Early stages of hypothyroidism?

[jillire1981]

For a few months now I have been having some odd things happen with my health.  I have a hard time sleeping, my blood pressure fluctuates a lot, my heart beats really hard and fast for no reason(no stress or activity)my temperature is low, I have night sweats, my knees, elbows and hips ache, I get leg cramps that are so bad I want to scream, I crave salt, have terrible heartburn that isnt brought on by any certain foods and doesnt go away with antacids, my eyes are often dry and itchy and my vision has gotten worse especially at night(lights really bother my eyes), my temperature is anywhere from 96.3-97.4, my feet are always cold and sometimes feel like they are asleep and its often a battle between my husband and I about the temperature of the room because I am usually cold.  The skin around my eyes is really dry and peels about once a month, my mouth is often dry, Im thirsty a lot and my lips are dry.  My eyes are puffy in the morning(my daughter calls it elephant eyes) and I have also developed this small, hard, whitish dots under my eyes. I have also gained about 12 pounds over the last year although my eating habits havent changed, and if anything have gotten better. I am always tired and just have no energy and feel like Im losing my mind(hard time concentrating, cant remember words or what the heck Im doing once I start).  My skin is also very oily, I have acne just like a teenager and my hair falls out.  I havent noticed that its really thinning, but I have noticed that it has no shine and is limp. From October through mid December I had multiple colds that lasted 2-3 weeks, then I would be fine for a week or so, then sick again.  A doctor at the time told me my immune system probably was just weakened and it was the same cold over and over or that I was picking things up from the kids(Im a teacher), but no tests were run and I didnt take any antibiotics. Just looking at this list makes me feel like a hypochondriac, but I really just dont feel well.  

I saw my regular doctor who thought it may be either a hormone or adrenal issue and referred me to an endocrinologist.  He mentioned that I have a slight tremor of my hands which I had noticed over the past year, but now is getting worse.  I used to notice it on occasion, but now my students have noticed that a paper in my hands will sometimes shake and I have a hard time threading a needle some days. He did have me do a few tests and found that my calcium was slightly elevated, my carbondioxide was low, my glucose was slightly high.  My results were:
Calcium: 10.3 Retest: 10.2    (Range 8.6-10.2)
Carbon Dioxide: 17 Retest: 21   (Range 21-33)
Glucose: 129  Had OGTT that was all normal
Free T3: 325    (Range 230-420)
Free T4: 1.3     (Range .8-1.8)
TSH, 3rd Generation: 2.27    (Range .4-4.5)


The endocrinologist didnt say much other than I did not have adrenal fatigue he wanted to run some tests and we would go from there.  He is now on vacation and wont be back for 10 days, so it will be at least that long until I get any results back from those tests.  I know he wanted all sex hormones checked, cortisol, my cholestorol, something binding globulin and other things I dont remember.    

Last year my gyno had my thyroid tested just to get a baseline.  He is closing his office and they asked if I would like a copy of my records while they were still available.  They included the results from the thyroid test done last April and I received them in the mail today. My TSH at the time was .97(Range .34-4.82)  and my Free T4 was .77 (Range .77-1.61) so there has been an increase in both in less than a year.  I was also told then that I had excess androgens.  

I am 27 years old and I have an 11 year old daughter with type 1 diabetes and my father and brother were both diagnosed with high blood pressure in their early 20's.  I know that I have many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism, but some things, like the high blood pressure, dont fit and my thyroid test results are all in normal range.  Given the increase in my levels, could it be that I could be developing hypothroidism?  Would it be a good idea to have my thyroid levels checked again since it was January the last time they were checked or should I wait longer?

[malloy12]

well im in my late 40's been having problems i seem to get very fatigue feel  like throwing up get very weak and fall asleep ,im going threw i  do miss meals with  my  job went to see the doc she says sugar is dropping ,the another doc says well  could be heart problem. hummmm help some answers

[Damask]

Hi, I'm sorry you are having such a hard time. I've just been told I have Hasimoto's and I feel bad that I can't help with any of the tests at all -because I can't even understand mine! Your letter could have been mine, weird stuff has been happening to me too and I really know how you feel. Like you, I am scared people will think I'm a hypochondriac too! I really hope you feel better soon and can work out the problem. I find that it is really hard for me to shake infections too. I think that may be a trait of thyroid problems. All the very best.

[ChitChatNine]

Hello and welcome to our community.  See with the next round of tests if the endo will throw in a Vit D level too.  Just a thought.  C~