Hi everyone!
I need to pick some "expert" brains here...Is it possible for the thyroid to fluctuate rapidly (sometimes hypo for 1-6 weeks, then normal, then maybe a bit hyper, then hypo again) if it's deteriorating to a hypo state? 2 years ago I finished a chemo-type treatment with interferon and a viral suppressant for my liver (all good there so far!) but the interferon ticked off my thyroid, causing hyperthyroid issues and a thyroid storm (I LOVE beta blockers!). After 8 weeks, it "flipped" to hypo, and then leveled out to normal levels after about 6 months. (No meds, -yay!) Last October I began having heart palpitations -not super fast (120 beats/min at most) but pounding with shortness of breath, chest tightness, and fatigue. I ran a quick EKG on myself (I'm a Paramedic) and it looked normal, so I just "toughed it out" until last Feb (thinking maybe I was perimenopausal because the periods hadn't had their usual regularity either). I finally went into the Dr, had my levels drawn, did a treadmill test, had a cardiac ultrasound (checking for heart valve issues because the palpitations were still going on) and the only thing that came back abnormal was the "T-3 uptake" (different than Free T-3?) which was high and the triiodothyronine (Free T-3?) which was low.
Labs were:
TSH 1.12 ( range 0.40-5.0)
Free T3 3.0 (range 2.3-4.2)
Free T-4 1.2 (range .40-5.0)
Three weeks later labs were:(different lab)
TSH 2.78 (range .40-5.0)
Free T-4 1.1 (range 0.7-1.5)
T-3 uptake 43.3 (range 22.5-37.0)
Triiodothyrinone (Free T-3?) 107 (range 110-200)
The palpitations calmed down for a while and everything else (period irregularity, sleep troubles, etc) seem to go back to normal as well except for the difficulty losing weight, concentration issues, dry skin, tingles, no sex drive (na-da!) and feeling low energy. Now, the palpitations seem to be coming back again, and despite having 70 degree nights, -I'm freezing! I'm so cold at night I have to turn on the heated mattress pad so I can sleep...My body temp was running between 96.5-97.8 F for a few weeks (checked it sporadically, different times of day with different thermometers) and now it is running normal again..sigh. I compared the signs and symptoms check list for hypo to premenopausal (hypo won, hands down) but I'm reluctant to get my levels checked again because the blood tests aren't showing anything really wrong and the Dr's will give me the old "blow off"...Hypo runs very strong in the women of my family, so I'm suspicious this is what's going on...Any advice? ~Melinda