What's wrong?

[blueice37]

Hi!  I have been recently diagnosed with hypothyroid. I feel horrible all the time. Somedays I can't even make it to work. Let me give you a little history. I'm 52 yrs old. The past two years have really been bad on me. I just went through menopause. Last year, I had been having spells, "thyroid storms" as my Dr put it to me. He checked my TSH, T3 and T4 levels and told me they were slightly high. At that time, he didn't want to put me on any meds because I was going through menopause. About 4 months later, I started feeling really tired, headache, horrible dizziness, confusion, and muscle/joint aches. The Dr. rechecked my TSH and it came back at 7.8. He started me on 25 mcg levothyroxine. I was taking a quarter of  a tablet everyday and it was throwing back into hyperthyroid. The doctor told me to switch to the brand Synthroid since it was more stable. I switched and for the first 3 weeks, I was feeling great. He retested and showed my TSH was 6.8. Soon after, I was beginning with the symptoms again only now alot of anxiety, nervousness and racing heart. He cut me back to quarter tab every other day.  It helped for about a week. Symptoms again. I started taking it everyday and hyper started once again.  Last week, my TSH level was checked and it is down to 4.2, but I still feel horrible. By midday and early evening I'm aching, both my joints, muscles and head. Dr. told me to cut back to every 3 days. What is going on here? Will I every feel better/normal again?   PS My height is 5' and weight is 92 lbs. I can't seem to gain weight!!  Please advise. I'm on the verge of losing my job because of so many absences.

[Cynnieb4]

Also being at a 4.3 would definately make anyone feel ill. I know I feel best when I am down to a one. Maybe ask for another increase??? I think our bodies always need more.

[blueice37]

Last September my TSH, t4 and t3's indicated HYPERTHYROID.  Once I reached menopause, my TSH level was rechecked and indicated HYPOTHROID. So, I went from Hyper to Hypo in a matter of 4 months. The spells I was having prior to any testing were indicative of "thyroid storms".   I've done research on the internet about hypo. I'm not seeing anything on why I'm still feeling so bad. I felt good for about 2 weeks and now it just doesn't seem to be working. I guess it all boils down to I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired.

[stella5349]

Wait - I just re-read your post. Are you saying originally he diagnosed you with HYPERthyroid?

Here is what is confusing for me.. you say

"Last year, I had been having spells, "thyroid storms" as my Dr put it to me. He checked my TSH, T3 and T4 levels and told me they were slightly high."

High levels with testing TSH means Hypothyroidism - not hyper.

But then you go into saying:

"The Dr. rechecked my TSH and it came back at 7.8. He started me on 25 mcg levothyroxine. I was taking a quarter of  a tablet everyday and it was throwing back into hyperthyroid"

I don't read anywhere on your posts that would indicate any hyperthyroid from your TSH readings-

Can you clarify?

[stella5349]

Just by reading your post - I feel your doctor is a little confused with the whole thyroid stuff.

If he is giving you information on "thyroid storming" with a HyPOthyroid diagnosis then he is very confused. I find that a little concerning.

Thyroid storming is the onset of hyPERthyroid - not hypo.

Your TSH definately indicates that a doctor would treat you based on HyPOthyroidism. How well your getting treated .... is what I would be asking?

And you seem to be having symptoms related to that higher TSH.

Your TSH is not down far enough to rid your symptoms for most thyroid patients. Usually a TSH range of - or about - a .5 to a 1.5 is great for most people. If you look at the reference range posted on your TSH lab paperwork you will see this "range"  I am referring to. Most patients feel better on the lower end - but finding the "actual number" you feel good at is tricky business to achieve.

And......... I hope he HAS ran the Free T4 and Free T3 tests for you. If not - well then that would be a question I would want an answer for.

As Laura says these tests are very important to determine IF the medication is really doing it's job.

I really think you are not getting  - either enough hormones to build up that Free T3  or your body is not converting the T4 enough - to give you relief of your symptoms.

That is only a guess. Without seeing some lab work - that is all anyone can really do is guess at this one.

It sounds in your post that you have put all faith into your doctor and his/her judgement on your condition - that is good to some degree, but you really need to be an advocant of your own condition and understand the process of getting well. Have you done some research on your condition to assist your doctor in "really" helping you get over these
horrible symptoms?

So many things could be happening - simply by remaining in a thyroid state that your body is reacting bad to.

[laura1967]

Maybe you have sensitivity issues to what is in the levo and or synthroid. What were you Free T3 and Free T4 levels?? The TSH doesn't give the whole picture of what is going on. It could be from high level of t4 and not enough t3....just as an example. In this case you would still be hypo with hyper symptoms. You would never know this though if your doctor doesn't run the proper test. Ask for the Free's to be done with your TSH. Also have him run the antibody tests for hashimotos and graves. Good luck.