Aa
I have questions, can you help?
I am only 29, but feel like I'm 80. My medical history is insane for my age. I'll try to simplify it..it all started when I was diagnosed with endomitriosis (after emergency surgery) at age 19 and was a very athletic person at that time. I've had cervical displaysia twice, 6 knee surgeries (in a span of 7 years), had my gallbladder removed in 2005, kidney stones during my second pregnancy (and very sick every day till I gave birth), and diagnosed with Interstitial cystitis this past spring. That's what they (the dr's) do know as of know.
I've been struggling over the years to get my energy levels back, it's pretty much non-existent now. Some days I'm just too tired to even get dressed, which is very hard on my two children (4 1/2 and 1). They don't understand why mommy is too tired to play with them. I have insomnia or when I do sleep I never feel rested. I've been struggling with my weight, I just cannot seem to loose it. I am cold all the time, but then I'll wake up with night sweats. I have acne now so bad that it hurts to even wash my face sometimes, and I never had acne problems before. My body aches. Sometimes it will hurt so bad that my clothes hurt me. I've seen two Endocrinologists and all of my tests have come back normal. They do think that I have a minor form of PCOS, but since I am currently on BC they couldn't really test me for it. But that doesn't explain everything. I also get this "foggy spells" as I call them. I can't remember things, I can't concentrate, I'm clumsy, I can't type or talk correctly. I was always a multi-tasker before, but I have a hard time doing more than one thing at a time. During my spells I even have a hard time listening to someone talk to me, sounds bother me very easily. I get irritated very, very easily, when normally I am a very patient person. I've had stomach issues (diarreha 3-5 times a day) and a shooting pain just under the sternum that radiates through my back. I had an upper endoscopy last week and wont know the results for a couple more weeks, though they did find a small hiatus hernia. I've been dealing with bronchitis for almost 3 months straight, it goes away for a few days then it's back again. Oh, and I've got this rash that started last year the day my youngest daughter was born that no one had an answer for (not even the dermatologist with a biopsy). It lasted for over 5 months (on my lower abdomen and my breasts) and now is back again. Still no answers and it's itching to no end!
I have recently seen a rheumatologist and she's tested me for everything under the sun. She says I do show symptoms of Fibromyalgia, but wants me to have some further testing done first. She's hoping the fibro has been aggravated/caused by other things (stomach and antibodies). She did an Anti-TPO test and she said my level was not significantly high, but recommends I go back to the Endo doc and that I need to be on thyroid meds. My level was at 36.9 with a range of <35 IU/mL. I don't know what these mean. Everyone else's levels have been very high, so I don't understand mine. Everything I have looked up with that test sends me to Hashimoto's. Does that mean that's what I have? Over the years they doc's have always suspected a thyroid problem, but the "tests" always come back normal. Can you have symptoms of hypothyroid and the "tests" come back normal with Hashimoto's? I am confused and just want to feel "normal". Any info you may have is greatly appreciated.
Sorry this is so long!
I've been struggling over the years to get my energy levels back, it's pretty much non-existent now. Some days I'm just too tired to even get dressed, which is very hard on my two children (4 1/2 and 1). They don't understand why mommy is too tired to play with them. I have insomnia or when I do sleep I never feel rested. I've been struggling with my weight, I just cannot seem to loose it. I am cold all the time, but then I'll wake up with night sweats. I have acne now so bad that it hurts to even wash my face sometimes, and I never had acne problems before. My body aches. Sometimes it will hurt so bad that my clothes hurt me. I've seen two Endocrinologists and all of my tests have come back normal. They do think that I have a minor form of PCOS, but since I am currently on BC they couldn't really test me for it. But that doesn't explain everything. I also get this "foggy spells" as I call them. I can't remember things, I can't concentrate, I'm clumsy, I can't type or talk correctly. I was always a multi-tasker before, but I have a hard time doing more than one thing at a time. During my spells I even have a hard time listening to someone talk to me, sounds bother me very easily. I get irritated very, very easily, when normally I am a very patient person. I've had stomach issues (diarreha 3-5 times a day) and a shooting pain just under the sternum that radiates through my back. I had an upper endoscopy last week and wont know the results for a couple more weeks, though they did find a small hiatus hernia. I've been dealing with bronchitis for almost 3 months straight, it goes away for a few days then it's back again. Oh, and I've got this rash that started last year the day my youngest daughter was born that no one had an answer for (not even the dermatologist with a biopsy). It lasted for over 5 months (on my lower abdomen and my breasts) and now is back again. Still no answers and it's itching to no end!
I have recently seen a rheumatologist and she's tested me for everything under the sun. She says I do show symptoms of Fibromyalgia, but wants me to have some further testing done first. She's hoping the fibro has been aggravated/caused by other things (stomach and antibodies). She did an Anti-TPO test and she said my level was not significantly high, but recommends I go back to the Endo doc and that I need to be on thyroid meds. My level was at 36.9 with a range of <35 IU/mL. I don't know what these mean. Everyone else's levels have been very high, so I don't understand mine. Everything I have looked up with that test sends me to Hashimoto's. Does that mean that's what I have? Over the years they doc's have always suspected a thyroid problem, but the "tests" always come back normal. Can you have symptoms of hypothyroid and the "tests" come back normal with Hashimoto's? I am confused and just want to feel "normal". Any info you may have is greatly appreciated.
Sorry this is so long!
I can agree that I may have more than just hashi's going on. What it is yet, I have no idea. I am seeing a GI dr and they did do a biopsy for celiac and that was negative. I have always eaten very healthy (my mommy taught me well!), tons of veggies and lots of protien. That's what is so frustrating about not loosing weight, but gaining. I would like to get tested for other food allergies though, to rule it out. I'm at the point of "you never know" and "whatever it takes!" to feel halfway normal (if there is such a thing anymore!).
Another thing my GP told me was that she would like to get me on an immunity booster, but we're going to wait and see how the Levoxyl does first so it I do improve we know what is working. It's not covered by insurance though, but it may be worth it. Has anyone ever done the immunity booster before?
Another thing my GP told me was that she would like to get me on an immunity booster, but we're going to wait and see how the Levoxyl does first so it I do improve we know what is working. It's not covered by insurance though, but it may be worth it. Has anyone ever done the immunity booster before?
Hi,
Another thing you could look into that could explain your symptoms is celiac disease.
This is a reaction to gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, rye, and oats (mostly thought due to contamination).
Have you been tested for this. If you have, and even if the test is negative, a trial of gluten free diet may help. Celiac testing does have false negatives (ie. tests say negative, but symptoms are resolved with diet). Need to try it strictly for a couple of months and see if it helps. It certainly won't harm.
Best wishes
Sally
Another thing you could look into that could explain your symptoms is celiac disease.
This is a reaction to gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, rye, and oats (mostly thought due to contamination).
Have you been tested for this. If you have, and even if the test is negative, a trial of gluten free diet may help. Celiac testing does have false negatives (ie. tests say negative, but symptoms are resolved with diet). Need to try it strictly for a couple of months and see if it helps. It certainly won't harm.
Best wishes
Sally
I am pretty new & am a bit shy of saying too much as I am new at Hashimoto's but when I got diagnosed, it was after years and years of not being right. It turned out that I had several things which shared similar symptoms or had opposite symptoms, but all in all made me forever tired and difficult to diagnose. Along with the hashimotos I also had celiacs/gluten intolerance (still to be decided) and pernicious anemia - also I had to start eating low gi and more protein in my diet as I had low blood sugar too. (all in all a mess!)
I think I must have puzzled doctors for a long time as they were looking for a single problem. Perhaps you may be a little bit hypo and have something else that is adding to it. I never thought of having a few things either & gave up for a while so I hope you keep persisting & find an answer.
I think I must have puzzled doctors for a long time as they were looking for a single problem. Perhaps you may be a little bit hypo and have something else that is adding to it. I never thought of having a few things either & gave up for a while so I hope you keep persisting & find an answer.
That was one of the first things they had tried, and it didn't work. Must not be candida then.
Yes, I will be following up with bloodwork. She in fact gave me samples and I am to call her when I'm getting low and I'll go back and get my bloodwork to see where I'm at then.
Yes, I will be following up with bloodwork. She in fact gave me samples and I am to call her when I'm getting low and I'll go back and get my bloodwork to see where I'm at then.
Candida is a yeast (fungus).
You would need to have the doctor collect a sample for the lab to culture. (I work in the lab)
You could try over the counter yeast medication- either for athlete's foot or a Monistat type cream. Put it on a certain area of the rash for several days to see if it begins to clear up.
Glad to see that you are getting a trial of meds. Be sure to get follow-up bloodwork to unsure that the TSH doesn't go too low.
You would need to have the doctor collect a sample for the lab to culture. (I work in the lab)
You could try over the counter yeast medication- either for athlete's foot or a Monistat type cream. Put it on a certain area of the rash for several days to see if it begins to clear up.
Glad to see that you are getting a trial of meds. Be sure to get follow-up bloodwork to unsure that the TSH doesn't go too low.
Well, went to my PCP today and she agree's with the rheumotologist and has started me on thyroid meds. She says it's an average to low dose and we'll see if it improves any of my symptoms. She also believes in treating the symptoms and not just the numbers. I completely forgot (part of my problems!!) to ask about the insulin test. I have wrote it down and she's calling me in a couple days anyway, so I'll ask her then. I'm still interested in the Candida thing. How would I get tested? And what exactly is it?
Hi Ryssabell, -
I highly suggest you have your "insulin" levels checked. My blood glucose was also normal, but the amount of insulin coursing through my body was extremely high. At fasting, your insulin should be 10 or less, and mine was 151. The first step towards having high blood glucose levels, is having an increased, or very high amount of insulin floating around in your body. This indicates that your cells are "becoming" resistant to insulin and this in turn will eventually lead to high blood glucose readings. Insulin resistance is basically the first step towards full blown diabetes.
High insulin levels in your body can cause dizziness, tiredness, clumsiness, fogginess, stomach problems, headaches, jumpiness, irritability, lack of concentration, inability to lose weight, etc. Symtoms that you have. Once I got my insulin back down to almost normal, 17, my symptoms disappeared and I feel so much better.
You may ask your doctor, since your're having these symptoms, to check your "insulin level". Not just do a blood glucose level because as I said, even though the blood glucose is normal, your insulin can be extremely high. Doctors today are just realizing how important checking insulin levels are, so there are still alot out there that won't check them unless you ask them. I had to ask my doctor. Just tell your doctor that because of your symptoms, you want to ensure your insulin levels are o.k. It's a simple blood test that they can do.
Keep us posted! Best of luck tomrorow with your PCP.
This may not be all you have going on, but at least you could rule it out.
I highly suggest you have your "insulin" levels checked. My blood glucose was also normal, but the amount of insulin coursing through my body was extremely high. At fasting, your insulin should be 10 or less, and mine was 151. The first step towards having high blood glucose levels, is having an increased, or very high amount of insulin floating around in your body. This indicates that your cells are "becoming" resistant to insulin and this in turn will eventually lead to high blood glucose readings. Insulin resistance is basically the first step towards full blown diabetes.
High insulin levels in your body can cause dizziness, tiredness, clumsiness, fogginess, stomach problems, headaches, jumpiness, irritability, lack of concentration, inability to lose weight, etc. Symtoms that you have. Once I got my insulin back down to almost normal, 17, my symptoms disappeared and I feel so much better.
You may ask your doctor, since your're having these symptoms, to check your "insulin level". Not just do a blood glucose level because as I said, even though the blood glucose is normal, your insulin can be extremely high. Doctors today are just realizing how important checking insulin levels are, so there are still alot out there that won't check them unless you ask them. I had to ask my doctor. Just tell your doctor that because of your symptoms, you want to ensure your insulin levels are o.k. It's a simple blood test that they can do.
Keep us posted! Best of luck tomrorow with your PCP.
This may not be all you have going on, but at least you could rule it out.
They have checked me for Lupus (that was fine) and I haven't done a 2 hour glucose since my first pregnancy (which was VERY low!), but they did run a blood glucose which was fine.
I finally got a phone call from the last endo I saw and she said my cortisol levels are fine (don't know the numbers) and I asked her about the anti-tpo results. She said all that means is that eventually I will become hypo. No one knows when and it's a useless test and wished the other doc had never done it. Well, even to know that eventually my hormone levels will show that I am hypo that's more info than I would have had otherwise, not totally useless to me. Talk about confusing me now! It's always nice when you get different answers from docs. One thinks I need thyroid meds, the other thinks the test is useless. Guess I'll have to see what my PCP has to say and get a third opinion!
I hope I can get some answers soon also. Thanks everyone!
I finally got a phone call from the last endo I saw and she said my cortisol levels are fine (don't know the numbers) and I asked her about the anti-tpo results. She said all that means is that eventually I will become hypo. No one knows when and it's a useless test and wished the other doc had never done it. Well, even to know that eventually my hormone levels will show that I am hypo that's more info than I would have had otherwise, not totally useless to me. Talk about confusing me now! It's always nice when you get different answers from docs. One thinks I need thyroid meds, the other thinks the test is useless. Guess I'll have to see what my PCP has to say and get a third opinion!
I hope I can get some answers soon also. Thanks everyone!
Just curious, have your insulin levels or fasting blood sugar ever been tested? I was having some of the symptoms you mentioned last October (clumsiness, lack of concentration, fogginess, jumpy, irritable, fatigue, body aches, stomach problems) and my doctor, at my suggestion, gave me a two-hour glucose test which also measured insulin and I discoved my insulin was through the roof. High levels of insulin in your body can cause the above mentioned symptoms. Your endo would be able to test you to rule out any insulin or blood sugar problems that maybe going on.
I know that once I changed my diet/exercise and got my insulin levels almost to normal, those above mentioned symptoms disappeared (except I still have some fatigue).
I hope you can find some answers soon.
I know that once I changed my diet/exercise and got my insulin levels almost to normal, those above mentioned symptoms disappeared (except I still have some fatigue).
I hope you can find some answers soon.
Hi.
Hashimoto's hypothyroidism is when your body makes antibodies against your thyroid and attacks it. This does not always lead to hypothyroidism, though the odds are increased when you have the antibodies. It is an autoimmune disease like Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc.
I don't know if lower levels (yours are barely elevated) are significant in diagnosing Hashi. I do know that higher levels are. Mine were 422 in Sept and people have reported much higher. It is said that the level doesn't matter so much, but it is the fact that it IS positive.
With your levels being barely positive, it is either insignificant or they may continue to increase over time.
Good luck at the PCP.
Hashimoto's hypothyroidism is when your body makes antibodies against your thyroid and attacks it. This does not always lead to hypothyroidism, though the odds are increased when you have the antibodies. It is an autoimmune disease like Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc.
I don't know if lower levels (yours are barely elevated) are significant in diagnosing Hashi. I do know that higher levels are. Mine were 422 in Sept and people have reported much higher. It is said that the level doesn't matter so much, but it is the fact that it IS positive.
With your levels being barely positive, it is either insignificant or they may continue to increase over time.
Good luck at the PCP.
I have asked them to send my records, which they did, but that wasn't in there. This is at the UW, so everything is computerized. When I spoke with them this am they said it could have been a paper copy in my chart and they may have overlooked it. So, I don't know if they even have the results yet.
I see my PCP on Wed, so I'm hoping she will have copies of everything and be able to explain to me what's going on. Can you explain the Hashimoto's to me? Does that anti-TPO test being positive mean that's what I have?
I see my PCP on Wed, so I'm hoping she will have copies of everything and be able to explain to me what's going on. Can you explain the Hashimoto's to me? Does that anti-TPO test being positive mean that's what I have?
Yes, low free t4 can accompany hypothyroidism. Is is considered mild or subclinical if the TSH is elevated, but the free t4 is still in range. Some people do have a low t4, but in range TSH. Remember in the normal range doesn't always mean normal for you.
Have you had repeat TSH and free t4? It's good to confirm. My TSH is 1.89 on 50 mcg Synthroid. I will be going up to a slightly higher dose on my next endo visit to try to get my TSH nearer to a 1.
So the endo sent you a lab slip w/o discussing it with you? Ask the office staff to mail you a copy of the 24 hour urine. They are required to by law.
Have you had repeat TSH and free t4? It's good to confirm. My TSH is 1.89 on 50 mcg Synthroid. I will be going up to a slightly higher dose on my next endo visit to try to get my TSH nearer to a 1.
So the endo sent you a lab slip w/o discussing it with you? Ask the office staff to mail you a copy of the 24 hour urine. They are required to by law.
What does it mean if the t4 is low? Or low normal? Could that be why I show hypo symptoms?
The cortisol level are supposed to be half the am range according to my paperwork. I am definately stressed and am taking BC. It was and endo that ordered the tests. She did order a 24hr urine in Dec (after she told me she had no answers for me I received the lab slip in the mail), but I still have yet to hear back even after numerous messages.
The cortisol level are supposed to be half the am range according to my paperwork. I am definately stressed and am taking BC. It was and endo that ordered the tests. She did order a 24hr urine in Dec (after she told me she had no answers for me I received the lab slip in the mail), but I still have yet to hear back even after numerous messages.
The TSH is pretty normal. You'll have a hard time convincing anyone otherwise. The thyroxine (free) is free t4. Yours is barely hangin on to low normal.
As for the cortisol, it is usually tested in the morning (8am) and afternoon (4pm) . It is normally highest in the am and drops in the afternoon. So yours beong tested in the afternoon looks high. Is the normal range you listed for the am supposed to be half that for an afternoon level?
Emotional and physical stress can elevate the cortisol level. So can oral contraceptives.
You need an endo to evaluate these specialized tests.
As for the cortisol, it is usually tested in the morning (8am) and afternoon (4pm) . It is normally highest in the am and drops in the afternoon. So yours beong tested in the afternoon looks high. Is the normal range you listed for the am supposed to be half that for an afternoon level?
Emotional and physical stress can elevate the cortisol level. So can oral contraceptives.
You need an endo to evaluate these specialized tests.
My TSH is 1.845 (range .400-5.00) and I don't really know about the t4 or t3. Would either of those be Thyroxine (free)? If so, that at .7 (.6-1.2). I'm in the process of getting all of my lab/medical records for all of this, but that sure seems to take some time. And I don't know what they mean. Also, they did a cortisol test and it was 24.4 (range of 5.0-22.6 (7-9am and half of that for pm values) and my test was done at 3:25, but she stated it was "normal". I'm just so confused by it all.
Do you have results of TSH, free t4 or free t3? It is important to know the TSH.
My doctors always suspected thyroid problems and my results were also in the upper end of the "normal range". After doing some research, I learned that this can be indicative of hypothyroidism.
Definately go to the endocrinologist, since they have the expertise in this area. A thyroid specialist would be even better, but they are hard to come by.
My doctors always suspected thyroid problems and my results were also in the upper end of the "normal range". After doing some research, I learned that this can be indicative of hypothyroidism.
Definately go to the endocrinologist, since they have the expertise in this area. A thyroid specialist would be even better, but they are hard to come by.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
