Is this thyroid problems

[tonystroll]

For nearly 7 years I suffered from breathlessness and constricting cough, and was found to have an overactive thyroid, which was treated with Neo Tomizol or Carbimazol. Then 18 months ago I was diagnose with thyroid nodules for which I received  radio active iodine treatment. For 5 months I was in perfect health, even running around, but soon after the symptoms began to show again. However after 8 months the pictures and blood tests were fine so I was discharged and told i did not need any further medication . I was reffered to a cardiologist, who ran every test imaginable, including nuclear tests, and all showed my heart in perfect order. The only problem has been the walk test on two separate occasions, when I became quite distressed after a very short walk. Again I have been discharged from this dept. I am currently unable to walk more than a few yards without becoming totally breatless and the cough is a lot worse and a great weight problem. So I had the blood test for thyroid done privately. These showed the TSH to be normal but both T3 and T4 to be low. My GP says this would not be causing the symptoms I have and do not need any medication. However having lived with thyroid problems for so long I am not convinced that the symptoms are not related to this.  Please please please can you offer any suggestions? I do not know what to ask my GP to test now.

[tonystroll]

Doc will not agree that T4 can affect when TSH is normal. Await appt now for endocrinologist- which will be months!!! So went to private clinic and got presc. for small dose Levo. Thanks for your help and will see how I feel in a couple of weeks.

[goolarra]

I agree with smilerdeb.  Your T3 and T4 are too low.  It certainly seems it would be worth the try to put you on levo and see if it helps your symptoms.  TSH is, after all, a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid hormone.  This forum shows just how many people fall outside the TSH normal range and feel good, and the ones who fall within it and feel sick.

Good luck with your appointment.

[tonystroll]

Thanks for that. I am due to see doc this week and will be a bit persistant!! Will keep in touch. Prob is when suffered with thyroid for so long you know yourself when all is not well!

[Smilerdeb]

Sometimes symtoms can mimic both ends of the scale....I've had shortness of breath both Hyper and Hypo so cant really say for sure.
Obviously as you know, both your Free T's are low yet your TSH is in the normal range which may be normal for some but not 'normal' for everyone.
I'm surprised you arent on a small dose of T4 med....maybe 50mcg every 2nd day.
See what your Doc says and tell him/her that you do feel a little hypo.
Maybe your Doc will then put you on a low dose T4 med and monitor you.
Let us know how you go.

[tonystroll]

Hi,
Yes correct, I am not on any med. My last TSH shows at 2.4. T4 as 7.64 on a range of 9-20 and T3 as 2.73 on a range of 2.77-5.27. I am waiting the results of another blood test by my GP done last week and getting the results on Wed. However I would like to go armed with questions and knowledge to help get to the bottom of why I am worse than ever.  I am living in Spain at the moment and the health service is fantastic but unfortunately as everywhere so many GPss are not very familiar with the intracacies of thryoid problems. Would hypothyroidism be causing the breathlessness?  From what I read it is hyper that seems to show these symptoms.

[goolarra]

Is my interpretation that you are currently on no thyroid meds correct?

Can you post your actual numbers for TSH, free T3 and free T4 and their reference ranges?

If you had RAI, your thyroid should have been basically zapped, and you now have acquired hypothyroidism..  You should be on thyroid replacement meds, and will have to be for the rest of your life.

Please post labs.