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Hypothyroidism and Memory
Hi, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism almost three years ago. For the past five years though I have been having trouble with my memory, I am only 23 years old so it's not related to my age. According to all my blood work I am healthy with the exception of my thyroid. The levels aren't terrible but they aren't perfect either. I have tried exercise, diet, omega fatty acid supplements, vitamins (for long periods of time) but none of it has helped my memory. It only helped improve my lab results. Generally it is just very foggy and I can't remember detail, or I completely can't remember an event or someone saying something. It's really annoying and I'm tired of living with this problem. It is interfering with almost every aspect of my life on a daily basis. I really need some advice from someone about this. I decided not to take the medication from my endocrinologist last time I went because I wasn't going to have insurance to follow up. But I have saved the money and plan to get my results read and am hoping that the medication he gives me will improve my memory. To be perfectly honest I'm not exactly sure what all these results mean, but here are my most up to date labs I have older test results available if it'll help):
12/09:
Free T4 0.9
Tsh Third Generation 3.7
T3 Uptake 36
6/10:
Free T4 1
Tsh Third Generation 2.01
7/10:
Tsh Third Generation 2.35
I also have eight nodules which were checked with an ultrasound and seem to be fine.
Thanks for any help.
12/09:
Free T4 0.9
Tsh Third Generation 3.7
T3 Uptake 36
6/10:
Free T4 1
Tsh Third Generation 2.01
7/10:
Tsh Third Generation 2.35
I also have eight nodules which were checked with an ultrasound and seem to be fine.
Thanks for any help.
Ah yes you said T3 not TSH, sorry about that. I am definitely going to look for a new doctor and hopefully I get some better answers. My only problem is a lack of insurance so I can't get the labs redone in 4-5 weeks because I'd need to go back to my endo for another prescription and they'll charge me. But I am going to keep on top of this and see what I can do. I really do hope my symptoms are from this...it seems odd that it would be anything else considering all my problems are a side effect of hypo. I'll be getting my prescription today and starting it tonight. Thanks again.
Just because your FT4 is in range and you are "chemically normal" does not mean that you are going to feel well, All of us have our own personal range where we feel our best. Your FT4 is at the very bottom of the range. If it were higher, and your FT3 were adjusted properly, too, you'd get a lot more symptom relief. What we want is for you to be "clinically normal" (no symptoms).
Meds could also help shrink your nodules.
I think it's a great idea to try the Synthroid for a few months and see how you feel.
What I said was just the opposite, actually. FT3 is the test that correlates best with symptoms. TSH is a pituitary hormone and not a reliable indicator of thyroid status. The FT3 est will tell you if you convert T4 to T3 well.
I wouldn't go any further trying to find what's causing this problem. I think it's your thyroid since memory problems are a common symptom. If I were you, I'd take the meds you were given. In 4-5 weeks, you should have labs run again. At that time, request FT3 as well to make sure you are converting T4 to T3 properly. This doctor is going to keep you sick. You're way too young to let him do that. Find a new doctor that knows more about thyroid.
Meds could also help shrink your nodules.
I think it's a great idea to try the Synthroid for a few months and see how you feel.
What I said was just the opposite, actually. FT3 is the test that correlates best with symptoms. TSH is a pituitary hormone and not a reliable indicator of thyroid status. The FT3 est will tell you if you convert T4 to T3 well.
I wouldn't go any further trying to find what's causing this problem. I think it's your thyroid since memory problems are a common symptom. If I were you, I'd take the meds you were given. In 4-5 weeks, you should have labs run again. At that time, request FT3 as well to make sure you are converting T4 to T3 properly. This doctor is going to keep you sick. You're way too young to let him do that. Find a new doctor that knows more about thyroid.
I just wanted to update my situation. I went to my endocrinologist today and he said that my levels are within the normal range and that I'm not hypothyroid. I explained all my symptoms and my memory issues. But he said that the medication really wouldn't most likely do much because I am chemically normal. If I was a worse case than it would definitely help he said. The only reason he would suggest going on the medication would be to keep the nodules I have from growing, or to slow their growth. As far as he can tell they have no grown but I need to get another ultrasound in a few months. I asked him for a prescription and he gave me Synthyroid .05 I'm not sure if I am going to take it or not. I might try it out for a few months to see if my memory gets better...but he really seemed to think it's not related to this. I also asked him about why he didn't test for T3 and he said that it's not really necessary because my TSH levels were not abnormal and it wouldn't be accurate to make any diagnoses based on it. Which is what I believe you said. So anyway....not sure where to go from here...I guess just try to figure out what could be causing me this problem. Thanks for all the help
B-12 injections will help with fatigue if you have pernicious anemia. B-12, however, is not a treatment for thyroid disease. B-12 levels are important, and B-12 should be supplemented as needed, but an underlying thyroid issue must also be addressed separately.
So many anxiety and depression symptoms are actually caused by thyroid. Many people find they don't need meds for those once thyroid levels are atabilized.
So many anxiety and depression symptoms are actually caused by thyroid. Many people find they don't need meds for those once thyroid levels are atabilized.
Thanks, I'll make an update after i speak to my endocrinologist.
@mtt5416
I've been taking a B-Complex but I'm sure it's probably not nearly as potent as a shot. Idk about the vyvannse, from what I read it could cause anxiety like side effects. I suffer from anxiety so I'd be weary to take it myself lol.
@mtt5416
I've been taking a B-Complex but I'm sure it's probably not nearly as potent as a shot. Idk about the vyvannse, from what I read it could cause anxiety like side effects. I suffer from anxiety so I'd be weary to take it myself lol.
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Your FT4 is very low; it's almost on the floor of the range. It should be much closer to midrange. I'm sure that you'd feel much better on meds once they're adjusted properly and your FT3 and FT4 levels are higher in their ranges.
It takes a while to get levels adjusted properly. We're usually put on a starting dose. Then we have to wait 4-5 weeks before we can re-test and re-evaluate symptoms. It takes that long for the meds to build up in your body. After that, this process has to keep being repeated until we are symptom-free. Some of us find our optimal dose realatively quickly, some struggle with it.
Seriously, you might consider changing doctors. It was not at all nice of him to laugh at you, and he should be answering your questions. Also, it sounds like your levels were never adjusted propery (to the point where your symptoms went away). However, since your appointment with your current endo is relatively soon, you can probably at least get a starting dose from him since he's already said he wantted you to stay on meds.
Once you get that, you might try to find a doctor you can work with better. Hashi's is for life, so it's worthwhile to find a good doctor to help you manage it.
Although it's best to have FT3 tested every time, your FT4 is so low currently that it's going to be a bit of a non-issue anyway. If he'll order it, fine, otherwise I think it can wait until your next blood test, which should be 4-5 weeks after re-starting meds.