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Postpartum Thyroiditis
I had my third baby in December 2010. In February 2011, I told my doctor I was dizzy and exhausted, and she noticed my thyroid was large so she ordered a blood test. She called and said my thyroid was hyper. She referred me to an endocrinologist, but it took so long for them to call me and after a week or two I was feeling better, so I never pursued it. Then in April 2011, I was feeling horrible again. My doc ordered a new blood test and she said my thyroid was hypo. I finally connected with the endo and had an appointment May 2011.
He talked to me and I told him my symptoms, which were the classic thyroid symptoms (at the time I was hypo). He ordered a new blood test, but he said the results were "normal" (I have a copy of this test). He said to call and get a retest if I still felt bad in two months. So just last week (August 2011) I retested. I just spoke with the endo again, and he said my TS levels were a little high, but my free hormones were normal. So he thinks my body is working on regulating itself and that my thyroid will even out, so he doesn't want to prescribe any drugs. He wants to retest in 2 months.
In the meantime, I am taking some supplements that seem to help (from a homeopathic nurse) some of the time, but otherwise, I have the full range of thyroid symptoms. For the most part, I am beyond exhausted, extremely sweaty, losing hair, foggy brain, sore muscles (especially quads and back), weight gain, etc. Some days I feel pretty good, but other days I feel horrible-- it seems to go through a cycle of a few weeks feeling ok, then a few weeks feeling horrible. When I feel my body going up or down (it feels like a crash when it goes down) then I have horrible horrible headaches that I've never had before.
My question is, do I go with what my current endo is saying, or should I get a second opinion? If in fact my thryoid is still going up and down, and my body is trying to even it out, then would taking drugs be good or bad? Is there anything else I can do so I don't feel so crappy?
He talked to me and I told him my symptoms, which were the classic thyroid symptoms (at the time I was hypo). He ordered a new blood test, but he said the results were "normal" (I have a copy of this test). He said to call and get a retest if I still felt bad in two months. So just last week (August 2011) I retested. I just spoke with the endo again, and he said my TS levels were a little high, but my free hormones were normal. So he thinks my body is working on regulating itself and that my thyroid will even out, so he doesn't want to prescribe any drugs. He wants to retest in 2 months.
In the meantime, I am taking some supplements that seem to help (from a homeopathic nurse) some of the time, but otherwise, I have the full range of thyroid symptoms. For the most part, I am beyond exhausted, extremely sweaty, losing hair, foggy brain, sore muscles (especially quads and back), weight gain, etc. Some days I feel pretty good, but other days I feel horrible-- it seems to go through a cycle of a few weeks feeling ok, then a few weeks feeling horrible. When I feel my body going up or down (it feels like a crash when it goes down) then I have horrible horrible headaches that I've never had before.
My question is, do I go with what my current endo is saying, or should I get a second opinion? If in fact my thryoid is still going up and down, and my body is trying to even it out, then would taking drugs be good or bad? Is there anything else I can do so I don't feel so crappy?
In the little brackets the first one should be T3 uptake and the second one is just T3
Feb 2011 -- from my regular doc's lab
TSH, 3rd Gen 0.01 (range 0.32-5.0)
Free T4 1.74 (range 0.60-1.40)
------
April 2011 -- from my regular doc's lab
TSH, 3rd Gen 6.53 (range 0.32-5.0)
Free T4 0.70 (range 0.60-1.40)
Free T3 2.7 (range 2.3-4.2)
Anti-thyroid antibody (thyroglobulin) 53.1 (range 0-40)
Anti-thyroid antibody (peroxidase <10 (range 0-35)
----
May 2011 -- from my endocrinologist's lab
Sodium 138 (range 135-145)
Free T4 0.8 (range 0.7-1.5)
Triidothyronie <> 76.89 (range not given)
<> 31.2 (range 22.5-37.0)
T3 80 (range 80-200)
---
August 2011 -- from my endocrinologist's lab
TSH 2.65 (range 0.40-5.00)
Free T4 1.1 (range 0.7-1.5)
Triiodothyronine 124 (range 80-200)
TSH, 3rd Gen 0.01 (range 0.32-5.0)
Free T4 1.74 (range 0.60-1.40)
------
April 2011 -- from my regular doc's lab
TSH, 3rd Gen 6.53 (range 0.32-5.0)
Free T4 0.70 (range 0.60-1.40)
Free T3 2.7 (range 2.3-4.2)
Anti-thyroid antibody (thyroglobulin) 53.1 (range 0-40)
Anti-thyroid antibody (peroxidase <10 (range 0-35)
----
May 2011 -- from my endocrinologist's lab
Sodium 138 (range 135-145)
Free T4 0.8 (range 0.7-1.5)
Triidothyronie <> 76.89 (range not given)
<> 31.2 (range 22.5-37.0)
T3 80 (range 80-200)
---
August 2011 -- from my endocrinologist's lab
TSH 2.65 (range 0.40-5.00)
Free T4 1.1 (range 0.7-1.5)
Triiodothyronine 124 (range 80-200)
Can you please post your results and the reference ranges?
Sometimes results can be "in range", but they may be at the top or bottom of the range which may not be optimal.
When you let us knwo your results we can comment better.
Sometimes results can be "in range", but they may be at the top or bottom of the range which may not be optimal.
When you let us knwo your results we can comment better.
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