Aa
what labs and things do i need to demand?
I am new to this site i think i posted in the wrong place the first time and thought I would add a little more details.
I am 26y female, I was diagnosed with Hashimotos three year ago when i rapidly gained over 30lbs in less than two months and had a buffalo hump appear on my neck. The doctor thought it was a lipoma and did a MRI before he was going to remove it. The MRI showed my thyroid gland was 3x the normal size so ordered an ultrasound of my thyroid and a blood test. The ultrasound showed 4 nodules but they said they were not going to further investigate it since I also was pregnant. Fast forward to three weeks ago I told my new endo that the past couple of months I have been having intense mood swings, my sex drive is now gone(which is killing me), I cant sleep, I am always hot where i am dripping sweat, I have diarrhea, exhausted beyond belief, I have not had a period in over a year (again i am only 26) , my hair is falling out in clumps and there is now a visible lump on my throat, , She said the swelling on my throat is because of the Hashimoto so there was no need to look into it, she then listened to my heart and had me take a couple deep breaths. She told me I was wheezing and that the wheezing must be whats causing the other issues... since my body was upset that it was oxygen deprived... which to me sound like a bunch of bs i just want to get to feeling normal again... I am losing my mind and its affecting my family my kids deserve their mother again. When I asked what they tested they said they only check t4 and tsh that there was no need for anything else since I am young and healthy... I just want to know what labs to demand, I called a different endocrinologist office to see them but they cant see me until December 20th. please help i don't know what to do any advice with be greatly appreciated.
I am 26y female, I was diagnosed with Hashimotos three year ago when i rapidly gained over 30lbs in less than two months and had a buffalo hump appear on my neck. The doctor thought it was a lipoma and did a MRI before he was going to remove it. The MRI showed my thyroid gland was 3x the normal size so ordered an ultrasound of my thyroid and a blood test. The ultrasound showed 4 nodules but they said they were not going to further investigate it since I also was pregnant. Fast forward to three weeks ago I told my new endo that the past couple of months I have been having intense mood swings, my sex drive is now gone(which is killing me), I cant sleep, I am always hot where i am dripping sweat, I have diarrhea, exhausted beyond belief, I have not had a period in over a year (again i am only 26) , my hair is falling out in clumps and there is now a visible lump on my throat, , She said the swelling on my throat is because of the Hashimoto so there was no need to look into it, she then listened to my heart and had me take a couple deep breaths. She told me I was wheezing and that the wheezing must be whats causing the other issues... since my body was upset that it was oxygen deprived... which to me sound like a bunch of bs i just want to get to feeling normal again... I am losing my mind and its affecting my family my kids deserve their mother again. When I asked what they tested they said they only check t4 and tsh that there was no need for anything else since I am young and healthy... I just want to know what labs to demand, I called a different endocrinologist office to see them but they cant see me until December 20th. please help i don't know what to do any advice with be greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much my last labs the endo said that the synthroid wasnt even touching the problem so she increased synthroid. I am so overwhelmed by everything i know its not a big deal but to me right now it feels that way, I use to be so energetic, organized and happy and now i am so blah, its hard to think straight and keep my train of thought i often forget what i am talking about or i jump from one conversation to another and not even realize it, and i am happy here and there but most the time i am angry and sad and the times i seem happy i am just putting on a face for my wonderful kids and husband i just miss me... gah now i am.
I have a very prominant buffalo hump myself. My first endo tested for Cushing's Disease but all results were normal. After researching online, I realised my severe insulin resistance was the reason for my buffalo hump, high hip to waist ratio, acanthosis nigricans, and skin tags to name a few of my symptoms. My second endo confirmed my insulin resistance by clinical diagnosis. My insulin resistance worsens when i'm hyperthyroid.
Diagnosis of insulin resistance is based on clinical findings and can be corroborated with lab tests. The lab tests include plasma glucose level (fasting, random, and oral glucose tolerance test), fasting insulin level, lipid profile (cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides).
I used to wheeze badly and the doc diagnosed asthma. The wheezing improved dramatically when i corrected my magnesium deficiency.
"Magnesium deficits and increased urinary magnesium excretion can occur in people with insulin resistance and/or type 2 diabetes [24,25]. The magnesium loss appears to be secondary to higher concentrations of glucose in the kidney that increase urine output [2]."
Your symptoms you mention are seen with hyperthyroidism. This could be due to overmedicating on thyroid medication, or either type of hashitoxicosis.
Bella Online - Hypothyroid & Hyperthyroid at the Same Time...
"...some Hashimoto's patients also test positive for antibodies called the TSI antibodies (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins). This antibody is what usually contributes to Grave's Disease or "autoimmune hyperthyroidism" however, some Hashimoto's patients have these antibodies as well as the TPO and/or TG ones, that typically cause Hashimoto's and is why they may experience spells of Hashitoxicosis or "intermittent hyperthyroidism". You almost could say they are suffering from Grave's and Hashimoto's, simultaneously.
Even without having the TSI antibodies present, Hashimoto's patients can potentially experience flares of thyroiditis, which can also cause mild hyperthyroid type symptoms that are not as severe as those caused by Hashitoxicosis but are still concerning."
Diagnosis of insulin resistance is based on clinical findings and can be corroborated with lab tests. The lab tests include plasma glucose level (fasting, random, and oral glucose tolerance test), fasting insulin level, lipid profile (cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides).
I used to wheeze badly and the doc diagnosed asthma. The wheezing improved dramatically when i corrected my magnesium deficiency.
"Magnesium deficits and increased urinary magnesium excretion can occur in people with insulin resistance and/or type 2 diabetes [24,25]. The magnesium loss appears to be secondary to higher concentrations of glucose in the kidney that increase urine output [2]."
Your symptoms you mention are seen with hyperthyroidism. This could be due to overmedicating on thyroid medication, or either type of hashitoxicosis.
Bella Online - Hypothyroid & Hyperthyroid at the Same Time...
"...some Hashimoto's patients also test positive for antibodies called the TSI antibodies (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins). This antibody is what usually contributes to Grave's Disease or "autoimmune hyperthyroidism" however, some Hashimoto's patients have these antibodies as well as the TPO and/or TG ones, that typically cause Hashimoto's and is why they may experience spells of Hashitoxicosis or "intermittent hyperthyroidism". You almost could say they are suffering from Grave's and Hashimoto's, simultaneously.
Even without having the TSI antibodies present, Hashimoto's patients can potentially experience flares of thyroiditis, which can also cause mild hyperthyroid type symptoms that are not as severe as those caused by Hashitoxicosis but are still concerning."
It may take a while to get an appointment, so in the interim I will keep looking for a good thyroid doctor closer to you. Sending PM with info. Just click on your name and that takes you to personal page. Then click on messages.
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A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with after initial tests and evaluation. The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment. In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimate
criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."
http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf
So I think that the minimum testing you need right now is for Free T3 and Free T4 (not Total T3 and Total T4), along with the TSH they always want to run. Since hypo patients are also frequently too low in the range for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, I also suggest those.
If you will give us your location, perhaps a member can recommend a good thyroid doctor, based on personal experience.