Hypothyroidism

[Christy032595]

I am a 37 year old woman, I had the left half of my thyroid removed about 9 years ago due to a growth that burst that side open. After this was done I was then told that I no longer needed to take any type of meds that my numbers were all good but have never really felt the same since! I have never been able to lose weight, my sleep patterns are awful, I'm always moody, depressed, fatigued and often have what I consider to be "panic attacks". Now nine years later I am having similiar symptoms from when I had the growth which included night sweats, and severe pain in my neck( I am assuming from my glands swelling) but this time the pain is in the back of my neck and I can feel a small "lump" in my throat when I even swollow my on saliva and this causes the pain in the back of my neck to be even worse!! I am wondering what this could all be from if NOT my thyroid and can you still have thyroid issues even when your blood work comes back as what the doctors consider "normal"? I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow but I am wondering if there are some things that I am over-looking that i need to be asking him.......................help I am so miserable!!

[gimel]

Hold off on  what I said about testing for TPO ab and TG ab.  Since you have only half of your thyroid it is far more likely that your symptoms are due to inability to produce enough thyroid hormone, or that you are not adequately converting T4 to T3..  You should focus on the Free T3 and Free T4 tests  as first priority.  And then as second priority, the other tests for Vitamin A, etc.  

[gimel]

With those symptoms, you definitely need to be tested for the possibility of the most common cause of hypothyroidism, which is Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.  The tests are Thyroid Peroxidase and Thyroglobulin antibodies, denoted as TPO ab and TG ab.  In addition, every time you go in for thyroid testing you should insist on being tested for the biologically active thyroid hormones Free T3 and Free T4 (not the same as Total T3 and T4), along with TSH.  If the doctor resists and makes excuses, just insist on it and don't take no for an answer.  

Other tests that would be advisable are Vitamin A, D, B12, full test panel for iron anemia, zinc, and selenium.  I would also suggest an ultrasound of the thyroid glands to see if there are any nodules present.

The most important need for you is to find a good thyroid doctor.  by that I mean one that will treat you 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.  You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he consults with from a distance.  the letter is sent to the PCP of the patient to help guide treatment.  

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf

[Christy032595]

I do not have any recent lad results because once the doctor told me my labs were "normal" I just gave up but my symptoms are back and with a vengence this time and I am miserable! I am going to see my doctor tomorrow and I am taking with me as much information as I can so that hopefully once and for all I can get some answers. My symptoms are:
weakness,fatigue,cold tolerance,constipation,weight gain,depression,joint/muscle pain,thin hair,thinning eyebrows,dry skin,abnormal periods,all over swelling,headaches,drowsiness and now for the last six week I have had a lump in my throat that causes pain in the back of my neck(I'm assuming from swelling glands). Any information that anyone can pass along would be very helpful. I'm tired of being treated like I'm crazy just because my blood work comes back "normal". I just want to feel better......................like myself again

[gimel]

Just because your blood tests are in the so-called "normal" range does not mean that they are adequate for YOU.  Everyone is somewhat different, and the ranges are far too broad.  

If you will please post your blood test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report, members will be glad to assess the adequacy of your testing and and diagnosis.

Also, please have a look at this list of 26 typical hypo symptoms and tell us which ones you have.

http://endocrine-system.emedtv.com/hypothyroidism/hypothyroidism-symptoms-and-signs.html