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Your opinion/thoughts please (lab results)
Hi. 38 female. I just found out I have hashimoto's. I have a 5.5cm cyst on my right thyroid. I will have to have it removed. In the past 5 years I've been misdiagnosed by several Dr's as being bipolar, so all the symptoms of thyroid problems (constipation, hair loss, weight gain, chronic fatigue) I've blamed on antidepressant meds (lamictol, trazadone, zoloft, celexia etc etc). So finding out I am hypothyroid and have an auto immune disease has been a huge surprise/shock to say the least. I am still trying to figure this out.
What took me to the Dr's office to get a physical /blood work was I realized something was really wrong. I was getting aches and pains all over my body, I couldn't walk very far without having to rest, I was weak unable to lift heavy things, feeling very stressed for no reason (I bought candles and relaxation music and started floating in the pool, but I could NOT relax), I felt like I couldn't get a deep breathe, frequent bowel movements, extreme anxiety and panic attacks (was I going from hypo to hyper?). That's when the Dr found a very large cyst on my thyroid (5.5cm - it takes up the whole thyroid. I did notice last year my neck was looking bigger and a gold necklace no longer fit.
If anyone can give me their opinion on recent labs:
flag reference range
FT4 1.97 high 0.75-1.54
TSH 2.16 0.50-6.00
FT3 2.6 1.8-3.8
I am on synthroid 75mcg
I ask because I am feeling all these symptoms that have me concerned:
I'm dropping weight fast. I haven't weighed this much since high school. I am eating better, but is this normal? When will the weight loss stop? I am getting too thin. I do feel hyper more than hypo. I have a lot of anxiety and panic attacks lately.
I'm having joint pain in my fingers and toes. My toes are actually changing shape, looking bonier. Dr said it looks like arthritis.
Pain in my upper stomach around my right rib cage. Abdomen is sometimes sore to touch. Occasional sharp stabbing pain around my upper and lower abdomen.
Bloodshot eyes.
occasional ulcer on tongue.
Extreme stiff back of neck (from stress?) and middle sharp back pain. Feels like my back needs to be readjusted.
Lower pain around the ovary area that goes down to my inner thigh. (pap smear was negative)
Muscle weakness.
Charley horse feeling in upper arms, thighs, and calves.
Diarrhea
bouts of constipation
Pain in my teeth
Burning skin sensation
Interestingly, several Dr's (not endos) don't think I have Hashi b/c I do not have the nodule pattern, just one big nodule on my right thyroid. My left thyroid is fine. But the endo said it was Hashi. And my antibodies are high (wish I knew what they were).
What can be done to alleviate these symptoms. Is this because T4 is off? I don't know what my antibodies are but Doc said they are elevated. Are the antibodies causing these symptoms? Could it be celiac?
My Dr is having me take B12 1,500
Again, the weight loss concerns me. Please give your opinion or share your similar symptoms, thank you! :)
What took me to the Dr's office to get a physical /blood work was I realized something was really wrong. I was getting aches and pains all over my body, I couldn't walk very far without having to rest, I was weak unable to lift heavy things, feeling very stressed for no reason (I bought candles and relaxation music and started floating in the pool, but I could NOT relax), I felt like I couldn't get a deep breathe, frequent bowel movements, extreme anxiety and panic attacks (was I going from hypo to hyper?). That's when the Dr found a very large cyst on my thyroid (5.5cm - it takes up the whole thyroid. I did notice last year my neck was looking bigger and a gold necklace no longer fit.
If anyone can give me their opinion on recent labs:
flag reference range
FT4 1.97 high 0.75-1.54
TSH 2.16 0.50-6.00
FT3 2.6 1.8-3.8
I am on synthroid 75mcg
I ask because I am feeling all these symptoms that have me concerned:
I'm dropping weight fast. I haven't weighed this much since high school. I am eating better, but is this normal? When will the weight loss stop? I am getting too thin. I do feel hyper more than hypo. I have a lot of anxiety and panic attacks lately.
I'm having joint pain in my fingers and toes. My toes are actually changing shape, looking bonier. Dr said it looks like arthritis.
Pain in my upper stomach around my right rib cage. Abdomen is sometimes sore to touch. Occasional sharp stabbing pain around my upper and lower abdomen.
Bloodshot eyes.
occasional ulcer on tongue.
Extreme stiff back of neck (from stress?) and middle sharp back pain. Feels like my back needs to be readjusted.
Lower pain around the ovary area that goes down to my inner thigh. (pap smear was negative)
Muscle weakness.
Charley horse feeling in upper arms, thighs, and calves.
Diarrhea
bouts of constipation
Pain in my teeth
Burning skin sensation
Interestingly, several Dr's (not endos) don't think I have Hashi b/c I do not have the nodule pattern, just one big nodule on my right thyroid. My left thyroid is fine. But the endo said it was Hashi. And my antibodies are high (wish I knew what they were).
What can be done to alleviate these symptoms. Is this because T4 is off? I don't know what my antibodies are but Doc said they are elevated. Are the antibodies causing these symptoms? Could it be celiac?
My Dr is having me take B12 1,500
Again, the weight loss concerns me. Please give your opinion or share your similar symptoms, thank you! :)
What dose of Synthroid are you on and how long was you on it when these labs were done?
It looks to me like 'crossover' symptoms.
Your TSH is high causing Hypo symptoms and your FT4 is high causing hyper symptoms.
Sometimes this happens when you are put on a too high a dose of synthroid to start with and your body cant cope with the high dose so fast.
Usually staying on the same dose for 6 weeks will bring the TSH down and the FT3 up and FT4 down a fraction when it converts to FT3.
Post back how long you have been on the current dose and how much you are taking.
It looks to me like 'crossover' symptoms.
Your TSH is high causing Hypo symptoms and your FT4 is high causing hyper symptoms.
Sometimes this happens when you are put on a too high a dose of synthroid to start with and your body cant cope with the high dose so fast.
Usually staying on the same dose for 6 weeks will bring the TSH down and the FT3 up and FT4 down a fraction when it converts to FT3.
Post back how long you have been on the current dose and how much you are taking.
I don't see anything on the lab that suggests hyperthyroidism - medically induced. Acutally your labs indicate your low on Frees and have a higher tsh then most with Hashi's are comfortable with.
Most Hashi people are happy at a set point of around 1.0 to feel better. Looking at the labs you could be hypothyroid which brings on sensitivity of celiac and lactose problems. The stomach pain would support those 2 issues before an adrenal issue would be looked at. Usually adrenals will punch you in the back - near the kidneys as a sign that something is wrong. Another thought that pushes adrenal fatigue back some would be your weight. In almost all cases, when the adrenals are off a build up of cortisol concentrates around the middle part of the belly and stores the fat. Some say they look bigger than they did when pregnant if the adrenals ( with other symptoms) are weak.
A surgerical removal of a thyroid whether PT - or a TT will not put Hashi - or Graves antibodies into remission. It a count of antibodies attacking - usually on the thyroid - but they are known to attack - even when a removal has been done. Surgery does not cure antibodies. You have to combat them with supplementation to put them in remission and build up the immune system to fight off the attacks.
I know milk products now bother me. As a child I could drink a gallon a day. Now, I am lucky to sip some in my coffee without being bloated or uncomfortable.
I don't know what could be causing the weight loss. It could be an insulin issue. That is common in Hashi patients. Insulin is next to thyroid in controlling metobolism. You might be running high.
Most Hashi people are happy at a set point of around 1.0 to feel better. Looking at the labs you could be hypothyroid which brings on sensitivity of celiac and lactose problems. The stomach pain would support those 2 issues before an adrenal issue would be looked at. Usually adrenals will punch you in the back - near the kidneys as a sign that something is wrong. Another thought that pushes adrenal fatigue back some would be your weight. In almost all cases, when the adrenals are off a build up of cortisol concentrates around the middle part of the belly and stores the fat. Some say they look bigger than they did when pregnant if the adrenals ( with other symptoms) are weak.
A surgerical removal of a thyroid whether PT - or a TT will not put Hashi - or Graves antibodies into remission. It a count of antibodies attacking - usually on the thyroid - but they are known to attack - even when a removal has been done. Surgery does not cure antibodies. You have to combat them with supplementation to put them in remission and build up the immune system to fight off the attacks.
I know milk products now bother me. As a child I could drink a gallon a day. Now, I am lucky to sip some in my coffee without being bloated or uncomfortable.
I don't know what could be causing the weight loss. It could be an insulin issue. That is common in Hashi patients. Insulin is next to thyroid in controlling metobolism. You might be running high.
Have you had your adrenals checked? I ask this as many thyroid patients also have adrenal fatigue. You are losing weight which is not usual with your levels. Your abdominal pain is also a good indicator of adrenal gland dysfunction.
It could well be for you, those levels are making you hyper. For me I would be hypo!
Everyone has a different set point as to their own symptoms.
Yes, your antibodies could well be the cause of the aches and pains too. Mine were very high at 1446 after I had my left thyroid out. Lord knows what they were before the surgery! I had many of your symptoms too. Since having the total thyroidectomy these have subsided dramatically.
You could be tested for ceoliac disease. Or try elimanting all wheat products for two weeks then go back on the wheat and see how you feel. I am gluten intolerant as are many thyroid patients. I know I feel lousy with an gluten/wheat in my diet!
Cheers
It could well be for you, those levels are making you hyper. For me I would be hypo!
Everyone has a different set point as to their own symptoms.
Yes, your antibodies could well be the cause of the aches and pains too. Mine were very high at 1446 after I had my left thyroid out. Lord knows what they were before the surgery! I had many of your symptoms too. Since having the total thyroidectomy these have subsided dramatically.
You could be tested for ceoliac disease. Or try elimanting all wheat products for two weeks then go back on the wheat and see how you feel. I am gluten intolerant as are many thyroid patients. I know I feel lousy with an gluten/wheat in my diet!
Cheers
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