TSH , T4 under the range and T3 very low. ????

[Algarrobo]

I was taking Levo T4 and it didn't help. My doctor agreed to try T3 Cytomel the lowest doses 0.25 mlg . Two months later blood test showed . Tried ND ended at emergency, Synthroid make me sick. Levo is better...Now only on Cytomel.

TSH 0.13 range 0.32 - 4.00

Free T4 <5 range 9 -19

Free T3 3.4 - 3.1 - 6.2

Thyroglobulin Antibody 362 range <40

Thyroperoxidase Antibody 42 range <35

Waiting to see endocrinologist on Friday, for the first time. Not looking forward to this appointment since I heard horror stories about seen an endo... I was diagnosed with Hashimotos , flipping hypo to hyper... All these issues started after I had a concussion...3 year ago.

I would appreciate any help.

Thanks

[Hidden]

Did you bump the back of your head when you had concussion. I am wondering if you pituaritary is damaged. You have antibodies as well so could have both central and hashis at the same time possibly. Has you TSH always been low since you started to get ill. You do need an increase of medication.Have you felt any better on the cytamel?

Do you know anything about this endo you are seeing?

I presume your GP has prescribed the T3. Do you know if this endo prescribes it? If the endo tells you GP that you do not need T3 then your GPs hands are tied and he would be unlikely to continue to prescribe.

[Algarrobo in reply to Hidden]

Sorry forgot to say yes, I hit the back of my head on my accident. They did a SPECT test two month ago and it showed that after 3 years my brain still have two different areas that haven recuperated and they can tell me if it will... The areas are the one that control the processing, cognitive and the other is the one controlling anxiety and depression. I was recommended to work with a psychiatrist because these results. I do work also with a specialist on brain injury that comes to my place once a week for two hours. I'm not able or allow to work, my tolerance for stress, fatigue, sensitivity to noise and light, short term memory, computer time, concentration, are very bad.

[jimh111]

What were your blood test results when you were first diagnosed?

[Algarrobo in reply to jimh111]

Thanks a lot for your time and answer. I went to a doctor that is an specialist on concussions a year ago because I was not getting well from my concussion and the neurologist said that I was on the 5% that takes longer to recuperate...I felt that something was very wrong with my body because I have this general feeling of sickness and kept deteriorating... no energy, pain on my whole body on top of the concussion symptoms... This doctor explained to me the relation with concussions and hormones. Put me on ND and HRT, these send me to emergency with symptoms like heart attack, there they did blood test and my T3 was over the top range so the doctors took me off T3. Tried to get an appointment with this doctor but he was too busy...finally he saw me and got very upset about me stopping ND, I explained that he was not available so I went to the hospital. Then he put me on Synthroid and told me to go...I asked when should I see you again and do blood test to see how everything was going with the new medication...he said in a year but he rather no see me because he couldn't do anything else for me. Never attempted to see him again, I know that he should it schedule an appointment with blood test for 6/8 weeks after I started the new medication . My family doctor started treating me and controlling my medication... Before I started the treatment with ND, Synthroid , Levo, and now Cytomel my number were on the lowest range and my antibodies as I said in the previous message. The first doctor was the one that diagnosed me with hypo, hyper with hashimotos. I do feel better on Cytomel, more energy but very anxious, panic attacks, foggy, no concentration, nauseous , headache, pain in my hands joins and I didn't have this before taking medication (test for rheumatism and was negative two times), my mood is like someone else takes over my brain and have these extreme reactions flipping from happy, normal to irrational upsets, rather been alone because it is too much energy to deal with others. Still feel better than no medication, I don't feel like I'm dying like before... Unfortunately my family doctor move to an other city but thinking on travel there to see him if things don't work with this endo...my family doctor works with alternative medicine and traditional, listen to me, follow my symptoms and not only blood test...

Thanks again,

[jimh111]

Oh gosh, you have been messed about a lot. Just because you have high antibody levels does not mean you have Hashimoto's, high antibodies give you a much increased risk of developing Hashimoto's thyroiditis and primary hypothyroidism.

Given your history with the concussion and onset of symptoms your TSH, fT3 and fT4 (and other pituitary hormones) tested to see if your pituitary had been affected. You say you were put on 'ND', is this NDT (natural dessicated thyroid) and what dose?

If I understand it was the neurologist that put you on NDT? Really they should have referred you to an endocrinologist and certainly monitored your levels, not monitoring at least in the first year is negligence.

It's important to know if you have primary or secondary hypothroidism. i.e. whether the problem lies with the thyroid or pituitary. If your TSH was low and fT3, fT4 low then it's the pituitary. If your TSH was high and fT3, fT4 low then it's the thyroid. There is a tiny chance it could be both but it's unlikely.

When you see the endocrinologist and give your history I would focus on your concussion and onset of symptoms. They should check out your pituitary hormone levels and if they are abnormal they might consider doing an MRI scan (maybe the neurologist has done one already). I wouldn't jump to the conclusion you just have Hashimoto's, elevated antibody levels is not that uncommon.

[Algarrobo in reply to jimh111]

Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge with me. Yes, I made my story short for you but in the last 3 years I have seen almost 40 doctors, most of them just try to medicate your symptoms, painkillers, Prozac...is all what they tried to do...and they get very upset when you ask questions... For the first two years I listened to the doctors because I was in a fog, I totally woke up one day and said they are going to kill me. I took control of my health or trying but I still not feel well. But at least I'm not like a zombie like before.

Thanks again. And I will ask the doctor to check my pituitary.

[Hidden in reply to Algarrobo]

It might also be helpful to talk to the pituaritary foundation. They have a good helpline and very knowledgeable.

[Algarrobo in reply to Hidden]

Thanks a lot, great information.

[Bonniet51]

I am in the same exact situation. I was on 5 grains Armor thyroid for 30 years, no problems. I was in a motorcycle accident and sustained a traumatic brain injury and was in a coma. Now almost 11 years later I'm still trying to find out why I have gone from 5 pills a day down to 2 and have gained 63 pounds and feel horrible. My Endo. just changes doses of thyroid medication down to 1, nothing more. Last blood test came back 0.01 so, I must have gone from hypo to hyper but, having weight gain instead of loss and feel so hypothyroid. If you find any new information, please pass it on.

TSH- 0.01

Free T3 4.4

T3 158

Free T4 1.4

[Hidden in reply to Bonniet51]

bonnie it might help you to put your blood results and symptoms in a post for people to comment. I wouldnt think you are hyper based on just a tsh result.

[Algarrobo in reply to Bonniet51]

Wow! Thanks for your story and sorry about it too. Of course I'll post the information from this new endo I'm seen on Friday.