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Possible thyroid problem/hashimotos?
Hello everyone! I'm new here. I just wanted to know someone else's opinion.
This past April I wasn't feeling good at all, I would feel pins and needles in my body all the time, my left arm felt numb a lot... so I did a blood test. Everything came out normal,only low lymphocites (TSH 4.76 (0,6-5,5)). They told me it probably was a pinched nerve so basically just tolerate the pain. Everything okay.
But then this december I started to feel really dizzy. I thought of waiting until I go to my country (now I'm at uni abroad) to see what was going on. I went to my country, did some blood tests, and besides a low iron, low transferrin saturation and low lymphocites, the also found calcium axalate in my kidney. The TSH was 4,1 (0,7-4.5) and the free T4 was 0,8 (0,7-1,9). So nothing to worry about, according to everyone. Like a week after that test I started to feel as weak as I've never felt before. I would sleep hours and hours (one day I slept 18 hours) but I thought it was because of the low iron. My hair started to fall off and I had this constant headache. One day I woke up so cold, I decided to take my temperature and oh surprise it was 34,4 celsius. I keep feeling really bad, sleepy all the time, my head hurts, my eyes hurt a lot, I wake up with cold sweats in the middle of the night or if I do any kind of effort (I walked for 40 mins de other day) I start to sweat cold like crazy. I keep taking my basal body temperature and it hasn't reached 35 yet. I still have all the symptoms, as well as difficulty concentrating. Somedays I feel so bad I'm starting to think I might just have depression and everything is product of my imgination, but I really feel like I'm going to faint some day.
I decided to take another blood test just to check, and my TSH is now normal! Super normal, 1,86 (0,6-4.5). I just don't know what to think. I've been researching a little but and Hashimotos could be the answer, but I'm scared I'm being paranoid. I would appreciate any advise or comment. Thank you.
This past April I wasn't feeling good at all, I would feel pins and needles in my body all the time, my left arm felt numb a lot... so I did a blood test. Everything came out normal,only low lymphocites (TSH 4.76 (0,6-5,5)). They told me it probably was a pinched nerve so basically just tolerate the pain. Everything okay.
But then this december I started to feel really dizzy. I thought of waiting until I go to my country (now I'm at uni abroad) to see what was going on. I went to my country, did some blood tests, and besides a low iron, low transferrin saturation and low lymphocites, the also found calcium axalate in my kidney. The TSH was 4,1 (0,7-4.5) and the free T4 was 0,8 (0,7-1,9). So nothing to worry about, according to everyone. Like a week after that test I started to feel as weak as I've never felt before. I would sleep hours and hours (one day I slept 18 hours) but I thought it was because of the low iron. My hair started to fall off and I had this constant headache. One day I woke up so cold, I decided to take my temperature and oh surprise it was 34,4 celsius. I keep feeling really bad, sleepy all the time, my head hurts, my eyes hurt a lot, I wake up with cold sweats in the middle of the night or if I do any kind of effort (I walked for 40 mins de other day) I start to sweat cold like crazy. I keep taking my basal body temperature and it hasn't reached 35 yet. I still have all the symptoms, as well as difficulty concentrating. Somedays I feel so bad I'm starting to think I might just have depression and everything is product of my imgination, but I really feel like I'm going to faint some day.
I decided to take another blood test just to check, and my TSH is now normal! Super normal, 1,86 (0,6-4.5). I just don't know what to think. I've been researching a little but and Hashimotos could be the answer, but I'm scared I'm being paranoid. I would appreciate any advise or comment. Thank you.
If it were me I would ask on Monday what tests are going to be done. If TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies, Thyroglobulin antibodies (only if TSH is high, but TPO is within range), Reverse T3, cortisol, Vitamin D and B12 are not included, I would insist on getting those done, because of all the symptoms you have. You have every right to expect to get those done. Don't take no for an answer. If they resist, show them the suggestion no. 4 on page two of the above link.
1 Comments
Okay, I will ask and make sure they test those for sure!
Thank you again.. xx
Thank you again.. xx
I read somewhere that, Just because you are paranoid does not mean there is nothing stalking you. LOL With all those symptoms you are certainly not paranoid.
You have a number of symptoms the can be related to hypothyroidism. Just because your TSH and Free T4 have been within range does not preclude hypothyroidism. TSH is affected by so many things that at best it is only an indicator to be considered along with more important indictors such as symptoms, and also Free T4 and Free T3. You have not even been tested for Free T3 apparently, and your Free T4 is only at 8% of a range that is far too broad to be functional for many people.
A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypothyroid patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T4 and Free T3 as needed to relieve symptoms, without being influenced by resultant TSH levels. You can confirm what I say by reading at least the first two pages of the following link, and further if you want to get into the discussion and scientific evidence supporting all that is recommended. You might even make use of the paper with your doctor if he resists doing the needed tests and clinically treatment.
http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/TUK_PDFs/diagnosis_and_treatment_of_hypothyroidism_issue_1.pdf
Note on page 2 that testing should include TPO ab and possibly TG ab to check for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Your TSH tests seem to point to that as the cause.
Another thing you should know is that hypothyroid patients are frequently deficient in Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin. You need to supplement as needed to optimize each. D should be at least 50, B12 in the upper end of its range, and ferritin should be at least 70.
You have a number of symptoms the can be related to hypothyroidism. Just because your TSH and Free T4 have been within range does not preclude hypothyroidism. TSH is affected by so many things that at best it is only an indicator to be considered along with more important indictors such as symptoms, and also Free T4 and Free T3. You have not even been tested for Free T3 apparently, and your Free T4 is only at 8% of a range that is far too broad to be functional for many people.
A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypothyroid patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T4 and Free T3 as needed to relieve symptoms, without being influenced by resultant TSH levels. You can confirm what I say by reading at least the first two pages of the following link, and further if you want to get into the discussion and scientific evidence supporting all that is recommended. You might even make use of the paper with your doctor if he resists doing the needed tests and clinically treatment.
http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/TUK_PDFs/diagnosis_and_treatment_of_hypothyroidism_issue_1.pdf
Note on page 2 that testing should include TPO ab and possibly TG ab to check for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Your TSH tests seem to point to that as the cause.
Another thing you should know is that hypothyroid patients are frequently deficient in Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin. You need to supplement as needed to optimize each. D should be at least 50, B12 in the upper end of its range, and ferritin should be at least 70.
1 Comments
Thank you so much for your answer!
I didn't get tested for B12 or vitamin D, but my iron levels were at 48 (60-180) and my transferrin saturation was also low (I don't remember the numbers) so it makes sense!
I also forgot to put some things in the post, like white nails, very white eyelids (maybe because of the iron deficiency..) and problems with my period.
I went to my GP yesterday and I'm getting a blood test done on Monday, but to be honest I highly doubt that they'll test the antibodies. I don't know but I have the feeling they'll only test TSH and maybe FT4...hopefully not.
I'm very scared about being paranoid but it's impossible that things like the hair loss, the low temperature or the cold sweats are in my mind. (Not to mention the calcium oxalate in my kidney). I certainly won't stop until I'm sure it's not (or it is) Hashimoto's.
I'm going to read the link that you sent so I'm informed before going to get my results. Thank you again for your answer!
I didn't get tested for B12 or vitamin D, but my iron levels were at 48 (60-180) and my transferrin saturation was also low (I don't remember the numbers) so it makes sense!
I also forgot to put some things in the post, like white nails, very white eyelids (maybe because of the iron deficiency..) and problems with my period.
I went to my GP yesterday and I'm getting a blood test done on Monday, but to be honest I highly doubt that they'll test the antibodies. I don't know but I have the feeling they'll only test TSH and maybe FT4...hopefully not.
I'm very scared about being paranoid but it's impossible that things like the hair loss, the low temperature or the cold sweats are in my mind. (Not to mention the calcium oxalate in my kidney). I certainly won't stop until I'm sure it's not (or it is) Hashimoto's.
I'm going to read the link that you sent so I'm informed before going to get my results. Thank you again for your answer!
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