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Was this hyPO or HyPER? Anyone know?
Hi. Can anyone here help me figure this out?
Due to the fact that my bloodwork has been a mess for so long (taking meds before labs) I just don't know WHERE I was and where I am. SO, in your experience, can you tell me what these symptoms sound like? They happened right after the birth of the baby, and I'm trying to figure out if I was, at that time, hypo or hyper. I was also slightly anemic at that time, and to this day my ferritin is only up to 36, iron to 51, and sat 15%.
24/7 headaches
Lightheadedness
Weakness
Severely achy, burning neck and shoulders
Very tense inside
Exhausted, like wanting to die fatigue
Couldn't stand for long
Couldn't talk - couldn't find words
Couldn't think or carry on conversations
Tingling extremities
Complete inability to multitask
Spaced out and staring while driving
Random numbness
Carpal tunnel got 200% worse
Major hair loss
Fuzzy vision
Dry mouth
Loads of anxiety - panic attacks
Depression
Cold but with hot flashes
Sensitive to sound and light
No appetite
Alternating diarrhea and constipation
IBS
Sore, achy joints and muscles
Fast weight loss
TMJ
Clumsiness and always dropping things
Insomnia
Feelings of detachment
Palpitations and tachycardia
Yawning...always yawning
There. That's it. I know symptoms can overlap but I really, really am desperate to know WHAT all that was so I can figure out where I am now.
Thanks. :)
Due to the fact that my bloodwork has been a mess for so long (taking meds before labs) I just don't know WHERE I was and where I am. SO, in your experience, can you tell me what these symptoms sound like? They happened right after the birth of the baby, and I'm trying to figure out if I was, at that time, hypo or hyper. I was also slightly anemic at that time, and to this day my ferritin is only up to 36, iron to 51, and sat 15%.
24/7 headaches
Lightheadedness
Weakness
Severely achy, burning neck and shoulders
Very tense inside
Exhausted, like wanting to die fatigue
Couldn't stand for long
Couldn't talk - couldn't find words
Couldn't think or carry on conversations
Tingling extremities
Complete inability to multitask
Spaced out and staring while driving
Random numbness
Carpal tunnel got 200% worse
Major hair loss
Fuzzy vision
Dry mouth
Loads of anxiety - panic attacks
Depression
Cold but with hot flashes
Sensitive to sound and light
No appetite
Alternating diarrhea and constipation
IBS
Sore, achy joints and muscles
Fast weight loss
TMJ
Clumsiness and always dropping things
Insomnia
Feelings of detachment
Palpitations and tachycardia
Yawning...always yawning
There. That's it. I know symptoms can overlap but I really, really am desperate to know WHAT all that was so I can figure out where I am now.
Thanks. :)
I went to a headache specialist/neurologist and he did some neuro tests on me and said I was having migraines. At the time, I WAS having intense, 24/7 headaches that would never go away.
Since then, the pain has gone but the lightheadedness and brain fog hasn't. So it MAY be migraines minus the pain, and I started the migraine diet to see if it helped any. (Hasn't yet).
When all this started, I was on Armour. Now I'm on NP Thyroid. It may not be the right dose yet.
Hormone testing is underway.....
Sigh.
Had a baby, fell apart. :(
Since then, the pain has gone but the lightheadedness and brain fog hasn't. So it MAY be migraines minus the pain, and I started the migraine diet to see if it helped any. (Hasn't yet).
When all this started, I was on Armour. Now I'm on NP Thyroid. It may not be the right dose yet.
Hormone testing is underway.....
Sigh.
Had a baby, fell apart. :(
COMMUNITY LEADER
Oh, wow, that's not good.
I don't recall that you had mentioned Graves or RAI before
Have you had any neurological tests done? And what about reproductive hormones?
Have you thought of trying a different medication?
I don't recall that you had mentioned Graves or RAI before
Have you had any neurological tests done? And what about reproductive hormones?
Have you thought of trying a different medication?
I am so spaced out and loopy so often that the other night I forgot my two year old in a parking lot. I just wandered off without him....forgot he even existed. THAT's how bad my mind is right now. :(
Hi Barb,
I do not have Hashi's. Antibodies are always undetectable. I did have Grave's. (Did I mention that already? I forgot...) Grave's followed by RAI in the late 1980s.
Immediately following baby's birth, I had ALL those symptoms. Every one of them. Slowly they began disappearing and now my only annoying symptoms are:
Lightheadedness
Occasionally losing my words or jumbling them up
Can't always think clearly or carry on conversations
Spaced out and staring while driving
Carpal tunnel
Sometimes fuzzy vision
Mild Depression
Sensitive to light
Feelings of detachment
My B12 is very good - over 1000, by the way.
I do not have Hashi's. Antibodies are always undetectable. I did have Grave's. (Did I mention that already? I forgot...) Grave's followed by RAI in the late 1980s.
Immediately following baby's birth, I had ALL those symptoms. Every one of them. Slowly they began disappearing and now my only annoying symptoms are:
Lightheadedness
Occasionally losing my words or jumbling them up
Can't always think clearly or carry on conversations
Spaced out and staring while driving
Carpal tunnel
Sometimes fuzzy vision
Mild Depression
Sensitive to light
Feelings of detachment
My B12 is very good - over 1000, by the way.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I understood that you were enunciating, not yelling, but appreciate the clarification.
The reason I asked so much about your labs is because some symptoms can apply to both hyper and hypo, plus there are other things that can cause a lot of those symptoms, aside from thyroid. For instance, the tingling extremities can be caused by vitamin B12 deficiency.
Looking at you latest, unmedicated labs, I'd say you are still hypo. Rule of thumb is have FT3 in the upper 1/3 of its range, with FT4 at approximately mid range, though of course, that doesn't apply to *everyone*.
The diarrhea, lack of appetite and weight loss are areas of concern, though, as are the palpitations and tachy.
The low TSH does not necessarily indicate hyper; you're only hyper if symptoms and labs say you are.
Do you have all of these symptoms, all the time, or do they vary/come and go? Do you know if you have Hashimoto's?
The reason I asked so much about your labs is because some symptoms can apply to both hyper and hypo, plus there are other things that can cause a lot of those symptoms, aside from thyroid. For instance, the tingling extremities can be caused by vitamin B12 deficiency.
Looking at you latest, unmedicated labs, I'd say you are still hypo. Rule of thumb is have FT3 in the upper 1/3 of its range, with FT4 at approximately mid range, though of course, that doesn't apply to *everyone*.
The diarrhea, lack of appetite and weight loss are areas of concern, though, as are the palpitations and tachy.
The low TSH does not necessarily indicate hyper; you're only hyper if symptoms and labs say you are.
Do you have all of these symptoms, all the time, or do they vary/come and go? Do you know if you have Hashimoto's?
katydid, I just posted for help with labs and listed a few of my symptoms. Your list could be mine. I am taking 125 of synthroid once daily and 5mg cytomel twice daily. I had a Total Thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer and had positive antibodies. I took Naturethroid for 18 months (same as Armour) but couldnt get TSH low enough ( has to be suppressed for Thyroid cancer), so switched to synthroid and cytomel. I didnt feel that good on Naturethroid but feel worse on Synthroid. Hope we can find some answers.
PS - the ALL CAPS in the above were for enunciation of certain points, not being rude or yelling at you, Barb. :)
I AM supplementing D3 and Iron.
What my original question was if the symptoms I had looked hyper or hypo, because (since my labs have been off so long with me taking meds at the wrong times) I am trying to determine where I need to be.
Judging by my ACCURATE September labs, it does appear as though I am still hypo, BUT I am not certain. My TSH is so low and doc is afraid to raise me any more anyway.
What my original question was if the symptoms I had looked hyper or hypo, because (since my labs have been off so long with me taking meds at the wrong times) I am trying to determine where I need to be.
Judging by my ACCURATE September labs, it does appear as though I am still hypo, BUT I am not certain. My TSH is so low and doc is afraid to raise me any more anyway.
Sorry for the delay in responding. Ok, let me start over.
The past labs were, for the most part, all done with me having taken meds before labs. So the FT3 would be falsely elevated. HOWEVER, the latest labs (September's) were done correctly.
They are:
TSH .01
FT4 .96 (.82-1.77) - 19% of the lab range
FT3 3.1 (2.0 - 4.4) - 46% of the lab range
On NP Thyroid 180
The past labs were, for the most part, all done with me having taken meds before labs. So the FT3 would be falsely elevated. HOWEVER, the latest labs (September's) were done correctly.
They are:
TSH .01
FT4 .96 (.82-1.77) - 19% of the lab range
FT3 3.1 (2.0 - 4.4) - 46% of the lab range
On NP Thyroid 180
COMMUNITY LEADER
I should have known.......it just wasn't clicking........lol
Both your iron and ferritin are low in the ranges, so that would indicate mild anemia. Are you now supplementing? Anemia can cause some hypo-like symptoms.
Your vitamin D is also very low in its range. Vitamin D deficiency can also cause many hypo-like symptoms. Are you supplementing that?
Is May 2011, the latest thyroid blood work you have? Do you always take your medication prior to blood work? Since you are on Armour, it wouldn't affect the FT4 much, because that takes a while to get into the system, then leave again; however, the T3 component in the Armour, would tend to make you have falsely high FT3 levels, because it starts working quickly.
Can you get current labs for TSH, FT3 and FT4 and NOT take your medication prior to the blood draw? Most labs open fairly early (around 7:00 am), so you could take your medication and a bottle of water with you, get the blood drawn, then gobble your medication; that's what I do........ Most labs also allow you make appointments, so you can choose your time; the lab chain I go to guarantees that they will have you in and out, within 15 min of your appointment time, but if they aren't busy that day, you can get in earlier.
My point here is that even though your labs look good, they are probably not accurate (particularly the FT3), since you've taken your medication prior to the blood work.
It appears that you need an increase in medication to alleviate symptoms.
Both your iron and ferritin are low in the ranges, so that would indicate mild anemia. Are you now supplementing? Anemia can cause some hypo-like symptoms.
Your vitamin D is also very low in its range. Vitamin D deficiency can also cause many hypo-like symptoms. Are you supplementing that?
Is May 2011, the latest thyroid blood work you have? Do you always take your medication prior to blood work? Since you are on Armour, it wouldn't affect the FT4 much, because that takes a while to get into the system, then leave again; however, the T3 component in the Armour, would tend to make you have falsely high FT3 levels, because it starts working quickly.
Can you get current labs for TSH, FT3 and FT4 and NOT take your medication prior to the blood draw? Most labs open fairly early (around 7:00 am), so you could take your medication and a bottle of water with you, get the blood drawn, then gobble your medication; that's what I do........ Most labs also allow you make appointments, so you can choose your time; the lab chain I go to guarantees that they will have you in and out, within 15 min of your appointment time, but if they aren't busy that day, you can get in earlier.
My point here is that even though your labs look good, they are probably not accurate (particularly the FT3), since you've taken your medication prior to the blood work.
It appears that you need an increase in medication to alleviate symptoms.
there is a condition called postpartum hypothyroidism.
i would also have your doctor test you for hashimoto's and/or graves disease.
be well. good luck to you.
i would also have your doctor test you for hashimoto's and/or graves disease.
be well. good luck to you.
This is all I have in the way of ranges for iron, Vit d....
Iron binding capacity 350 (250-450)
UIBC 200 (150-375)
Iron serum 51 (35-155)
Sat 15%
Ferritin 36 (13-150)
Vit D 42.7 (32-100)
Iron binding capacity 350 (250-450)
UIBC 200 (150-375)
Iron serum 51 (35-155)
Sat 15%
Ferritin 36 (13-150)
Vit D 42.7 (32-100)
COMMUNITY LEADER
PPT?
Yes, if you had Graves and RAI, your thyroid should be dead.
Please post reference ranges for tests that have been done.......
Yep, you'll hear from me in the morning....
Yes, if you had Graves and RAI, your thyroid should be dead.
Please post reference ranges for tests that have been done.......
Yep, you'll hear from me in the morning....
I do not have pernicious anemia. I was just told I was slightly anemic upon discharge from the hospital in March 2011. I haven't gotten those labs yet.
My recent iron panel was
Ferritin 36
Iron 51
Sat 15% and
TIBC was on the high end of the range, so I'm taking iron supplements.
I have been tested for antibodies several times and they are undetectable.
Goodnight! Hopefully I'll hear from you in the morning!
My recent iron panel was
Ferritin 36
Iron 51
Sat 15% and
TIBC was on the high end of the range, so I'm taking iron supplements.
I have been tested for antibodies several times and they are undetectable.
Goodnight! Hopefully I'll hear from you in the morning!
I had Graves twenty something years ago and have had RAI for that when I was 15. I'm not sure it would be possible for me to have PPT. Would it? Isn't my thyroid dead?
COMMUNITY LEADER
You have symptoms of both hyper and hypo, but there could also be other things going on, so let's start with your latest thyroid lab results. How long ago was your baby born? Please post whatever you have, along with reference ranges, since these vary from lab to lab.
What medication are you on, what dose? What type of anemia - iron deficient or pernicious? Have you ever been tested for thyroid antibodies? If so, which ones and what were the results?
We can start with that, but just so you know, it's getting late in my part of the world, so I'm off to bed; I'm old and go to bed early (not to mention my time zone), so there may others chiming in, with info and/or more questions........
What medication are you on, what dose? What type of anemia - iron deficient or pernicious? Have you ever been tested for thyroid antibodies? If so, which ones and what were the results?
We can start with that, but just so you know, it's getting late in my part of the world, so I'm off to bed; I'm old and go to bed early (not to mention my time zone), so there may others chiming in, with info and/or more questions........
Most all of them are consistent with Hypo.
Get your Thyroid checked. DEMAND that they test your FREE T4 and FREE T3. This is different than TOTAL T4 or TOTAL T3 which are outdated and not much value.
Do NOT let a Dr. only test for TSH. TSH is totally insufficient other than a screening tool and are not sufficient to tell you your Thyroid health.
Many women have had post partum Hypothyroidism. Sometimes it goes away after treatment for a time, other times it is a long term thing.
Get your Thyroid checked. DEMAND that they test your FREE T4 and FREE T3. This is different than TOTAL T4 or TOTAL T3 which are outdated and not much value.
Do NOT let a Dr. only test for TSH. TSH is totally insufficient other than a screening tool and are not sufficient to tell you your Thyroid health.
Many women have had post partum Hypothyroidism. Sometimes it goes away after treatment for a time, other times it is a long term thing.
My labs, btw, are a mess. For years I forgot about NOT taking meds before labs...here are some old ones. Because of these TSHs and Frees, I have no idea where I am now and why I feel so awful. This all started in March, when baby was born. Before then I felt "fine" but looking back was clearly hypo, just with no major symptoms other than mild to moderate depression, carpal tunnel and tiredness.
August 2009
TSH .99
FT4 .66 (.61-1.76)
FT3 2.6 (2.3 - 4.2)
ON ARMOUR 150
November 2009
TSH 14
FT4 .50 (.60-1.65)
FT3 3.5 (2.5 - 3.9)
ON ARMOUR 150
August 2010
TSH 17.46
FT4 1.12 (.82-1.77)
FT3 1.5 (2.0 - 4.4)
ON ARMOUR 150
September 2010
TSH .25
FT4 .76 (.82-1.77)
FT3 3.6 (2.0 - 4.4)
Vit D 25.7
ON ARMOUR 180
November 2010
TSH .57
FT4 .56 (.82-1.77)
FT3 4.7 (2.0 - 4.4)
ON ARMOUR 180
May 02, 2011
TSH .01
FT4 1.01 (.82-1.77)
FT3 3.3 (2.0 - 4.4)
Vit D 37.8
ON ARMOUR 180
Most recent Vit D was 41 (not happy with that) and B12 was over 1000
August 2009
TSH .99
FT4 .66 (.61-1.76)
FT3 2.6 (2.3 - 4.2)
ON ARMOUR 150
November 2009
TSH 14
FT4 .50 (.60-1.65)
FT3 3.5 (2.5 - 3.9)
ON ARMOUR 150
August 2010
TSH 17.46
FT4 1.12 (.82-1.77)
FT3 1.5 (2.0 - 4.4)
ON ARMOUR 150
September 2010
TSH .25
FT4 .76 (.82-1.77)
FT3 3.6 (2.0 - 4.4)
Vit D 25.7
ON ARMOUR 180
November 2010
TSH .57
FT4 .56 (.82-1.77)
FT3 4.7 (2.0 - 4.4)
ON ARMOUR 180
May 02, 2011
TSH .01
FT4 1.01 (.82-1.77)
FT3 3.3 (2.0 - 4.4)
Vit D 37.8
ON ARMOUR 180
Most recent Vit D was 41 (not happy with that) and B12 was over 1000
Latest labs (Sept 2011)
TSH .01
FT4 .96 (.82-1.77)
FT3 3.1 (2.0 - 4.4)
On NP Thyroid 180
TSH .01
FT4 .96 (.82-1.77)
FT3 3.1 (2.0 - 4.4)
On NP Thyroid 180
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