New here, have normal results but still feel symptoms

[anderschwan]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum, here so please forgive me if I don't understand the rules. For the past few years I have felt awful. I'm 45, have lived with a benign pituitary adenoma for 20+ years with successful treatment, but feel extreme fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, joint pain, puffy face, all the symptoms of hypothyroid. 15 years ago I was taking synthroid but stopped taking it when I got pregnant. That was over 7 years ago, and since then I'm completely wiped out. I had my GP test my thyroid, which she said was normal. Despite the fact I'm technically obese, all my blood tests came back ok. Recently out of desperation I did an at home medichecks thyroid test. While it came back "normal" - I still feel awful. I'm willing to go private or self treat if it means I'm not falling asleep at my desk at work, or I can remember things I was discussing 10 minutes ago. Can anyone take a look at my results and let me know if I should give up?

Thyroid Function

THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE 3.45 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20

FREE THYROXINE 12.6 pmol/L 12.00 - 22.00

TOTAL THYROXINE(T4) 79.5 nmol/L 59.00 - 154.00

FREE T3 4.73 pmol/L 3.10 - 6.80

Thyroid Antibodies

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY 12.200 IU/mL 0.00 - 115.00

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 12.6 IU/mL 0.00 - 34.00

Thank you all for the advice! It's been helpful to read posts and see that I'm not alone in this. I don't know who I can go to who will be sympathetic and at least not chalk all my symptomps up to being fat, over forty and a working mum.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

anderschwan Why did you stop taking Synthyroid when you were pregnant? And why were you put on it originally?

THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE 3.45 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20 - far too high, shows your thyroid is struggling. You would have a diagnosis as soon as you hit 3 in some countries. In a healthy thyroid this would be no more than 2.

FREE THYROXINE 12.6 pmol/L 12.00 - 22.00 - far too low. In a healthy thyroid this would be around mid range.

TOTAL THYROXINE(T4) 79.5 nmol/L 59.00 - 154.00 - not a particularly useful test but does show that there's not a lot of natural thyroxine being produced.

FREE T3 4.73 pmol/L 3.10 - 6.80 - not as bad as it could be, it shows your body is doing it's best to produce the active hormone that every cell needs. It will eventually drop as your thyroid continues to struggle.

Thyroid Antibodies

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY 12.200 IU/mL 0.00 - 115.00

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 12.6 IU/mL 0.00 - 34.00

Nice low antibodies, not indicating autoimmune thyroid disease with this test.

Looks like you're on your way to Hypothyroidism and, as I said, you would have a diagnosis and be treated in some countries.

NHS generally waits until your TSH reaches 10 before diagnosis. You could explain your results as above to your GP and ask for a trial of Levo, pointing out that you were on Synthyroid before and it looks like you need to be back on it again.

Alternatively, self medicate (and self test), maybe indicating to your GP that you would have no alternative if he wont treat you.

Testing vitamins and minerals would also be a good idea -

Vit

B12

Folate

Ferritin

[anderschwan in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you so much for your reply - it's so helpful. The synthroid never worked for me, I had a supportive GP back in the States but it was easier as I could book appointments with my endocrinologist direct and was already being treated for my pituitary tumor. Here in the UK, I do love the NHS however waiting for an endo in my area takes almost 8 months sometimes and that's for my pituitary. My GP tested for T4 and TSH but shrugged it off, so I think I may have to self medicate unless I can find a local private doctor. I work about 45 hours a week and am running after a 7 year old so getting to appointments isn't easy, but if I found someone worth seeing and taking days off I would.

I really appreciate your advice and for responding. Good to know I am not alone and crazy in thinking something isn't right.