Hypothyroid Blood Test Help

AmyWininger

I started going to the doctor a couple of months ago, and had extreme fatigue and tons of other things. We did a blood test and I'm anemic. We got that fixed, along with the Vitamin D problem, but now I went to a gastro for some stomach problems and I told her my symptoms and she thought I was hypothyroid. MY mother was, and my aunt was as well, and I'm having all of the symptoms. She did my blood tests, and told me I was completely normal. I got my blood tests today, and all she ran was Thyroid Stimulating Hormone.

Is this all you test for? Are there more tests to be done? I feel so sick and weak all the time, and it's impossible for me to lose weight unless I starve myself. I don't know if I should find new doctors or demand another a test. I just really don't know what to do. Any opinions?

Oh, by the way, my family doctor, don't like her at all. She won't listen to a word I've ever said. Gastro, I've only met her once.

ChronicOptimist

First, let me wave a big "I'm Not a Doctor" flag here - I definitely don't want to give you medical advice. I'm a second year medical student so I know like... a teensy tiny little sliver of medicine. The BEST thing for you to do would be to ask your doctor if there's anything other tests that should be run. Whether or not it's your thyroid, extreme fatigue is not normal, and just because your TSH was okay doesn't mean you should just stop looking for stuff.

As for whether you would need another test to check for hypothyroidism... there's basically three kinds of hypothyroidism you can have - primary, secondary and tertiary. If you have primary hypothyroidism, there's actually a problem in your thyroid with the production of T3 and T4 so your TSH would have shown up sky high as it attempts to stimulate a thyroid that isn't working properly. Secondary hypothyroidism is when your pituitary gland is failing to produce TSH at all which would mean that your TSH would have shown up crazy low. Tertiary hypothyroidism is when your hypothalamus never releases thyrotropin-releasing hormone which is the hormone that stimulates TSH. Tertiary hypothyroidism could potentially give a normal read on TSH. However, 95% of cases of hypothyroidism are primary so it would be pretty unusual to have one of the other kinds - but again, not impossible!!

Like I said - keep talking with your doctor. There's obviously something up - no one is supposed to feel sick or weak all the time! Whether it's your thyroid or something else, work with her to get it fixed! Hope that helped, and hope you get to feeling better!

SoftasRaine

I myself am hypothyroid. I have hashimotos. Personally, i've always had the mainstream test done. I know there are other tests you can do if you want to go searching, but i can also tell you your thyroid levels fluctuate and that's normal.
I would love to get rid of mine and have a normal functional thyroid - i don't know what all the hype is lol
Hopefully you're fine, trust me you don't want this! At my worst I had severe short term memory loss, was wearing layers in summer, had incredible body aches and pains, digestive issues from h***, went days without eating and had extreme weight gain.
thyrotoxicosis was also pretty scary... and once again just went through some med play.

If you want to push, try seeing an endocrynologist. i don't - bad, i know...but i know they can do wonders.
good luck!

@ChronicOptimism - i had no idea there was three different kinds! goes to show just how complicated this junk is!

AmyWininger

Well I've heard from others that you need to get a full thyroid panel, not just TSH. T3, T4, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies, or something like that? auto something? I dont really know... I just, I've been so weak, and have had awful digestive problems. I get really lightheaded a lot, and have trouble swallowing normally. I'm always cold, and my hair is thinning out really badly. I just... I don't know. Been getting really depressed. I just wish I knew what to do.

michikade

Let me preface this with the standard "I am not a health care professional" statement.

I would suggest a second opinion since you have stated that you aren't a fan of your GP - maybe another doctor that will sit down and get a full history from you, get a full thyroid panel, etc. It could be a thyroid issue, or it could be an additional nutritional deficiency aside from the things you're aware of. Your symptoms sound pretty textbook hypothyroid but there are other things that can cause your symptoms. You could speak to an endocrinologist to get your full panel thyroid done and to also check for any other hormonal imbalances you could have.

irleshay

I second seeing the endocrinologist if you're not a fan of your GP. They're the specialists, so they would know better. Has your doc noticed an enlarged thyroid at all? Both my endo and my GP are always feeling my throat.

I've been hypo for about 10 years now, but I haven't needed other tests. I have heard of people saying they're fatigued and have the symptoms but their tests come back fine, so maybe something else is up. Good luck, and hope they figure it out!

Bebubble

I have hypothyroid. Not a expert but what you posted about the other test people have mentioned to you are correct. I had them done AFTER I kept bugging my doctor about. But I didn't read as to when you had your vitamin D "fixed" Because that is a slow process as in anemia. Could it be you are still suffering the effects of them? When my D is down I feel as tired and weak. Just something to think about. Good Luck!

mfesloca

I have hypothyroidism, too. Something to keep in mind is that just because your numbers are in the right range doesn't mean that range works for you. My TSH has to be at most 2.3 for me to feel good, but twice that is still considered in the acceptable range. The numbers are helpful, but that shouldn't be the be all end all.

10manda86

I really wanted to wave the "I'm not a Dr flag"....
and add my 10 cents...
Have you conducted a pregnancy test?

ChronicOptimist

Well I've heard from others that you need to get a full thyroid panel, not just TSH. T3, T4, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies, or something like that? auto something? I dont really know... I just, I've been so weak, and have had awful digestive problems. I get really lightheaded a lot, and have trouble swallowing normally. I'm always cold, and my hair is thinning out really badly. I just... I don't know. Been getting really depressed. I just wish I knew what to do.

Again - have you tried reaching out to your physician and saying you still don't feel well? Maybe I'm still steeped in med school optimism, but it seems like since you're feeling that terrible, you're doctor would want run some additional tests, whether thyroid related or otherwise.

akittleedivy2

Here's my story, and not a prescription.

Sometimes I have had to dance around mediocre doctors and get tests on my own. Before I found a good Naturopathic Nurse Practitioner who would schedule ANY test I wanted, I used Life Extension. They have a complete panel for thyroid, and a slight discount for members. Other independent labs exist out there--you just have to look for them.

Amazing how many people in the US still are not aware of how many different kinds of tests they can request directly through highly reputable labs. I've had a complete hormone panel done without having to go through a doctor. It is a bit expensive, but so nice when I hit menopause to see for myself my progesterone/estrogen/testosterone levels, besides my thyroid, liver enzymes, etc.

The mainstream TSH thyroid test through a doctor read normal for me. But when I had a complete panel done, the culprit was low T3 and T4. My mom was on Synthroid and Proloid back in the fifties when pregnant with me. I wonder now....

So, my NP put me on the lowest dose of Naturethroid and my hair grew back in over a period of six months. Also, I was suddenly able to lose some weight.

My husband gets his D levels checked every year on his own.

scthomas100

I've run the gamut from hyperthyroidism (which was initially diagnosed as anemia) all the way to no thyroid function at all. You really do need a complete panel to diagnose any thyroid issues. My initial TSH was the signal to go down this road further, but nothing was definitive until I found a doctor willing to run a full panel.

Missjulesdid

I have a strong family history of hypothyroidism. My Maternal Grandmother, My paternal grand uncle, two paternal aunts, three of my four female cousins my age and my sister! I was feeling horrible and had ridiculously aching muscles and I was really resistant to losing weight even though I was seeing a dietician AND working out. I begged my doctor to thoroughly investigate my thyroid and he scoffed at me and told me that every fat person thinks they have thyroid problems. He glanced at my most recent bloodwork and told me my thyroid was completely normal.

A few months later, my GYNO actually referred me to and endocrinologist for suspected thyroid issues and whatdayaknow? I DID have hypothyroid even though my actual THYROID was healthy, I wasn't getting enough of the thyroid hormone for my body. My endo adjusted my synthroid dose until my TSH reached 2.0 and I was feeling well with no muscle aches. At one time my TSH was over 9 I believe... and my GP told me I was "normal" GRRRRRRRRR.

Nutmeg76

When I was first tested for hypothyroidism I was "normal" too. I struggled with symptoms for a few years after that until finally my thyroid gave up and my TSH shot up over 100! Then they started me on medication. Now, if my TSH is over about 1.8 I have symptoms. Normal varies by lab from 3 to 5.9, if your number is above 3 then getting the other tests run could help pinpoint if that TSH level is too high for you. My T4 is low when my TSH is above 2, but that would seem "normal" and be acceptable if all they tested was TSH.

I had been dealing with my hypothyroidism for about 5 years when eventually I switched to a mostly grain free diet. We did it for a few reasons, one being my husband and my son, they have a lot of gastro issues. They have since been diagnosed as having a non-celiac gluten intolerance. After we stopped having a lot of grains at home I was able to really lose a lot of weight and start to feel so much better. It reduced my hypothyroid symptoms. Eventually I did some reading and learned that there is a potential link to food intolerance and hypothyroid. People that have hypothyroidism can have digestive issues too. So, the gastro may be on to something that they are linked.

AmyWininger

I really wanted to wave the "I'm not a Dr flag"....
and add my 10 cents...
Have you conducted a pregnancy test?

I'm not pregnant. Definite. But, this has been going on for about a year now. Last year around April I started losing weight, and lost it at a great rate, and then one day, my stomach started hurting, I was weak and I couldn't lose weight very easily at all. It was all minor, and spiraled from there. It got continually worse.

AmyWininger

Well I've heard from others that you need to get a full thyroid panel, not just TSH. T3, T4, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies, or something like that? auto something? I dont really know... I just, I've been so weak, and have had awful digestive problems. I get really lightheaded a lot, and have trouble swallowing normally. I'm always cold, and my hair is thinning out really badly. I just... I don't know. Been getting really depressed. I just wish I knew what to do.

Again - have you tried reaching out to your physician and saying you still don't feel well? Maybe I'm still steeped in med school optimism, but it seems like since you're feeling that terrible, you're doctor would want run some additional tests, whether thyroid related or otherwise.

I really want to, but I'm kind of scared of my doctor. She will not listen to anything I say. I gave her all of the symptoms from the beginning, and she told me, it's just how your body is. You're always going to be like this. I don't agree with that, since a little over a year ago I felt amazing.

Nutmeg76

You need a new doctor. A functional medicine doctor or NP would probably be helpful.

Did anything happen around hte time everything startedt to go downhill? Another illness or a stressful situation?

ChronicOptimist

Well I've heard from others that you need to get a full thyroid panel, not just TSH. T3, T4, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies, or something like that? auto something? I dont really know... I just, I've been so weak, and have had awful digestive problems. I get really lightheaded a lot, and have trouble swallowing normally. I'm always cold, and my hair is thinning out really badly. I just... I don't know. Been getting really depressed. I just wish I knew what to do.

Again - have you tried reaching out to your physician and saying you still don't feel well? Maybe I'm still steeped in med school optimism, but it seems like since you're feeling that terrible, you're doctor would want run some additional tests, whether thyroid related or otherwise.

I really want to, but I'm kind of scared of my doctor. She will not listen to anything I say. I gave her all of the symptoms from the beginning, and she told me, it's just how your body is. You're always going to be like this. I don't agree with that, since a little over a year ago I felt amazing.

Definitely find a new physician, pronto.