Hashimotos, interpreting blood results anyone similar?

Tigermum9

Hi all,

Just want to say that I am from the UK and the policies here seem different to other countries...

I am really at the end of my tether and desperate for advice and help.
Approximately 3/4 years ago I weighed 10 stone 4lb. I was fit and healthy and had no medical problems. I now weigh 17 stone 4lbs. I have not changed my eating habits or exercise regime. My symptoms now are as follows:

Weight gain (on average gaining 1lb per week at the moment even when reducing cals)
Feeling cold
aching joints and muscles
feeling tired, like I need to nap all the time
waking through night and struggling to get back to sleep
goiter, feels tights and often swallowing is difficult - fluids are easier.
constipated
breathlessness
unable to walk for long distances
anxiety, tachycardia(just prescribed beta-blockers)
Stomach problems (taking lanzoprozole)
full feeling below ears.
dry mouth, dry brittle hair and very dry skin in patches all over


I had my bloods taken a few days ago and they were as follows
results:

serum tsh 2.0
serum free t4 14.1
peroxidaze ab 4800

I have seen the doctors a lot with feeling like this, I just want my life back. I am gaining more weight and feeling worse everyday, I am concerned for more problems due to being overweight, The doctors will not entertain me at all or give me any medications because apparently the guidelines say they cant due to the TSH being normal.
I have had a scan on the goiter which showed no nodules,abnormalities to lymph nodes and the thyroid was appaently measuring normal size, the antibodies were causing the swelling.The goiter is causing problems with swallowing and feeling tight. I have seen 2 different doctors and apparently the rules in the UK for everyone is that whilst the TSH is in normal range nothing can be done, I have to wait 3 months for another blood test - then they will consider referring me to a specialist

Any help, similar stories or advice would be great to read.

SLLRunner

Shoot, I'd go get a second opinion, and a third if need be. Don't rely on us, a bunch of internet people, to interpret those results for you. Just because you are gaining weight does not mean it's thyroid or Hashimotos, there could be other medical issues.

I just had my TSH (thyroid) checked and it's 1.99 and I feel fantastic.

I hope you feel better soon.

Junebuggyzy

I hope you can find a good Endocrinologist that can explain everything to you.

In the meantime, I can help you a bit. I am assuming your measurements are the same as ours in the US.

I've been dealing with thyroid issues my whole life. I was hyperthyroid and had a goiter, the bulging eyes, rapid heartbeat, was very thin, when I was four years old. It would get under control with medication, then my pediatrician would try taking me off of medication, and I would get hyper again. When I was in my 20's I decided to get radioactive iodine. It's possible it could have cured me, but it made me hypothyroid.

Your TSH is in the normal range. It sounds like you are hyperthyroid if you have tachycardia and a goiter.

Your Free T4 is very high if it is the same range as ours. Unless that measurement is for Total T4, then it is just slightly higher than normal.

Beta blockers will slow your heart rate down. They usually work immediately.

I don't know what the other test is for.
I don't understand something. if you have a goiter, that means the thyroid is enlarged. You have the symptoms of goiter yet the doctor said it's not enlarged.

None of it really makes sense, gaining weight is a symptom of hypothyroid, but it sounds as if you are hyperthyroid. Or maybe that's what Hashimoto is? I am not familiar with that disease.

Good luck! I hope you find a doctor that can help.

Tigermum9

Thanks guys I wasnt relying on anyone on here to make a medical diagnosis..just how my results may compare to yours x

Fithealthyforlife

Your TSH is good. Your T4 (assuming it's total T4 and you made a mistake?) is at the high end of normal which is considered good. And your antibody level is high...this means that there is an immune response going on...something is either atacking your thyroid cells or blocking the TPO (thyroid peroxidase enzyme) from working. The other thing to keep in mind is that various labs have slightly different calibrations/ranges.

If it's really your Free T4, and it's about double normal, then it sounds like something is attacking your thyroid cells and causing too much T4 to be released. This is what happens with thyroiditis...and sometimes, the thyroid tries to compensate for whatever is attacking it, and over-produces T4 as a result...leading to thyroiditis, high antibodies, and/or goiter. Often people in this situation fluctuate between hypo symptoms and hyper symptoms.

Do you by any chance eat a vegetarian diet? What sort of protein sources are you eating?

ajlandon

I agree with the above posters - this sounds like a case for an endocrinologist You have hypo and hyper symptoms.

At your next appointment, you may want to ask to have your cortisol (and related) levels tested. High cortisol (like really high) can also cause fatigue, weight gain, muscle and joint pain, anxiety, weakness, excessive thirst, and so on. My high cortisol symptoms were actually way worse than my hypothyroid symptoms in terms of extreme fatigue, brain fog, and anxiety!

But yeah. Endocrinologist. They'll be able to sort this out better than most GPs, unless your GP happens to have had a lot of training in all the fun things that can go wrong with our pituitary, adrenal, and thyroid glands :S

Tigermum9

I double checked the T4 and what I wrote was right. The GP is puzzled and keeps saying there is nothing wrong with me...

Obviously you guys have a better knowledge than me, do you think I need treatment? I am feeling crap...seriously.

No I eat a normal diet, I eat carbs,protein, fats and lots of fruits and veg.

Anything else you can tell me? desperate for any help

SLLRunner

I double checked the T4 and what I wrote was right. The GP is puzzled and keeps saying there is nothing wrong with me...

Obviously you guys have a better knowledge than me, do you think I need treatment? I am feeling crap...seriously.

No I eat a normal diet, I eat carbs,protein, fats and lots of fruits and veg.

Anything else you can tell me? desperate for any help

Yes, please, you need to get a second opinion, or even a third. . Go to an endocrinologist.

SLLRunner

Your TSH is good. Your T4 (assuming it's total T4 and you made a mistake?) is at the high end of normal which is considered good. And your antibody level is high...this means that there is an immune response going on...something is either atacking your thyroid cells or blocking the TPO (thyroid peroxidase enzyme) from working. The other thing to keep in mind is that various labs have slightly different calibrations/ranges.

If it's really your Free T4, and it's about double normal, then it sounds like something is attacking your thyroid cells and causing too much T4 to be released. This is what happens with thyroiditis...and sometimes, the thyroid tries to compensate for whatever is attacking it, and over-produces T4 as a result...leading to thyroiditis, high antibodies, and/or goiter. Often people in this situation fluctuate between hypo symptoms and hyper symptoms.

Do you by any chance eat a vegetarian diet? What sort of protein sources are you eating?

Are you a doctor?

Swimnessa

I have hashimoto's but was not diagnosed until they took my thyroid antibodies. Hashimoto's in very simple terms, is when your body attacks your thyroid, so if your antibodies are high then your body has attacked the thyroid...

Tigermum9

Yeah I understand whats happening, but why dont they want to treat me?? its depressing...

suejenfb

When I was first diagnosed with Hashimotos my Dr put me on Levothyroxine and said everything was good. I felt much better for a few months but then I realized I was still having symptoms. I did a lot of research and found that at the time there was a big dispute (USA in 2001) about what the proper levels were. The Endocrinologists and labs didn't agree on the proper levels. I talked to my Dr and she said that she goes by what the lab says and I was right where I should be. I went to an Endocrinologist and he told me that I dose was too low and changed my dose, I felt much better. Even being on the proper levels I still wasn't able to loose weight, every time I lost around 20 pounds my body would kind of shut down and I felt miserable. I only started loosing weight without feeling miserable recently when I started Medifast (I don't know if this diet is available out of the US).

When you have Hashimotos you have hypo with bouts of hyper so bottom line we have the joy of both issues.

You need to find a good Endocrinologist to help you with you Hashimotos. Good luck.

Fuzzipeg

You seem to have a real bundle of symptoms. With a similar bunch I have turned to immunology. I'm also in the UK. As yet I am waiting to keep my return visit.

Might I suggest you try looking at the "food can make you ill", web site it gives information on the adverse reactions people can have to foods and additives and other things too this could give you some scope to re-leave some of your issues.

You should also look at the "Stop the thyroid madness site" this explains the way thyroid tests are read. Describes circumstances when seeking another doctor is advisable. We have another complication in the UK because there seems to be only T4 medication generally available though under special circumstances it can be possible to obtain something different. This did not suit me and I know it is pure hell trying to get real help here. I was told that many doctors find they have their hands tied and are unable to help when they want to. This does not make the symptoms go away though.

I have read that salicylate sensitivity will put your thyroid under stress which can create a different ball game. Some of the symptoms you mentioned come up on the SS symptom list.

All the very best. Keep fighting, it feels like a battle to me.

nicupson

Your symptoms sound a LOT like what I was experiencing a few years ago!!! SO tired!! If I dropped something, I barely had the energy to bend down to pick it up. All I wanted was to sleep, but then i couldn't. I also went to my doctor and insisted on a thyroid test. The results came back saying I was within the "normal" range. As far as he could tell, there was nothing wrong with me.

I fought the symptoms for another year or so, but then finally went to see a Naturopathic doctor. Wasn't covered by insurance, so I had to pay out of pocket but I was at my wit's end. He looked at my blood test results and said even though I was within the "normal" parameters my thyroid count was on the low end of normal. He had me take several adrenal and endocrin tests (again - pricey). Results came back as Hashimoto's. He put me on a thyroid medication - since it was "natural" it was basically pig thyroid. It helped. I couldn't afford to keep seeing this doctor, but once diagnosed my regular doctor put me on Levothyroxine. It still needs fine-tuning, but for the most part things are WAY better.

I think the important thing was that he cared enough to actually dig into my situation a little deeper. He made a point of following through until we got an answer that provided some positive results. (Unlike my regular doctor who insisted I was "fine" and it was all in my head.)

Bottom line - like everyone else suggested, see a specialist and insist that they follow through until you get some answers and relief to your symptoms. Living with all those symptoms you described is awful. I know! Good Luck!

LKArgh

I am no dr but have lived with Hashimoto's for 20 years. My personal non-professional opinion is that your results do not explain any of the symptoms you describe, sorry. I cannot imagine what a dr would treat in your case regarding your thyroid. Maybe it is time to see a different dr, instead of an endocrinologist and look for a different explanation for your symptoms.

SLLRunner

I am no dr but have lived with Hashimoto's for 20 years. My personal non-professional opinion is that your results do not explain any of the symptoms you describe, sorry. I cannot imagine what a dr would treat in your case regarding your thyroid. Maybe it is time to see a different dr, instead of an endocrinologist and look for a different explanation for your symptoms.

Yep.

OP, the doctors said they can't find the source of your problems. At what point did you get a diagnosis of Hashimotos, or is this a self-diagnosis?

I'll say it again- you need to have a second opinion, maybe even a third.

joanthemom8

I've been on the "border" for hypothyroidism for years.... my understanding is to have the TSH, 3rd Generation tested.... I believe "normal range" has been modified to about less than 4 (it used to be 5). My other thyroid tests were in normal range, but it's this one that 's been wacky off-and-on (as high as "6" sometimes).

agent99oz

I am also in a similar boat and have "normal: thyriod - gaining weight, cold, tired, low bloody pressure etc. The Dr's won't test me again as I am considered normal. I think UK and Australian DR's are similar Once tested they just won't test again!
I found since the birth of my 2nd child that any form of weight loss is difficult it just doesn't happen

I found the website - Stop the Thyroid Madness, interesting information on here for review, they are not DR's just other people with similar symptoms as you and normal results.

Personally based on feeling like crap for a year I am taking a NDT (non dissicated Thyriod me) and I feel better it's my choice after doing a lot of reading.

I also am doing the Venus factor program which is also good enjoying it and you train and eat a bit differently

Try finding another DR and test again.

Junebuggyzy

What some other people said on here sounds right. Your symptoms really don't sound like you are hypo or hyper thyroid. I wonder if you can go to a different doctor and get complete blood work done. Have you seen an Endocrinologist? That might be the first step if you weren't seeing a specialist.

By the way, I personally think that Stop the Thyroid Madness and Mary Shoman's site are both full of baloney. The American Thyroid Association has lots of information. I learned a lot there. http://www.thyroid.org/patient-thyroid-information/

SLLRunner

What some other people said on here sounds right. Your symptoms really don't sound like you are hypo or hyper thyroid. I wonder if you can go to a different doctor and get complete blood work done. Have you seen an Endocrinologist? That might be the first step if you weren't seeing a specialist.

Yep, this is right on.

Also, OP, I believe someone mentioned this upstream, but have you looked into food intolerance? Prior to finding out I was intolerant to soy, which I had started using due to lactose intolerance, I thought there was something seriously wrong with me. The doctor did a complete work up and was stumped to find all my blood tests came back perfect.

I was tried, had aching muscles and joints, extremely tired, weight gain, (not from soy but from being too tired to put the energy into workouts I'd been doing for so long), aching in my ears, sleep problems,, and I basically felt like crap. Well, one day I picked up a book on food intolerances and there was a section on soy, and the list of symptoms sounds a lot like mine.

I immediately cut soy out of my diet and within a few weeks I felt better, and within two weeks I felt totally back to normal. When I told my doctor about this, he was tickled.

Remember, GP's generally do not have the experience of saying, "Hey, your blood tests are great so let's look into food intolerance," so that might be something you need to either explore on your own or ask for a referral to a nutritionist.

Tigermum9

I am no dr but have lived with Hashimoto's for 20 years. My personal non-professional opinion is that your results do not explain any of the symptoms you describe, sorry. I cannot imagine what a dr would treat in your case regarding your thyroid. Maybe it is time to see a different dr, instead of an endocrinologist and look for a different explanation for your symptoms.

Yep.

OP, the doctors said they can't find the source of your problems. At what point did you get a diagnosis of Hashimotos, or is this a self-diagnosis?

I'll say it again- you need to have a second opinion, maybe even a third.

No I didnt diagnose myself, my GP diagnosed Hashimotos thyroiditis with goiter. Thats it. I have seen 3 GP's...

Tigermum9

What some other people said on here sounds right. Your symptoms really don't sound like you are hypo or hyper thyroid. I wonder if you can go to a different doctor and get complete blood work done. Have you seen an Endocrinologist? That might be the first step if you weren't seeing a specialist.

Yep, this is right on.

Also, OP, I believe someone mentioned this upstream, but have you looked into food intolerance? Prior to finding out I was intolerant to soy, which I had started using due to lactose intolerance, I thought there was something seriously wrong with me. The doctor did a complete work up and was stumped to find all my blood tests came back perfect.

I was tried, had aching muscles and joints, extremely tired, weight gain, (not from soy but from being too tired to put the energy into workouts I'd been doing for so long), aching in my ears, sleep problems,, and I basically felt like crap. Well, one day I picked up a book on food intolerances and there was a section on soy, and the list of symptoms sounds a lot like mine.

I immediately cut soy out of my diet and within a few weeks I felt better, and within two weeks I felt totally back to normal. When I told my doctor about this, he was tickled.

Remember, GP's generally do not have the experience of saying, "Hey, your blood tests are great so let's look into food intolerance," so that might be something you need to either explore on your own or ask for a referral to a nutritionist.

Yes, thank you I will look into this, but this began suddenly - can that happen?

SLLRunner

Lisa,

You can build up intolerances to food over time and it has been my experiences that they can seem to come up suddenly. Wheat, gluten, soy, and lactose are a few common foods people build up intolerances to. I'm sure there are others as well.

I'm not at all saying that's what your situation is, but given that the blood tests came back unremarkable, food intolerance is worth exploring. Also, please do go and get a second opinion too.

ChasingSweatandTears

Pp may not be a Dr, by what he is saying is very accurate. This is exactly how autoimmune thyroiditis works, and those antibodies indicate that she has it. As do I.

OP, you do need a knowledgeable endocrinologist or a functional medicine provider to assist you.

ChasingSweatandTears

Okay, yes, you have received an accurate diagnosis.
I have Hashimotos as well. And your blood tests are not"unremarkable". There is a war going on in your body, attacking and destroying your thyroid. Eventually, over time, your thyroid may become so damaged that it no longer functions at all and you may need a fill replacement dose of thyroid medication. Your tsh may be fine now, but in a months time it can indicate that you are hypo, which is why you should be on medication. It is not functioning at a stable level as indicated by your free t4.

When you have Hashimotos you can definitely have signs of food intolerance. I couldn't tolerate gluten until I started medication, then as my levels stabilized I could suddenly tolerate it again. Gluten proteins are similar in structure to thyroid tissue proteins, so The antibodies that attack the thyroid, are "aggravated" so to speak when you eat gluten. This can lead to chronic inflammation which is something you are already experiencing because of the Hashimotos. Chronic inflammation contributes to every single symptom you described. I have many of those symptoms as well.

You have quite a high number of antibodies and while I'm not a dr, I have spent the last several years of my life dedicated to learning how I can support my health while dealing with Hashimotos.
Here is what has helped me:
Low sugar, sugar contributes to inflammation.
Gluten free,
Vitamin d supplementation ( ask for a blood test first)
Iron supplementation ( ask for blood test)
Hashimotos patients are often anemic and vitamin d deficient.
Research has shown that Supplementing with 200 mcg of selenium a day can actually help lower anti tpo antibodies. I take this.
Turmeric supplements
There is new research into Sam e for hashimotos, so you may want to look into that. I'm not currently taking because I am breastfeeding.
Very little processed food and lots of rest, and staying as active as you can.

I am sorry you are dealing with this. It sucks, but it's manageable. The key is taking care of yourself and finding a good dr. Because you have a goiter, it needs to be monitored well. And you deserve the chance to see if medication will help you feel better.

ChasingSweatandTears

Just because her tsh is "normal" does not mean her results do not explain her symptoms.

All of the symptoms she listed are textbook symptoms of Hashimotos

ChasingSweatandTears

How can you people say her symptoms don't sound like she is hypo or hyper???????
They absolutely sound like hypothyroid symptoms.
Not to mention..........
SHE HAS A GOITER.

ChasingSweatandTears

Sorry, I've been hitting reply instead of quote.

OP, feel free to message me if you have any questions. There are lots of people who like to be completely dismissive of thyroid issues. People like this will only make you feel worse.
The fact is your Dr diagnosed you with an autoimmune thyroid disorder, along with a goiter, yet is refusing to give you even a low dose of medication to help you feel better, just because of a single number which, when you have Hashimotos can change very often.

You need to find a dr who will listen to you and do what you can to reduce chronic inflammation in your body, through diet, supplements and gentle exercise. As that inflammation settles down, you will start to feel better. I hope you can find a good endocrinologist to work with .

LKArgh

Just because her tsh is "normal" does not mean her results do not explain her symptoms.

All of the symptoms she listed are textbook symptoms of Hashimotos

For Hashimoto's to cause some of the symptoms, like extreme fatigue leading to weight gain, she needs to be hyporthyroid. At the moment, even if she does have the antibodies, she is not even marginally hypothyroid. Depending on the dr, she could find someone who prescribes a very small dosage of levothyroxine, as prevention, not to treat any symptoms, since they are not explained by her lab results. The same symptoms could be explained by 100 different causes, which we cannot know, since we are not drs.

SLLRunner

Sorry, I've been hitting reply instead of quote.

OP, feel free to message me if you have any questions. There are lots of people who like to be completely dismissive of thyroid issues. People like this will only make you feel worse.
The fact is your Dr diagnosed you with an autoimmune thyroid disorder, along with a goiter, yet is refusing to give you even a low dose of medication to help you feel better, just because of a single number which, when you have Hashimotos can change very often.

You need to find a dr who will listen to you and do what you can to reduce chronic inflammation in your body, through diet, supplements and gentle exercise. As that inflammation settles down, you will start to feel better. I hope you can find a good endocrinologist to work with .

I agree that it's strange she's been diagnosed with this disease and is not being treated for it. Several of us in this thread have already advised her to go to another doctor.

The reason I pointed out food allergies is because it was not clear to me from the original post that she was actually diagnosed with Hashimotos, since she wrote this:

The doctors will not entertain me at all or give me any medications because apparently the guidelines say they cant due to the TSH being normal.
I have had a scan on the goiter which showed no nodules,abnormalities to lymph nodes and the thyroid was appaently measuring normal size, the antibodies were causing the swelling.The goiter is causing problems with swallowing and feeling tight. I have seen 2 different doctors and apparently the rules in the UK for everyone is that whilst the TSH is in normal range nothing can be done, I have to wait 3 months for another blood test - then they will consider referring me to a specialist

Later in the thread I saw that she actually was diagnosed, which does change the picture.

However, it is my understanding that an enlarged thyroid gland does not always mean Hashimotos. http://www.thyroid.org/what-is-a-goiter/

Tigermum9

Im sorry guys for being a pain