Lab results "normal" don't feel well, need your help

[feelindown]

I'll try and keep this short. I have many hypothyroid symptoms. Fatigued, brain fog, difficulty multi-tasking, extremely dry and tight skin on face getting worse every week, hair falling out, hair breaking, iron-deficient anemia, menorrhagia, weak during workouts, cold hands and feet, and on and on.. Having very difficult time finding doctor willing to even do more testing after TSH reading of 1.62.

Found endo who ran more tests. Here are the results:
6 weeks later TSH 1.78 (range 0.4-4.50)
Free T4 0.96 (range 0.8-1.8)
Free T3 250 (range 230-420)

TPO and Thyroglobulin AB normal
TSI 88 (range <125%)

So my question is do I keep pushing to get treatment? The first endo I saw diagnosed me as clinically depressed. I think that my thyroid is causing my depression and would much rather treat the cause rather than a symptom. I kept telling him I thought I was hypo, but he wouldn't even give my thyroid a second glance. So I got a second opinion, which is who ran these most recent numbers but I already know she thinks that my thyroid is normal. So do I see yet another doctor to try to get these numbers in an "optimal" range? Or is that just something I see on the internet and not really practiced by doctors?

Help!!!

[feelindown]

Thanks for sharing your story. I have an ultrasound scheduled for next week. It sounds weird to hope that there is something on my thyroid, but at least it would be a good solid reason to back up everything I've been saying.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

[revins]

I think I went through a boatload of docs before I finally got one to LISTEN to me as a person.  I went down the "you're depressed" road with one and he wanted to put me on anti-depressants.  I finally told him "I'm depressed because I'm not sleeping... it's not that I'm depressed so I can't sleep".  Once he prescribed Lunesta (which doesn't have all the awful side-effects and is very easy to get off of) and I got several good nights' of sleep, the "depression" was gone.  Hallelujah!

So from there, I finally ran across a primary who was not a pill-pusher like all the others.  My cardio kept wanting to give me Toprol for the chest flutters I was having, which caused me to have horrific nightmares, which then I came out of with rapid heart beat and elevated BP, so then the Toprol kicks in and caused me to crash and burn... geez!!  So I show up on his office doorstep and DEMAND he take me off of it.  He said no, so I pretty much said to place it where the sun didn't shine... and never took another dose.  Ends up that the heart flutters were caused from acid problems in my stomach... never was a heart problem to begin with.

Has anyone looked at your Thyroid on a sonogram?  Turns out that every bit of my problem stemmed from a large Thyroid Cyst.  Once that Cyst was drained out, my Thyroid levels went back to normal.  Amazing.  They also put me on vitamin B12 shots for energy and nervous system support...made all the difference in the world.  I finally went online and found a doctor where I order them a lot cheaper than going in for a shot every week... and just give them to myself... no biggie.

The Thyroid is a booger bear to figure out sometimes... you'll definitely be in my thoughts and prayers.  It ain't no picnic, especially when docs want to be tunnel-visioned towards only doing pills for this and that (and conveniently have samples of them!).  I'm sure I sound kinda critical, but I went around and around that mountain for a year until I found relief.  And of all people... it was an Ear, Nose and Throat doc that finally got the ball rolling in the right direction!!
God Bless

[feelindown]

Thank you for your input AR-10.

Does anyone else out there have a different opinion?

Just trying to figure this out.

[AR-10]

Go back to the Endo you are seeing now and ask to be tested for adrenal insufficiency, and ask to have tests run to see if you are lacking in vitamins or minerals.

Your thyroid numbers look good, although the Free T3 and Free T4 look a little low. I'm not surprised the Endo feels it is not a thyroid issue, although your TSH may be a little high.

If it is a thyroid issue, it will have to get a lot worse before you will be treated.

There are other diseases and ailments that share the same symptoms. Looking at as many of those as your Endo can think of would eliminate possible causes, and perhaps find the problem that is giving you symptoms.

Clinical depression may be a problem, but it is a symptom, not the cause of your symptoms. Do not settle for anti-depressants and a pat on the back. There is more going on than that.

Good luck.