Aa
Wanting to be normal again.
My started when I was about 24. I suddenly got a period for 5 month with no relief. My first doc thought I was having a miscarriage but I knew I wasn't pregnant - no sex. Doc# 2 put me on the 'magic' birth control pill to regulate my hormones. I tried it for 6 weeks and expierienced heavier bleeding. When the bleeding finally stoped I had a very tender abdomin, nausa, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, aching and I would go months with out a period then have a horrible one. Doc # 3 interviewed me (not examined) and perscribed saraphin. Finally Doc #4 wanted me on birth control (I said no I wanted to find the root of my problem) and she was willing to try other things. I had ultrasounds, and a laperoscopy, nothing showed up she suggested I watch my diet and reccomended me to another doc. Doc # 5 ran a whole pannel of blood tests and noted that my thyroid was enlarged but the test came back normal. She sent me to a ruhmatologist for a high ANA test. I was treated to a "lupus like disease" and didn't feel any better. I quit my med and all the docs. 3 mo later I got pregnant and felt wonderful (except for the morning sickness) almost right away. I felt good for about a year after I had my son then the symptoms slowly crept back. I started noticing that my thyroid would swell up just before I got my period and would fluctuate. I don't know if I delt better with the sysmptoms after having them for so long or if they never came back as bad but I just lived with it. My son is now 5 and I am now experiencing pain in my neck and the right side seem so be consistantly larger. The sysmtoms are getting alot worse. I am reluctanly going back to the doctor. I think it anxiety of having them look at me like I'm crazy. But my fist visit was good. I've already had the blood tests and an ultrasound but I'm waiting on results. I've gained about 50ish pounds. I owe it to my son to figure out what is wrong. If I don't I won't be able to keep up with him.
Can anyone help????
Can anyone help????
Thank you. Your information has helped. I did have a free T4 done but not the free T3. As I understand it is important have the free T3 results as well because sometimes the T4 is in normal range and the T3 is too low making the ratio imbalanced and giving results show not hypo when you actually are.
www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/hashimotos
This is just one website where I have found some useful information. I think you are right about the meds but I'm going to ask the doctor to do the antibody test and the free T3/T4 tests together. I also read that the hashimotos would explain the fluctuation I am noticing.
I also have dizziness and find it to be the most annoying of the symptoms. Well thanks again and I will keep you posted.
www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/hashimotos
This is just one website where I have found some useful information. I think you are right about the meds but I'm going to ask the doctor to do the antibody test and the free T3/T4 tests together. I also read that the hashimotos would explain the fluctuation I am noticing.
I also have dizziness and find it to be the most annoying of the symptoms. Well thanks again and I will keep you posted.
Your TSH DOES suggest mild hypo along with your symptoms.
The AACE changed the recommended reference range to 0.3-3.0 a few years ago. :abs and doctors aren't always aware and sometimes disagree. (This was my case for several years before I finally saw an endo who agreed that I had Hashi)
Here is the link:
http://www.aace.com/newsroom/press/2004/index.php?r=20040122
Your ultrasound also backs up the diagnosis- the heterogeneous description is key. A normal thyroid is homogeneous in texture.
Taking low dose meds would keeep the hypo from progressing and shrink the glad if it is enlarged.
My TSH was always in the 3.5-4.7 range, until, finally last summer, it went over the lab's "magic number" and finally flagged high at 5.96. PCP said he still wouldn't treat, even if antibodies were positive!! Off I went to an endo who said this has been going on for years....Like, duh, I knew that! (I also work in the lab as a microbiologist)
Many of my symptoms are gone on treatment and my endo and I are now working on getting my TSH down further to see if the dizziness goes... My TSH is currently 1.4 on 62.5 mcg Synthroid.
Personally, I would recommend that you go for the low dose meds and see how you feel and what your labs do.
Any other questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Was a free t4 run?
The AACE changed the recommended reference range to 0.3-3.0 a few years ago. :abs and doctors aren't always aware and sometimes disagree. (This was my case for several years before I finally saw an endo who agreed that I had Hashi)
Here is the link:
http://www.aace.com/newsroom/press/2004/index.php?r=20040122
Your ultrasound also backs up the diagnosis- the heterogeneous description is key. A normal thyroid is homogeneous in texture.
Taking low dose meds would keeep the hypo from progressing and shrink the glad if it is enlarged.
My TSH was always in the 3.5-4.7 range, until, finally last summer, it went over the lab's "magic number" and finally flagged high at 5.96. PCP said he still wouldn't treat, even if antibodies were positive!! Off I went to an endo who said this has been going on for years....Like, duh, I knew that! (I also work in the lab as a microbiologist)
Many of my symptoms are gone on treatment and my endo and I are now working on getting my TSH down further to see if the dizziness goes... My TSH is currently 1.4 on 62.5 mcg Synthroid.
Personally, I would recommend that you go for the low dose meds and see how you feel and what your labs do.
Any other questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Was a free t4 run?
I got my results the TSH result is 4.834; units UIU/ML ; ref range is 0.350-5.5
comments: Adult TSH concentrations below 5.5 UIU/ML do rule out presence of subclinical. Not Hypothyroidism.
The ultrasound "impression": Mildly enlarged, heterogeneous, hypervascular thyroid, whish would raise the question of diffuse thyroiditis. No focal mass.
The doctor said after consulting with an endo they felt is was the early stages of Hashimoto's. And that my antibodies are attacking the thyroid which is explains the enlargment and eventually my thyroid would reduce and I would most likely become fully hypo. He suggested if I was real uncomfortable I could take a low dose of meds to speed up the Thyroid reduction. Why would I want to speed up the process??
Could the thyroid problem be the symptom rather than the cause?
My thyroid seems to swell up on occasioin. It appears to me that when I have regular menstral cycles the appearence of my thyroid toward the mid-end of my cycle is very large. My husband says I look like I have a collar on. My doc. has not seen this. We discussed it and he says he can't explain it but if I want to come back and show him I can. When my tests were done the thyroid was considerably smaller. I if the result would vari or not but I'd be interested to find out.
The doc. wants me to come back in 3 mo. and then retest. He said at that time he would add the tyroid antibody, and the ANA. I don't know what to think.
Thanks for you interest and support.
comments: Adult TSH concentrations below 5.5 UIU/ML do rule out presence of subclinical. Not Hypothyroidism.
The ultrasound "impression": Mildly enlarged, heterogeneous, hypervascular thyroid, whish would raise the question of diffuse thyroiditis. No focal mass.
The doctor said after consulting with an endo they felt is was the early stages of Hashimoto's. And that my antibodies are attacking the thyroid which is explains the enlargment and eventually my thyroid would reduce and I would most likely become fully hypo. He suggested if I was real uncomfortable I could take a low dose of meds to speed up the Thyroid reduction. Why would I want to speed up the process??
Could the thyroid problem be the symptom rather than the cause?
My thyroid seems to swell up on occasioin. It appears to me that when I have regular menstral cycles the appearence of my thyroid toward the mid-end of my cycle is very large. My husband says I look like I have a collar on. My doc. has not seen this. We discussed it and he says he can't explain it but if I want to come back and show him I can. When my tests were done the thyroid was considerably smaller. I if the result would vari or not but I'd be interested to find out.
The doc. wants me to come back in 3 mo. and then retest. He said at that time he would add the tyroid antibody, and the ANA. I don't know what to think.
Thanks for you interest and support.
It seems like you have an autoimmune disease with the high ANA.
Autoimmune diseases can sometimes go into remission during pregnancy. I felt good during my 2 pregnancies.
When you get the results, post them here for us along with the reference ranges. Did they also run thyroid antibody tests?
If the TSH is over 2.5, be suspicious for hypothyroidism. The upper end of the TSH range is skewed a little too high.
Autoimmune diseases can sometimes go into remission during pregnancy. I felt good during my 2 pregnancies.
When you get the results, post them here for us along with the reference ranges. Did they also run thyroid antibody tests?
If the TSH is over 2.5, be suspicious for hypothyroidism. The upper end of the TSH range is skewed a little too high.
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