Dieting with Obstacles - Could I have a thyroid problem?

Hi guys,

Awhile ago I posted about my health problems (http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71762), problems I thought were created by work stress. I ended up not sleeping for the entire month of January (!) until after going through 5 different prescriptions my doctor and I found a drug that actually helps me sleep. I'm sleeping now without pills, which is wonderful, but I'm always ALWAYS exhausted and I tire very easily. Just going up a flight of stairs makes me too tired to function for about an hour. I lose my breath very easily. Since around Christmastime my hair has been falling out in clumps and my heart is always racing, sometimes I get palpitations.

Now I'm not so sure all of this is caused by work stress, and while my doctor is looking into it he doesn't seem concerned and has dismissed my suggestions that maybe something is happening to me physically, not mentally. I did look up my symptoms and some of them seem to point to a thyroid problem, so I insisted on blood tests. So far I've had my TSH levels tested twice, and my blood was tested for antibodies (the test came back negative). My TSH levels were:

3.9 two years ago
6.0 one month ago
8.0 very recently

I'm not confident in my doctor right now so I thought I'd ask you ladies, many of you have had experience with thyroid problems. Do these TSH levels and changes seem normal?? At my insistence I've been referred to an endocrinologist but I won't get in to see her for at least three months.

I've been battling with my weight for years and it seems like I can work really really hard at it only to have very minimal results. I don't know if this is related to what's going on with my health or if I just have too high expectations. ;)

High TSH can be a symptom of hypothyroidism. Some docs will not diagnose hypothyroidism based on high TSH and normal T3 and T4 (referred to as subclinical hypothyroidism) - usually a good endocrinologist will. A high TSH and a low T3 and T4 is even more indicative of hypothyroidism (not subclinical) - and as important are the symptoms. There are some good support websites for hypothyroidism. I had it for years before I was finally diagnosed. I am on armour and it has made a tremendous difference in how I feel.

I'm no doctor but your TSH values don't look normal to me. The Amercian Association for Clinical Endocrinologists defines a normal TSH as between .3 and 3. http://www.aace.com/public/awareness/tam/2003/explanation.php

Won't the doctor who ordered the tests treat you based on those numbers? They have to show up as abnormal on the lab results. If he won't treat you, you need to find a doctor who will ASAP. If you can't see an endocrinologist for three months, can you get in to see an internist or family practice doctor? It shouldn't take a specialist to see that you're hypothyroid based on your test results!

Best of luck to you - hopefully you're on the way to some answers. :hug:

I'd say, better seek another doctor's advice. The exact same thing happened to my mother, with TSH rates shooting higher and higher, and indeed it was hypothyroid problems... but her former physician just didn't seem to find this worrying! >.<

Just a question here, regarding blood tests. I guess you're in the USA, aren't the normal values marked on the result sheets as well? (Here in France, they are; you get your result for each analyzed data, then on the same line the minimum and maximum values between which it's considered "normal". It remains and indication only, but it can help.)

Thanks for the advice, all. I thought something seemed a bit off with those numbers, it's nice that someone else thinks so as well. My doctor said that if my TSH was 18 he'd worry, but that 8 was normal.

I should get a new doctor but it's a real pain in the neck finding a decent one who is taking patients and in an area I can get to by bus. I've been on the waiting list at the hospital for agggees now. In Canada a lot of our healthcare is free but the downside to that is the long wait for everything.

Kery - I don't know if the normal values are on the lab test results, I only got to glance at them for just a moment! I got my doctor to tell me what the results were and wrote them down, I didn't think to ask about other information that may have been on the sheet.

Hello. As one who was diagnosed with thyroid problems... mine was obvious since there was a huge tumor... I would encourage you to continue to seek medical help and further testing. Even after my surgery I was completely exhausted all the time.. totally unlike me... until finally it appears I have my meds adjusted right but will continue to get regular testing. Even with the huge tumor my tests were coming out normal though so I was told I shouldn't have symptoms... but when I did research I found they were classic! "Should have" or not I DID.

Impossible of course to say whether this is your problem... but it sure is worth further digging and checking

The normal levels for TSH changed (lowered 2 years ago). There is a lot of controversy if this was needed or not. Perhaps you doctor is still on the old ones. A lot of good info can be found at thyroid.about.com. You could print out some of it and take it to him - like the change in levels.

Smilla I'm in canada too and I hear you about the dr's. Have you tried talking to a walk in clinic they may be able to help you. There is lots of info out there for thyroid and some times it's up to the paitent to keep the dr up to date on new info. I would see if you can get an other appointment at take in some info on the normal. Remind your dr that you are the patient and you are sick and tired of feeling sick and tired!! Good luck!!