Secondary Hypothyroidism

[seery5]

My TSH levels have always been low, or the lower side of normal, my free T$ levels are right on the borderline of low. I recently have gained over 40lbs, now I am retaining fluid, and late morning to early afternoon, I have to sleep or I could pass out on the floor I am so tired, it seems I can't do anything lately I am so fatigued. The water retention started about 2 weeks ago, it got better for a couple of days, now it is getting worse day by day. It is difficult to make a fist, that is how swollen my hands are, all myoints are extremely stiff, and they all are swollen with fluid. I have asked my Doctor for help, but he doesn't seem interested.
I have tried exercising, I eat all fruit and fiber, no sodium, and besides my coffee in the morning all I drink all day is water. Even my abdomen is bloated after eating anything. My ESR came back borderline high at 20, and I do almost always have high ANA, & even the titers are getting higher now, but they say I don't have Lupus. I am taking Methadone for pain due to nerve damage in lower back, 2 failed lumbar surgeries, still have herniations as well as 2 herniations in my neck, however I was on the Methadone for a while before this. Please Help?

[Jules77733]

Have any of your doctors ordered a dsDNA test to better rule out lupus as a diagnosis? Your condition definitely sounds autoimmune. Are you being treated for thyroid disease by an endocrinologist?

I hope you feel better soon. I know all too well what it's like to have disinterested doctors. =/

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

If the TSH and T4 are both low/lowish would test T3 - if this is also lowish, then an endocrine evaluation to exclude pituitary disease would be indicated.  It is not common, but certainly does occur.