Untreated Hypo...

[Mom2four85]

I'm trying to find info on what can happen when Hypothyroidism is left untreated, but not finding much info - any suggestions?

Alittle about me - in 1997 I developed GBS while pregnant which turned septic and I almost died.  They pumped me full of meds (can't remember the name of the antibiotics - allergic to PCN so it wasn't that) for a few months because I still showed active.  In1998 I went to my GYN because I was having problems,  freezing where before I was a very warm natured person, fatigue hit me to where I couldn't do much and a few weeks before I was playing tennis or running around with my kids (11 & 12).

Dr did bloodtests & put me on hormones because my hormones were off kilter...one of those were TSH but I didn't know at the time it was my thyroid - I thought it was female hormones!  We moved about a year later to another city and I had to see a new doctor and his test came back within "normal" so I didn't have to keep on meds.

Since then, I've had major female problems & infertility that I had to get treatments for when I got remarried so we could have more children, fatigue, gained weight - extremely difficult to lose weight even low cal diets & walking/running 4-6 days a week, brittle hair & nails, hair loss (sometimes dime to quarter size spots) not really cold all the time, I just go through spells of freezing; my face looks pale like I've had the flu continually "sickly", muscle cramps and aches along with pain throughout my body - usually I take Ibuprofen and it helps, the past year or so brain fog and memory loss is driving me up the wall; things I should know I can't remember sometimes; then it will pop up and I feel frustrated or the next day something else will happen; it's like I'm 99 at age 43.

I've had problems with my ANS (autonomic nervous system) fainting blackouts & dizziness since I was 9, and pvc's off & on since then but doctors told me nothing was wrong and fainting wasn't a problem unless it was a daily thing.  This year I noticed I started having problems swallowing sometimes, even choking while eating and my middle lower throat feels like it's "clogged"? for lack of a better explanation - it may be nothing but I expected it to go away and hasn't.  I started snoring in 2009 around the time they found my heart problems (electrical) and did a sleep test that showed I have Obstructive sleep apnea; which may just be due to gaining weight or my throat feeling clogged like it does.

I'm wondering if my thyroid has gone untreated all these years and is what has caused my problems; which is why I'm trying to find info what happens if it's left untreated.  I don't think my levels have been extremely high, so it's confusing if this is the problem but from reading dr's haven't done all the right tests.

Here's what bloodtests dr's have done so far; [normal ranges]
           11/23/2004    3/20/06     12/26/08               6/29/2009
TSH    4.48[.40-5.50]       4.91   3.709[.45-4.5]       4.07[.27-4.20]
FT4     1.0[.8-1.8]
T4                                               7.0[4.5-12.0]        7.33[4.70-13.30]
T3 Uptake                                    29%[24-39]
Free Thyroxine Index 2.0[1.2-4.9]

A note from my cardiologist on 7/10/09 says: TSH of 4.1 and Free T4-7 0.3 but no normals given

I'm going to a new doctor in Jan and going to ask for a full workup and check my levels out now since it's been awhile - Free T3 & T4; TSH; TPO; TSI antibodies; Ferritin; B-12; Vitamin D; any others I should ask to be done?Thoughts, suggestions?

[Mom2four85]

yikes! I didn't know there was so much to consider, thanks for the tips.

I have an appt the middle of January with a new primary dr to start new insurance and care.

This is all so overwhelming along with my other health issues,  I haven't thought past the part of remembering I had a problem and took Synthroid, until I received bloodwork from surgery and my dr's and started reading.

One thing that confuses me after reading more, is the dr's note - T4Free 7.0 0.3.

Thanks again and after I get a referral I'll ask for recommendations for thyroid dr's in my area.

[gimel]

I think you have the testing covered.  There,  I would only suggest that you double check when you go in for blood draw, that the phlebotomist is aware that you are to be tested for free T3 and free T4, not total T3 and total T4.  You'd be surprised at how many times they are on automatic pilot and get it wrong and waste a lot of your time having to go back to get the right tests done.  

Secondly, how do you know the new doctor is going to be a good thyroid doctor?  Believe me, they are few and far between.  If it was a recommendation from someone that has personal experience with the doctor and can assure you they know thyroid, then fine.  But if not, I'd hate to wait that long and find out that the doctor is a believer in the "Immaculate TSH" and doesn't want to test for free T3 and free T4.  Or many other issues that you can run into.  

When trying to help members find a good thyroid doctor, I have frequently called the doctor's office and asked to speak to a nurse to get a few questions answered before making an appointment.  Then I ask if the doctor is willing to treat a patient clinically by testing and adjusting free T3 and free T4 with medication as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  I also ask if the doctor is willing to prescribe meds other than T4 only types.  If the answer to either is no, then you need to keep looking for a good thyroid doctor.  

If you should find that you need a good thyroid doctor, then you can post a new message and ask if members have a recommendation for you in your area.  If not, there are listings of Top Thyroid Doctors that we can also suggest.