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Avatar universal

so fed up

am beginning to feel like raging hypochondriac so please bear with me, here is the story as short as can be.
went to doctors end of december due to being constantly tired and breathlessness more than normal( until January I had smoked for 37 years) AND MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS ok said doc we will do chest x ray some blood tests, as my blood pressure and pulse were low and slow, oh and a standard ECG. Results -  Thyroid underactive (no idea of numbers was not told didnt ask because I didnt even understand what the thyroid did to be honest. Chest x-ray fine ( REALLY) ECG showed irregular heart rate but not significant (  could be stressed ) their words. Doctor said umm I think we will try 50 mg Lev. Ok 2 weeks later running around like headless chicken talking 20 miles an hour crying, omg. Back to doctors. different doctor, ok we will lower dose, and send you to cardiologist, so off I go, have had ECHO that was fine, 24 HOUR ECG that was fine, Calcium CT scoring that was a little too high so was offered CT Angiogram, I asked for a different test as was beginning to think I would light up in the dark. waiting for exercise stress test next weds. Meantime blood test come back t3 and t4 "normal range" TSH " out of range" have to wait until next tuesday for appointment. meanwhile I have been so depressed I wanted to end it all last week completely out of character, a on call GP gave me anti-depressants and I have not took them because I know this has to be physical and not mental Any help in discussing this with doctor would help, or any advise please
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Avatar universal
Always a possibility, but it also could be that you are under-medicated and still hypothyroid.  If you will please tell us about any other symptoms you have, and also post your thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report we can bette answer your question.  
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Avatar universal
Help I am taking thyroxine for my under active thyroid and having night sweats could I be going through my menopause
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Avatar universal
I'd go for the receptionist!  If we had FT3 and FT4 results with reference range, we could be a lot more helpful.  Unlike your doctor, most of us DO understand FT3 and FT4 results!  LOL

Yes, I'm glad your "cardiac" issues are being dealt with, but I tend to suspect that those cardiac issues are actually being caused by thyroid issues.  The heart can be very sensitive to thyroid hormone changes.  
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Avatar universal
new doctor yes probably right, the sad thing is I have only been with this practice for a few months due to house move, I thought she would be ok around the menopause problems for me but she is not addressing this either. My cardiac issues are being dealt with at the hospital thankfully. There are a number of doctors at the practice might try another ha. Will try tackle receptionist again haha
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Avatar universal
A TSH of 10.8 is high.  Reference range for TSH should be 0.3-3.0 as per AACE recommendation some 10+ years ago.  Most labs use a higher range.  So, It looks like you are hypo and needed the increase.

She didn't give you your FT3 and FT4 results and ranges?  She didn't understand?  OMG, you need a new doctor!

Can you try to get those FT3 and FT4 results?
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Avatar universal
Hi am back again, didnt get much sense from G.P she said my T3 and T4 WAS WITHIN "NORMAL RANGE" BUT THOUGHT i WOULDNT UNDERSTAND THIS AS SHE REALLY DIDNT!! However the receptionist was kind enough to tell me that my TSH was 10.8 which is why GP has decided to up my levothyroxine to 50 micrograms. My legs ache so much. can you relate to this reading please
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Avatar universal
Hi goolarra. Thank you again,glad someone can offer some theroies.  the cold I can relate to although that has been a life long complaint, I always put that down to being very slim and poor eater until recently my highest weight was at 9 months pregnant 8st 6lb. ( 24 years ago). I weight 9st 8lb today heavy for me, my normal weight has never been over 7 st.( january this year) I had eating issues when younger (stress I didn't eat) still there but still gaining weight,I put it down to menopause. My family where as shocked as me that I was hypo we all would have said hyper.the adrenalin theory is a possibility as the stress I have undergone over the past 7 years has been rough (family,work,housing, divorce) non stop really but I am a typical female BIG smile for the outside world ha, probably why so frustrated at present as no matter how hard I try I cant get my body or brain to move its self for more than a few hours without wanting a nap! I work so that cant happen, but am struggling now. Dreading getting on that treadmill next week.
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Avatar universal
If you could manage to write down your FT3, FT4 and TSH with reference ranges, that would be great.  It's tough to comment without exact numbers.  

Almost everyone who is hypo experiences fatigue and or drowsiness.  However, as you know, hypo is far from the only cause of fatigue.  Intolerance to cold (feeling cold when others around you are comfortable) is another common symptom.  Many people have unexpected weight gain, hair loss, depression.  You can google the long list.

A number of things could be going on, and I'm really just throwing ideas out there because we don't have numbers.  What you describe are hyper-like symptoms.  The possibilities are:

#1 Your TSH is the only "out of range" test.  Most doctors, especially NHS doctors, put way too much emphasis on TSH.  However, it's also important to note that T3 and T4 ranges are very flawed.  If you are in the bottom of the ranges, with a high TSH, you are probably hypo.  This possibility could be eliminated with real numbers.

#2 Some people have to start out low on thyroid meds and increase gradually and as needed.  These often include people who have been hypo for more than a few months, people over 50, people with heart arrhythmias and people with a general sensitivity to meds.  The recommendation here is to start at 12.5-25 mcg.

#3 When thyroid hormones are low, other systems in the body tend to "make up" for the lack of thyroid hormones.  Adrenals are infamous for this.  At first, the adrenals work overtime to make up, but they eventually burn out too.  This is called adrenal fatigue.  This often causes an intolerance of thyroid meds.

#4 Your doctor and/or the lab could have just plain made a mistake.

So, lots of possibilities here.  If you get more info, we can start narrowing them down.  

  
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Avatar universal
Hi goolarra thanks for reply.x  I doubt I can get them results but will ask when I am there on tuesday.  I am 50, I had not noticed any symptoms as such that I associated with hypo in fact up until I had a virus back in November all I considered I was suffering from was the menopause which in itself has been a pain, I was taking menopace for that but doctor said leave that for the time being (easy to say ) I really dont know what symptom goes where ha.x
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Avatar universal
Can you get the results of your thyroid labs with reference ranges?

Depression can be a symptom of hypo.  Sometimes, when the underlying cause of depression is hypothyroidism, anti-depressants can actually make you feel worse instead of better.  

How long have you had hypo symptoms?  How old are you?
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