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hypothyroidism
I have many of the hypothyroidism symptoms, but I don't always have them they come and go, or at least I don't always feel them withe same intensity, so The first time I went to the doctor, he told me the tests showed I had hypothyroidism and that I should try another lab just to be sure, and the second time he told me that it wasn't that big of a problem and I shouldn't take any medications so that I wouldn't mess with my hormones but I'm not sure, what do you think, and should I get a Second opinion?
(these tests are almost one month apart)
FIRST TEST:
TSH: 8.37 RANGE:0.3-5
FREE T3: 2.3 RANGE:2-4.4
FREE T4: 0.8 RANGE:0.7-1.8
SECOND TEST:
TSH:5.5 RANGE:2.3-5.4
FREE T3: 3.4 RANGE:2.3-5.4
FREE T4: 0.8-1.8
(these tests are almost one month apart)
FIRST TEST:
TSH: 8.37 RANGE:0.3-5
FREE T3: 2.3 RANGE:2-4.4
FREE T4: 0.8 RANGE:0.7-1.8
SECOND TEST:
TSH:5.5 RANGE:2.3-5.4
FREE T3: 3.4 RANGE:2.3-5.4
FREE T4: 0.8-1.8
When a person has Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, about 90% of the time it will show in the TPO ab test. So to save money I would do that one. Beyond that I think the most important thing for now is to get the doctor to recognize that you have all those symptoms that are frequently related to hypothyroidism, and that you need to start on thyroid medication. Since hypo patients are so frequently deficient in Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, you could consider supplementing those on your own, but you should get them tested at first opportunity.
1 Comments
okay thank you soo much you've been a great help! I do it today and I'll post the results when I get them
So that doctor decided there was nothing to worry about. What about the symptoms you have had? What about the test results that are not optimal?
Were you tested for the possibility of Hashi's? Those tests are TPO ab and TG ab. Were you tested for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin?
Were you tested for the possibility of Hashi's? Those tests are TPO ab and TG ab. Were you tested for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin?
1 Comments
no I wanted to see what the doctor will say first but since I'm not convinced I've decided to do the tests anyways and if they confirm hashimoto's I'll find another doctor, but since the tests cost a lot here, will the TPO ab test be enough for a confirmation at first or do I have to do all of these tests?
For sure you have hypothyroid symptoms. Your test results are consistent with that. As noted above you need to be tested for TPO ab and TG ab to determine if Hashi's is the cause. You also need to test for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, as mentioned.
You also mentioned symptoms that are frequently related to being low in cortisol. So for that reason I suggest that you also need to test for morning serum cortisol. If you are cortisol deficient, as suspected, you will need to correct that by taking hydrocortisone. It is recommended that cortisol deficiency be corrected before starting on thyroid medication.
Can you get these additional tests done?
You also mentioned symptoms that are frequently related to being low in cortisol. So for that reason I suggest that you also need to test for morning serum cortisol. If you are cortisol deficient, as suspected, you will need to correct that by taking hydrocortisone. It is recommended that cortisol deficiency be corrected before starting on thyroid medication.
Can you get these additional tests done?
1 Comments
I know it's been a while but I went to see another doctor he said that there was nothing to worry about, but when I insisted he said I could get a sonogram just to be sure, so I did and it showed I had thyroiditis so I went back to see him and he told me that it would go away on it's own, I've uploaded the pictures on my profile because I didn't know how to upload them here, would you mind taking a look and tell me what you think
My Free T4 level was :0.9
so these are the symptoms, I've had most of them for a long time but never thought they could be connected, I didn't tell my Dr. about all of them because they didn't even come to mind:
Fatigue, Dry scaly skin, Muscle weakness specially in the arms, irregular menstrual periods, appetite loss, my hair is brittle and it's falling out even in the eyebrows (specially on the outer part), forgetfulness, Depression, sleeping problems (sometimes I have problems going to sleep and when I do it's only for 4 hours max other times when I get an 8 hour sleep I wake up feeling like I haven't slept at all), some times I feel like my tongue is kinda swollen, also the first time I went to the doctor he noticed my eyes were kinda protruding and my thyroid glad could be a little swollen.
There are also other symptoms that I'm not sure whether or not they're related: I'm very jumpy, like I could get startled by anything even if i can see it coming, lots of people notice that about me in addition to losing focus, also my eyes are very sensitive to light.
one more thing, I read that hypothyroid may cause cold intolerance, but I've been feeling the exact opposite and I keep sweating excessively specially my head even when I'm not doing any activity and in winter i'm always the one who feels the cold the least.
so these are the symptoms, I've had most of them for a long time but never thought they could be connected, I didn't tell my Dr. about all of them because they didn't even come to mind:
Fatigue, Dry scaly skin, Muscle weakness specially in the arms, irregular menstrual periods, appetite loss, my hair is brittle and it's falling out even in the eyebrows (specially on the outer part), forgetfulness, Depression, sleeping problems (sometimes I have problems going to sleep and when I do it's only for 4 hours max other times when I get an 8 hour sleep I wake up feeling like I haven't slept at all), some times I feel like my tongue is kinda swollen, also the first time I went to the doctor he noticed my eyes were kinda protruding and my thyroid glad could be a little swollen.
There are also other symptoms that I'm not sure whether or not they're related: I'm very jumpy, like I could get startled by anything even if i can see it coming, lots of people notice that about me in addition to losing focus, also my eyes are very sensitive to light.
one more thing, I read that hypothyroid may cause cold intolerance, but I've been feeling the exact opposite and I keep sweating excessively specially my head even when I'm not doing any activity and in winter i'm always the one who feels the cold the least.
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That said, your TSH was high enough that you should have been tested for the possibility of having Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Two tests are required for that, Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies (TPO ab and Thyroglobulin antibodies (TG ab). I would also suggest an ultrasound of the thyroid gland to determine if you have nodules on the gland. If so, that could be an explanation for your pattern of symptoms. Such nodules leak thyroid hormone faster than normal at times. Another thing I would test is morning serum cortisol.
Also, hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin. Deficiency in either can cause symptoms that mimic hypothyroidism. I suggest that you test for those and then supplement as needed to optimize. D should be bout 50, B12 in the upper end of the range, and ferritin should be about 70.
Finally, please tell me about those symptoms you have. Also, what was your Free T4 in the second set of tests?