Talk to me about THYROID issues?

[bisous]

My sister will never be on this board because she isn't interested in having kids, lol. But she is experiencing some symptoms that seem like they could be indicative of thyroid levels being off? I know this board is a fan of getting tested for thyroid and also many have found that finding their own perfect thyroid level on the rather large range of "normal" values is the key to feeling best. Would anyone here care to walk me through their experience? How they knew to keep tweaking thyroid? What range feels better? Or point me towards any resources?

TIA!

[MSWR0319]

So I feel best between TSH of 1.5 and 2. My old endocrinologist said most of his patients felt the same. When new symptoms would pop up, he would tweak my meds as long as I didn't fall too low. The old TSH value of up to 4 being normal is not accurate for most people. Most people have symptoms well before then. My endo has since retired and I'm struggling to find a good dr. My PCP took over for me and she won't tweak meds if your TSH is under 4. Mine is currently at 2.5 and I know I need an adjustment because I have this exhaustion that I know is thyroid related. Also my skin gets really dry. So I'm currently trying to find someone who will treat me and my symptoms vs just a number. My gyno sent me to an integrative med dr, but I can't get into her until early next year. So that's not helping.

I had symptoms after having my first kid. Thyroid issues run in the family, so I knew what to expect. I was put on meds by my PCP who knew how to handle thyroid issues. She left, and the new one said I didn't need them because my numbers were good. So I went off them to see if she was right. She was wrong. All of my symptoms came back, but because my TSH was a high 2, she wouldn't treat. That's when I searched for a good endo. He put me back on meds and I felt great for awhile, until he retired. Now I can't find a good one, and my PCP is not helpful. I have a couple of websites I had booked marked awhile back. I will look for them and send them along.

[bisous]

Thank you so much! This is exactly what I was looking for! I passed the info onto my sister.

[niccig]

Don?t know what happened to my reply.

I?m the same with narrow TSH window of 1.5-2.0. She needs to go to another Endo until she find someone who will adjust her meds. My old PCP was done with the 1.5-2.0 range as my levels have been stable for last 16 years. I have a new PCP now so I?ll HSA be to see if willing to adjust meds if needed. If not, I?ll Endo shop until I find someone who will!

[essnce629]

What symptoms? You can have both low thyroid and high thyroid, which have different symptoms. Also, iron deficiency (low ferritin) mimics low thyroid symptoms. I've had hyperthyroidism (autoimmune Grave's disease) and my symptoms were fast heart rate and extreme itchiness all over (palms, scalp, privates), especially at night. My iron deficiency symptoms were extreme fatigue (napping daily), fast heartbeat, always being cold, and shortness of breath while doing the simplest of activities (taking clothes out of the wash). An endocrinologist treated my hyperthyroidism (I'm now in remission) and a hematologist treated my iron deficiency with regular IV iron infusions. My iron deficiency is caused from heavy periods, most likely due to fibroids.

[bisous]

What symptoms? You can have both low thyroid and high thyroid, which have different symptoms. Also, iron deficiency (low ferritin) mimics low thyroid symptoms. I've had hyperthyroidism (autoimmune Grave's disease) and my symptoms were fast heart rate and extreme itchiness all over (palms, scalp, privates), especially at night. My iron deficiency symptoms were extreme fatigue (napping daily), fast heartbeat, always being cold, and shortness of breath while doing the simplest of activities (taking clothes out of the wash). An endocrinologist treated my hyperthyroidism (I'm now in remission) and a hematologist treated my iron deficiency with regular IV iron infusions. My iron deficiency is caused from heavy periods, most likely due to fibroids.

My (half)sister's symptoms are strange! Mostly they're HYPERthyroid. She's always hot. She is very irritable (she would argue this, lol). She has very dry skin. She's also extremely sweaty, though I'm not sure that one fits the profile? Also, funny you mention iron, she actually has extremely high iron levels and extremely high vitamin D levels! There's a reason for this, I can't remember what it is but it is some kind of syndrome or condition that she's being treated for. She's nonalcohol and has a fatty liver, for one thing. She also has astronomically high triglycerides, which are treatable only with meds. This is a hereditary thing on my stepdad's side. He had it. His dad had it. She also has hand tremors, also hereditary also from my stepdad. She said she's been tested for thyroid but that it was "normal" which triggered this thread! I remember so many people mentioning that they could be "normal" and not feel great, and that there was a range that definitely felt better. But her symptoms might very well be related to the other conditions that she has. I figure it is worth asking her doctor about. She's in Canada so I'm not sure how responsive her doctor will be if she requests fine tuning "normal" TSH levels. Its worth a shot though!

Also, my full sister, my dad and my DH all have HYPOthyroid. So I'm a little familiar with those symptoms as well. They've all been well served by pretty tame levothyroid regimes. (As in, they take a pill daily and they're good!)

[JElaineB]

Keep in mind that Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition that causes the immune system to attack the thyroid and symptoms can be hypothyroid or hyperthyroid at different times in the same person. Hopefully your half sister has a good medical team at it sounds like she has several metabolic issues.

[essnce629]

Keep in mind that Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition that causes the immune system to attack the thyroid and symptoms can be hypothyroid or hyperthyroid at different times in the same person. Hopefully your half sister has a good medical team at it sounds like she has several metabolic issues.

Yes, this is what my mom and her brother have, but her symptoms and numbers and symptoms have always been on the hypothyroidism side. For me, with hyperthyroidism, my numbers were always a TSH < .1
Since remission, my TSH is always in the 1.xx range. Make sure she asks for a full thyroid panel WITH thyroid antibodies, but yeah, sounds like she may have other stuff going on. Other common hyperthyroidism symptoms are increased metabolism, feeling hot, anxious feeling, weight loss, and light or skipped periods. Hand tremors are symptoms also, which the doctor said I had, but was not noticeable to me. Oh and my eyes itched all the time too.