Greetings everyone:
Finally got fed up with my family doctor who knows nothing and went two routes - endocrinologist (my doctor reluctantly gave a referral) and naturopath.
Symptoms
I have just about every symptom of hypothyroidism I have ever read and I am confirmed Hashi's by antibodies and ultrasound. Particularly distressing is the new body shaking and feeling of rapid, pronounced heart beat - despite the pulse rate being under 90. I am very tense and want to scream. Moderate high blood pressure. Muscles are tense. Have IBS it seems - bad tummy and a lot of diarrhea. Sleep is broken up a lot with many dreams. I have sleep apnea but use a CPAP. Breathing is shallow (doing stairs winds me) and massive fatigue and brain fog. Pins and needles in feet and toes and many leg and calf cramps. Poor appetite. Tinnitus in both ears. TMJ. Want to sleep all day, sleepy all the time. Cholesterol is high but not alarming. Osteoporosis. A bit over weight with the belly fat, classic Hashi face. Very dry skin, lost 1/3 eyebrows, on and on.
When I wake up I am exhausted, but gain energy throughout the day.
Mother had Hashi's and died of CHF, I believe because of poorly treated thyroid, which is implicated in CHF.
Do not want this to happen to me, so to avoid my mother's fate, I am learning as much as I can about the thyroid and adrenal systems.
Food
Decaf coffee, 2 glasses wine per day, very limited to no gluten and minimal dairy. I notice that after even the decaf coffee or wine, my heart beat goes up.
Medicines
I am NOT on any thyroid medications.
I am trying a bit of sea salt during periods where my heart is beating loudly and I am shaking, it seems to help?!?!?!?!?!?
I also use a small amount of metroperol when shaking etc - slows down the pronounced heart beat. Use 5mg of BP med per day.
I take a small amount of bioidentical testosterone, estrogen, progesterone. I had to stop the hormones during the urine testing, boy I felt awful.
Re-starting the estrogen makes me feel better for sure. I wonder about the testosterone causing some body revving ........even though the testosterone blood work indicates I am about 60% along the normal range, so not over medicated.
Supplements
I take a bit of calcium, B12, iron, B family, vit D via light machine, magnesium
Life Context
Last 3 years have been major, major, major stress
My Thoughts
What I suspect is early hypothyroidism, Hashi's combined with moderate adrenal fatigue. The free cortisol 24 hr test had the cortisol low normal.
I also wonder if the little bit of testosterone is too much for me.
The Encrinologist said - I am fine. Of course she did.
I am not feeling fine.
What do you all think?
I would greatly appreciate your analysis.
This site is the BEST in the world.
Thanks to all who volunteer and people who share.
Blessings all
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Here is the latest blood (all done early morning and fasting) and urine work
CBC - All normal
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies - 45 (<35) High
Transglutaminase IGA Antibodies - <0.5 (<15)
TSH - 2.06 (0.35-5.0) - Has been as high as 3.65
Free T4 - 15 (12-22)
Free T3 - 4.8 (3.4-5.9)
Parathyroid Hormone PTH - 3.3 (1.6-6.9)
ACTH - 6.9 (<10)
C Reactive Protein High Sensitivity - 3 (<=3) Inflammation somewheres High
Follicle Stimulating Hormone FSH - 96 (post menopausal 16-157 international units)
B12 - 1,136 (>220)
Ferritin - 110 (12-289)
Iron Plasma - 20 (6-27)
Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) - 58 (45-77)
Transferrin Saturation - 0.34 (0.20-0.50)
Sodium - 139 (136-146) - Has been below normal before
Potassium - 4.4 (3.7-5.4)
Vit D - 191 (76-250)
Folate - >3,000 (>=1,200)
Calcium - 2.48 (2.15 - 2.60)
ALT - 23 (<26)
ALP - 50 (35-122)
Aldosterone - 672 (118-946)
DHEA - 6.5 (0.51-5.56) High, has been as high as 8 two years ago
Cortisol Morning Fasting - 458 (130-540) - Please note 24 hr urine test below
Testosterone Free - <20 (<30)
Estrogen - 59 (post menopausal <202, I assume this level is with no bio - so even using bioidenticals I am still very low vs a post menopausal female not using
Progesterone - 2.2 (post menopausal <0.7 which is essentially 0 as you produce none, but the bioidentical progesterone counteracts the estrogen)
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24 Hour Urine Tests
Free Cortisol - 24 Hr - 60 (0-193) - Low normal - I wonder about this
Creatinine - 24 Hr - 9.2 (4.2-15.3)
Epineprerine - 24 Hr - 24 - (<100) - Bottom 1/4 - seems low to me given the stress I have been under, but I am not as stressed as I have been in the past
Norepinephrine - 24 Hr - 312 (<500)
Dopamine - 24 Hr - 1,893 (<2,600)
Normetanephrines - 24 Hr - 1.8 (<3.3)
Metanephrines - 24 Hr - 0.5 (<1.7) Very low normal