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Struggles with symptoms of thyroid, numbers are normal...Please help, advice??
Hi everyone, I apologize in advance if this turns out long.
I have had problems since 2007(may) was on a prescription for a bladder infection, on day 10 I started feeling completley exhausted to the point where I couldnt get out of bed....had hives etc. I had been on this drug several times in the past. We figured an allergic reaction. Then in June of the same year I had the exact same symptoms, wasnt taking any prescriptions at all. I went to the emerg where they treated me for heat exhaustion, I had been in the sun for a few hours that day...so attributed it to that. I owned a boat the for yearsand spent my whole days laying on it and sun tanning fishing etc. I never once had heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Immediately after this I started having chest pains and palps, hair started falling out, couldnt get energy started putting on weight. They told me I had pericarditis(swelling around the heart). I also had difficulty swallowing.
I struggled with this until about a year, the chest pains went away, but still had palps. I was told it was harmless.
I guess I just got used to the way my body felt and all these things. I was being dismissed by my doctors and basically just gave up.
In 2008 I met someone new(still struggling with weight, exhaustion, hairloss, and no hairgrowth on legs, and other non mentional areas...very patchy and barely any at all. I used to have a thick head of hair and now have thin, strangly hair. In december of that year I suffered a miscarriage, then fell pregnant again in May 2009, The whole pregnancy I felt great, I had only gained about 30 lbs, my hair grew like crazy and thickened...was great! I had my little girl and immediatly lost 30 lbs, about a month after the weight loss I gained back 40lbs, I eat healty, and am Incredibly active!! I have 2 other children that keep me on my toes aswell.
In May I went for a scope as I was choking on my food all the time and had difficulty swallowing...the scope showed inflamation in my throat, the gastrologist wrote me a script for acid reflux, I dont have heartburn and asked him if it was possible to be unaware of such a horrible condition...he just told me to take the script.
I have refused to take it, I dont even get heartburn!
I started researching things, I came upon a checklist for thyroid while I was researching swallowing problems.
I did the check list and sure and behold, it was exactly the way I have felt for YEARS~
I requested thyroid tests...my numbers came back normal. However, I have elevated collesteral now aswell...I am 31 yrs old. Isnt it odd to have high colesteral at that age..not to mention I dont eat meat at all~ I can barely eat anything, I stick to soup, really. I cant get the larger stuff through my throat! I see that high collesteral is also a symptom of hypothyroid.
I went to my doctors and asked if it was possible if I had a goiter of if the gland was causing restriction on my throat, he decided we "could" do an ultrasound.
I also now have to see the heart specialist as I am having bad chest pains and palps again.
I asked if we could redo the tests, aswell as do the T3 and antibody test. He said its not my thyroid.
I am in tears every day, this should be the happiest time for me with a new baby etc. Instead I am riddened with all these horrible symptoms!
Does anyone know of a good endo, or thyroid doctor in London Ontario that they would reccomend? I am desperate to get treated fairly and be heard.
I have had problems since 2007(may) was on a prescription for a bladder infection, on day 10 I started feeling completley exhausted to the point where I couldnt get out of bed....had hives etc. I had been on this drug several times in the past. We figured an allergic reaction. Then in June of the same year I had the exact same symptoms, wasnt taking any prescriptions at all. I went to the emerg where they treated me for heat exhaustion, I had been in the sun for a few hours that day...so attributed it to that. I owned a boat the for yearsand spent my whole days laying on it and sun tanning fishing etc. I never once had heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Immediately after this I started having chest pains and palps, hair started falling out, couldnt get energy started putting on weight. They told me I had pericarditis(swelling around the heart). I also had difficulty swallowing.
I struggled with this until about a year, the chest pains went away, but still had palps. I was told it was harmless.
I guess I just got used to the way my body felt and all these things. I was being dismissed by my doctors and basically just gave up.
In 2008 I met someone new(still struggling with weight, exhaustion, hairloss, and no hairgrowth on legs, and other non mentional areas...very patchy and barely any at all. I used to have a thick head of hair and now have thin, strangly hair. In december of that year I suffered a miscarriage, then fell pregnant again in May 2009, The whole pregnancy I felt great, I had only gained about 30 lbs, my hair grew like crazy and thickened...was great! I had my little girl and immediatly lost 30 lbs, about a month after the weight loss I gained back 40lbs, I eat healty, and am Incredibly active!! I have 2 other children that keep me on my toes aswell.
In May I went for a scope as I was choking on my food all the time and had difficulty swallowing...the scope showed inflamation in my throat, the gastrologist wrote me a script for acid reflux, I dont have heartburn and asked him if it was possible to be unaware of such a horrible condition...he just told me to take the script.
I have refused to take it, I dont even get heartburn!
I started researching things, I came upon a checklist for thyroid while I was researching swallowing problems.
I did the check list and sure and behold, it was exactly the way I have felt for YEARS~
I requested thyroid tests...my numbers came back normal. However, I have elevated collesteral now aswell...I am 31 yrs old. Isnt it odd to have high colesteral at that age..not to mention I dont eat meat at all~ I can barely eat anything, I stick to soup, really. I cant get the larger stuff through my throat! I see that high collesteral is also a symptom of hypothyroid.
I went to my doctors and asked if it was possible if I had a goiter of if the gland was causing restriction on my throat, he decided we "could" do an ultrasound.
I also now have to see the heart specialist as I am having bad chest pains and palps again.
I asked if we could redo the tests, aswell as do the T3 and antibody test. He said its not my thyroid.
I am in tears every day, this should be the happiest time for me with a new baby etc. Instead I am riddened with all these horrible symptoms!
Does anyone know of a good endo, or thyroid doctor in London Ontario that they would reccomend? I am desperate to get treated fairly and be heard.
Oops, wrong London. Sorry about trying to move you to the UK. LOL
Make sure to insist on testing for FT3. Also, unfortunately the probability is low that anyone here will have a rec for a good thyroid doctor in your area. As an alternative, members have resorted to asking their friends. Sometimes they have also asked pharmacists what doctors in the area prescribe Armour thyroid or Nature-throid or some other T4/T3 combo type meds. A doctor that does that is generally more open to treating symptoms rather than TSH. If this does not turn up any prospects, then a search through the phone book might at least give you some prospects.
When you have a list of potential doctors, there is a way to weed out the suspects from the prospects. I have had good success with calling the doctor's office and saying that I was looking for a good thyroid doctor, but would like to speak to one of the nurses and ask a few questions first. I have never been turned down on that request. Then I ask the nurse if the doctor is willing to treat a patient for symptoms by testing and adjusting FT3 and FT4 levels, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. The second question is if the doctor is willing to prescribe thyroid meds other than T4 only types. If the answer to either question is no, then keep looking.
Make sure to insist on testing for FT3. Also, unfortunately the probability is low that anyone here will have a rec for a good thyroid doctor in your area. As an alternative, members have resorted to asking their friends. Sometimes they have also asked pharmacists what doctors in the area prescribe Armour thyroid or Nature-throid or some other T4/T3 combo type meds. A doctor that does that is generally more open to treating symptoms rather than TSH. If this does not turn up any prospects, then a search through the phone book might at least give you some prospects.
When you have a list of potential doctors, there is a way to weed out the suspects from the prospects. I have had good success with calling the doctor's office and saying that I was looking for a good thyroid doctor, but would like to speak to one of the nurses and ask a few questions first. I have never been turned down on that request. Then I ask the nurse if the doctor is willing to treat a patient for symptoms by testing and adjusting FT3 and FT4 levels, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. The second question is if the doctor is willing to prescribe thyroid meds other than T4 only types. If the answer to either question is no, then keep looking.
Thanks Gimel, I will be sure to check out that site. Any help and advice is greatly apprectiated!!
I am actually in London Ontario, Canada.
I am actually in London Ontario, Canada.
Did you intend to include free T3 (FT3) in your list? I just wanted to be sure because it is the most important test for thyroid hormones. Since you are in the UK, I hope you are successful in getting the testing done that you want. We hear many stories of difficulty in making it happen.
You should also be aware that the so-called "normal" ranges are not really normal for everyone. In fact, the reference ranges for FT3 and FT4 are far too broad, and we hear from many members that symptom relief for them necessitated that FT3 was adjusted into the upper part of its range and FT4 adjusted to at least midpoint. Symptom relief should be the objective for treatment, not to just get the lab results somewhere within the "normal" range and stop.
Here's a good link for you that I think might really be of benefit.
http://www.hormonerestoration.com/Thyroid.html
You should also be aware that the so-called "normal" ranges are not really normal for everyone. In fact, the reference ranges for FT3 and FT4 are far too broad, and we hear from many members that symptom relief for them necessitated that FT3 was adjusted into the upper part of its range and FT4 adjusted to at least midpoint. Symptom relief should be the objective for treatment, not to just get the lab results somewhere within the "normal" range and stop.
Here's a good link for you that I think might really be of benefit.
http://www.hormonerestoration.com/Thyroid.html
We are close in numbers.
Those are the only ones I had done aswell...my T4 was 12.6 (9.1-23.8)
My Tsh was 1.40 (.30-4.70) I am going to request the antibody test, total T4 T3 Total T3, FTI Tgab Tpoab TBG....
Those are the only ones I had done aswell...my T4 was 12.6 (9.1-23.8)
My Tsh was 1.40 (.30-4.70) I am going to request the antibody test, total T4 T3 Total T3, FTI Tgab Tpoab TBG....
I truly understand how you feel as I have felt the same for years! Could sleep fir a week, lethargy, Weight gain, hair loss, also have supraventricular tachycardia - palps! Heart rate of 170 at worst! I have depression and just feel lousy all the time! All my doctors says is that if he had a fiver for everytime his patients said they were tired, he would of retired by now!!!!! But no help to me! Your about the only one on here that I have read and sounds so familiar! I too could also do with some advice If you get any?? Good luck xx
Oh, I forgot to mention while I was pregnant my heart rate was HIGH...it was 130's at a resting period. I did have a thyroid test then that was normal. Other than that though, I felt Great!
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