T3 Uptake Help

[tiredfedup]

I saw my gynecologist tonight for annual exam.  She said that my thyroid is very enlarged and is having me checked for the following:

T3 Total
T3 Uptake
T4 Total
T4 Free
Antithyroglobin AB
Thyroidperoxidose AB (spelling hard to read on paper)
Antiphospholipid AB

Are these sufficient to diagnose Hashimoto's.  She thinks I have it.  she said that if the levels are "normal", she still wants me to get a sonogram of my thyroid b/c it is so enlarged.  I am still going to follow up with the new endocrinologist May 4th. But how am I doing so far??

Thanks again for any comments!

[dani2776]

Well I saw my endo and he increased my meds again.  I am now on 75mcg of Synthroid.  Here is the frustrating part.  I was informed I was in what is called Hashitoxicosis.  I have no idea what this is but I am having severe symptoms of hyperthyroid.  I don't know which is worse to be honest.  My heart rate is through the roof, I am VERY nervous, sick to my stomach and constantly lightheaded.  I wasn't even able to work Friday and laid on the couch most of the weekend.  My 2 year old daughter went to the freezer and brought me a popsicle and said "Mommy do you want a popsicle?  Will that make you feel better?"  How cute is that?  This is why I get so depressed because I cannot function some times to take care of my family.  My endo also tried to give me antidepressants and just like the other ones I have tried I cannot tolerate them.  He also sent me for and EKG and holter monitor due to my heart issues now.  Do you ever have hyper symptoms?  I hope you have better luck with your next appt.  Is this a new doc?

[tiredfedup]

I understand what you are going through and also feel like there must be something more serious going on for me to feel this bad.  But, I think the thyroid can be very grueling from what everyone is saying.  I just don't understand why a doctor won't try me on medicine, small dosage...I will keep pushing for it.  Now, you are on medicine, correct?  But you just can't seem to get the right dosage maybe???  

My tiredness is getting worse and it looks like my hives might be coming back.  Good luck with the endo today.  Let me know what happens!  Mine is next week!

[dani2776]

To be honest with you I feel like your signature name "tired and fed up".  It is so discouraging to feel like this.  There are many days I swear there is something more seriously wrong with me but then I remember that you have 99% of the symptoms that I do and that helps me to keep going.  I just hate it all and like you I just want to feel better so I can enjoy my husband and kids again.  I have another appointment with my endo tomorrow so we'll see what he says.  Are your symptoms getting any better or worse?

[tiredfedup]

Thank you so much for your kind words and support.  I am so tired by the afternoon that it becomes really difficult to function with the kids and make dinner, etc.  Even lifting my arms and legs takes too much effort.  I have an appt. with an endocrinologist on May 21st.  If he doesn't help me then I am going to lose my mind.  I am trying to hang in there as I know other people are much sicker than I am. I just want energy for my children.  How are you doing?

[dani2776]

I can't believe that he is making you wait.  I wish some of these docs would have thyroid probelms themselves and then let us tell them to wait and see, bet that wouldn't happen!  I am not sure what Epstein Barr is or what it can do but from what I have learned in this short time you have Hashimoto's.  I don't wish that upon you but that's what it looks like to me.  I can't stand the thought of you waiting any longer for treatement as you have suffered enough.  And even when you do start treatment, it's still going to be a long haul to get your meds adjusted and so forth.  Please keep me posted.  

[tiredfedup]

I am happy that you had a good week, but what a let down for you after that! It's so frustrating!

I was a bit disappointed with what the NP said about my thyroid results.  My TSH went from 2.3 to a 2.92

However, he feels that my symptoms may be coming from Epstein Barr....I don't really agree with that!  He wants me to wait a month and see what happens.  These are my results:

TSH 2.92 (.27 - 4.2)
T3 108 (80-200)
Free T4 1 (.9 - 1.8)
Total 8.3 (4.6 - 12)  i'm thinking this is total t4
Tuptake 1.22 (.80 - 1.3)   i'm thinking this is free t3
T% 26 (24 - 39)  i'm guessing this is t3 uptake
Antibodies 207 (0 - 35)  i'm guessing this is antiTPO

[dani2776]

Well happy belated mother's day to you.  I actually had a great day on mother's day.  Actually that whole week was good.  I was so excited because I could feel the dose change of my thyroid medicine starting to work!  Unfortunatley come Monday of this week it's all been down hill from there.  This is so frustrating!  I called and made an appointment to see me endo on Friday so hopefully he will have some answers for me.  No one should have to try and live this way.  How about you?  Did you get the answers you were looking for?

[tiredfedup]

Hi there!  It's late and I can't sleep.  Getting on here usually helps!  Sorry, I have been wiped out lately and stressed waiting for blood results still.  Thyroid looks fine on the ultrasound, but it is enlarged slightly.  Weird, b/c in person it appears big....I don't understand that at all!!!! I called the Dr. office to get my blood results and they came in yesterday, but said Doc would call me today.  Never called, so tomorrow I am going to take a ride over to the office and ask for a copy of my results.  I hate waiting for this stuff!  I think this doctor is thorough and takes his time which is good, so I am trying to be patient, but he is only in on Friday and I can't wait another week.  I will just get a copy and schedule an appt with him.  Thank you for asking!

How are you doing????  How are you feeling?  Do you have plans for Mother's Day?  I hope that you have a Happy one!  Let me know how you are feeling.

Traci

[dani2776]

I was jsut checking on you, haven't heard from you in awhile.  I saw you had your ultrasound and it appeared normal.  Any other results back yet?

[dani2776]

I am glad you had good luck with your appointment and will hopefully be on the road to recovery soon.  Did you get your labs drawn yet and what about the ones your GYN ordered?  

Yes I have 4 wonderful but very busy children.  I have 2 boys ages 12 and 13 from a previous marriage and now I have also been blessed with 2 girls ages 1 and 2 (soon to be 2 and 3).  They are so wonderful and this is one reason I am struggling so much.  They require sooooooo much and I just feel like I have nothing to give.  How about you?

[tiredfedup]

I know what you mean about the money.  I went to a holistic nutritionist, but can only afford to do a few things with her.  WAY TO EXPENSIVE!  I didn't know the bioidenticals weren't FDA approved....that is concerning.  The whole thing with the thyroid levels and what to go by is confusing.  I am thinking a combination of symptoms and numbers, but that the doctor needs some guidline to go by and hopefully will make adjustments.  I will check out the post that gimel suggested to read. Thanks Gimel!  

As far as the doctor went yesterday, I was so happy!  The nurse practicioner is very up to date on thyroid and said that he feels my TSH level should be no higher than 1.0 to ease my symptoms.  He ran all sorts of blood work and I have to go for a thyroid ultrasound.  Finally!!!!!  I will ask him more about what the other levels should be at and how he works with those too.  But he said that he bases his adjustments on symptoms and that the range for "normal" is too high and doesn't mean a whole lot if you aren't feeling well!  

So, you have four children?  Boys or girls or both?

[dani2776]

Glad to hear your cardiologist appointment went well.  My endo said the normal range is 0.5 - 3.0 ( I must have typed it wrong earlier), but with Hashi's he said that it had to be at 0.5-1.5 for the attack to stop.  Now reading other people's posts about TSH not being important and basing it on the FT3 and FT4 is getting me more confused.  I don't kow what to listen to anymore.  All I kow is I am sick and tired of all this and just want to feel good again.  As far as the bioidentical hormones I'm really not sure why I am scard of them but I know insurance doesn't pay for them or if they do you have to pay up front and get reimbursed.  I have 4 children and I don't have $200.00 each month to pay for them.  Also using a drug that is not FDA approved scares me too although I know alot of people use Armour for their thyroid.  I guess it's just me being skeptical.  Good luck at your appointment and let me know what they tell you!

[gimel]

I think both of you would benefit from reading the messages in this prior post.  They make clear that thyroid patients should not be regulated on TSH.  TSH does not correlate very well with relief of symptoms, especially with Hashi's.  


When TSH simply will NOT go down
by goolarra

, Apr 28, 2009 04:21PM  

[tiredfedup]

Yes.  I was being checked for bicuspid aortic valve.  My son has it.  I don't have it, but I have a slight murmur.  He thinks I am fine, but I have to go back next week for a stress test.

Hey, just wanted to point out that your doctor told you that normal TSH is between .5 and 5, but the new standard now is between .3 and 3.0.  What is your TSH?  You definitely seem to know your own body and proved the gynecologist wrong.  Maybe the hormones will help to make you feel better.  I still have to get my bloodwork done, but am holding off b/c tomorrow I have appt. with a nurse practicioner my sister recommended.  I don't know anything about the bioidentical hormones yet, but what are you leary of?

[dani2776]

BTW, did you ever go to the cardiologist?

[dani2776]

I am so suprised to see that you had all of my symptoms except for 3!!!  I am so sorry you feel this way because I nkow how terrible I feel.  I am also gald that you found someone who will treat you based on symptoms.  That is soooo important.  It is also important for anyone who has Hashi's to get their TSH range between 0.5-1.5 to stop the "attack" on your thyroid according to my endo.  This will alleviate alot of symptoms but since I am not near that range yet I still am not feeling very good.  My endo just switched me from generic synthoid and increased my dose from 0.25mcg to 0.50mcg about a week and a half ago.  This is still too soon for it to ahve much effect on me so I am just waiting it out.  It's funny that you mentioned the other hormone levels as well.  I originally went to my gyn with complaints of perimenopause symtoms and he just laughed at me and said you're too young (I'm 32 soon to be 33).  He agreed to check my estrogen and sure enough it was low at 42.  Both my mother and grandmother went through menopause at the age of 39!  When I saw my endo for the first time he told me that Hashi's and perimenopause can go hand in hand.  He rechecked my levels as well as my testosterone and my estrogen was still low and the other too high.  He is going to check one more time and if still abnormal he said I will need hormone replacement for the estrogen and a dieuretic for the testosterone.  I am telling you I am going mad!!!!!!!!!  I really believe those people on the talk shows find the perfect doctor because they have the money to spend.  A lot of those doctors also believe in the bio-identical hormones which I am very leary of!!!!

[tiredfedup]

1. Severe Fatigue
2. Depression
3. Anxiety
4. Irritability
5. Insomnia
6. Hot flashes (especially at night)

8. Cold/Hot
9. Nausea
10. Light headedness
11. Muscle aches
12. Joint Pain
13. Muscle twitching (I get more of a nervous twitch that comes and goes) nerves, I think
14. Increased weight gain
15. Dry itchy skin
16. Foggy Thinking
17. Irregular menstrual cycle (not usually, but mine was a week late last month and that's strange for me)
18. Decreased libido (very much so)
19. Headaches
20. Palpitations
21. IBS (I blackout in the bathroom from the pain)
22. Shortness of breath

24. Sensation of tightness/choking in neck (I have coughing fits, but doesn't feel like choking)


I kept the symptoms that I have and deleted the ones that I don't!

Thank you for explaining things to me and sharing how it was diagnosed for you.  I actually got good news that my sister spoke to a nurse practicioner she knows that is highly recommended.  He told my sister that based on what she has shared with him, he would definitely treat me with meds to get my TSH down to 1.0 and base things on my symptoms as well.  What do you think of that?

If you still feel so badly, don't suffer withouth nagging the doctors, as exhausting and frustrating as it may be.  You definietly have symptoms from Hashimoto's, but are they adjusting your levels right for you?  Do you need to be on a different form of medication?  Have you gone to a nutritionist?  How about the gynecologist to run some testosterone/estrogen levels.  My gyno is running those tests for me...just have to get the blood work done.  I am going through so much of what you are going through and some days I want to give up, but I need to feel healthy, so I am bugging my doctors.  Actually, I changed all of my doctors recently to ones that are more sympathetic and thorough.  I often thing of Robin McGraw on Dr. Phil.  She seems to find these wonderful doctors who will treat her female problems and don't blow her off.  How do we get a hold of these doctors.  They never tell you that on the show!  

[dani2776]

Take a look at the symptoms I have to see if you can relate to any.  I know the list is long and this is why sooo many doctors told me I was crazy!
1. Severe Fatigue
2. Depression
3. Anxiety
4. Irritability
5. Insomnia
6. Hot flashes (especially at night)
7. Inability to sweat
8. Cold/Hot
9. Nausea
10. Light headedness
11. Muscle aches
12. Joint Pain
13. Muscle twitching
14. Increased weight gain
15. Dry itchy skin
16. Foggy Thinking
17. Irregular menstrual cycle
18. Decreased libido
19. Headaches
20. Palpitations
21. IBS
22. Shortness of breath
23. Blurred vision
24. Sensation of tightness/choking in neck
25. Chronic ethmoid and maxillary sinusitis (diagnosed by CT), treated with total of 41 days of po antibiotics but symptoms still persist

To be honest some days I feel like I am dying.  As far as my diagnosis, my PCP actually diagnosed me with mild hypothyroid and started me on the generic form of Synthroid 25mcg.  I went to an endocronologist and this is when they checked my antibodies and found out I had Hashi's.  Hashi's will eventually lead to full hypothyroid.  My endocronologist switched me to brand name synthroid and increased my dose to 50mcg.  The time I was first diagnosed my TSH was 3.85 and when rechecked from the endo it went up to 4.33 after being on meds for 5 weeks.  Recent studies from the American Academy Association of Endocronolgy suggests that TSH levels be changed to 0.3-3.0 and sometimes as low as 2.5.  The problem with Hashi's is that until your body completely kills the thyroid your body cycles between hyper and hypo symptoms.  In my opinion if you have the antibodies you have Hashi's, it just has not shown up on your TSH levels yet.  The most important thing to stress to your doc is to treat you by symptoms and not your levels.  I have severe headaches most days just like you and unfortunately nothing seems to help it.  And yes I worry ALOT about my ability to function.  Some days are a little easier thatn others but I never have a good day.  I sometimes just sit and cry because this has overtaken my life.

[tiredfedup]

Thank you for sharing your situation with me.  It helps so much to hear other people feel this way...although I wish you weren't going through this.  It makes me feel like there is hope.  My headaches are so bad lately.  I was supposed to go for bloodwork, but has a stomach virus and have been out of commission for a few days.  I will go get the blood work, but still have to see the endo on May 4th.  The blood work I am going for now was prescrbed by my gynecologist.  Anxiety is definitely worse lately.  I take Lexapro, and am thinking about increasing the dosage, but I really want to straighten things out with my thyroid first if possible.  I think that feeling so sick causes a lot of the anxiety.  Do you worry a lot about being able to function?

You mentioned that you were diagnosed with hashimoto's.  When they diagnosed you, were you hypo or hyper?  Or just Hashimoto's?  Did they give you meds for just Hashi?  That is what I am hoping they do for me b/c my TSH is 2.3 "normal".  My antibodies were only 335, but they still exist and my thyroid is huge.  How are your headaches now along with your other symptoms?  I feel your pain.  I love my kids, but some days are such a struggle.  I used to look forward to making plans to go out with my husband or our friends, but now I am so afraid that I won't have the energy for my kids and everything else if I do these things.

[dani2776]

I have every single symptom you have and then some.  I have been diagnosed with Hashi's.  My antibodies were over 1,000 and the normal range is under 35.  When I saw the endo a little over a week ago, he raised my Synthroid to 50mcg.  They say people who have Hashi's should have their TSH level between 0.5 and 1.5 to ward off the attack on your thyroid.  I totally sympathize with you and how you are struggling.  I have 4 children myself and each day is a battle to just make it through.  Have you gotten your results back yet?  Do you have any anxiety symptoms with this?  Anxiety is probably one of my biggest issues right now along with the fatigue.

[tiredfedup]

The symptoms I have are as follows:

So tired that I feel like when I am walking, someone is pushing me back as I am trying to move forward.  Sometimes like walking through sand.

Night sweats occasionally

Headaches daily (I take ibuprophin daily)

Occasionally I start choking for no reason (My thyroid is very swollen and my neck is sore)

Bad PMS

Cry for no reason

Get extremely angry and irritated

One day I am fine and then all of a sudden I go through weeks of exhaustion

Irritable bowel

Dizzy

It's mostly the feeling of being tired and not being able to get through the day that bothers me.  I have two kids and it's rough sometimes.  How about you?  Have you been diagnosed as Hashi?  Are you on medication?

[dani2776]

I was wondering if you could post some of your symptoms as I too have Hashimoto's and you described me compltelty!  I have often said that I feel medicated/drugged/hung over but missed all the fun!

[tiredfedup]

Thank you!  I still can't believe how horrible I feel lately.  One day I am okay and then the next day I am shot!  It feels like a hangover, withouth the drinking the night before.  Back in my 20's I had reason to feel this way, but not anymore! Today I go to the cardiologist too.  I am nagging every doctor until I figure this out!

[mtkst13]

tsh and free t3 are missing, but that's good information to take to your endocrinologist.  it's better than going empty-handed.  getting a sono is good too.  having an appointment may 4th is also great.  you're on the right track.

have you had the tests done yet?  if not, have them add tsh and free t3.