Have had every symptom of hypothyroidism yet test last year was negative

[Lacey1881]

I have a three year old child. After I gave birth I was dianosed with hyperthyroidism. I lost weight, was energized, I sweat imense amounts, had insomnia, was hungry all the time, ect. Doctor said it will correct it's self that it's common after child. Well around 7-8 months later I was constantly tired, I gained weight and kept gaining. I went from 140 to 250 under a year. I became chronically depressed. My hair started thinning on my eyebrows the hair on my head was and still is extremely dry and brittle to the point where it's literally not grown at all because even with trimming the ends and break off. I began to have skin issues as well. I'm cold. I have major brain fog, ect which my symptoms have gotten worse last year. I actually lost a bunch of hair, my brain fog has gotten worse. My skin dryness is gotten worse. My ability to tolerate cold has gotten worse. I have memory loss now. I can't remember what's happened even three days ago. My muscles cramp up alot. My periods don't make any sense anymore. There is literally no ability to track my cycle. My sex drive has slowly diminished almost completely over the last 10 months.
I had a test early last year and doctor said there was nothing that came back. Yet here I am 11 months later with symptoms that have gotten worse. Should I try and get blood work again? Could these symptoms be caused by something else?

[gimel]

I just sent you a PM with info.  To access, just click on your name and from your personal page, click on messages.

[Lacey1881]

Thankyou

[gimel]

Don't make an appointment with just any doctor.  Most of them will respond just like your current doctor.   We might be able to steer you to a good thyroid doctor if you will tell us your location.

[Lacey1881]

I am on Medicaid so they would have to accept Medicaid. First choice Medicaid which thankfully because of that I don't need a referral. But I live in the upstate of South Carolina. So anywhere around the Greenville, Simpsonville, Spartanburg cities.

[gimel]

Pardon me if I get into too much detail here, but there is a lot to discuss so that you understand what is going on with your thyroid status, and why your doctor has not helped.  First is that the predominant assumption is that hypothyroidism is insufficient thyroid hormone, correctly sensed by the pituitary gland, which then secretes thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).   This usually results in the belief that a TSH test, and sometimes a Free T4 test, are all that is needed to diagnose and treat hypothyroidism.    This is very wrong, for a number of reasons.  To start, the correct definition for hypothyroidism is insufficient T3 effect in tissue throughout the body, due to insufficient supply of, or response to, thyroid hormone.   This definition is very different in that it recognizes that beyond just TSH and Free T4 there are numerous additional processes and variables that affect Tissue T3 Effect,  The level of Tissue T3 Effect determines your thyroid status as either hypothyroid, euthyroid, or hyperthyroid.  If the level of your Tissue T3 Effect is too low, then you have hypothyroid symptoms.  Unfortunately most doctors don't understand this, or just take the expedient approach and ignore symptoms and Free T3 and just basically pay attention to TSH.  This approach also assumes that all hypothyroidism is primary, with high TSH due to Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, and it overlooks central hypothyroidism and many other causes for inadequate Tissue T3 Effect.   TSH does not even correlate well with serum thyroid hormone levels and has negligible correlation with Tissue T3 Effect.  So, the main value for TSH is just to distinguish primary from central hypothyroidism.  

A good thyroid doctor will diagnose a possible hypothyroid patient by evaluating for symptoms that occur more frequently with hypothyroidism.  In addition a good thyroid doctor will test for Free T4, Free T3, TSH, Reverse T3, cortisol, Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin.  If TSH is high then tests for autoimmune antibodies are also required.   If the patient has symptoms that are frequently indicative of hypothyroidism and the Free T4 and Free T3 are in the lower half of their range, that is indicative of hypothyroidism.  Inadequate ferritin (a storage form of iron) adversely affects conversion of T4 to T3.  In addition, a deficiency in cortisol or Vitamin D adversely affects response to thyroid hormone at the cellular level.  I am giving you all this just so you realize that hypothyroidism can be caused by many different things and by no means can it be diagnosed based only on TSH, and sometimes Free T4 tests.  You can read about all this in the following link.  I highly recommend reading at least the first two pages, and more, if you want to get into the discussion and scientific evidence for all I have stated.  

http://www.thyroiduk.org/tuk/TUK_PDFs/The%20Diagnosis%20and%20Treatment%20of%20Hypothyroidism%20%20August%202017%20%20Update.pdf

From your symptoms and limited test results I agree with Red_Star that you likely have postpartum thyroiditis and need to get started on thyroid medication and then continue to increase the dose as needed to get Free T4 at least at mid-range and Free T3 in the upper third of its range and then adjusted as needed to relieve symptoms.

Based on the history with your doctor I have very little expectation that you could use this information and get him to do the needed symptom evaluation and additional testing needed and then diagnose and treat like you need.   So perhaps the best approach is to find a good thyroid doctor.  If you will tell us your location, we might be able to suggest one that has been recommended by other thyroid patients.  

[Lacey1881]

Thank you. I will make a appointment with a doctor asap. I am very upset my primary care doctor has done nothing. While I've experienced these symptoms for over two years. And she had the lab results. I knew there was something wrong with me. I haven't felt like myself. And hypothyroidism best fit everything. I didn't know about postpartum thyroid issues until now but it all makes sense

[gimel]

First thing needed is to get a copy of your blood test results and post here, along with reference ranges shown on the lab report.  The doctor is required by law to give you a copy of the report, upon your request.  

[Lacey1881]

Should I just call the office and request it?

[Lacey1881]

Below are all the thyroid test results I've had regarding my inquiry on hypothyroidism. No idea what any of it means. I see that one says below normal yet looks the same as my most recent one I'm not sure what to make of this.


06/02/2017 TSH + Free T4, Serum
Tsh 0.657 uIU/mL 0.450-4.500 uIU/mL

T4,Free(direct) 1.10 NG/dL 0.82-1.77 NG/dL


11/30/2015 TSH + Free T4, Serum Tsh 1.650 uIU/mL 0.450-4.500 uIU/mL Final Labcorp (Burlington): 1447 York Ct, Burlington
Below Low Normal T4,Free(direct) 0.80 NG/dL 0.82-1.77 NG/dL

11/30/2015 T3, Free, Serum or Plasma Triiodothyronine,free,serum 3.2 pg/mL 2.0-4.4 pg/mL

[Red_Star]

Check wikipedia's article Postpartum thyroiditis.

[Lacey1881]

Okay I will look that up