Do I have hypothyroidism?

Posted , 5 users are following.

I've been having hypothyroid systems my whole life, but I didn't know it until I was looking up a new symptom and saw it tied to hypothyroidism.  As I read more about it, everything clicked and I felt like it was a puzzle coming together.  I convinced my doctor to run some tests but everything in in the normal range. I've seen a lot of posts about the normal range not being "optimal targets."  I wanted to post my lab results here to get some feedback.  Does it look like I could have hypothyroidism?

tsh:       3.91 mIU/L  (range: 0.3-5.6)

free t4: 11.6 pmol/L (range 7.2-21)

free t3: 5 pmol/L      (range: 2.9-6)

(I'm in Canada so the units are a little different)

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Posted

    Doesn't seem like it, but difficult to know what else it could be without knowing your symptoms -- so many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism can have many different causes.

    • Posted

      These are the symptoms I have:

      Cold hands and feet

      Low blood pressure – occasionally light-headed when changing positions, fainted a couple of times

      Hair loss and white hair – started when I was 17 (i'm 39 now)

      No sweating when I work out

      Need afternoon naps

      Twitching eyelid

      Weight loss is hard

      High cholesterol

       

    • Posted

      Problem is so many things overlap in terms of symptoms. Sounds a bit like Raynaud's though not sure about the lack of sweating. Do you have problems with dry eyes or mouth? Or bowel issues?

  • Posted

    Have you been checked for iron deficiency? That can also cause a lot of these symptoms - cold and fatigue, for sure.

    Twitching eye - can be related to dehydration.

    Difficulty losing weight/high cholesterol - do you eat a healthy and balanced diet (get enough fruits and veggies, limit sugar intake, get enough of the good fats - important for digestion)?Some people's bodies do just create more cholesterol (are you a smoker? Do you eat a lot of red meat? Cheese? Bad fats?). Also, do you overwork yourself with your fitness routines and give your body enough time to rest and recoup?

    A Or to consider but I hope it helps...

    • Posted

      I've done the standard blood test for physicals, I think that would detect an iron deficiency?  That was normal.

      I think I stay hydrated well enough throughout the day.

      I eat relatively healthy, with maybe one or two "cheat" meals on the weekend.  I swim twice a week and work out twice a week, and I've had similiar levels of activity for about 15 years now.  I don't smoke or drink, I do eat red meat, but I wouldn't consider it a lot.  I eat more chicken than anything else.  It kills me when my dr says to "eat better," when I probably eat better than most and have been for a long time.  On the other hand, I'm basically just staying the same in terms of weight, even though I could leave a pound or two from my waist.  Even when I was working out 5 times a week and swimming on top of that, I couldn't lose it.

  • Posted

    This is a thought based on myself, I would ask for Cytomel 5 mcg.

    Many people feel better taking T3.

    Some of us have an inefficient body when it comes to converting T4 into T3.

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