Aa
Crazy lab work
Hi all, I haven't been here in a while. My thyroid has been ok. I'm currently taking 150mcg of synthroid and 10mcg of cytomel. So about a month ago I started feeling hungry all the time, which I thought was gastritis because I've had problems with that. Then came some pain under my right ribs which my dr thought might be gallbladder, but an ultrasound came back normal. So then I began having weight loss - about 5 lbs over the course of a week. Went back to Dr. and he thought it was probably due to extreme anxiety I was having over my health. So…he ordered a CT scan a week ago (which JUST got approved today) and some bloodwork. My bloodwork came back all crazy and I still haven't been able to talk to my Dr, but saw the results on their website. My T4 is 14.2, my TSH is .11, and Triiodothyronine is 110, which is the only number in normal range. I also had elevated WBC, neutrophils and low lymphocytes. I'm so confused and anxious over this. I don't know if the stress could have triggered the thyroid or vice versa. I don't know why my Triiodothyronine is normal and the other values are not. I also don't know if its safe to have the CT scan with the iodine contrast dye because of what's going on with my thyroid. Does anyone have any thoughts on all of this? I had myself convinced I had cancer but now I don't even know where to go with this!!!
COMMUNITY LEADER
Do you forget to take your T3 often? How long have you been taking it?
Yep, I split mine too because I was afraid it would make me jittery if i didn't. I honestly can't tell the difference when I take it or if I forget, but I do space it out. I learned that on the thyroid boards here. LOL. You guys are a great source of information!
COMMUNITY LEADER
I forgot about the cytomel. Sorry about that. Are you taking it all at in one dose or splitting it into 2 doses throughout the day? Most of us on T3 med find that if we split it into more than one dose, our level stays more stable throughout the day and we also don't get the hyper symptoms that many get. Even small doses seem to go further when they're split.
For instance, I'm on 10 mcg generic T3 and I take 5 mcg in the morning with my Levoxyl (T4, like Synthroid) and the other 5 mcg around noon. T3 doesn't have to be taken on an empty stomach, so you don't have to wait an hour to eat lunch or anything after you take it.
T3 gets into your system, quickly and is out again, within a few hours, so when you take it all at once, you get an initial "jolt", then within a short time, there's nothing left until you take your next dose. If you split your dose, you get a little bit in the morning, then you're getting some more, before that's completely gone. Might be worth giving it a shot.
For instance, I'm on 10 mcg generic T3 and I take 5 mcg in the morning with my Levoxyl (T4, like Synthroid) and the other 5 mcg around noon. T3 doesn't have to be taken on an empty stomach, so you don't have to wait an hour to eat lunch or anything after you take it.
T3 gets into your system, quickly and is out again, within a few hours, so when you take it all at once, you get an initial "jolt", then within a short time, there's nothing left until you take your next dose. If you split your dose, you get a little bit in the morning, then you're getting some more, before that's completely gone. Might be worth giving it a shot.
Ugh, that sounds so painful! I'm lucky that I'm not having that kind of pain but at the same time, I guess it would be easier to pinpoint what's going on here. I am actually on 10mcg of Cytomel currently. The PA didn't seem to feel the need to adjust that right now….not sure why. I'm really hoping something shows up next week too so I can stop fearing the worst! Thanks for worrying! :)
COMMUNITY LEADER
I'm glad your endo's PA did "something", but I'm not sure cutting back on your synthroid was the only thing that needed to be done. At least she did order the FT3 and FT4, but, again, it would have been nice to get them sooner than 5 weeks, since your TT3 is so low in the range. It really looks like you aren't converting T4 to T3 properly. I hope they'll be willing to add a source of T3, at a later date.
I had gall stones, one very large one, that kept moving around, and would sometimes lodge in the bile duct causing very severe pain, but then it would move out of the way again and I'd be okay. I also had multiple smaller stones. My stones were, actually, found by accident, when I went in for a physical and the PA was palpating my stomach. She hit that spot where my gall bladder was and literally brought me off the table. Of course, she didn't hesitate to send me for an ultrasound to find out what was there. About the same time, I had a kidney ultra sound and my uro also informed me that I had gall stones, but by then, we already had my surgery date set up.
Hopefully, something will show up with your scan next week. This is Friday, so next week will be here soon.
I'm still worrying about this for you, so you don't have to.
I had gall stones, one very large one, that kept moving around, and would sometimes lodge in the bile duct causing very severe pain, but then it would move out of the way again and I'd be okay. I also had multiple smaller stones. My stones were, actually, found by accident, when I went in for a physical and the PA was palpating my stomach. She hit that spot where my gall bladder was and literally brought me off the table. Of course, she didn't hesitate to send me for an ultrasound to find out what was there. About the same time, I had a kidney ultra sound and my uro also informed me that I had gall stones, but by then, we already had my surgery date set up.
Hopefully, something will show up with your scan next week. This is Friday, so next week will be here soon.
I'm still worrying about this for you, so you don't have to.
HI Barb, and thanks for your help. I saw my endos PA yesterday and she agreed that my thyroid could definitely be causing some of my problems. She cut back my dose of Synthroid and ordered a retest (with free t3 and 4) in 5 weeks. She said my current bloodwork was enough for now to show that I was over medicated. So…I saw a new GP today and he said that he wasn't terribly concerned over anything he saw in my bloodwork, but agrees that maybe my gallbladder is causing the pain and diarrhea. I have a HIDA scan but not till next week! Ugh, the waiting never ends. I was curious if you had GB stones or just dysfunction? My understanding is that with dysfunction, the symptoms are not always as intense as they are with stones, so maybe its GB after all. I can't imagine what else it could be in that area of my body with my ultrasound coming back ok. My previous Dr. had ordered a CT but this Dr. didn't feel it was necessary at this point. Whew! Hopefully the HIDA will explain whats going on. :) Sounds kinda scary tho!
Will do. I'm hopeful that I can get in to see my endo, and I know she'll order the right tests. It's really too bad that GPs aren't more knowledgable about thyroid.
Wow, that's really sweet! I will check in when I finally get some answers. Thanks for listening and helping!
COMMUNITY LEADER
okay .. here's a thing my husband and I do.. when he's worried about something really horrible, I'll tell him that I'll worry about it for him so he doesn't have to...
I'll worry about this for you, so you don't have to... forget about being sick and dieing.
Just keep me posted on your progress.
I'll worry about this for you, so you don't have to... forget about being sick and dieing.
Just keep me posted on your progress.
Yep, I was pulling myself up to clean the top of the upper cabinets and remember not wanting to pull too hard on the upper cabinets and really straining through my ribcage to do it. Could be totally irrelevant but that was what I assumed happened. Its been going on too long now so I am guessing that's not it.
This whole thing has been a chicken or egg scenario for me really. I was already worried a little when my hubby noticed the weight loss (and I would normally be thrilled as well!!!) so I think it sent me into a panic.
Oh yeah…I have been diagnosed with Hashimotos….many years ago. I forgot to mention that. Didn't think it would be relevant only because my endo that diagnosed said my thyroid was basically fried and didn't work anymore. I don't know much about it otherwise or how it could be involved.
My anxiety always makes me think the worst. I'm 37 and have 2 kids that are my life. My biggest nightmare other than them being sick, is for me to die and leave them. Its hard too, having waited for 2 weeks and not getting any answers from my Dr. I feel like i have nowhere to go and no one cares. All i can do is worry!! I had been doing really great anxiety-wise too. I thought the worst was over.
This whole thing has been a chicken or egg scenario for me really. I was already worried a little when my hubby noticed the weight loss (and I would normally be thrilled as well!!!) so I think it sent me into a panic.
Oh yeah…I have been diagnosed with Hashimotos….many years ago. I forgot to mention that. Didn't think it would be relevant only because my endo that diagnosed said my thyroid was basically fried and didn't work anymore. I don't know much about it otherwise or how it could be involved.
My anxiety always makes me think the worst. I'm 37 and have 2 kids that are my life. My biggest nightmare other than them being sick, is for me to die and leave them. Its hard too, having waited for 2 weeks and not getting any answers from my Dr. I feel like i have nowhere to go and no one cares. All i can do is worry!! I had been doing really great anxiety-wise too. I thought the worst was over.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Oh my, you've been putting yourself through he!! haven't you? Why is always easier to imagine the worst? Okay - your pancreas was easily visible and normal appearance, so no reason to suspect anything out of the ordinary there, except maybe blood sugar issues that wouldn't show up on an ultra sound... nothing to panic over; just something to consider.
You thought you hurt yourself how? A pulled muscle? You pull yourself up onto the counters to reach higher cabinets, like I do? Maybe you repulled the same muscle that wasn't quite healed?
I'm trying to figure out how losing a lb or two would cause so much panic; I'd be overjoyed if my husband noticed that I'd lost a couple pounds, but that's neither here nor there... lol
So if you weren't eating, it's easy to understand how you could have lost another 2 pounds.
At the risk of making it to simplistic, I'd suggest that your anxiety over your health is causing a lot of your issues, but you do need to get new thyroid tests.
Of course, I'm not a doctor, but I really don't think you're going to die any time soon; your anxiety over your health is making you feel that way... I've been there, done that.
Ask your doctor for the Free T3 and Free T4.
Have you ever been tested for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis... Ask your doctor to test Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb).
If your blood glucose wasn't fasting the result isn't valid so don't give it a thought, but you might mention this to your doctor. Your irritability is understandable, but I think you can calm down because it's a pretty sure thing you aren't dying or you would have already ...
Hang in there and insist on the right tests to get to the bottom of your symptoms. I think, at least, part of them are thyroid, but I'd sure like to see Free T3 and Free T4 results, especially since you're on a T3 med.
You thought you hurt yourself how? A pulled muscle? You pull yourself up onto the counters to reach higher cabinets, like I do? Maybe you repulled the same muscle that wasn't quite healed?
I'm trying to figure out how losing a lb or two would cause so much panic; I'd be overjoyed if my husband noticed that I'd lost a couple pounds, but that's neither here nor there... lol
So if you weren't eating, it's easy to understand how you could have lost another 2 pounds.
At the risk of making it to simplistic, I'd suggest that your anxiety over your health is causing a lot of your issues, but you do need to get new thyroid tests.
Of course, I'm not a doctor, but I really don't think you're going to die any time soon; your anxiety over your health is making you feel that way... I've been there, done that.
Ask your doctor for the Free T3 and Free T4.
Have you ever been tested for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis... Ask your doctor to test Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb).
If your blood glucose wasn't fasting the result isn't valid so don't give it a thought, but you might mention this to your doctor. Your irritability is understandable, but I think you can calm down because it's a pretty sure thing you aren't dying or you would have already ...
Hang in there and insist on the right tests to get to the bottom of your symptoms. I think, at least, part of them are thyroid, but I'd sure like to see Free T3 and Free T4 results, especially since you're on a T3 med.
Ugh, don't say pancreas! I have had myself terrified that I have pancreatic cancer! My ultrasound said my pancreas was well visualized and had a normal appearance. I hope that counts for something!
I'd say things started a month or so ago..started with the stomach feeling hungry and diarrhea. A week or so after that I started with the pain in my ribs…I had been painting my house and thought I hurt myself for about a week….it went away and then I pulled myself up onto a counter in my house and it started again, so I just kept with the idea that it was an injury but was kinda worried about it and was considering see a dr because I also thought it could be my GB. At that time the diarrhea has gotten annoying so I cut out all coffee and alcohol for a few days, to see if my stomach would feel better. It kind of did.
A few days after that my husband asked if I had lost weight. I didn't think I had so I got on the scale and realized I had lost a lb or two. I got a little nervous and made a dr appt. While waiting for that, I lost another lb or two. At that point I was in full on panic mode. That's when I went for the ultrasound that came back normal on liver, kidney, gb and pancreas. But over that weekend I went into full on panic mode thinking I was going to die. I was so upset I could barely eat after that weekend I dropped another 2 lb. So, that was about the end of week 3 I guess. That's when I called and went back to the Dr. That was my all time lowest weight (a week ago today) Since then I'm up about 1.8 lb and holding. Prior to that I was gaining back the weight I had purposely lost by working my behind off in the spring.
Nobody has checked my blood sugar other than just the blood glucose they did on the test I just had, but it wasn't fasting and was a little high. I don't urinate a lot. I'm not thirsty a lot. I'm irritable but I am pretty sure that's because I'm afraid I'm dying. I would be fine at this point if it WAS my gallbladder or thyroid. I just wish i knew. The stress over the last 2 weeks has been nearly unbearable and I don't think its going to end anytime soon.
I'd say things started a month or so ago..started with the stomach feeling hungry and diarrhea. A week or so after that I started with the pain in my ribs…I had been painting my house and thought I hurt myself for about a week….it went away and then I pulled myself up onto a counter in my house and it started again, so I just kept with the idea that it was an injury but was kinda worried about it and was considering see a dr because I also thought it could be my GB. At that time the diarrhea has gotten annoying so I cut out all coffee and alcohol for a few days, to see if my stomach would feel better. It kind of did.
A few days after that my husband asked if I had lost weight. I didn't think I had so I got on the scale and realized I had lost a lb or two. I got a little nervous and made a dr appt. While waiting for that, I lost another lb or two. At that point I was in full on panic mode. That's when I went for the ultrasound that came back normal on liver, kidney, gb and pancreas. But over that weekend I went into full on panic mode thinking I was going to die. I was so upset I could barely eat after that weekend I dropped another 2 lb. So, that was about the end of week 3 I guess. That's when I called and went back to the Dr. That was my all time lowest weight (a week ago today) Since then I'm up about 1.8 lb and holding. Prior to that I was gaining back the weight I had purposely lost by working my behind off in the spring.
Nobody has checked my blood sugar other than just the blood glucose they did on the test I just had, but it wasn't fasting and was a little high. I don't urinate a lot. I'm not thirsty a lot. I'm irritable but I am pretty sure that's because I'm afraid I'm dying. I would be fine at this point if it WAS my gallbladder or thyroid. I just wish i knew. The stress over the last 2 weeks has been nearly unbearable and I don't think its going to end anytime soon.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Oh - coffee with no food can cause diarrhea - at least, it does for me; I have to be sure to balance it out.. lol I can't get real excited about heart palps because they can occur with either hyper or hypo (or neither), but I still have to keep your high TT4 in mind. So I think we have to back up and pin down the timelines more closely.
You said you lost 5 lbs over the course of a week. Are you still losing weight or was it just 5 lbs over that one week? If you are still losing, how much have lost, total, over how much time?
If you don't think you have a gall bladder issue, there's always the pancreas right there with it; you might want to look into pancreatitis (I'd rather have a gall bladder issue). The other organ right there is the liver and again, I'd rather have a gall bladder issue... LOL I had my gall bladder out 9 yrs ago and haven't missed it for a minute, so that's the lesser of the 3 evils in that part of the body.
I've had CT with iodine and haven't had any issues, but I think that's one you should discuss with your doctor, as to your own condition.
One thing I will mention with the hunger and weight loss is the possibility of diabetes. Do you have excessive thirst or frequent urination? Irritability? What are your normal fasting blood sugar levels? Has anyone thought to look at that?
Don't be annoyed about the Total T3/T4 vs Free T3/T4... we kind of "expect" our doctors to do these things and don't always even think about them. Just put that in the front of your mind for the next time and make sure that the Free's get done every time from now on.
You said you lost 5 lbs over the course of a week. Are you still losing weight or was it just 5 lbs over that one week? If you are still losing, how much have lost, total, over how much time?
If you don't think you have a gall bladder issue, there's always the pancreas right there with it; you might want to look into pancreatitis (I'd rather have a gall bladder issue). The other organ right there is the liver and again, I'd rather have a gall bladder issue... LOL I had my gall bladder out 9 yrs ago and haven't missed it for a minute, so that's the lesser of the 3 evils in that part of the body.
I've had CT with iodine and haven't had any issues, but I think that's one you should discuss with your doctor, as to your own condition.
One thing I will mention with the hunger and weight loss is the possibility of diabetes. Do you have excessive thirst or frequent urination? Irritability? What are your normal fasting blood sugar levels? Has anyone thought to look at that?
Don't be annoyed about the Total T3/T4 vs Free T3/T4... we kind of "expect" our doctors to do these things and don't always even think about them. Just put that in the front of your mind for the next time and make sure that the Free's get done every time from now on.
I had diarrhea for a few weeks prior to my pain starting, but really only in the mornings, especially after coffee. It seems to have settled down a little now, but I've cut back on coffee and I'm also on a PPI. I have had some minor heart palpitations for the last month and really couldn't figure out why. I'm not sure if the fact that I always feel like I'm starving has anything to do with my thyroid or if its my stomach but I never feel like I've had enough to eat!
I'm really annoyed that my GP didn't order free T3 and T4 and more annoyed at myself for not asking! When he asked if I thought it could be thyroid, I"m like "NO way"!! Guess I might have been wrong.
Do you have any thoughts on the CT scan? Not sure about safety with the iodine dye. We initially discussed a HIDA scan for my GB too but I just felt like my symptoms didn't line up with gallbladder. I have a voicemail in for my endo, but who knows if she'll call me back, since she didn't order the tests. Also hoping my GP will call me back to actually discuss the bloodwork. I've had terrible problems with this office lately.
Interesting about the anxiety and WBC. It wasn't super high, I think 11.7 or so.
I'm really annoyed that my GP didn't order free T3 and T4 and more annoyed at myself for not asking! When he asked if I thought it could be thyroid, I"m like "NO way"!! Guess I might have been wrong.
Do you have any thoughts on the CT scan? Not sure about safety with the iodine dye. We initially discussed a HIDA scan for my GB too but I just felt like my symptoms didn't line up with gallbladder. I have a voicemail in for my endo, but who knows if she'll call me back, since she didn't order the tests. Also hoping my GP will call me back to actually discuss the bloodwork. I've had terrible problems with this office lately.
Interesting about the anxiety and WBC. It wasn't super high, I think 11.7 or so.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I don't think it's all thyroid, but your T4 is over range, indicating that you are over medicated, but your T3 is only at 33% of its range, which indicates that you aren't converting T4 to T3 adequately. You should talk to your doctor about testing Free T3 and Free T4, instead the Totals. The Free's are the ones that are actually available for use, while the Totals show both bound and unbound hormones.
So back to your weight loss and pain... do you have diarrhea or any other signs of being hyper, such as sweating, hand tremors, etc? You can have gall bladder trouble without having gall stones or something that might show up on an ultra sound.
Anxiety could cause, both, the weight loss and the elevated WBC.
So back to your weight loss and pain... do you have diarrhea or any other signs of being hyper, such as sweating, hand tremors, etc? You can have gall bladder trouble without having gall stones or something that might show up on an ultra sound.
Anxiety could cause, both, the weight loss and the elevated WBC.
I was just very concerned with the weight loss and abdominal pain and worried that something else was going on. I DONT lose weight. Ever. Never occurred to me that it could be thyroid as I've never been hyper. The t3 is total (range of 70-190) and the t4 ( range of 4.7. -13.3) doesn't say free so I assume it's total as well.
COMMUNITY LEADER
What are the reference ranges for the T4 and T3? Ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report. Are those Total T4 and Total T3 or are they Free T4 and Free T3?
I'm not sure why you think you have cancer. Neutrophils and lymphcytes are types of white blood cells, each with their own "job". It's quite normal for WBC to be elevated if there is inflammation in the body, regardless of where it is or what it's related to... may not even be thyroid related.
I'm not sure why you think you have cancer. Neutrophils and lymphcytes are types of white blood cells, each with their own "job". It's quite normal for WBC to be elevated if there is inflammation in the body, regardless of where it is or what it's related to... may not even be thyroid related.
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