Hypothyroidism concern

[LindaLu72]

Hello....I have been having a lot of symptoms lately that I just had assumed it was early menopause.  Just a few of them are no period at all, night sweats, joint pain, twitching eye, difficulty swallowing at times, irritability, sudden weight gain with difficulty losing with exercise, pain in the bottom of my feet, increase in carpal tunnel symptoms, hair falling out, fatigue, depression, shaky hands, heart flutters, AIC in prediabetic range, high LDL numbers....just to name a few.  I also have a family history of hypothyroidism -- my mom has it.
Thinking it might be thyroid, I asked the dr. to run tests, but she left out T4 and Free T3.  My results were TSH 2.3 (range -.35 to 4),  T3 was 103 (range 80-180), Free T4 1.0 (range 0.8 to 1.5).   I'm so tired of feeling crappy.  Do you think it could be onset of hypothyroidism??

[summerluvr]

Can you ask your doctor to test for Thyroid antibodies? I'm not an expert by any means, but this is what confirmed my Hashimoto's diagnosis (hypothyroid) My TSH was not too high (4) but antibodies were high and ultrasound showed typical hashimoto's look.

[898_1]

The original poster listed symptoms that may be present in event of beginning type 2 diabetes.

[Tiredsleepymama]

Oh my gosh Gimel are you sure? Maybe you don't remember you should check. You know how this thyroid stuff can mess with your memory. LOL   I'm sorry...turns beat red and hides.

[gimel]

Thanks for your confidence.  Just be aware that I have not had a sex change operation though.  LOL

[Tiredsleepymama]

She is right on Linda.  Gimel is good at helping.

[gimel]

In the words of a good thyroid doctor, ""The free T3 is not as helpful in untreated persons as the free T4 because in the light of a rather low FT4 the body will convert more T4 to T3 to maintain thyroid effect as well as is possible. So the person with a rather low FT4 and high-in-range FT3 may still be hypothyroid. However, if the FT4 is below 1.3 and the FT3 is also rather low, say below 3.4 (range 2 to 4.4 at LabCorp) then its likely that hypothyroidism is the cause of a person's symptoms."

Even though they tested for Total T3, I'd bet a lot that your Free T3 is in the lower part of its range as well.  So, in view of those test results and your many hypo symptoms, I'd say that you are hypothyroid.  You may have some difficulty getting your doctor to agree, because your TSH is well within range.  However, the main value of TSH is to distinguish between primary and central hypothyroidism.  With your low Free T4 and Total T3 and TSH in the lower part of its range, I'd say that it is central hypothyroidism.  With central, the hypothalamus/pituitary function is impaired and does not produce enough TSH to stimulate the thyroid gland adequately.

Regardless of the type, what you need is to get started on thyroid meds adequate to relieve your symptoms.  A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results.  

So you need to discuss all this with your doctor and request to be started on thyroid medication.  Also, you should find out if the doctor is going to be willing to treat clinically, as described.  Also, since hypo patients are frequently too low in the range for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, you should get those tested as well.  All three need to be at optimal levels for best effect for hypo patients.