*New here* Hypothyroid - Confusing symptoms

[M2091]

Hi!*Sorry for the long post*

Recently I went the doctor because I have been suffering from my extremely light and painful monthly period for like 5-6 years now. I am 25 years old and I am extremely small and thin, as I look young (always mistaken for a 15-year-old ).

Due to the fact that I get painful periods each month, while my eating habits have changed since then and I am underweight right now. My doctor suggested that I should see a gynecologist just to make sure I don't have endometriosis, but also suggested I should get a thyroid test since I look young/underweight and got my first period between (16-17 years old).

So the first clinic lab test I have done on (15th of Jan 2017): TSH level = 7.92

The doctor suggested later I should take another Thyroid test to check my TPO since it can't be done in the clinic.

My second time taking the test was on (23rd of Jan 2017):

Results are:

T3 - 5.86 pmol/L

T4 - 16.60 pmol/L

TSH - 4.740

Anti Microsomal (TPO) - Negative

(9th of Feb) Thyroid gland ultrasound test - Normal

Meanwhile, on the same day, I went to a gynecologist to take an ultrasound test for my uterus and nothing seemed to be wrong with it so the doctor suggested I should take a 2nd/3rd day period hormone blood test.

My third test was taken on (28th of Jan 2017) (3rd day of my period)

Results were as following:

TSH - 7.440

ESTRADIOL- 135.6 pmol/L

FSH- 5.67 IU/L

LUTEINISING HOR- 4.46 IU/L

PROGESTERONE- 0.34 ng/ml

PROLACTIN- 13.34 ug/L

TESTOSTERONE- 0.37 ng/ml

I don't really know how much the TSH should be elevated to feel the symptoms but I read about Hypothyroidism later to find out I have some of them but others seem to be more like Hyperthyroidism to me. I started noticing them around the time I started to have painful periods (5-6 years ago)

- I am skinny and underweight

- Always tired /sleepy and sleep a lot compared to other people.

- Can't concentrate and brain fogginess.

- Always tired in the morning and no appetite

-Hair loss and light hair

-Skin dryness

-Developed Sensitivity to Cold (Cold feet and hands no matter what) while a long time ago I used to intolerant to heat.

-Can't handle Summer's heat and my eyes seem to be sensitive to the sunlight more than before.

-Extreme painful periods with low flow and strong IBS that both prevents me from eating properly for around 4 to 6 days with constipation.

-Anxiety/worry most of the time

-Mood swing / numb emotions

-So hard to gain weight

-Feet swell easily

I haven't seen an Endocrinologist or taken any medication yet. However, I need to know more about Hypothyroidism and the elevation of the TSH.

so I got three TSH tests (7.92 , 4.74 , 7.44) is it normal for my TSH level to change in such a short period of time??? and with the mixed symptoms I have, I started to suspect that I might have Hashimoto's disease. But my TPO tested turned out to be negative while nothing seemed to be wrong for the ultrasound test.

Note that I started to take a 3 month of contraceptive pills in May 2016 because of the repetitive pain over the years, but I stopped after 2 months since it felt so heavy to my body. I took the last month in December 2016 when my period started to get even worse than before.

As for other issues *I don't know if the following are relevant*:

1-While my mom was pregnant with me she lost so much blood during the last month of pregnancy due to a sudden car stop she was on and remained in the hospital for a while because of that.

2- I always feeI like I have a very weak immune system as I catch colds super fast and they last for a minimum 2 weeks. I was once hospitalized because of a very severe flu in 2004 which affecting my lungs and then went to my stomach and finally swelling over my feet and legs (I wasn't able to walk). They never knew what was wrong but the symptoms went by itself. I also got a TSH test at that time because -again- they suspected that I might have a thyroid problem and it was around 4.

3-My feet swelling problem occurred to me so many times in my life.

When I look at the symptoms and my medical history it makes me think that I might have a thyroid problem even earlier in my life but I was misdiagnosed.

So what do you think? Please share your opinion and what other stuff I should be concerned about before my appointment.

[bd79og]

Did you make sure that all your thyroid tests were as early as possible in the day and taken fasting? There is a great variation in TSH over the course of a normal day and that may account for some of the variation. Even so your TSH looks far to high to me though I am not qualified. In many countries they will treat any TSH over about 3 but in UK they will treat only when it reaches about 10 unless you have antibodies. There are two main antibodies and it looks like they only tested you for one so you may still have hashimotos. Also have you ever been tested for coeliac? Your low weight and small statue may point to long term lack of nutrients as do your tummy problems and coeliac or other problems with gluten is often linked to thyroid for many people. If you are having a test it is essential you carry on eating gluten before the test or you may get a false negative. You also need to test for nutrients, iron, B12, vitamin d, and folate are the most important for thyroid. Hope you can find some answers.

[Josiesmum]

I would ask your GP to test for celiac disease, then, after the test, wean off gluten over a couple of weeks to avoid a shock to the system and see if your symptoms improve. Many people don't know they have gluten intolerance but it can cause all kinds of health issues.

Also do your best to eat well including lots of vegetables, and take steps to lower stress and take time out for relaxation, e.g. Yoga, meditation, swimming, walking in nature.

Hopefully others will help with your hormone levels.

[shaws Administrator]

This is a link which may be helpful and I will give one which will be helpful.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/index....

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

We have to read and learn as much as possible as doctors are poorly trained in symptoms of a dysfunction of our thyroid gland.

[fibrolinda]

You really need the ranges for your test results, it helps people to help you Just your TSH suggests hypo imho Ask your Doctor to do

B12

FERRITIN

FOLATE

VIT D

And t3

as well as the other antibodies test

You need the ranges for all test as just in range is no good, you need to get everything optimal.

It sounds like you have serious absorption issues love

Theres so many wonderful knowledgeable people on here who will help. It takes time but small steps love ((hugs))

Linda x

[BadHare]

Weight aside, as I suddenly ballooned at 16, your symptoms are very similar to mine. My periods were always light, & so painful I would vomit. The contraceptive pill made my symptoms & weight gain worse, & painkillers had little beneficial effect with negative side effects. I now know I had secondary hypothyroidism from a pituitary adenoma, but your prolactin is low, so that seems unlikely. There are anomalies with the tests the GPs & endocrinologists use as standard, so having got to that dead end, you might need to think about self-medicating.

The only thing that ever effectively reduced my monthly symptoms of PMS & pain was herbal medicine, from a qualified herb med practitioner when I was in my 40's, then HRT at 50. I've asked 3 endocrinologists why HRT stopped my period pain completely when the contraceptive pill did nothing, but they obfuscate & explain the difference between them rather than answer my question. I started taking thyroid replacement hormones a year after starting HRT, so I have no idea whether taking them sooner would have been beneficial, but as so many other chronic skin issues that I'd had for 40 years have cleared up, I certainly think so! I'm no longer cold, the cracked heels on my puffy feet have healed, & last summer was the first time I've been able to tolerate sunshine without burning.

It's hard when you don't feel well, but try to ensure your nutrient intake is good. I found magnesium at bedtime helped with cravings.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

There are TWO sorts of thyroid antibodies TPO Ab and TG Ab. (Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin)

BOTH need checking, if either, or both antibodies are high this means autoimmune thyroid - called Hashimoto's the most common cause in UK of being hypo.

TPO is rarely checked and TG almost never checked. More common to have high TPO or high TPO AND high TG, but negative TPO and raised TG is possible, though rarer, often people struggle to get this diagnosed

You can also have Hashimoto's with low/no antibodies, in that case diagnosis would be from scan of thyroid

ALWAYS Make sure you get the actual figures from tests (including ranges - figures in brackets). You are entitled to copies of your own results. When you get results suggest you make a new post on here and members can offer advice on results

If you can not get GP to do these tests, then like many of us, you can get them done privately

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...