Symptoms of hypothyroid but blood tests are "normal"

landis · 05-03-2008, 04:43 PM

I am 48 years old and recently started on HRT therapy for symptoms of menopause. I felt GREAT for about 6 months and now am starting to have other symptoms including daily headaches (which I never had before) extreme fatigue, weakness, memory problems and worsening of depression. It sounds like the symptoms I have heard about for hypothyroid but when I had the blood tests about 3 or 4 months ago they came out normal the doctor said. Does the test rule it out or could I have it without the test results showing it? Anyone know? I KNOW It's not my imagination. I have NO motivation to do anything but go home after work and sleep and it is very hard to keep up all my outside activities. My house has had nothing done to it for months for this reason. I feel so fatigued all the time. People write it off as "just being a women" but I KNOW it's more than that.

Please someone help! I don't know what to do.

nonstickpam107 · 05-04-2008, 11:48 AM

This thread should answer a lot of your questions:

Thyroid tests are normal?? Are you sure?

You don't say whether you are taking synthetic HRT or BHRT (bioidentical HRT)...but ANY type of incoming sex hormones bind the thyroid hormones in the bloodstream, leaving you needing even MORE thyroid hormone. Menopause is a time when many women are diagnosed with hypothyroidism (because 98% of those having hypothyroidism have the autoimmune type, called Hashimoto's). Out of all the women who have hypothyroidism, 90% see FIVE doctors before they FINALLY find one that understands the correct testing and treatment. I'm trying to shorten that list, by providing resources and lists of thyroid friendly doctors.

If you have further questions (like how to find a doctor who knows how to do the correct thyroid tests and how to interpret, etc.) you can post on that thread, OR PM me.

Pam

landis · 05-04-2008, 02:40 PM

Thanks SO much, will read that thread for sure. I have got to get something done. I cannot go on like this. I'm on Premarin just so you know. I am now suspecting overdosage on estrogen as a possibility.

nonstickpam107 · 05-04-2008, 04:49 PM

You aren't taking 'estrogen'. You are taking pregnant horse urine. There are all types of bioidentical estradiol available (Vivelle Dot, Estraderm, etc. that usually are on your insurance drug lists) and also compounded bioidenticals. There's no need to take Premarin (or any other horse urine derived non human identical estrogens).

I'd be happy to see your thyroid tests, providing it's not JUST/ONLY a TSH (which is a test of the pituitary and doesn't tell the measurements of your thyroid hormones) and providing you have the lab ranges used for those tests. The correct thyroid tests would be: TSH, with a T4 and T3 OR better yet (when taking hormones you need) a Free T4 and Free T3 with a TPO antibodies test.

Two out of every ten women have Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, so you very well could be hypothyroid.

Pam

landis · 05-04-2008, 05:02 PM

ACCCCKKKKK! I am not sure if they did the T3 and T4 but I thought so. Could taking the Premarin without needing it cause a thyroid problem?

nonstickpam107 · 05-05-2008, 05:55 AM

No, taking Premarin can cause some problems in itself though (please Google breast cancer and Premarin) but taking that wouldn't CAUSE thyroid disease. If you have the most common type of hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's) than over time the antibodies (TPO antibodies test will show if you have this) just attack and destroy the thyroid, but going into menopause can trigger that.

Having untreated hypothyroidism and then adding HRT to it would make it even worse. Most women are treated for the low thyroid condition WHILE the doctor gives them bioidentical estradiol (human estrogen). You need to find a doctor who does thyroid and bioidenticals (or you can call a pharmacy near you and ask: 'Can you give me the name of a doctor who Rx's Armour Thyroid?' Most docs who do natural Armour Thyroid will know to do the correct tests).

You can go one step further now...go to ArmourThyroid and use the docfinder. Put in zipcodes about an hour driving time away radius.

Also, call the office that did the thyroid tests and ask them for a copy of those labs...it belongs to you.

Pam

05-03-2008, 04:43 PM	#1
landis Boss of Me Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: WITland..where everybody knows your name.. Posts: 24,838 Gallery: landis Stats: losing by my calculator's figures WOE: God's Start Date: Jan 2004	Symptoms of hypothyroid but blood tests are "normal" I am 48 years old and recently started on HRT therapy for symptoms of menopause. I felt GREAT for about 6 months and now am starting to have other symptoms including daily headaches (which I never had before) extreme fatigue, weakness, memory problems and worsening of depression. It sounds like the symptoms I have heard about for hypothyroid but when I had the blood tests about 3 or 4 months ago they came out normal the doctor said. Does the test rule it out or could I have it without the test results showing it? Anyone know? I KNOW It's not my imagination. I have NO motivation to do anything but go home after work and sleep and it is very hard to keep up all my outside activities. My house has had nothing done to it for months for this reason. I feel so fatigued all the time. People write it off as "just being a women" but I KNOW it's more than that. Please someone help! I don't know what to do. __________________ JUST GIVE ME JESUS I will stay on plan because Stews says... I will FEEL good,have more ENERGY, LOOK my BEST, clothes will fit COMFORTABLY and I will be HEALTHY and SEXY! Started 100 day challenge 7-22-08 On plan days so far: 2 Last edited by landis : 05-03-2008 at 05:15 PM.

05-04-2008, 11:48 AM	#2
nonstickpam107 Thyroid Patient Advocate Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 11,354 Gallery: nonstickpam107 Stats: 230/116/120 (BF<26%) WOE: Started w/Atkins/Now BFFM Start Date: Nov. 23 2000	This thread should answer a lot of your questions: Thyroid tests are normal?? Are you sure? You don't say whether you are taking synthetic HRT or BHRT (bioidentical HRT)...but ANY type of incoming sex hormones bind the thyroid hormones in the bloodstream, leaving you needing even MORE thyroid hormone. Menopause is a time when many women are diagnosed with hypothyroidism (because 98% of those having hypothyroidism have the autoimmune type, called Hashimoto's). Out of all the women who have hypothyroidism, 90% see FIVE doctors before they FINALLY find one that understands the correct testing and treatment. I'm trying to shorten that list, by providing resources and lists of thyroid friendly doctors. If you have further questions (like how to find a doctor who knows how to do the correct thyroid tests and how to interpret, etc.) you can post on that thread, OR PM me. Pam __________________ So many fireworks. So little time. Last edited by nonstickpam107 : 05-04-2008 at 11:51 AM.

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05-04-2008, 02:40 PM	#3
landis Boss of Me Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: WITland..where everybody knows your name.. Posts: 24,838 Gallery: landis Stats: losing by my calculator's figures WOE: God's Start Date: Jan 2004	Thanks SO much, will read that thread for sure. I have got to get something done. I cannot go on like this. I'm on Premarin just so you know. I am now suspecting overdosage on estrogen as a possibility.

05-04-2008, 04:49 PM	#4
nonstickpam107 Thyroid Patient Advocate Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 11,354 Gallery: nonstickpam107 Stats: 230/116/120 (BF<26%) WOE: Started w/Atkins/Now BFFM Start Date: Nov. 23 2000	You aren't taking 'estrogen'. You are taking pregnant horse urine. There are all types of bioidentical estradiol available (Vivelle Dot, Estraderm, etc. that usually are on your insurance drug lists) and also compounded bioidenticals. There's no need to take Premarin (or any other horse urine derived non human identical estrogens). I'd be happy to see your thyroid tests, providing it's not JUST/ONLY a TSH (which is a test of the pituitary and doesn't tell the measurements of your thyroid hormones) and providing you have the lab ranges used for those tests. The correct thyroid tests would be: TSH, with a T4 and T3 OR better yet (when taking hormones you need) a Free T4 and Free T3 with a TPO antibodies test. Two out of every ten women have Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, so you very well could be hypothyroid. Pam

05-04-2008, 05:02 PM	#5
landis Boss of Me Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: WITland..where everybody knows your name.. Posts: 24,838 Gallery: landis Stats: losing by my calculator's figures WOE: God's Start Date: Jan 2004	ACCCCKKKKK! I am not sure if they did the T3 and T4 but I thought so. Could taking the Premarin without needing it cause a thyroid problem?

05-05-2008, 05:55 AM	#6
nonstickpam107 Thyroid Patient Advocate Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 11,354 Gallery: nonstickpam107 Stats: 230/116/120 (BF<26%) WOE: Started w/Atkins/Now BFFM Start Date: Nov. 23 2000	No, taking Premarin can cause some problems in itself though (please Google breast cancer and Premarin) but taking that wouldn't CAUSE thyroid disease. If you have the most common type of hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's) than over time the antibodies (TPO antibodies test will show if you have this) just attack and destroy the thyroid, but going into menopause can trigger that. Having untreated hypothyroidism and then adding HRT to it would make it even worse. Most women are treated for the low thyroid condition WHILE the doctor gives them bioidentical estradiol (human estrogen). You need to find a doctor who does thyroid and bioidenticals (or you can call a pharmacy near you and ask: 'Can you give me the name of a doctor who Rx's Armour Thyroid?' Most docs who do natural Armour Thyroid will know to do the correct tests). You can go one step further now...go to ArmourThyroid and use the docfinder. Put in zipcodes about an hour driving time away radius. Also, call the office that did the thyroid tests and ask them for a copy of those labs...it belongs to you. Pam