How do I know if I have hypothyroid?

[lisaaw]

After reading about the depression so many of you have struggled with, I wasn't aware of that being something that goes along with hypothyroidism but I've had a huge problem in that area also, especially this past year and it's gotten really bad in the last couple of months. I have been crying a lot and haven't a clue as to why. There are days that I'm just so overwhelmed with sadness and feel so utterly hopeless and there's no justification for these emotions.

Lisa

[lunazul]

Lisa,

You might use http://my.webmd.com/pages/dir/toc.asp to search for a doctor. It sounds like with the depression you are experiencing, you need to find a good doctor soon. Make sure to keep up with your exercise, because it will help with the depression too. Let us know how it works out.

Debby

[2big4mysize]

Lisa when you have hypotyroid every cell in your body slows down whatever itis supposed to do as our cells use T3 in their metabolism and if they are all working in slowmotion you don't get the chemicals you need produced at the rate you need them. This happens in the brain and many many times low thyroid in the past was misdiagnoised as Depression and attempts to treat it with depression meds didn't help.

It was so misdiagnoised that it it now standard proceedure in all suppected new depression cases to test for low thyroid as part of the battery of tests done to diagnois.

So if you think you have it go see your doctor and get the blood tests done. There are other medical problems like anemia that can cause depression too.

[lisaaw]

After another few hours on the phone today, I finally got an appointment for later this week. Not with a doctor but a "practioner." I'm not even sure what that is.....someone a little more qualified than a nurse but less qualified than a doctor maybe?

I dug out a copy of my lab results from one of the thyroid tests 5 or 6 years ago. I'm going to take this with me to my appointment and let the "practioner" see it but maybe some of you guys could comment on these results and let me know what you think.

TSH 1.11
FREE T4 1.25

Lisa

[2big4mysize]

those are excellent numbers for normal thyroids indicating you didn't have primanry hypothyroid when that testing was done.

[booklady]

Re: How do I know if I have hypothyroid?

I finally got my test results back. They called and said they were normal and I asked them to send them to me.
Here are the numbers
T3 total 109 they said expected range is 90 to 200
free T4 (thyroxine) 1.19 they said expected range is 0.73-1.95
TSH 4.7 expected range 0.3-5.1
How do these results look ?? I would just love an opinion from the folks on the board who have experience with this.
Thanks, Stephie

[2big4mysize]

Re: How do I know if I have hypothyroid?

here is a link http://www.aace.com/newsroom/press/2...php?r=20010118 that deals with your TSH level.

And another one http://www.aace.com/public/awareness...xplanation.php

if you are symptomatic of hypo them discuss it with your doc.

[ksing88]

Re: How do I know if I have hypothyroid?

Please also read my post from today in this forum. subject line: Some GREAT info. on Thyroid/Weight Gain Thanks!

[ssMarilyn]

Re: How do I know if I have hypothyroid?

OMG - I have never heard such an ignorant statement from a doctor!! That's the FIRST thing they should think to check. Thyroid disease is the most common UNDIAGNOSED medical condition in women today!

[digital drama]

Re: How do I know if I have hypothyroid?

Im always cold and my weight bounces to and from crazy extremes. Everybody has some different symptoms. However- EVERYONES thyroid numbers fluctuate- so I have to disagree with people saying that its a simple blood test. True, the blood test needs to be done and you should demand it. But you need to have several thyroid panels (had mine done every six weeks) to make sure that there is an actual issue at hand, and not a minor fluctuation.

Like everyone else said- tell the doc you want the panel done. But you will not be able to have an answer right away. It takes time to diagnose. If you end up finding out your Hypo- Im super sorry. Its no fun. Good luck!!