Confused about results and symptoms

[joeliza1]

Hi, I am new on here. I was diagnosed hypothyroid in 2013. I have had many dose changes in the past, mainly because of the following reasons

hyperthyroid symptoms despite high TSH and normal free T4 and normal free T3 (dose reduced)

hypothyroid symptoms despite normal TSH and normal free T4 and normal free T3 (dose increased)

below range TSH and normal or high free T4 and high or normal free T3 (dose reduced)

high above range TSH and normal free T4 and normal free T3 (dose increased)

And I find this all very confusing? Endocrinologist doesn't seem to be much help and I have been recommended a better one that I hope will understand what is happening to me.

I have been labelled a hypochondriac at work and by my parents, I have listed the hypothyroid and hyperthyroid symptoms below and these seem to occur no matter what dose I am on, though the hyperthyroid ones are more prominent when I am undermedicated and the hypothyroid ones are more prominent when I am either over or undermedicated.

Hyperthyroid symptoms - palpitations, anxiety, eyes feeling like they are bulging, weight loss, sweating, fast heart rate, headaches

Hypothyroid symptoms - low heart rate, sighing a lot, depression, memory loss, weight gain, loss of sweating, tiredness, low concentration, dry skin, puffy eyes, loss of appetite

Others that don't seem to fit - creases in skin, pins and needles, bone pain, red blotches on face, bloating and stomach getting easily upset.

I also have been getting a goitre on and off, it first appeared in 2012 and I was sent away for an ultrasound on it. No nodules but just thyroid enlargement. My salivary glands were also seen to have swelled up, too. No biopsy took place either.

I have been getting trouble swallowing, this first started in 2012 too, GP referred me to mental health services, parents thought I had an eating disorder. In 2016 I had a barium swallow arranged by my ENT consultant which did not show anything but I had another thyroid ultrasound which showed the thyroid was enlarged again. I underwent endoscopy in 2016 which showed narrowing of the oesophagus and damage to the gut lining with possible acid reflux. I was prescribed lansoprazole for it but I found my problems worsened.

Am I likely to become overmedicated if I keep on the 100mcg Levothyroxine? My free T4 is very close to the top of the range and I have never known it this high on a small dose of Levothyroxine!

Thank you!

26 APRIL 2018

Serum TSH - 4.30 mIU/L (0.2 - 4.2)

Serum free T4 - 18.1 pmol/L (12.0 - 22.0)

Serum free T3 - 4.2 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8)

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Joeliza1

The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or lower with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their ranges if that is where you feel well. You are currently undermedicated.

It sounds as though your problems lie with raised antibodies and low nutrient levels.

You need Thyroid Peroxidase and Thyroglobulin antibodies tested, plus

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

[joeliza1 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for replying! I believe I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis, my endocrinologist just skimmed over the antibody results with his mouse during my first consultation with him. They were done through the NHS 2 years ago but not thyroglobulin which was done through Blue Horizon 3 years ago but because my endocrinologist did not mention the antibodies I wasn't sure if he was concerned about them or not or if he knew what they meant:

Thyroglobulin antibodies - 258.3 IU/mL (0 - 115)

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies - 68.3 IU/mL (0 - 34)

NHS:

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies - 375 IU/mL (<34)

I will post what I supplement with and what I want to supplement with, too.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to joeliza1]

joeliza1

Your high antibodies mean that you are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's which is where antibodies attack the thyroid and gradually destroy it. The antibody attacks cause fluctuations in symptoms and test results.

Most doctors dismiss antibodies as being of no importance and know little or nothing about Hashi's and how it affects the patient, test results and symptoms. You need to read, learn, understand and help yourself where Hashi's is concerned.

You can help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members here. Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks. You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.

Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.

Gluten/thyroid connection: chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

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

[joeliza1 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you! I think my GP wants me tested for coeliac disease due to my low vitamin levels and my digestive symptoms.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

joeliza1

Can't help with those.

[Cooper27]

Hashimotos will often cause you to have symptoms of both hyperthyroid and hypothyroid at the same time. It often throws doctor's off, but it's common. As seasidesuzie says, you want to get your numbers in check, and then the hyper/hypo symptoms should calm down.