The doc says I have hypERthyroidism...??!
Question: The docotor says I have hyperthyroidism, but I am having all the symptoms of HYPOthyroidism. (i.e. my hair is falling out, I'm gaining weight like crazy, sore joints, severe fatigue) I'm starting to have these scary dizzy spells at night also. Here are my lab results:
Free T3: 4.04
Free T4: 0.79
TSH: 0.02
*Please note that I do have an appointment with the endocrineologist (a referral from my doc), but she's booked up until MARCH.
So any advice/help until then would be great.
Answers: The docotor says I have hyperthyroidism, but I am having all the symptoms of HYPOthyroidism. (i.e. my hair is falling out, I'm gaining weight like crazy, sore joints, severe fatigue) I'm starting to have these scary dizzy spells at night also. Here are my lab results:
Free T3: 4.04
Free T4: 0.79
TSH: 0.02
*Please note that I do have an appointment with the endocrineologist (a referral from my doc), but she's booked up until MARCH.
So any advice/help until then would be great.
Your TSH is what the doctor is going by - quite low - hyperthyroidism. Yes, you can have hypo symptoms. Best thing is to google as much as you can on Hyper. Read some of the groups/boards that you find. I don't find it to be an easy disease to understand - I'm currently reading Complete Thyroid Book, by Dr. Kenneth Ain. It is good. I have experienced both hyper and hypo symptoms at various times. Go to a library and bookstore and see the variety of books.
Your endocrinologist should be able to ease your worries and set an action plan. They usually have long waits - especially if they are good endo's!! I travel to see my current endo - he is very good. They know best how to medicate you, not the GP's.
If those are your test results, you do have hyperthyroidism, and not hypothyroidism. You may sometimes get the same 'symptoms' from either end of the thyroid 'scale' ... and I do hope your doctor put you on thyroid medication, because a TSH of O.02 is ALARMING. I have hypothyroidism, and had similar symptoms, plus I needed to take a long nap every day, and slept BETTER than normal at night, and the medication took longer to get me back to a more 'normal' state than I thought it would ... it was at least 8 weeks before I started to feel a 'little better' and nearly two years before I started to feel 'normal' again ... but my thyroid recently went 'off again' and I'm now in 'getting better' mode. I can tell you that you should feel 'antsy' and even 'hyperactive' rather than 'like you're on a relaxing vacation' ... and it's THAT which should tell you the test results are 'correct' and not the hair loss, weight gain, etc. My mother had hyperthyroidism, and she also gained weight and lost her hair, and had sore joints and fatigue ... but we needed 'different meds' because we have different things going wrong with our thyroids. CALL YOUR DOCTOR and ask to be put on meds NOW while you wait for your appointment with the endocrinologist ... there may be something else going on in your body that your primary care physician can't find, but meanwhyile you NEED the meds and you NEED TO TAKE THEM EVERY MORNING, so you can at least start to feel better. And after this, be VERY AWARE of your hair growth ... if you start losing hair again after the meds are working, you need to get another thyroid test. That's how my doctor knew my thyroid was 'off' and had the test done (he did this only 9 months after the last one, not a full year) ... so I'm 'on my way to being well again' ... GOOD LUCK. Hang in there, because there is 'life' after your thyroid goes nuts ... it's just hard to realize that BECAUSE YOUR THYROID is going nuts.
Your doctor is the one to listen to. Symptoms alone do not always establish a diagnosis, especially with endocrine disorders.