor, dermatologist), and no one has helped. They keep telling me I don’t meet the “general” criteria for ___ (PCOS, endometriosis, RA, the list goes on). The only thing they think I have by tests and blood work is hypothyroidism, though only borderline. I’ve taken Synthroid for it for two years or so. When a low dose didn’t originally help, they upped me to 75 mcg. Now I test slightly high (TSH mostly, they don’t care much about T3 or T4 specifically), but I still have all the same symptoms of low, and they just keep getting worse.
I’m also on Metformin to lower the slightly high testosterone (not for diabetes – I don’t have that... yet), Spironolactone for high-testosterone symptoms, Phentermine for energy and weight loss, muscle relaxers for jaw and neck pain (one thinks tension in my neck is causing the migraines), Mucinex for often terrible sinus pain (also took antibiotics and steroids), and Lysteda to lesson my periods. Sadly, the Phentermine and Lysteda are the only ones that seem to have any effect whatsoever, though I had to change the Phentermine to every other day or it didn’t seem to have an effect at all. While I was taking the 6-day steroids for my sinus problems, I actually felt a little better – a little less pain, more energy. One of the doctors just keeps trying to prescribe me antidepressants. I tried a couple, but they had bad side effects that I certainly didn’t need on top of everything else. Some seem to think I’m just a hypochondriac; the endocrinologist understands that despite the fact the thyroid and testosterone levels are now more normal, I still have some low-thyroid/high-testosterone symptoms and am even getting worse, but she has absolutely no idea why or what to do; and the gynecologist basically just told me to take a hike today, as she is “not a miracle-worker” and my gyno-related problems just must be genetic.
I’m not asking for a miracle. I just want to live my life – one with enough energy to get through the day and without so much pain. I could barely get out of bed this morning – and I am 27. I’ve thought about just dropping all the meds, especially since we’d like to be able to have children and many of the pills cause birth defects, but I don’t know that that’s a good idea. I keep feeling physically worse, but some of the meds are helping on paper. I just don’t know where to go now, what steps to take. I’ve had a pelvic ultrasound and a CT scan of my sinuses, and both were normal. No one seems to have any ideas, and once they get to that point, they just seem to drop me. I don’t know where to turn.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Forgot to mention - don't just post "out of range" labs, because even some "in range" labs can cause problems......
COMMUNITY LEADER
The first thing we need is the actual results of you blood tests, specifically, thyroid. You should have had a minimum of TSH, Free T3 and FreeT4. Post those, along with reference ranges, which vary from lab to lab, so must come from your own report.
If you have other related lab results, post those, as well. They could be thyroid antibodies (TPOab, TGab, TSI), vitamins B12 and D, selenium, calcium; be sure to include the testosterone levels and ranges. Thyroid antibodies, causing hypothyroidism or vitamin deficiencies can cause horrific symptoms........ Have your female hormones been tested?
Additionally, have you had an ANA test or have you been tested for lupus?
My daughter has lupus and has many of the same symptoms, in fact, was just recently dx'd with TMJ; however, many/most of the symptoms you listed (with the exception of the facial hair) are also hypo related, including the heavy bleeding.
TSH is a pituitary hormone which can fluctuate for a variety of reasons, even intraday. Used alone, it's totally unreliable as a diagnostic; you need to have the Free T3 and Free T4 with it, since those are the active thyroid hormones and even if those are "in range" you can still have hypo symptoms.
When you post your lab results, do make sure you include reference ranges for any results. Once we see what your labs look like, members can better assess your situation and possibly offer treatment suggestions.
If you have other related lab results, post those, as well. They could be thyroid antibodies (TPOab, TGab, TSI), vitamins B12 and D, selenium, calcium; be sure to include the testosterone levels and ranges. Thyroid antibodies, causing hypothyroidism or vitamin deficiencies can cause horrific symptoms........ Have your female hormones been tested?
Additionally, have you had an ANA test or have you been tested for lupus?
My daughter has lupus and has many of the same symptoms, in fact, was just recently dx'd with TMJ; however, many/most of the symptoms you listed (with the exception of the facial hair) are also hypo related, including the heavy bleeding.
TSH is a pituitary hormone which can fluctuate for a variety of reasons, even intraday. Used alone, it's totally unreliable as a diagnostic; you need to have the Free T3 and Free T4 with it, since those are the active thyroid hormones and even if those are "in range" you can still have hypo symptoms.
When you post your lab results, do make sure you include reference ranges for any results. Once we see what your labs look like, members can better assess your situation and possibly offer treatment suggestions.
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