Newly Hypo and Scared

[jm1910]

Hi All

Am a mother of 3 and turned 40 at the end of last year. I have always been really active with no health issues. However, over the last 2/3 months i have started to feel shocking until last week my good friend dragged me kicking and screaming to the docs.

My symptoms included Restless sleep and aching muscles, weight gain of 12kgs in less than 6 months despite triathlon training and a sensible diet, spike in blood pressure (raised to alarming level), dizzy spells to the point of near blackout and brain fogs that i just can't remember what i'm doing and can redo a task 5 times over or can't remember where i'm going. Extreme highs and lows.

My Blood results show TSH of 8.68 and my doctor has requested further tests on that blood. T4's and antibodies. My HB count was 98, cholesterol slightly elevated but lower than doctor expected.

The point is i'm terrified that i now face a life on meds and trips back and forth to hospitals/doctors etc. What implications are there on other things? Is this the downward spiral to the point i'll end up on meds for everything?

Worried scared and feel all out on my own.

Jane

[Andros]

Hi All

Am a mother of 3 and turned 40 at the end of last year. I have always been really active with no health issues. However, over the last 2/3 months i have started to feel shocking until last week my good friend dragged me kicking and screaming to the docs.

My symptoms included Restless sleep and aching muscles, weight gain of 12kgs in less than 6 months despite triathlon training and a sensible diet, spike in blood pressure (raised to alarming level), dizzy spells to the point of near blackout and brain fogs that i just can't remember what i'm doing and can redo a task 5 times over or can't remember where i'm going. Extreme highs and lows.

My Blood results show TSH of 8.68 and my doctor has requested further tests on that blood. T4's and antibodies. My HB count was 98, cholesterol slightly elevated but lower than doctor expected.

The point is i'm terrified that i now face a life on meds and trips back and forth to hospitals/doctors etc. What implications are there on other things? Is this the downward spiral to the point i'll end up on meds for everything?

Worried scared and feel all out on my own.

Jane

Hi there Jane and welcome. Well, that is a high TSH for sure! Wonder what antibodies have been tested? Will be anxious to see the results and the ranges when you get them!

What is the range for that HB count? Different labs use different ranges.

You are not alone, I can assure you that most of us do not find it difficult at all to take our daily thyroxine replacement.

The hard part could be just getting correctly diagnosed. That is why we are here. To answer your questions and hopefully help you keep on track w/medical events as they transpire.

[jm1910]

Hi All

Have a much better handle on the situation this week. First lot of bloods back
T4 - 11.1 (9-25 RANGE)
T3 - 4.7 (3.5 - 6.5)

Still feel ill and waiting for antibody results but doc is now pulling along the line of anaemic wtf. Just need to wait for other results and take it from there.

Jane

[Andros]

Hi All

Have a much better handle on the situation this week. First lot of bloods back
T4 - 11.1 (9-25 RANGE)
T3 - 4.7 (3.5 - 6.5)

Still feel ill and waiting for antibody results but doc is now pulling along the line of anaemic wtf. Just need to wait for other results and take it from there.

Jane

Total 4 and 3 are both below mid-range so something is not right. The Totals are bound and unbound hormone. The FREE T4 and FREE T3 are the unbound hormone available for cellular uptake. It would have been a better choice to have the FREES done.
Understanding thyroid lab tests.....http://www.amarillomed.com/howto/#Thyroid

Most of us with thyroid disease do have low ferritin.
Ferritin http://www.thewayup.com/newsletters/081504.htm

Will be very anxious to see antibodies' results and ranges.

[jm1910]

Thanks for the reply.

I'll ask if they can do the free t3 and t4 then. They just said need to do this this and this.

I suppose she was being thorough at start just unfortunate she only works Fridays and had to see another doc who ignored the rest of the results and going with annaemia.

She's back this Friday so will see her then.

Jane

[Andros]

Thanks for the reply.

I'll ask if they can do the free t3 and t4 then. They just said need to do this this and this.

I suppose she was being thorough at start just unfortunate she only works Fridays and had to see another doc who ignored the rest of the results and going with annaemia.

She's back this Friday so will see her then.

Jane

Jane, I am most interested so when you can, keep us updated re the labs and stuff like that.

How are you feeling?

[jm1910]

Hi

Very tired get up take Kids to school and then if given the chance can fall asleep for a couple of hours. In bed at 6 and struggle to get up by 8.

The muscle aches have eased slightly although my ankles ache and have to work hard with them when i get up.


Only problem is that i have two businesses to run and don't have the luxury of being able to sleep through the day. Personal Trainer looking at Diet to see if we can do something there but fed up with the weight gain just trying at the moment to keep it stable.

Because i'm tried i'm as ratty and bad tempered as anything, can't cope with some of the simplest things espec if TV'S on and Kids all taking at once feel like i just wanted to shout and scream, so now just walk away and take time out.

Jane

[Andros]

Hi

Very tired get up take Kids to school and then if given the chance can fall asleep for a couple of hours. In bed at 6 and struggle to get up by 8.

The muscle aches have eased slightly although my ankles ache and have to work hard with them when i get up.


Only problem is that i have two businesses to run and don't have the luxury of being able to sleep through the day. Personal Trainer looking at Diet to see if we can do something there but fed up with the weight gain just trying at the moment to keep it stable.

Because i'm tried i'm as ratty and bad tempered as anything, can't cope with some of the simplest things espec if TV'S on and Kids all taking at once feel like i just wanted to shout and scream, so now just walk away and take time out.

Jane

You have your hands full. I can understand. Even the simplest of things can push us untreated thryoid people over the edge.

Press for the proper tests. Including the antibodies. This is the only way you are going to get to the bottom of this.

Take a huge deep breath!! We are here for you!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/LuLu1471/Hugs-hoppingfrogs55.gif

[jm1910]

Hi There

Have had the results back today.

One antibody was high at 195 and the other was low i think. Can't find print out.

Following this she has also sent me for an ultrsound and more blood tests but mentioned HASHIMOTO'S today. Won't get those results till next Friday.

She also mentioned that she felt that this would need to be monitired monthly and they don't treat until outside of the normal ranges which at mp they feel the free t3 and t4 isn't

Jane

[Andros]

Hi There

Have had the results back today.

One antibody was high at 195 and the other was low i think. Can't find print out.

Following this she has also sent me for an ultrsound and more blood tests but mentioned HASHIMOTO'S today. Won't get those results till next Friday.

She also mentioned that she felt that this would need to be monitired monthly and they don't treat until outside of the normal ranges which at mp they feel the free t3 and t4 isn't

Jane

Jane; I do wish that you could get a copy of your labs so you can share the results and the ranges w/us. We don't know what antibodies' tests you had for one thing and I am most certainly interested in your FREE T3 and FREE T4 tests.

We need to look at these things. Normal is only a range to detect movement up or down. It does not necessarily mean you feel good in normal range. If you want us to help you, we need this information.

And it would be beneficial to you to keep a medical folder anyway; bottom line here.

Glad you had the ultra-sound and I hope you can share those results as well.

[jm1910]

Hi There

Results So far

TSH 8.68
Free T4 11.1 (9-25 RANGE)
Free T3 4.7 (3.5 - 6.5)
Iron level 4.3
HB 98 Female range should be over 130
Thyroglobulin TG Antibodies 192 u/ml (<60)
Thyroid Peroxidase TPO Antibodies 43 U/ml (<60)

Thyroid ultrasound shows uneven texture but don't go back to docs until Friday and that's when she'll look more closely and tell me what it all means.


Jane

[Andros]

Hi There

Results So far

TSH 8.68
Free T4 11.1 (9-25 RANGE)
Free T3 4.7 (3.5 - 6.5)
Iron level 4.3
HB 98 Female range should be over 130
Thyroglobulin TG Antibodies 192 u/ml (<60)
Thyroid Peroxidase TPO Antibodies 43 U/ml (<60)

Thyroid ultrasound shows uneven texture but don't go back to docs until Friday and that's when she'll look more closely and tell me what it all means.


Jane

Jane, I certainly appreciate seeing your labs and the ranges. You are in quite the hypo state. Or at least it appears so. To be honest, I am not exactly sure.

I do have a suspicion that even though the TSH is high, you are converting pretty fast as the FT3 is not as low as one might expect to see in the typical hypo scenario. Mid-range would be 5.0 so the FT3@ 4.7 is not surprisingly low but definitely not at a good place. It is just that one would expect to see it even lower in keeping w/ the TSH where it is at and also where the FT4 is at which is really low.

So, it is my suspicion that you have binding and blocking antibodies at work here which may or may not be skewing the ordinary thyroid panel.

Also, the high Thyroglobulin Ab is of great concern to me and I hope to your doctor as well.

Thyroglobulin Ab and cancer
http://qjmed.oxfordjournals.org/content/59/2/429.full.pdf

Another Thyroglobulin and cancer
http://www.mdlinx.com/endocrinology/newsl-article.cfm/3305021/ZZ5052128790304906121963/?news_id=811&newsdt=092010&subspec_id=419

I can tell you that I am most anxious to hear what your doctor has to say about all this and I wonder if your doctor would run TSI (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin) lab test? This would definitely rule out hyperthyroid.

You see, it is possible to flit back and forth from hypo to hyper and the symptoms often over lap so it gets really confusing.

How do you feel at this point? Are you sleeping well, do you ever feel jittery, restless or excitable? Do you have bursts of energy and then fall into exhaustion? Hot? Cold? Intestinal motility good?

Forgive the questions but it helps me sort through some thoughts I am having.


Whoa on the HB. What has doctor suggested with that?

[jm1910]

Hi andros

Thanks for the reply.

How do I feel!!! For the last few weeks absolutely knackered to the point I could sleep anywhere and at any time but come 2am am wide awake regardless of wether I go to bed at 6pm or 11pm. I do feel the cold much more and my hands and feet are always cold especially in work when the aircon is on. I don't seem to have boundless energy like I used to. Bowel mutinied is variable either one or the other never normal.
I have been moving house this week and have found it very tiring althPugh unable to sleep, and seem to have slightly more energy but I think that's because I've had to.
:hugs:
The doctor last week suggested I change my diet so I have cut a lot of carbs
out and higher protein and have got to say do feel slightly more alive but my partner just doesn't get it and is very unsupportive.

Hoping I'll get somewhere today as very nervous about the results.

Will post those when I get them

Jane

[jm1910]

Ok Here goes

Went to see doc today. She feels that my thyroid is on the downward slide but as the results are still within the boundaries on the Free T3 and T4, feels that they should just keep an eye on it and retest again in 4 weeks, they won't start treatment until it goes outside the scale.

My Triglceride level is currently at 1.7 but overall cholesterol OK.

The difference in surface shows there is some attack however no nodules so she wasn't concerned and the correct size with no swelling

She has recommended that i continue taking the iron supplement and hopefully that will make me feel better and more with it, it should also improve my anneamia.



I am changing my diet currently and cutting a lot of the carbs out.

My iron studies came back good in all other respects apart from the levels but no alarms anywhere alse. At a loss really what to do next, Next lot of bloods to be taken ON THE 14TH March.

Jane

[Andros]

Ok Here goes

Went to see doc today. She feels that my thyroid is on the downward slide but as the results are still within the boundaries on the Free T3 and T4, feels that they should just keep an eye on it and retest again in 4 weeks, they won't start treatment until it goes outside the scale.

My Triglceride level is currently at 1.7 but overall cholesterol OK.

The difference in surface shows there is some attack however no nodules so she wasn't concerned and the correct size with no swelling

She has recommended that i continue taking the iron supplement and hopefully that will make me feel better and more with it, it should also improve my anneamia.



I am changing my diet currently and cutting a lot of the carbs out.

My iron studies came back good in all other respects apart from the levels but no alarms anywhere alse. At a loss really what to do next, Next lot of bloods to be taken ON THE 14TH March.

Jane

Hi, Jane!! Well,no doubt taking iron is going to benefit you. Anemia is serious and is often found in conjunction with autoimmune disease specifically thyroid disease.

Your doctor would not share w/you the FREE T3 and FREE T4 results and ranges? I was so hoping to see these 2 very very important tests!

W/your T4 and T3 both below mid-range, your FT4 and FT3 have to be below the mid-range and even if they are in the range, that is not good.

TSH @ 8.68 is not good. Current suggested guidelines here in U.S.A are 0.3 to 3.0 for the range. You are way over the top.

I sure hope you get some resolution on this. It is no fun to not feel good and it is even worse to be sick and not get the medical intervention you need and deserve to have.

[jm1910]

Hi Andros

Thanks for the reply

my FREE T4 and T3 ARE

Free T4 11.1 (9-25 RANGE)
Free T3 4.7 (3.5 - 6.5)

Jane

[Andros]

Hi Andros

Thanks for the reply

my FREE T4 and T3 ARE

Free T4 11.1 (9-25 RANGE)
Free T3 4.7 (3.5 - 6.5)

Jane

Those are the same numbers you posted as T4 and T3. I am really confused now.




Here is your previous post.

jm1910
Newbie Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 9

Re: Newly Hypo and Scared

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi All

Have a much better handle on the situation this week. First lot of bloods back
T4 - 11.1 (9-25 RANGE)
T3 - 4.7 (3.5 - 6.5)



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/LuLu1471/hug-1-1-1.gif

[jm1910]

Yes they are i got a print out yesterday and they say Free t3 and t4 on them.

Sorry for the confusion.

Jane

[Andros]

Yes they are i got a print out yesterday and they say Free t3 and t4 on them.

Sorry for the confusion.

Jane

That's okay; we will keep at it. Never give up is my motto!! LOL!!

That said, the Frees are very low. Ideally they should be above mid-range and this combined w/ the high TSH suggests that you should be placed on thyroxine replacement and that you should also have antibodies' tests.

Need to find out what is going on here!! I am on your side (we all are) so hang tough. We will get you to where you need to go.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/LuLu1471/Hug-4.gif

[jm1910]

Hi Andros

The results of my anti bodies were

Thyroglobulin TG Antibodies 192 u/ml (<60)
Thyroid Peroxidase TPO Antibodies 43 U/ml (<60)

The ultrasound should warm areas???? and a patchy surface not uniform in colour but no nodules. so she wasn't too concerned with that.

Being retested for everything in 4 weeks

Jane

[Andros]

Hi Andros

The results of my anti bodies were

Thyroglobulin TG Antibodies 192 u/ml (<60)
Thyroid Peroxidase TPO Antibodies 43 U/ml (<60)

The ultrasound should warm areas???? and a patchy surface not uniform in colour but no nodules. so she wasn't too concerned with that.

Being retested for everything in 4 weeks

Jane

Wonder what color? It is interesting that your Thyroglobulin TG antibodies are so high.

http://qjmed.oxfordjournals.org/content/59/2/429.full.pdf

http://www.mdlinx.com/endocrinology/newsl-article.cfm/3305021/ZZ5052128790304906121963/?news_id=811&newsdt=092010&subspec_id=419

I hope you will talk to your doctor about the high Thyroglobulin Ab.

[jm1910]

Hi Andros

Thanks for your reply.

My Thyroid scan showed a patchy surface which the sonographer says shows it's under attack (not sure) doctor didn't seem too concerned.

Asked her about the high antibodies and she just said it pointed towards Hashi's. She added that the Thyroid was on the downward slide and wouldn;t medicate until all results were outside the scale !!!!

Have had a bad couple of days with various things
Body aches
numbness in hands and ankles that refuse to move after 5 minutes being stationary
and a neck that would feel better if it wasn;t attached to my body. Really tight and achy feeling across the front of my neck. And excrutiating pain down my shoulders and back.

Just feel like this week i'm faling apart. :sad0049:

Am being retested in 3 weeks.

Jane

[Andros]

Hi Andros

Thanks for your reply.

My Thyroid scan showed a patchy surface which the sonographer says shows it's under attack (not sure) doctor didn't seem too concerned.

Asked her about the high antibodies and she just said it pointed towards Hashi's. She added that the Thyroid was on the downward slide and wouldn;t medicate until all results were outside the scale !!!!

Have had a bad couple of days with various things
Body aches
numbness in hands and ankles that refuse to move after 5 minutes being stationary
and a neck that would feel better if it wasn;t attached to my body. Really tight and achy feeling across the front of my neck. And excrutiating pain down my shoulders and back.

Just feel like this week i'm faling apart. :sad0049:

Am being retested in 3 weeks.

Jane

Not sure I have a lot of confidence in your doctor.

Here is info on Hashimoto's. http://www.thyroidmanager.org/Chapter8/8-frame.htm

Wow!! You sure are not feeling well at all here. I am so worried. If you don't get results from this doctor, you may have to go doctor shopping.

You have antibodies indigenous to thyroid disease, your thyroid panel is out of whack; we are screaming thyroid here!

That is not to say there might not be something else going on but I do think your thyroid is a huge culprit right now.