hypothyroid

[Grits]

I went back and read a lot of the old threads about hypo and hyper thyroid, so I know there are quite a few of you on the forum.

I had routine blood work done as part of a yearly physical with a new MD who also tested thyroid function. To my surprise, it came back abnormal (6.440). She wants to do another test before starting meds, so I go back next week for that.

I find myself almost glad (weird I know) that I might have this. When I was riding this summer, I found myself so fatigued during the ride and struggling to keep up, which I blamed on everyone being stronger than me even though I was riding more than most of them. Maybe it was because of my thyroid? See, I'm looking for a scapegoat here! I would wonder if there was something wrong with me physically, but then would just convince myself that I needed to train harder, was getting older, etc. etc.

So many of the symptoms can be attributed to menopause or peri-menopause, I can see this going undiagnosed very frequently. My hairdresser commented that I seemed to be losing more hair than normal when she shampooed, and I blew that off (I have a lot of hair. I can afford to lose some.) I would struggle to stay awake while waiting for appointments.
In hindsight, I can see the symptoms, but they are so vague and could be caused by so many different things.

I'm so glad I broke up with my old MD. The new one was much more thorough.

[indysteel]

As someone dealing with a hyperactive thyroid, I feel for you. Hopefully, you'll be able to get it under control quickly.

[crazycanuck]

Hey, have you read "Why do i still have thyroid symptoms when my lab tests are normal" by Dr Kharrazian?

Also have you thought about changing your diet and going wheat free? Here are some links
http://drknews.com/
http://chriskresser.com/the-gluten-thyroid-connection
If you have itunes etc, listen to the paleo podcast #98 or 99 (have to go n check) where Rob discusses the book "wheat belly"
Underground wellness radio interview with Dr Tom O'bryan (UWR is a bit too over the top for me but this one was recommended to me by my physio)

[Ursula745]

A TSH in your range isn't too bad, actually. Enough for treatment, yes, but it isn't horrible. Mine was around 5.8 and is considered very mild. I am on 75mcg of Synthroid. I do feel better and the weight is coming off, but still slowly for me. I feel better, but it's not a miracle or anything like that. So, just a heads up. If you get meds, 1) don't expect and immediate result, and 2) don't expect a huge improvement. It won't make you feel like you are super energetic. For me, I just kind of "forgot" about being tired, because I wasn't anymore. I didn't notice a super increase of energy or metabolism. I just started to feel normal I guess. Good luck. I hope your doc gets you on the right meds/dose soon.

[Grits]

Yes, Ursula, good points. The MD said it was mild, so at best I would expect mild improvement.

CC,thanks for your suggestions. Since I am not really having any significant problems, I'm not motivated to make any big lifestyle/diet changes, and I would really need to be highly motivated to do that! I'm sure that would change if I felt worse. I hope that a low dose of meds will do the trick.

Now I am waiting for DH to get back with my favorite energy boost - a Chai Latte

[Dannielle]

Oh gosh, I feel absolutely hideous with my TSH as high as yours is. When mine was in the 3.5-5 range I was being checked for lupus, arthritis, MS, etc due to all the symptoms I was experiencing (and was eventually given the broad "fibromyalgia" diagnosis). It all cleared up when I went to an endocrinologist who treated my hypothyroidism more aggressively.

[Grits]

Dannielle, Isn't it funny how our bodies react so differently to things? If I hadn't gotten this routine screening, I never would have thought to get checked for the mild symptoms I am having, while you were having much more extreme symptoms with better test results.

As I am telling friends about my test results, so many of them are saying that they are exhausted all the time. I guess doctors hear it so much, or women don't even bother to report it, that hypothyroid gets undiagnosed a lot. I'm telling them if they really do feel tired a lot, got ahead and ask for some blood work, for pete's sake, and get their thyroid function and iron level checked. It is a shame to not feel the best you can for lack of a simple test.

I'm glad you were able to get on the right meds and dosage and get some relief.

[Flyneagle]

This is a great thread I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism last month and started on 75 mcg of synthroid. I was feeling really drained and just felt off and gained a lot of weight over the past year. I told my gyn dr at the beginning of the year how I was feeling and we ran my TSH and other hormones all in normal range. Well I'm a medical laboratory scientist and last month I was at work and felt awful so ran my TSH again and this time it was 7. Needless to say family doc agreed that was definitely my issue. I'm so glad to finally have a reason to why I felt the way I do.
Now the synthroid at first was making me feel really amped up...like I was going a hundred miles an hour! I think I'm finally getting use to it but my doc wants me to go up to 125mcg and then check my TSH again around the 25th. So that's my thyroid story