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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tracy on August 16, 2000, at 18:50:19
Hidey-ho campers.
Ok so I am fatigued, sleep somewhere between 10-16 hours a day; zone off at my desk; feel like I am moving in slow-mo. Achey. Urinate non-stop. Up several times a night b/c of this latter issue. Forgetful -- like midsentence I can't remember what I was saying.. Can't concentrate -- which is a major problem with my first year of law school starting next week. I Lost 40lbs two years ago, went on celexa for depression, gained it all back and thensome (was on Meridia, and had to exercise 1.5 hours a day to get it off). Binge eating. Went on Wellbutrin to combat fatigue. Off celexa and wellbutrin, now on Effexor xr 150mg.
I go to my GP (an internist for a physical). I get the results back today:
All bloodwork is ok, except my thyroid tests:
TSH = 3.640 (range = .350-5.500)
Free T4 = 1.20 (.89-1.80)
T3 = 234.22 (60-181)My doc is referring me to an endocrinologist --
Can anyone please give me some insight into what might be wrong with me??? I won't hold you to it, but any thoughts would be helpful.They called me after 5; and I couldn't ask any ??'s really -- I have to wait until tomorrow -- and it is driving me c - r - a - z - y.
Posted by Greg on August 16, 2000, at 19:34:36
In reply to THYROID QUESTION: DR. BOB?? OTHERS?, posted by Tracy on August 16, 2000, at 18:50:19
Hi Tracy,
I don't personally have any helpful knowledge about the thyroid, but I have 2 suggestions. We have someone here named Noa who really is an expert on the subject (or at least extremely knowledgable) and you might post directly to her. She's a great person and very helpful. And while you're waiting for an answer, you might look at the following location for some real good stuff about it. http://www.egroups.com/links/psycho-babble-tips
I hope you get somew answers real soon and my thoughts are with you.
Greg
> Hidey-ho campers.
>
> Ok so I am fatigued, sleep somewhere between 10-16 hours a day; zone off at my desk; feel like I am moving in slow-mo. Achey. Urinate non-stop. Up several times a night b/c of this latter issue. Forgetful -- like midsentence I can't remember what I was saying.. Can't concentrate -- which is a major problem with my first year of law school starting next week. I Lost 40lbs two years ago, went on celexa for depression, gained it all back and thensome (was on Meridia, and had to exercise 1.5 hours a day to get it off). Binge eating. Went on Wellbutrin to combat fatigue. Off celexa and wellbutrin, now on Effexor xr 150mg.
>
> I go to my GP (an internist for a physical). I get the results back today:
>
> All bloodwork is ok, except my thyroid tests:
>
> TSH = 3.640 (range = .350-5.500)
> Free T4 = 1.20 (.89-1.80)
> T3 = 234.22 (60-181)
>
> My doc is referring me to an endocrinologist --
> Can anyone please give me some insight into what might be wrong with me??? I won't hold you to it, but any thoughts would be helpful.
>
> They called me after 5; and I couldn't ask any ??'s really -- I have to wait until tomorrow -- and it is driving me c - r - a - z - y.
Posted by Noa on August 16, 2000, at 23:09:00
In reply to Re: THYROID QUESTION: DR. BOB?? OTHERS? » Tracy, posted by Greg on August 16, 2000, at 19:34:36
> Hi Tracy,
I am not an expert, but this is an issue I care about a lot.
Your TSH is "within normal limits", but some people feel much better with a TSH under 2.0
Your Free T4 seems to be in the right range.
But the high T3 stumps me. Like I said, I am not so knowledgable, and am learning about this all the time. From what I have read, there are people for whom T4 is high, but T3 is low, and it is apparently due to a malfunctioning of the process of breaking the T4 (the more stable, "storage" version of the hormone) into the T3 (the less stable, but more "active" version of the hormone), as I understand it (I could be wrong). A lot of times, this problem is overlooked because a lot of docs prescribe T4 replacement and think that should work (and it does make the test results change) but the patient still feels awful. But in your case, it seems it is the other way around, with your T3 being high. So, perhaps you will find out and teach us.
> >
> > TSH = 3.640 (range = .350-5.500)
> > Free T4 = 1.20 (.89-1.80)
> > T3 = 234.22 (60-181)
> >I would recommend looking at Mary Shomon's website, www.thyroid-info.com
She even has a page with recommendations from readers on good endos. That is how I found mine, and I was lucky in that he was on my health plan.
I should say that your primary care doc gets points in my book for IDing a thyroid problem and for referring you to an endo.
There is also an egroups on Thyroid, where you can post a message asking for input from people with much more knowledge than me.
Another thing I must ask, do you snore? Getting up to urinate frequently is one of the things that happens with some sleep disorders, like sleep apnea. Since you have put on some weight lately, it might be something to look into, as added weight sometimes contributes to obstructive sleep apnea. In any event, a sleep lab study might help to determine if you have a sleep disorder of any kind.
I can relate to the brain fog you describe. It's pretty awful.
Let us know what you find out and how it goes with the endo.
Posted by noa on August 17, 2000, at 9:35:39
In reply to Re: THYROID QUESTION: DR. BOB?? OTHERS?, posted by Noa on August 16, 2000, at 23:09:00
This excerpt is from Mary Shomon's website, on a page about how to tell if you are hyperthyroid:
"If your doctor ran a test called Total T3, normal range is approximately 80 to 220. If your result was greater than 220, your doctor might consider that indicative of hyperthyroidism.
If your doctor ran a test called Free T3, normal range is approximately 2.3 to 4.2. If your result was greater than 4.2, your doctor might consider that indicative of hyperthyroidism. "Do you know which T3 test was done?
Posted by Tracy on August 17, 2000, at 15:26:42
In reply to Re: THYROID QUESTION: DR. BOB?? OTHERS?, posted by noa on August 17, 2000, at 9:35:39
Well -- apparently I am crazy. The T3 test was supposedly due to my birth control pills -- and apparently I am not sick. Gee --- I feel sick though?...
Posted by noa on August 17, 2000, at 16:02:59
In reply to Re: THYROID QUESTION: DR. BOB?? OTHERS?, posted by Tracy on August 17, 2000, at 15:26:42
Sometimes you can feel sick and have "normal" thyroid numbers. I did not feel better until the endo had me take more thyroid hormones (both T3 and T4) to the point where my TSH is suppressed. By the typical way of reading the test results, I wasn't sick either, but I felt lousy. It helps to have a doc who listens to my symptoms, and doesn't just rely on the tests, which convey statistical norms, but not necessarily what is normal for you.
Many docs, internists esp, don't see the need for treatment if your TSH is within normal limits, but for some people, TSH needs to be about 1 to feel ok.Did you see the endo? I recommend a consult with an endo anyway.
Take a look at the info on the web.
Posted by shantie on August 20, 2000, at 0:22:03
In reply to Re: THYROID QUESTION: DR. BOB?? OTHERS?, posted by noa on August 17, 2000, at 16:02:59
For the past 2 1/2 yrs my life has been a living hell because of multi-nodular goiter. first i was hyper thyroidism then they put me on synthroid to shrink the tumors, which in to say the least has made me nothing short of crazy, no energy and dingy. I have always been a hyper person, never lazy. The last straw was when doc tried me on effexor for 3 months and i gained 16lbs so i stopped it. It made me sick so i had to go back and cut the dosage in 1/2 in a week i was fine, except now i am fat and my clothes are TIGHT!!! seems like these AD just make everything worse.i went to the yearly appt with the Endo Dr and i just got my blood test results back and for once my TSH, t3, t4 are at a normal range. Well does any one know....since i have been on every AD for this, what is the point of continuing taking med, (i am on 60mg of ritalin and 300mgs of WB)when nothing has really helped. if i am better should i stop taking my medicine? doesnt seem like i need it if everything is fine, even though i still feel the same crazy, angry for no reason @all, tired well ya all know. I have Celexa the dr wanted me to start this med. and after reading about here again this is ridiculous. Hair loss, weight gain...what a joke. i get depressed just reading about the side effects. Anyone have any ideas? my doc doesnt seem to have a clue...seems like i have learned more from you guys here than he knows HELP.
Posted by Tracy on August 21, 2000, at 20:24:02
In reply to Re: THYROID QUESTION: DR. BOB?? OTHERS?, posted by shantie on August 20, 2000, at 0:22:03
well. My dr. put me on a no added sugar diet. And the exhaustion is diminishing. I have more aspartame running through my body than I care to mention, and I have lost 2 lbs in 4 days...
I have yet to speak with my pdoc about the results. My internist seems to think the high T3 is due to my birth control pills. Something about binding..
Thanks to all who threw their two cents in...
This is the end of the thread.
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