Hypothyroidism and Memory

[JD3P]

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.

[JD3P]

Thanks for the info, I figured they were too old. I found it odd also that there was only TSH on the last lab and not the others...I will have to ask my endo when I go back why that was. Three years back when I got my level down from 9 to a 2.11 my regular doctor said I was fine now and didn't need an endo. But my mother insisted, and he said I needed medication. I was on it for about six months from summer of 09 until about December of 09. First levothyroxine 25 mcg and than levoxyl 50 mcg I believe, but I was also on another medication which I think was throwing the labs off. I've since stopped both meds. I didn't think that the levels being around 3 were terrible. I've always read that they need to be like 5 or over to be really bad and actually need medication. But I guess it varies from person to person. I am going to ask for the meds once more and see if I feel any better.

[goolarra]

Brain fog and memory problems are typical symptoms of hypo.

Your labs are pretty old and incomplete.  FT3 should be being tested as well as FT4, and the latest lab is just TSH.

The two FT4 readings you show are both way too low.  Many people find that FT4 has to be at least midrange (I'm assuming a range of approximately 0.8-1.8, but you should verify that from your lab report) before symptoms are relieved.  In addition, we don't know if you convert well or not since there is no FT3.

Were these labs while taking thyroid meds?  How long ago did you stop and what dose were you taking before discontinuing?

It's very important for you to have your levels tested again now.  Seven-month-old labs are useless in evaluating your current condition.

[allmymarbles]

My hypothyroidism is also mild and has never caused memory problems. Take your medication and see if your memory improves. If it does not, look for another cause.