Aa
What does this mean? Levels? Pituitary?
I am so confused! I have been sick since Ive been 16 i am now 26. My main complaint has always been BRAIN FOG!! and it has done nothing but get worse over the years and in the last year I have had to quit my job because I am just completely debiliated with the brain fog, chronic fatigue NO ENERGY!!. The only diagnoses I have been given over the years is depression and more recently RA ( my RF screen was postitive) havent been able to get into a RA doctor because of insurance and have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. AS time passes I am just getting worse... I can not lead a normal life and it is KILLING me!!! I cant live like this anymore Anyways I went to the ER a couple weeks ago and they told me I was hyperthyroid! I have had my throid checked a million times and it has always been normal. A couple weeks ago I had actually been taking percoset (before going to the ER) and I had more energy than id had in years! I was actually going to the gym! I have NEVER been able to work out in my life! Than i wake up one day and am, completely debiliated again. The dr actually ask me if I was taking thyroid meds without a dr knowing!!!! WHAT! The reason I went to the ER is because I couldnt breathe and still cant, felt weak... Just have a huge weight on my chest all the time and feel as though I cant catch my breath, but bp and ekg is all normal. I went Gluten free about a month ago (have since went back to eating junk) the only improvements i noticed is my headaches were gone and am not back to having a dull headache all day. ANYWAYS.... lol I followed up with my dr( shes a nurse practioner) after the ER visit and diagnoses of hyperthyroidism and she told me infact i do not have hyperthyroidism that the numbers lead her to believe i have a pituitary dysfunction( but what kind???) so she referred me to a endo but cant get into him until the beginning of august... I just cant wait that long! I cant do this anymore I can hardly even leave my house anymore! I could go on and on but here are the numbers they have me when i called and ask for the levels
tsh 3- 0.09 (which is the one they are worried about)
t4- 5.50
Anyone have any idea what this could be? I have never ever been diagnosed with any thyroid issue. Is this possibly why Ive been sick for 10 years and where the brain fog and fatigue are coming from? ANyone else dealt with this? Thanks!
Brandi
tsh 3- 0.09 (which is the one they are worried about)
t4- 5.50
Anyone have any idea what this could be? I have never ever been diagnosed with any thyroid issue. Is this possibly why Ive been sick for 10 years and where the brain fog and fatigue are coming from? ANyone else dealt with this? Thanks!
Brandi
I also wanted to add under my urine dip results my glucose level in my urine is 250 when it should be negative. I am not pregnant and i do not have diabetes... None of these things have EVER been mentioned to me! In the note the er dr wrote to the nurse practioner he wrote " Urine,pH was 6.0, specific gravity 1.025,250 of glucose, which makes no sense with normal serum glucose and negative for ketones, blood, nitrite and leukocyte esterase. Urine hCG was negative as well" I just dont understand. Its looking like i have more than one thing working against me.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I drink a lot of water, too, but depending on what I eat (salty foods), I can still get dehydrated. Additionally, if your blood work was done as "fasting" and you hadn't had anything to eat/drink for 8+ hours, you could still have been dehydrated.
Not saying that's the cause; just that it's a possibility.
I know what you mean about wanting your life back.... we've all been there.
Not saying that's the cause; just that it's a possibility.
I know what you mean about wanting your life back.... we've all been there.
Thanks Barb! I did ask and she told me to call back in a couple days to see if I could get in any earlier and as for my dr (NP) she pretty much admitted my case was out of her league and said i needed to see an endo! As for the dehydration I dont thik thats the case! I drink alot of water but who knows!! lol Again, thank you for your imput! Just ready to have my life back before i go insane lol
COMMUNITY LEADER
Potassium is an electrolyte; low levels typically show up with dehydration. You can't compare yourself to anyone else, because we're all different. My potassium levels are nearly always in the neighborhood of 3.2-3.4, and the only symptoms I get are muscle cramps in my feet/legs.
Did you ask the endo's office about a cancellation list?
You might try calling your pcp and ask if they can get started with some of the testing.
Did you ask the endo's office about a cancellation list?
You might try calling your pcp and ask if they can get started with some of the testing.
I called the endo today and the earliest i could get in was august 29th. but will continue to call to see if i can get in any earlier
Does my potassium levels correlate with anything? They are a bit low according to my blood work and just had a friend (who just had her thyrpid removed) admitted to the hospital with low potassium pretty sure they said hers was 3.2 and mine is 3.4 and they said that is why she is having the severe tachacardia( her heartrate was 180) and having panic attacks? Kind of makes sense to where some of my breathging issues and such are coming from! Thank you so much for your reply!
Does my potassium levels correlate with anything? They are a bit low according to my blood work and just had a friend (who just had her thyrpid removed) admitted to the hospital with low potassium pretty sure they said hers was 3.2 and mine is 3.4 and they said that is why she is having the severe tachacardia( her heartrate was 180) and having panic attacks? Kind of makes sense to where some of my breathging issues and such are coming from! Thank you so much for your reply!
COMMUNITY LEADER
Unfortunately, the Thyroxine Level T4 is for total T4, not Free, which is more important, but even still, your level is below the reference range.
T3 Uptake is obsolete and of little value, as is the Total T3. Fortunately, they did a Free T3, which is most important of all. Both your FT3 and T4, indicate that your thyroid is not producing hormones, which will cause the symptoms you have.
The way it's supposed to work is that when thyroid levels get low, the pituitary pumps out Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), which in turn, stimulates the thyroid to produce hormones, T3 and T4.
Now that I see these results, the thought of a pituitary issue makes more sense, because even though your thyroid hormone levels are very low, the pituitary isn't producing TSH to stimulate the thyroid.
Did you ask the endo's office to put you on a cancellation list, so that if someone cancels an appointment, you might get in earlier? You might also talk to your pcp and have her start running tests to confirm/rule out a pituitary issue, so that when you get to the endo, that will already be done.
You still, also, need to have the other tests done that I mentioned above, and there's no reason your pcp can't do those.
T3 Uptake is obsolete and of little value, as is the Total T3. Fortunately, they did a Free T3, which is most important of all. Both your FT3 and T4, indicate that your thyroid is not producing hormones, which will cause the symptoms you have.
The way it's supposed to work is that when thyroid levels get low, the pituitary pumps out Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), which in turn, stimulates the thyroid to produce hormones, T3 and T4.
Now that I see these results, the thought of a pituitary issue makes more sense, because even though your thyroid hormone levels are very low, the pituitary isn't producing TSH to stimulate the thyroid.
Did you ask the endo's office to put you on a cancellation list, so that if someone cancels an appointment, you might get in earlier? You might also talk to your pcp and have her start running tests to confirm/rule out a pituitary issue, so that when you get to the endo, that will already be done.
You still, also, need to have the other tests done that I mentioned above, and there's no reason your pcp can't do those.
Ok, so I went and got my results from the bloodwork from when I was at the ER.
TSH3RD- 0.09 (reference: 0.465-4.68 MIU/L)
Thyroxine Level T4- 5.50 (reference: 5.53-11.0 mcg/dL)
T3 Uptake- 35.4 (reference: 23.5-40.5%)
Free T3- 2.5 (reference: 2.3-4.2 pg/mL)
Total T3- 64 (reference: 76-181 ng/dL)
And here are some other levels that they flagged as low none of which were or have ever been mentioned to me. Pretty upset about this!!!
Potassium Level- 3.4 (reference: 3.5-5.1 MMOL/L)
BUN- 5 (reference: 7-17mg/dL)
And than under the liver panel this was flagged as well
ALT/SGPT- 9 (reference: 13-69 UNITS/L)
Can anyone make sense of this?
TSH3RD- 0.09 (reference: 0.465-4.68 MIU/L)
Thyroxine Level T4- 5.50 (reference: 5.53-11.0 mcg/dL)
T3 Uptake- 35.4 (reference: 23.5-40.5%)
Free T3- 2.5 (reference: 2.3-4.2 pg/mL)
Total T3- 64 (reference: 76-181 ng/dL)
And here are some other levels that they flagged as low none of which were or have ever been mentioned to me. Pretty upset about this!!!
Potassium Level- 3.4 (reference: 3.5-5.1 MMOL/L)
BUN- 5 (reference: 7-17mg/dL)
And than under the liver panel this was flagged as well
ALT/SGPT- 9 (reference: 13-69 UNITS/L)
Can anyone make sense of this?
Im not sure what all they tested. These are just the only numbers they gave me over the phone! I didnt know if they made sense to anyone else or not ! If i had the energy i would go the doctor and pickup a copy! I feel like i fit most of the symptoms for hyper or hypo but dont think it would have gone diagnosed for 10 years now! As for not getting in until September this guy is the only endo in my town!! :( I was just so relieved when the er diagnosed me with hyper and possible graves disease thought maybe i could finally get my life back but now Im back at square one! :(
COMMUNITY LEADER
Besides TSH, you need to have FREE T4 and FREE T3 tested. Those are the actual thyroid hormones that the body uses.
I find it somewhat irresponsible for your doctor (NP) to toss out the suggestion of a pituitary dysfunction, based on such limited testing, such as TSH and T4 (is that FREE or TOTAL T4? and what is the reference range?).
Have you had other endocrine tests done, such as adrenal or reproductive hormones? If you have a pituitary dysfunction, chances are good, that other endocrine hormone levels may be off as well. Imbalance of both adrenal and reproductive hormones, along with thyroid hormones, can cause the symptoms you have.
Fibromyalgia is a set of unexplained symptoms, which often go away when thyroid levels are adequate.
RA is an autoimmune disease that attacks joints and surrounding tissue. Once you have one autoimmune, chances are greater that you will get others.
You should also get tested for autoimmune thyroid disease......... Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TGab) will determine if you have Hashmoto's Thyroiditis, which is usually associated with hypothyroidism, but often presents periods of hyperthyroidism as well. You need *both* TPOab and TGab, to diagnose Hashi. Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSI) is the definitive test for Graves Disease, which is associated with hyperthyroidism.
Vitamin B12 levels should be tested, since Pernicious Anemia is also autoimmune. B12 deficiency can several thyroid-like symptoms, including (but not limited to) debilitating fatigue/no energy.
Agree that you should get iron tested, as well as vitamin D.
I find it somewhat irresponsible for your doctor (NP) to toss out the suggestion of a pituitary dysfunction, based on such limited testing, such as TSH and T4 (is that FREE or TOTAL T4? and what is the reference range?).
Have you had other endocrine tests done, such as adrenal or reproductive hormones? If you have a pituitary dysfunction, chances are good, that other endocrine hormone levels may be off as well. Imbalance of both adrenal and reproductive hormones, along with thyroid hormones, can cause the symptoms you have.
Fibromyalgia is a set of unexplained symptoms, which often go away when thyroid levels are adequate.
RA is an autoimmune disease that attacks joints and surrounding tissue. Once you have one autoimmune, chances are greater that you will get others.
You should also get tested for autoimmune thyroid disease......... Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TGab) will determine if you have Hashmoto's Thyroiditis, which is usually associated with hypothyroidism, but often presents periods of hyperthyroidism as well. You need *both* TPOab and TGab, to diagnose Hashi. Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSI) is the definitive test for Graves Disease, which is associated with hyperthyroidism.
Vitamin B12 levels should be tested, since Pernicious Anemia is also autoimmune. B12 deficiency can several thyroid-like symptoms, including (but not limited to) debilitating fatigue/no energy.
Agree that you should get iron tested, as well as vitamin D.
Why are you not able to get in until September?
Maybe you can have your primary run some tests that the endocrinologist would do. It would be a bad idea because if the endocrinologist repeats the tests he/she might be able to get some information from any changes.
Also ask to have your iron levels checked.
Maybe you can have your primary run some tests that the endocrinologist would do. It would be a bad idea because if the endocrinologist repeats the tests he/she might be able to get some information from any changes.
Also ask to have your iron levels checked.
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