From hyperthyroidism to hypothyroidism

Hi Shelly ,I've been reading with interest ,your answers to thyroid disease ,I've has issues for a long time ,Im hyper every day ,hot and cold ,feelings of flu aches ,but never leaves ,I was saying on site here yesterday ( you were there) I've just had private test done for Autoimmune antibiodies present in thyroid ,before asking for more test depending on results early next week ,I've also now put on weight ,not through food etc ,so I've known there's been a problem since having a bad virus 10 yrs ago ,which set off immune problem .I lost over 4 stone in weight through virus .

   I'm always hot and cold ,drs say it's menopause ,but I went through meno at 48 ,in that 4/5 yrs all done ,then at 58 yrs got virus ,been this way ever since ,I was told an illness will bring back 2 nd meno symptoms ? I know this anxiety is not right all this time further on .

   Is there anything question wise I should be asking ? I've not done anything about this ongoing prob in past 2 yrs ,just gave up seeing a Dr as I wasent getting help ,hence now private route .

  I to have constapation on off since illness ,drs said IBS ,but this just didn't fit IBS symptoms ,drs gave me Fopmap diet to do ,I've also now having food tests along with thyroid ,as I've got allergies sinuses and Ecezema since virus ,no way to live daily for this length of time ,lost 10 yrs of my life ,any help you can give me Id be thankful .

   Regards 

Hello Marlene:

A lot of what you say in your post fits the early stages of Hypothyroidism. The signs are: Weight gain despite diet, feeling cold, muscle aches and pains.  Also constipation is a sign.  There is a known virus called Epstein -Barr and it used to be called "MONO", and it is a known thyroid attacker.  Thyroid disease can come from a family trait or a disease like lupus or diabetes, or cancer, and it can come from a lack of iodine like in a 3rd world country where diet is poor. It comes out in women more than men and can hit between the ages of 20-40 and later after menopause.

If you have the Thyroid Protein Antibodies (TPOA) then you may have the early signs of Hashimoto's Thyroid disease.The aantibodies attack the gland in the person.  

I had the same symptoms  that you have before I was diagnosed in 1987.

Questions for the doctor:  DO I have TPOA antibodies present in my blood?  What are my TSH and T3 & T4 levels?   I am feeling cold and have gained weight and have muscle aches,  can we do blood work to see if I am Hypothyroid?    I need a mineral panel done along with Vit D level?

Many of us are told it is menopause or stress related even the flu.  It is a bit sneaky as some symptoms do fit in with others. So it is a good idea to log down the symptoms and hand it to the doctor so he can read it all. Just think back to what year and month  you noticed them and write down for example March 2012 noticed constipation, etc...

Also ask the doctor to order a mineral panel and vit D.  A lot of people have low minerals and Vit D.  A mineral panel is: sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium, ferritin, and a special blood test for Vit D.  There is linkage between Hypothyroidism and Vit D and low ferritin levels.  Having low Vit D will lead to bones becomming soft and brittle and they will break easily. Also muscles can ache badly too from low Vit. D.

Many thyroid patients have skin problems like acne and some have severe dry skin.  So skin problems can be a sign of the poorly working thyroid.

The Thyroid is a butterfly gland that sits on top of the trachea.  It makes 4 hormones.  (Thyroxine1  to Thyroxine4.)  For this conversation, we are concerned with T3 and T4.  In a person without a thyroid problem, the body makes T4 and turns it into useable T3  Our whole body uses T3 as it supplies us with energy, and keeps our metabolism on track and our body temp correct.  It also regulates a period in women of child bearing ages.

If T3 is low you will feel like rubbish.  You may get sleepy, and have a hard time doing a task.  Weight gain, low pulse, muscle aches, hair loss, no periods, feeling cold.  Now some of us get all the symptoms and some of us get a few.

So please do see a doctor and privately if needed. They have replacement thyroid hormone and that will help.  Symptoms will go away when you have the replacement meds.

Any other questions feel free to ask,  Shelly

It would be wise to go private and have the TSH, T3 and T 4 levels plus mineral panel done.

 

Shelly ,many thanks for answering ,good read .

  What you've written ,I will copy out ,( or husband will ) least Ive better understanding of how this works ,yes after a certain age ,everything is put down to menopause as the culprit ,but I'm way past that period ,but drs just let you slip on by when you get probs .Its just gone on and on ,things never improved ,when I recieve this 1st blood test back ,see if it shows antibiodies ,I will go for a private thyroid ,never heard of mineral panel .

   The Epstein Bar was mentioned by another lady ,who had this. She to was also ignored ,she to turned out to have a thyroid problem ,this was only yesterday mentioned .

  When I got this virus ,there was about 10 people who had this same virus as myself ,Viral Meningitis ? I'm in contact with one still local ,she had the same and still has the same issues as I did and have .We use the same drs surgery ,but different drs ,so whatever we have done we follow up by EMail ,

   Will let her know about this ,she knows Im having thyroid check .

   Thank you again for the reply ,glad some ones out there with knowledge to be able to help,as I've been told drs are general practitioners ,not specialist ,they just know bits of everything .hence GP .this was said by a senior nurse . Regards Marlene 

My T3 Uptake is 52%, T4=7.0 mcg/dl, Free Thyroxine Index =3.6%. 

What are these values mean? 

I tried to google them, but I still could not understand them completely. 

Thank you much again.

Hello Jackie:

My name is Shelly and I am a nurse in the USA. 

The thyroid makes 4 hormones but for this conversation we will concentrate on T3 & T4.  The thyroid makes T4 and converts it into useable T3. We need T3 to give us good energy and for the cells of the body to use it.

T3 uptake is a test to measure the thyroxine (hormone) binding capapcity to receptor sites in the body.  Normal should be between     20-37% .  Things that effect it are pregnancy, certain medications, other disease processes. You are a bit elevated at 52%

T4 is Thyroxine 4 and that is between (4.5 -11.2) you are normal there.

Free Thyroxine Index -estimates the amt. of circulating free thyroxine & the binding capacity in a formula, and that should be (4.8 to 12.7) and your level seems low at 3.6%.

I hope it helps these are more complicated tests.

Regards, Shelly

Hi Shelley, I've not come across these test before and could do with a bit more explanation.

Re: T3 uptake test - what does it mean to be 'a bit elevated at 52%'? Does this result in hypo- or hyper-thyroid symptoms?

Also re: Free Thyroxine Index...'your level seems low at 3.6%'? Does this result in hypo- or hyper-thyroid symptoms?

Hello Barbara:

I know the test T3 uptake has been replaced more by FT3 test. It is indirect method and is hardly used. I seen a lot of lab reports and that hardly comes up.  It is used to diagnose Hyperthyroidism.  I guess an old time Endo/Doc ordered it.  The second test uses T4 in the formula  (the index) so I think  they are looking for Hyperthyroidism in the person  and it is confusing as it is not clear cut like T4, T3 TSH, etc...and I am sure it won't come up too often.

Shelly

Shelley, Thank you for the explanation. So to put it simply, is it likely that Jackie has hypothyroidism?

Hello Barbara:

She never mentioned any symptoms just the lab work.  I think they are ruling out Hyperthyroidism, and I would lean that she most likely has Hypothyroidism vs. Hyper or to see how the medication is working.  It is much easier when they do the normal tests we are used to. 

Shelly

Shelley, Thank you! You're a great help to us all. XO

Thanks Barbara, I appreciate the compliment.

Shelly

Shelley,

Thank you for your explanation. However, my cancer testing came in December. I'm free from it. There is no other associated health problems except that I'm getting the symptoms/signs of hyperthyroidism. I feel normal, but I was better at 100mcg. The 112 mcg seems a little too much.

My last question, is it better to have a lil high tsh than low tsh?

Hello Jackie:

The TSH range should be 0.45 to 4.50 and the low end means too much and the high end is too little.  They are opposite of each other and confusing. 

It is best to be between 1.0 to 3.0 and most doctors like it there in that zone,  in the 2.0 range is ideal.  However as long as you do not have Hyper symptoms then anywhere above 0.45 is okay.  It  depends on how you feel a lot.

You have a few options, ask the doctor to lower the dose down to 100mcg only.  Why feel Hyper?   

Second option is to give yourself a 100mcg about  2 or 3 days of the week and allow the body to even out a bit.  Some people need a dose like 110mcg or so and the medication does not come in that dosage.  So to even out you can take a lower dose just for a few days.  You may need to play around with it, like 3 days at a lower dose of 100mcg and 4 days at the higer dose.

Congratulations on being cancer free.  Good news!

Any questions just ask,

Shelly