Undiagnosed Symptoms....HELP

[mjc88]

I'm having serious problems getting properly diagnosed, but have many of the unfortunate symptoms, that Dr.'s I've come to meet, seem to ignore. I've been losing hair/outer third eyebrow hair for four months (stressful/embarrassing), puffiness in my cheeks, fatigue, dry skin, and sometimes infrequent bowel movements. Been to three Dr's who all told me I was "fine" because i was within normal range. Here's my most recent numbers>...
Thyroxine (T4) Free: Range- .82-1.77......Me: 1.13
TSH: Range- .45-4.5......Me:2.610
Thyroxine (T4): Range- 4.5-12......Me:6.5
Triiodothyronine (T3): Range 71-180..... Me:80

These are the only results I've seen. If anyone has any ideas on what other tests I should be taking or some input on how to better my situation...please help...I know these results are all within "normal" range, but all these unfortunate symptoms have progressively worsened and somethings clearly not right.

[Andros]

I'm having serious problems getting properly diagnosed, but have many of the unfortunate symptoms, that Dr.'s I've come to meet, seem to ignore. I've been losing hair/outer third eyebrow hair for four months (stressful/embarrassing), puffiness in my cheeks, fatigue, dry skin, and sometimes infrequent bowel movements. Been to three Dr's who all told me I was "fine" because i was within normal range. Here's my most recent numbers>...
Thyroxine (T4) Free: Range- .82-1.77......Me: 1.13
TSH: Range- .45-4.5......Me:2.610
Thyroxine (T4): Range- 4.5-12......Me:6.5
Triiodothyronine (T3): Range 71-180..... Me:80

These are the only results I've seen. If anyone has any ideas on what other tests I should be taking or some input on how to better my situation...please help...I know these results are all within "normal" range, but all these unfortunate symptoms have progressively worsened and somethings clearly not right.

Oh, dear!! Your Free T4 is way below mid-range (not good) and your Total 3 is in the basement also. Total is bound, unbound and rT3 hormone so when that is low, we are really suspicious because unlike the FREE T4 the Total 3 test in not reflecting the "unbound" portion of Triiodothyronine(T3) available for cellular uptake.

I would press for a FREE T3 test as this is your "active" hormone.

Also, really................antibodies tests should be run. Here is what I suggest. I am w/you; I believe something is afoot w/ the thyroid.

TSI (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin),TPO (antimicrosomal antibodies) TBII (thyrotropin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin), Thyroglobulin Ab, ANA (antinuclear antibodies), (thyroid hormone panel) TSH, Free T3, Free T4.

You can look this stuff up here and more.........
http://www.labtestsonline.org/unders...s/thyroid.html

Ranges are only that. They are to serve as guidelines to detect movement either up or down. Nothing is carved in stone as far as I am concerned.

[mjc88]

new tests results...due to money issues this is all i could be tested for at the moment.....

Free T3: Lab Ranges- 2-4.4........Me- 2.8
TSI: Lab Ranges- 0-139..........ME- 28
TPO ab: LAb Ranges- 0-34......Me- 5

Symptoms are still there, and I'm going to try to schedule an appointment tomorrow. Last time the Dr. was very biased and kind of brushed me off when I said, that I've been losing my hair (hes bald), saying that its genetics, but didnt acknowledge the eye brow hair loss. What should my plan of attack be for the Dr's office??

[Andros]

new tests results...due to money issues this is all i could be tested for at the moment.....

Free T3: Lab Ranges- 2-4.4........Me- 2.8
TSI: Lab Ranges- 0-139..........ME- 28
TPO ab: LAb Ranges- 0-34......Me- 5

Symptoms are still there, and I'm going to try to schedule an appointment tomorrow. Last time the Dr. was very biased and kind of brushed me off when I said, that I've been losing my hair (hes bald), saying that its genetics, but didnt acknowledge the eye brow hair loss. What should my plan of attack be for the Dr's office??

Well; there you go! You have the TSI! You should have none.

TSI
Normally, there is no TSI in the blood. If TSI is found in the blood, this indicates that the thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin is the cause of the of a person's hyperthyroidism.
http://www.medicineonline.com/topics/t/2/Thyroid-Stimulating-Immunoglobulin/TSI.html

So, either you have Hashimoto's and you are in the the hyper stage of that or you are just plain hyperthyroid possibly fixing to have Graves'.

Get a Ferritin test. Most of us w/TD are low in Ferritin.
Ferritin http://www.thewayup.com/newsletters/081504.htm

Also, cancer needs to be ruled out. At the very least a sonogram but at it's very best, a RAIU (radioactive uptake scan.)

I sort of suspected that you had TSI. Dang!

[mjc88]

Thyroxine (T4) Free: Range- .82-1.77......Me: 1.13
TSH: Range- .45-4.5......Me:2.610
Thyroxine (T4): Range- 4.5-12......Me:6.5
Triiodothyronine (T3): Range 71-180..... Me:80
Vitamin D: Range-32-100……….Me: 31
Free T3: Lab Ranges- 2-4.4........Me- 2.8
TSI: Lab Ranges- 0-139..........ME- 28
TPO ab: LAb Ranges- 0-34......Me- 5
Iron Levels: lower end of normal range

Symptoms: losing hair & outer third eyebrow hairless for months (stressful/embarrassing), puffiness in my cheeks, fatigue, dry skin, depression, anxiety, low energy.

I know no one here is a medical doctor, but what medications, do you feel, would improve my situation (elevate the hairless, increase energy) - armor? cytomel(for the t3)?…..preferably no synthetics because I've read that they often increase the hairless… I have an appointment tomorrow morning, and I'd like to have some idea on what to talk about, especially since, i was previously dismissed with my "normal levels"…..Since I'll be paying out of pocket (no insurance), I'd prefer to get treated/prescribed something at my appt. tomorrow, rather than having to pay for unnecessary follow ups.

[Andros]

Thyroxine (T4) Free: Range- .82-1.77......Me: 1.13
TSH: Range- .45-4.5......Me:2.610
Thyroxine (T4): Range- 4.5-12......Me:6.5
Triiodothyronine (T3): Range 71-180..... Me:80
Vitamin D: Range-32-100……….Me: 31
Free T3: Lab Ranges- 2-4.4........Me- 2.8
TSI: Lab Ranges- 0-139..........ME- 28
TPO ab: LAb Ranges- 0-34......Me- 5
Iron Levels: lower end of normal range

Symptoms: losing hair & outer third eyebrow hairless for months (stressful/embarrassing), puffiness in my cheeks, fatigue, dry skin, depression, anxiety, low energy.

I know no one here is a medical doctor, but what medications, do you feel, would improve my situation (elevate the hairless, increase energy) - armor? cytomel(for the t3)?…..preferably no synthetics because I've read that they often increase the hairless… I have an appointment tomorrow morning, and I'd like to have some idea on what to talk about, especially since, i was previously dismissed with my "normal levels"…..Since I'll be paying out of pocket (no insurance), I'd prefer to get treated/prescribed something at my appt. tomorrow, rather than having to pay for unnecessary follow ups.

I am not sure what to tell you because you do have TSI.

TSI
Normally, there is no TSI in the blood. If TSI is found in the blood, this indicates that the thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin is the cause of the of a person's hyperthyroidism.
http://www.medicineonline.com/topics/t/2/Thyroid-Stimulating-Immunoglobulin/TSI.html

Your labs may not be reflecting what is really going on because there are binding, blocking and stimulating antibodies and autoantibodies. These have a tendency to skew the labs. Actually, the sole purpose is to keep them in line as much as they can but meanwhile the body is getting sicker and sicker in the war of the antibodies!

I will be very very interested in the doctor's opinion. I wish I could be of a better help to you right now.

[mjc88]

I've been reading into hashimoto's, and never realized how i've experienced such similar switching of symptoms..

Symptoms Timeline:

Sept-Dec:
Hairloss
Outer third eyebrow loss (severe)
Facial puffiness
Fatigue
Dry Skin
Constipation (2-3 times a week)
Shivering ( In Tempe, AZ -not too cold of weather- 50s-60s)
Brittle finger nails/Dont grow as fast as they use to
Depressed
Increased appetite/Small weight gain-(I work out alot-Weightlifting/muay thai/ and am usually very lean/ dont add weight easily)
Dec-Current
Hairloss
Eyebrow loss (much-much less)
facial puffiness
fatigue
frequent bowel movements (Multiple times a day/diarrhea)
Sweating (too much)
Brittle finger nails/ Dont grow as fast
Anxiety
No shivering (on break in nj- lots of snow/ very cold)
Tremendously increased appetite/ With little to no weight gain

What test would help show if i have hashimotos? or something else?

[mjc88]

I also started getting tremors in my hands, and have a hard time keeping them still

[Andros]

I've been reading into hashimoto's, and never realized how i've experienced such similar switching of symptoms..

Symptoms Timeline:

Sept-Dec:
Hairloss
Outer third eyebrow loss (severe)
Facial puffiness
Fatigue
Dry Skin
Constipation (2-3 times a week)
Shivering ( In Tempe, AZ -not too cold of weather- 50s-60s)
Brittle finger nails/Dont grow as fast as they use to
Depressed
Increased appetite/Small weight gain-(I work out alot-Weightlifting/muay thai/ and am usually very lean/ dont add weight easily)
Dec-Current
Hairloss
Eyebrow loss (much-much less)
facial puffiness
fatigue
frequent bowel movements (Multiple times a day/diarrhea)
Sweating (too much)
Brittle finger nails/ Dont grow as fast
Anxiety
No shivering (on break in nj- lots of snow/ very cold)
Tremendously increased appetite/ With little to no weight gain

What test would help show if i have hashimotos? or something else?

You have TSI; therefore this indicates hyperthyroid. Most of your current symptoms also sound hyper to me.

I recommend now a RAIU (radioactive uptake scan) to see the rate of uptake and to check for cancer. Cancer and hyper are bed fellows.

Graves' and Hashi's cancer
http://www.thyroidmanager.org/Chapter18/18-cancothr.htm

The only definitive test that I know of for Hashimoto's is FNA. If the pathologist finds Hurthle Cells indigenous to Hashimoto's then you have Hashimoto's.

[mjc88]

Wasted 75$ for my "Dr." to "help" me by saying i was within normal range.. ANd when i started questioning him (arguing), he dismissed me and referred me to a new endocrinologist(Never going back). He had to leave the office to look up what the TSI test was and came back to say I was within normal range. But i did see my previous bloodwork from a test I took in Nov, (a little over 1 month apart from the newer test) . Im not too sure how severe these changes in levels are but I thought they were significant.

NOV. 12 & Dec. 23
TSH: 1.49 (.3-4 range) / TSH: 2.610
T4 (thyroxine): 8.2 (4.5-12.5) / T4 (thyroxine): 6.5

(Nov.)
T3 Uptake:33.1 (23.4-42.7 range)
T7: 2.7 (1.2-4.3 range)

Both my tsh and t4 changed over 1.0 in a months time...Also luckily got an appt. with a new endo tomorrow (cancellation).... Hopefully this Dr's more willing to help me out.