Normal labs.....not so normal symptoms

[NotoriousVee]

So I've been starting to research some of the symptoms I've been feeling for some time now and all of them pointed to hypothyroidism. I went to my doctor and asked to have my thyroid tested because several members of my (extended) family have Hashimoto's. They include two of my mom's sisters and my grandmother. Anyway my blood came back normal. I will give you all the results and I'd appreciate any feedback and advice I can get! Should I continue on the thyroid path and make an appointment with an endocrinologist, even though my blood results are normal?

Here are my results
T-4 8.9  MCG/DL (range 4.5 - 12.0)
T-3 uptake 32.8 % (24.3 - 39.0)
Free Thyroxine index 2.9  (1.6 - 3.7)
TSH, ultrasensitive 1.420 uiU/ml (0.270-4.200)

So am I imagining all of these symptoms? I know I don't feel right. I'm 34 y/old female with no other known health issues.

Here are my symptoms:

Tightness in base of throat
•Chronic fatigue (even with abundant sleep)
•Extremely heavy periods (I must use the highest absorbency tampons and pads at the same time and I go through both quickly)
•dry eyes and mouth
•pain in knees and joints
• puffy under eyes
• swollen tongue that is scalloped
• mental fog and forgetfulness
• no motivation ***
• extremely irritable***
• want to be left alone
• shin splints (don't know if that's a sign)
• tinnitus
• twitching eyelid that lasts for days and sometimes weeks
• extremely dry itchy skin on legs
• hot flashes
• brittle nails that crack and peel
• thinning of eyebrows
• dry, extremely fine hair that is thinning
• rash on the back of my head and dandruff (something I never had before)
• slow bowels/ constipation
• thick, crumbly and yellowish toe nails
• ingrown toenails in every single toe
• pain in ball of my foot and heel
• hot flashes with accompanied sweating but only from my head
• cannot tolerate coldness AT ALL. I must wear two pairs of pants if it's even slightly cold out
• keritosis pilaris (don't know if that's associated)
• pain between shoulder blades
• excessive gas
• bloated stomach
• weight gain but most of the weight is in my stomach
• flat feet
•knock knees

[Red_Star]

Test your thyroid antibodies - thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb).

A common symptom of vitamin A deficiency is rough, dry skin which often first appears as rough, raised bumps called keratosis pilaris (also called chicken skin). Keratosis most often appears on the back of the upper arms although it can appear on any body part except for hairless areas of skin.

The conversion of beta carotene into vitamin A is dependent on several factors: protein status, thyroid hormone, zinc and vitamin C. Omega 3 deficiency is also a listed cause of keratosis pilaris.

[gimel]

You do have a lot of symptoms that are frequently related to hypothyroidism.  Unfortunately your doctor did you no favors with all those outdated tests, other than TSH.  You need to test for both of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3 every time you go in for tests.  Once you get those done you will have much better info with which to insist that you are hypothyroid and need to start on thyroid med.

In addition there are other factors that can contribute to being hypo.  So you need to be tested for Vitamin D, B12 ferritin, and a diurnal saliva cortisol test done at 4 times during the day.  Fro some of your symptoms, I also suggest testing for Progesterone and Estradiol.  If the ratio of P to E is too low that can also contribute to low levels of Free T4 and Free T3.  

Don't just assume that an Endo is a good thyroid doctor.  Many are not, for a variety of reasons.  A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T4 and Free T3 as needed to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results.