Back again !! 2009 -2012 Sudden high blood pressure hypo/hyper

[crystal9239]

Hello I joined in 2009 as I was experiencing thyroid issues and over half my hair fell out before I had my thyroid checked.My family doctor sent me for tests it showed I was had hyperthyroidism.My TSH was low and everything else was high.Since my family dr didn't know much about thyroid issues or medications they sent me to a specialist 2 hours away.

I seen the endo.Specialist she took more blood I didn't particularly  like  the way she treated me as if it wasn't possible for me to be having all these symptoms but I know my body!! And was besides the symptoms and hair loss in perfect health (besides asthma) I went to the gym 6 days a week running 8/9 miles , lifting weights was in best shape of my entire life.Eating right and felt good except aches and pains,weakness at times,RLS,insomnia ',hair loss, heart palps,anxiety ,shaky all the time.

The endo diagnosed me with sub-clinical hyperthyroidism,didn't put me on meds even tho it was the only explanation for my exterme hair loss.
So I was suppose to go back every 3 months for more tests until I went hyper or hypo and could be out on meds if needed.


Through 2010.......

My hair started to grow back and I went on with life even with other symptoms.I didn't go back to the endo as I didn't care much for how I was treated she was rude.So as long as I had my hair things were ok.I had other things going on my aunt battling stage 4 breast cancer  etc.....life went on.


2011 I had a surprise! I found out I was pregnant with my first and only daughter.I stayed tired which is normal had pregnsncy issues on bed rest for 2 months before my daughter was born a preemie.

After her birth from c-section I felt increasingly worse,migrains got worse no energy.I just thought I needed time to heal so I waited and waited to feel normal.....


2012 ....
Now my daughter is almost 2 (jan 27) and still I haven't had any energy.Its so bad for days at a time I've sat and cried over the past 1-1/2 years wondering what's wrong with me.Every single breath feels like a struggle and times I wish I were dead because I don't have the energy to do anything.RLS and migrains are so much worse,constant brain fog , feels like I can't concentrate or remember anything.Then my hair began falling out (not as bad. ) but over the last couple of months so it can be post pregnancy related since its almost been 2 years.Ive made appointments with my dr but he had been ill so I went months with them canceling appointments.Finally my dr passed from cancer.

Symptoms over the past few weeks have gotten worse now I have unexplained very high blood pressure that has came on very suddenly!
& I have never in my life had high bp if anything it's low! So the past few days non stop stage 2 hypertension. Ringing ears

So I started going to a after hours clinic where a dr there agreed to take me as a patient.,He ran a ton if bloodwork which I should Monday he said it covers everything.


Any other specific tests I should ask for?

[crystal9239]

Ok all my test results starting with most recent, then my general doctors first tests to the endos tests in 2009 after seeing my dr.


New-
Tsh- 1.18
free t4 1.25

(First tests)
T4-13.6 (NORMAL. RANGE.4.7 - 11.5)
T3 UPTAKE- 34.0 (NORMAL RANGE 24.2 - 34.2)
FTI-4.62 (NORMAL RANGE-1.68-3.80
TSH -0.22

(June 18,2009)
Endocrinologist results-

FT4- 1.19
FT3- 2.6
TSH-0.471
ANTIBODYS TEST-(TPO- 7) (antithyroglobulin-Less Than 20)

[crystal9239]

One more question should t4 be higher then t3? When my TSH was low at one point my t3 was normal & my t4 was high,

I don't have my paperwork but my t4 is in the upper normal range.,

[crystal9239]

I know one thing besides the hair loss I felt 100% better when my TSH was 0.22

[crystal9239]

Also should I bring up the fact I'm on birth control pills?? It could have affected the t4

[crystal9239]

No antibodies test or f3 was done,  The only thing that was elevated was a certain liver enzyme and the nurse said nothing to worry about.Ive read on various sites that a certain high liver enzyme can point to hypothyroidism.

My first appt with my new dr is the 30th,I'm going to ask for new tests and the ones you specified.Bp is still very abnormal.

I had a feeling my tests were going to come back of because I felt normal that day it varies for me sometimes day to day or week to week.

I just want to feel a constant normal and have energy.

Is it possible for thyroid conditions to just go away on there own?? Since I was hyper then sun-clinical hyper now they say -normal.Im so confused.If this new dr can't help I guess I'll keep looking for someone who can.Thinking of asking to have my adrenal glands checked and cortisol levels along with the above- tests.

I feel like I need dr house :)

[Barb135]

Did you ask for the antibody tests I indicated above to find out for sure if you have either (or both) Graves or Hashimoto's?  Since it seems that you might  be swinging back and forth, hyper to hypo, with some "normal" in between, I'm guessing you have Hashimoto's, which is why you are having more hypo symptoms, now than before.

What's the reference range for the FT4?  Ranges vary lab to lab and must come from your own report.

I notice that there is no Free T3 test.  FT3 is the most important of the thyroid hormones, because that's the one that actually utilized by the individual cells.  FT4 is considered a "storage hormone" and must converted to FT3.  For some of us, the conversion process goes awry and we end up hypo, even though TSH and FT4 do not indicate that.

You might need to think about finding a different doctor, who will pay more attention to symptoms.  

[crystal9239]

Sitting here in tears I think I know when something isn't right it's my body after all!! Wouldn't I? I'm so confused. Well after an entire weekend of waiting my levels came back normal -

Tsh- 1.18
free t4 1.25

Everything else the dr said was normal as well.Im not sure if I'm suppose to be happy or crying is this normal?

How is it possible to be hyper having half your hair fall out to being sub-clinical hyper with hypo symptoms.

Now supposedly I'm " normal" so now what's making my hair fall out what's making me ache and have muscle and joint pain,brittle nails & hair,cramps, go from losing weight like crazy to cant budge a pound.So tired every single day I can't live like this either in crazy or these tests are.Something is not right!! It's been 2009 and still no answers just back and forth!

Iam glad everything else was good but how do they explain all my symptoms ? My sudden bp issues over the past week,no energy.


Now what where do I go from here?

[Barb135]

If the doctor is willing to help you, be very specific about which antibody tests you want to have done...... make sure you get all 3 of them, because, as I stated above, Hashimoto's can be characterized by periods of hyper, then switching to normal or hypo or both.  Also make sure you specifically ask for the Free T3 and Free T4 - these are not the same as total T3 and Total T4, so you have to ask for them properly.

Yes, Graves disease can cause heart issues - so can Hashimoto's! It might set your mind to rest if you had a heart workup to make sure everything is okay there.  

Inflammation/nodules can make you feel like there's something in your throat and can cause issues with hoarseness and/or swallowing.

[crystal9239]

Thanks for the reply, from what I could read he was just testing the TSH and free t4, among CBC and tests that check for inflammation and some others I can't remember .

Have to wait for the results tomorrow.since 2009 I've always felt like I had graves but in 2009 my antibodies came back as 7 I think anyways not abnormal.So they dx me sub clinal hyper.

Over the last few years I had periods Ive felt hyper and sped up to losing weight without trying, then weeks or months of feeling to tired to even breathe like I'd rather die than to struggle and find the energy for my next breath.Ive had goiters not sure if those go away but I've had hoarseness in the past where I couldn't even talk for a week or so ,having trouble swallowing to the point I feel like something's in my throat and throw up.But also times when my neck feels smaller and it doesn't bother me.I feel like a puzzle.

I've read graves can cause heart trouble so now all this sudden bp issues.Im wondering if all these years I've had undiagnosed graves and wonder what damage it's done.

So tomorrow ill ask for antibodies test tomorrow-the problem is we are in a very small country town and no specialists that know a lot about thyroid tests or disorders that's why I can never get the correct tests done.But this new dr seems willing to help me figure this out and willing to run the tests I ask for.But feel discouraged that he didn't ask for a freet3  or antibodies.

Also checked for anemia and potassium etc......

[Barb135]

Since you didn't tell us what he ordered, we can tell you if there is anything else you need to get.  As to the thyroid issue, though, you need to make sure that Free T3 and Free T4 are done and not just TSH, which is a pituitary hormone and does not give the full picture.  

You should also make sure that thyroid antibody tests are run. You need to be tested for, both, Hashimoto's and Graves Disease.  While Hashimoto's is most often associated with hypothyroidism, it can often be characterized by periods of hyperthyroidism, as well.  Graves is associated with hyperthyroidism.  Antibody tests you need are Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TGab), to diagnose Hashimoto's; Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSI) is the definitive test to diagnose Graves.

Because of the severe fatigue, I'd also suggest that you make sure you get tested for Vitamin B12 deficiency, along with iron, ferritin and Vitamin D.

Once the blood tests are done, make sure you get a copy for your records, then post them here, so members can better assess your situation and offer further options.