At a loss of what to do

[IsabelJ]

I've been having symptoms that seem to lead to classic Hypothyroidism for quite a while but it's gotten much worse the past two years: Fatigue, my hair started falling out, my skins' been getting pretty dry to where I've had to order some cream because regular lotion just isn't cutting it and I'm pale, having trouble losing weight and I do watch what I eat as well as do brisk walking everyday, cold intolerance, depression, memory loss and trouble focusing, muscle cramps and joint pains... I was specifically treated for depression but nothing worked for me and my mom is being treated for Hypothyroidism and my grandmother has Hashimoto's (spelling?). It was my mom who pointed out that it could be my thyroid because I'm reacting the same exact way she had. These symptoms are really starting to interfere with my life. I had just went to the doctor and explained my concern. She didn't even look at my checklist of symptoms, but she agreed to order the tests. She ordered a TSH and a CBC to check for Anemia. I asked her about the T3 and T4 tests but she said they weren't needed, that TSH was enough to let us know if something is wrong with my Thyroid. To add to that, she said until then perhaps I might want a referral to a psychiatrist. I didn't know how to take that as from the beginning it felt that she was talking to me like a hypochondriac. I figured I'd at least get the results of my test first before assuming it's all in my head. However I just got my results today and all that was said on their website where you check your results was my "TSH was normal" as well as my CBC. I got no values or anything.

My question is are there any suggestions on how to handle this? If it's really in my head I'm willing to work with that if it means getting my life back and feeling better, but deep down I just don't feel like it is. These are real problems I'm having, I can't even continue school because of how bad it's gotten. I feel a bit defeated.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks....

[compnet]

Here's another website for looking for a thyroid doctor:

http://thyroid.org/patients/specialists.php

[compnet]

"I was specifically treated for depression but nothing worked for me"

Symptoms of hypothyroidism can mimic, or be intertwined with, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression. Treating an underlying thyroid problem is critical to alleviating the associated psychiatric symptoms.

When it comes to augmenting psychiatric treatment with thyroid hormone, the author asserts,

“Psychiatric patients with subclinical hypothyroidism—especially those with incomplete responses to psychotropic therapy—should usually be treated with thyroid hormone. Free T3 levels in the lower 20% of the laboratory’s normal range are cause for pause in a patient with a mood or psychotic disorder and any of hypothyroidism’s clinical stigmata, even if thyroxine and TSH concentrations are normal.”

Also, in regards to depressive symptoms:
“In some patients with no clear evidence of a biochemical or clinical thyroid disorder, mood symptoms nevertheless respond to thyroid hormone augmentation of antidepressants.”

Source: http://www.schizophrenia.com/sznews/archives/004348.html


"my mom is being treated for Hypothyroidism and my grandmother has Hashimoto's"
It runs in families.  This is a BIG clue.

[IsabelJ]

Thank you so very much for the information. I'm very glad I came here and posted. I'm looking for a new doctor for one and will be asking about the tests mentioned that will be more thorough in finding out what is going on with my thyroid. It just bothers me so much how dismissed it all was at my physical when knowing that something really is wrong with me and it's interfering with my life. Among other things, I'm so lethargic/sluggish and it's becoming such a chore just to do normal things. I'm down right exhausted and can't even tell anyone why but I just want to feel better so I can finish school and get things back on track.

I will go read what you've written in your journal Stella, I'm very curious as to seeing what you mentioned.

Again thank you so much Tamra and Stella. :)

~ Isabel

[TamraW]

LOL! I was thinking in thyroid hormone measurements. It is 1,000, IU, whatever that means. Some people I know take as much as 4,000 IU daily. They had severe D deficiency. Mine is good now, but I live in the land of sunshine.

:) T.

[stella5349]

Tamara ?

Is that 1000 mcg

or 1000 mg?

just wondering :)

[TamraW]

BTW  - Since I got my thyroid levels up, no more depression or anti-anxiety meds for me. The brain needs thyroid hormone. Without it, we can get severe depression.

:) Tamra

[TamraW]

Any doc who decides the TSH, A PITUITARY HORMONE!, should be used to diagnose thyroid disese, needs to be fired!  

My first two endos said my TSH was normal (2.74 and range is 0.5-3.0), so nothing was wrong with my thyroid. After I convinced the third endo to run the antibody tests, we found out I had Hashimoto's. By that time, my thyroid levels had bottomed out and I was miserable. I would be willing to bet your mom has Hashimoto's, not just low thyroid and you have inherited it from your mom and grandma as well. You have classic low thyroid symptoms.

A doc can't determine if a person has low thyroid disease without the following:
FT3 and FT4 to determine thyroid levels and
TGab and TPOab to determine if Hashi (90 percent of the time in developed countries) is to blame and
a thyroid ultrasound and
listing to the patient's symptoms

Without those tests, the doc is wasting your time. Below is a website where I found my endo, who specializes in thyroid, not just diabetes.

http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/

If you have low FT4/3, you really should get on thyroid hormone replacement. Also, if you have Hashi, you need to consider factors that could contribute to your antibody attacks (when the neck swells inside and sometimes painful). For some, it can be gluten, yeast, caffeine, green tea, corn, dairy, etc...

I take Selenium once a day for thyroid swelling.

Next, you need to get your adrenals checked. Sometimes, when our thyroids are low, adrenals become pooped doing all the work and they need to be whipped back into shape.

Finally, VITAMINS! Many thyroid suffers are low D3. Low D3 can cause severe body aches. I take 1,000 mcg daily and sit in the sun. Keep up with the B12.  One 200-250 Magnesium pill three times daily helps the hypo constipation.

:) Tamra

[stella5349]

in my history and what I know... Odds are - if confirmed hypothyroid and you know its for sure - run and find a new doctor now and ignore the head stuff..

that's opinion on what I went through... it may help for you to read my first journal I posted here. Sounds like it is similiar to you in respect.

Road back from thyroid he//... that is what it is called.