Hypo thyroidism

[tuna8250]

I seem to have most of these symptoms.  I am aging - 58.  My mother and grandmother (deceased) both have thryoid issues in late 50's.  I had my T3, T4 and TSH run and all was normal.  My TSH was 1.93 (which as more than doubled in the last year but still well below range).  Could this be something else?

Hypo problems:
Mild weight gain even while dieting
Extreme fatigue in the morning and throughout the day/napping
GERD/Heartburn/chest pain
constipation Abdomen swells for no apparent reason
Depression
forgetfulness/brain fog
Neck/jaw pain/swelling/pressure
Scratchy voice
Very cold feet and hands and sometimes a feeling like ants are biting my feet
Endometriosis (2 years ago – cured after one year of birth control)
Irregular/heavy periods and menstrual-like cramping in between periods
Voice is sometimes hoarse
Knee/joint pains – finger swelling and pain
Rash or scaly skin on neck, hands, chest, chin, nose, right armpit down to waist
Dry, gritty eyes
Chills
Muscles in legs sometimes go wobbly and weak when I am standing
Body temp ranges 97-97.5
Hair clumps in shower
Decreased sex drive
Aches all over body like the flu
Enlarged lymphnodes in neck and armpit
Legs feel heavy and swollen at times
Pain in the soles of my feet like muscle cramps
Toe nails feel painful and br

[Barb135]

As both gimel and ThyroidHunter have stated, we would need to see your Free T3 and Free T4 results before we can make a determination as to whether or not you may have thyroid issues.

Free T3 and Free T4 (FT3/FT4) are the actual hormones produced by the thyroid, whereas TSH is a pituitary hormone.  The pituitary puts out TSH to stimulate the thyroid to produce T3 and T4.  Once the thyroid produces those hormones, some of them become bound by proteins and are, therefore, unusable by the body - that's why you need to have the "free" testing done - because those tell you exactly how much hormone is available for use.  

Of those 2 hormones, the FT3 is the most important because it is the hormone that's usable "as is", while FT4 must be converted to FT3 prior to being used.

Without the results and reference ranges for those 2 tests (FT3 and FT4), we can only speculate on your issues.  Please note that the reference ranges for many lab tests vary from lab to lab, so must come from your own report.  

I might also mention, though - it would be a good idea to get your vitamin B12 and vitamin D tested as well.  B12 deficiency can cause the tingling and numbness in the hands and feet.  Low vitamin D can cause your mood to be "off".......

[tuna8250]

I don't have all those symptoms posted but a fair amount of them.  I gained 2 pounds since yesterday and 8 in the past few weeks.  I have not changed  my eating habits much, except to write down everything I eat now so I can at least count the calories.  Yesterday for instance, I had a slim fast for breakfast, a 1/2 salami/pepperoni sub from subway with lettuce and mustard, and two hot dogs with 2 oz of cheese.  I had 4-8 oz glasses of water and 4 pieces of sugar free gum.  I've been up and down the scale all my life, 20 pounds and in these later years 30-40  pounds and my sister is a Professor of Nutrition so I know what I "should" do!!  And, I also know what I did not consume too many calories yesterday, I do recognize it was not healthy!! :)

I had colon cancer 10 years ago.  And, for the first 7 years all my tests were always on the low to down right low levels.  My cholesterol for instance was high all my life, after the chemo my LDL's were 90-110 and my HDL's 60-65.  Unheard of, since I'm not much into excercise and prior to the chemo my LDL's were always 165-170 and HDL's around 40-42.  Same with my glucose.  It generally ran 85 or so but after the chemo it was always lower.  My sedrate which was always around 85 was down to between 5-6.  After this 7 year period, my numbers began to rise.  My sedrate is now back up to 85, cholesterol back up and sugar hovers around what now is getting into the dangerous levels 95+.  All other blood work is "normal".  Blood pressure which for 7 years had been 120/80 is now back to where it used to be 90/70  Yup, very low I know.  And, since I am not a light weight person, that blood pressure does not compute with my weight, although weight is only a small part of blood pressure.

I am perplexed.  I am slowly gaining weight.  My TSH was 1.93  my T3 and T4 were low.  I dont' have the numbers on me but I can get them.  They were well below 1.00 if I recall.

And, I am not hyper, I can tell you that!!

These are the symptoms...
Fatigue
Weight Gain
Itchy Skin
Heartburn to the point that a burning can go into my ears (a very weird pain, ever have reflux got through you ears, it burns like heck!).
My brain fog is so very bad.  I can't remember names, dates, and even people I facts I know escape me to the point I have to look them up on the Internet
Swollen fingers
Terrible tingling in feet and hands to numbness but it comes and goes on a daily basis
Mood - irritable, down
Hair dry and comes out
Eyes are not dry, chemo scared over lower tear ducts so lots of moistures in but no place to go but run down my eyes (solution - Jones Tubes!)
Flu like symptoms continual
Joint and knee pain

I know there are explanations for all these things that may not be related to hypo thyroidism.  My mother and grandmother (deceased) both were diagnosed around my abge 58.  I look like them, I'm built like them, and other than the tyhroid meds neither were on any other meds, although my Mother now at 80 has high blood pressure and controls diabetes through diet.  Neither of them are/were obese (you know anything over 15-20 pounds is now considered obsese, and I now would be in the morbid obese category as my weight is almost 80 pounds now more than I should weigh and it seems to be climbing every week.  UGH

Should I seek out an endocrinologist?  Any suggestions.  When I got on the scale this morning to a 2 pound weight gain, I was beside myself.  I feel so miserable. SOS

[ThyroidHunter]

You do have a great many symptoms of an hypothyroid, and I see no Free T-3 or Free T-4 count in your bloodwork? Were these numbers tested for and do you have them. There are many on this Board who have very advanced knowledge of interpreting bloodwork with you. Many times, total TSH is only useful in a "comparison" purpose, like you example it's doubling since the last test. Blood testing alone seldom gets a complete diagnosis.

I would suggest you ask for a detailed sonogram of your gland.

The body temperature issue is almost a dead give away for thyroid malfunction, it just doesn't tell us which one.

As a hyper now in Hashimoto's, I have had the same cold feet,scratchy voice, heartburn, and other issues you describe. It is common for hypos and hypers to have similar symptoms. Another reason dead right diagnosis' by Docs are tough to come by.

Barb135, goolara, & Gimel are Board members who can interpret results of your free T numbers if and when you get them. I believe you need both the blood tests, and a sonogram. From there a far better chance of correct diagnosis is more likely.

Best in Your Health

[gimel]

Wow that is quite a list of symptoms.  Sure looks like hypothyroid related symptoms.  Just because your test results fall within the "normal" range does not mean that all is well.  The ranges are too broad for that to be the case.  If you will post your actual test results and their reference ranges shown on the lab report, then members will be glad to help interpret and advise further.