Confused About Thyroid Test Results

[mamasaidso]

I'm really wondering what's going on with thyroid and what to do next, if anything. Have had tightness in throat and thyroid feels like it's pulsing most of the time. Had ultrasound, which indicated a large thyroid, but nothing else out of the norm. Blood work came back normal, except for elevated antibodies. Have had increasing fatigue and weight gain and just feel terrible. Doctor wants to recheck levels in six months. He also tested for cortisol and did dexamethasone suppression test which was normal. AM cortisol was high, but other testing okay. Have raised area over left collarbone which appeared in last six months, so he wanted to rule out Cushings. Diagnosed celiac in Feb last year. I really thought I would feel better by now. It's a little depressing. Anyone have similar experience with this?

[georgie]

An enlarged thyroid and elevated Antibodies is not 'normal'. This sounds a lot like autoimmune thyroid disease. Do you have your results to post ? I can only suggest you need to see another Dr that knows more about thyroid disease... Adrenal fatigue is common with thyroid disease and often shows with fluctuating levels of cortisol. High can mean low in reality... Have you had a saliva test with 4 samples during the day ? You can order your own.....

[Aroostook]

An enlarged thyroid and elevated Antibodies is not 'normal'. This sounds a lot like autoimmune thyroid disease. Do you have your results to post ? I can only suggest you need to see another Dr that knows more about thyroid disease... Adrenal fatigue is common with thyroid disease and often shows with fluctuating levels of cortisol. High can mean low in reality... Have you had a saliva test with 4 samples during the day ? You can order your own.....

Sounds to me like Hashimotos thyroiditis. That needs to be treated. What thyroid med are you on. Synthroid if you have allergies to trees will do you no good, because it contains an inactive ingredient that will agrivate that allergy and make your numbers fluxuate. Get yourself to another doctor who knows how to treat auto immune disease. My rhumatologist treats mine. Good luck!

[Gemini]

I'm really wondering what's going on with thyroid and what to do next, if anything. Have had tightness in throat and thyroid feels like it's pulsing most of the time. Had ultrasound, which indicated a large thyroid, but nothing else out of the norm. Blood work came back normal, except for elevated antibodies. Have had increasing fatigue and weight gain and just feel terrible. Doctor wants to recheck levels in six months. He also tested for cortisol and did dexamethasone suppression test which was normal. AM cortisol was high, but other testing okay. Have raised area over left collarbone which appeared in last six months, so he wanted to rule out Cushings. Diagnosed celiac in Feb last year. I really thought I would feel better by now. It's a little depressing. Anyone have similar experience with this?

Elevated antibodies and the symptoms you are having are indicative of Hashimoto's thyroid disease. I have this myself and have learned a tremendous amount over the past 15 years in how best to treat this problem. If your TSH level is over 2.5, you are hypothyroid. There are many doctors who do not keep current on this disease and still go by the old levels on the lab work, which are higher than what is practiced today by those who know how to treat Hashi's.

You need a doctor who will always do a COMPLETE thyroid panel and who pays close attention to not only your TSH level but your free T3 and free T4 levels.

This is the amount of usable, circulating hormone that is available for use by your body. Most people do best when the T3 and T4 are in the upper ranges of normal. It's called the "optimal" range. It is also important to INCLUDE your symptoms as part of figuring out dosage and not just dose by lab numbers....it just doesn't work that way.

I am going through another round of adjustment and am actually switching meds and will be dosing every 12 hours. When you have autoimmune thyroid disease, it can be difficult to keep levels stable, especially if you are under stress. That's what messed me up recently and I am currently hypo-thyroid again!

The statement you made about this being a little depressing.....that's another symptom of low thyroid, being depressed. It's a viscous cycle!

[mamasaidso]

Thanks for responding. When I receive blood test results in mail I will post them. My TSH runs around 2.058 and I'm not taking any medication. Nurse didn't tell me how elevated antibody test was, but I'm really wondering. I've been so dizzy the last couple months. Thought my B12 was low again, but it's okay. Had a bacterial infection that lasted seven weeks and was really run down after that. Got a dark brown staining on my tongue after recovering from the infection, and it's still lingering, but not as dark. Now that's kind've strange. That same week I almost passed out and pushed my endocrinologist to see me and to have labs done. I thought for sure it would be adrenal related. Will look into the saliva testing for sure.

Thanks again,everyone.

[Gemini]

Thanks for responding. When I receive blood test results in mail I will post them. My TSH runs around 2.058 and I'm not taking any medication. Nurse didn't tell me how elevated antibody test was, but I'm really wondering. I've been so dizzy the last couple months. Thought my B12 was low again, but it's okay. Had a bacterial infection that lasted seven weeks and was really run down after that. Got a dark brown staining on my tongue after recovering from the infection, and it's still lingering, but not as dark. Now that's kind've strange. That same week I almost passed out and pushed my endocrinologist to see me and to have labs done. I thought for sure it would be adrenal related. Will look into the saliva testing for sure.

Thanks again,everyone.

You still may be hypo with a TSH of 2. It all depends on what your other numbers are and what you symptoms are. Many people are sub-clinically low thyroid which will give you symptoms even though your numbers look OK. They fall in that gray area no doctor will take anyone seriously in!