Could I have a Hypothyroid??

PJC · 02-21-2007, 02:03 AM

Hi ladies...
I gave birth mid December, I'm not breastfeeding (baby was stillborn), and I haven't gotten af yet (that makes it about 9 1/2 weeks postpartum). I have gotten her regularly for the past almost 5 years (before that she was pretty much non-existant). Also, during the pregnancy I had issues with carpal tunnel...and since delivery I have one wrist which is so weak and if I bend it the wrong way ever so slightly it is in enormous pain (I believe it's tendonitis). I also am intolerant to the cold (I don't like the heat, either). I used to be able to tolerate the cold like it was no problem...but since I lost a lot of weight 4 or 5 yrs ago (keeping in mind I have put a lot of it back on), I just don't tolerate the cold well at all. Mostly my feet (and my hands) just freeze! I can be wearing socks with fuzzy slippers or shoes in the house (set for 70 degrees) and my feet will be frozen. The only thing that can really warm them up is a hot shower. I'm going to call my ob's office anyway about not getting af...but I wanted to know what you girls thought. This tendonitis thing is definitely a new one!

TIA!!

thyroidlady · 02-22-2007, 08:55 AM

Firstly, let me say how sorry I am for your loss. It does sound to me as if you have a thyroid condition. You may have one that is difficult to detect, called Hashimotos. This could also be the cause of the problems with your pregnancies, so please go to your doctor and have a number of blood tests. Let me know how you get on.
Thyroid lady

What thyroid blood tests are there?
There are two antibodies commonly found in Hypothyroid patients, both of them attack the proteins which make up the bulk of the thyroid gland[1]:
TPOAb or McAb (Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies, otherwise known as Microsomal antibodies).
TPOAb are the most common cause of Hypothyroidism. They are also found in patients with post-partum thyroiditis if depression set in after you had a baby. (THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TEST TO HAVE--IT IS FOR ANTIBODIES)
TgAb (Anti-thyroglobulin antibodies). Synthesis of thyroid hormones takes place in the thyroglobulin molecule. These antibodies are anti-thyroglobulin. The presence of TgAb is also associated with HYPOthyroidism.
Here is the list and what the results should be
Test Abbreviation
On form
Typical Ranges

Serum thyroxine
T4
4.6-12ug/dl
Free thyroxine fraction
FT4F
0.03-0.005%
Free Thyroxine
FT4
0.7-1.9ng/dl
Thyroid hormone binding ratio
THBR
0.9-1.1
Free Thyroxine index
FT4
I4-11
Serum Triiodothyronine
T3
80-180ng/dl
Free Triiodothyronine 1
FT3
230-619pg/d
FreeT3 Index
FT3I
80-180

[1]80 Years of Hashimoto Disease edited by Nagataki, Mori and Torizuka (1993):

PJC · 02-22-2007, 03:10 PM

Thank you Thyroid lady...

I spoke to the nurse at my ob's office yesterday (it's a high risk office). She didn't seem to think it was abnormal to not have a period yet...she said just don't go more than 3 months without it. She's going to get back to me next week after she talks to my ob (he's out this week). My first pregnancy I pumped milk for a month and got it (af) 6w 1d pp, so I was expecting it earlier. I know every pregnancy is different, though. It's just hard to guess when it could be normal, or it could be PCOS, or even something else.

As far as I know...my pregnancies were lost because of reasons which had nothing to do with each other. My first one we very much suspect was caused by IC, from what I described to my doctor (my current doctor). She was perfectly healthy and just came too soon...she was born alive, though. This last pregnancy was going great, I had a cerclage put in at 12 weeks that was holding up very well. I had gone in for u/s every 2 weeks and that last doc visit I went in and they saw the baby was full of fluid (hydrops). Long story short, they tried everything you could think of to figure out what was causing it, but they never did. We knew it was very likely he would die in utero, and he did, almost 2 weeks later (I was in the hospital the whole time).

His autopsy was somewhat inconclusive, but my doctor thinks the placenta tore away from the uterine wall, ever so slightly, compromising blood flow...resulting in heart failure. He felt it was sudden...because the baby was otherwise healthy and measuring large way before that, and it wasn't because of the excess fluid back then (he didn't have any). Basically, it was just one of those flukey things (probably a good thing, in the whole scheme of things). I specifically asked him if he thought the first loss of my dd had anything to do with the loss of my ds, and he said no. I had been struck by lightening twice. That's my crappy luck, I guess.

Anyhow, I will probably make an appt with my endo...regardless. I haven't been to her in a long time anyway. I know she has tested me in the past for thyroid, but I believe all came back "normal." I know that doesn't always mean anything, though. I also have had high cortisol levels, for whatever that's worth. No reason specifically found for that...though I am overweight and it was after my first loss I was tested, so it could be stress, too. I will also add that I am having some issues with depression at the moment...but I normally am a pretty happy-go-lucky person and have always tried to make the best of any situation. That doesn't seem to be working for me right now... Right now my bf and I are having lots of issues (with each other), in addition to the stress of losing a second baby, so I don't know it would be fair to blame a thyroid for something which has another completely good and logical reason of causing it...but I'm not saying it has no part, either. It's hard to tell.

I'll keep you posted once I see the endo...and thank you for the numbers...I am going to print them as a reference.

Thanks again...

mommavia · 02-22-2007, 04:32 PM

Patty, I am sorry for your loss and on top of that, having to deal with this. {{{Hug!}}} You must be very frustrated, and rightfully so. I recommend getting in with your endo as soon as you can to get a thyroid panel drawn, making sure s/he runs the antibodies as well. Being hypo can cause problems with pregnancy as well as with the child, but I am uncertain of what exactly they are. Your endo or even ob should be able to tell you.

I too have the cold feet symptom...even now when my levels are great, but it is definately worse when my meds are not at the right dose. And as you said, just because your levels are normal doesn't mean there isn't anything wrong; having thyroid antibodies present can put things out of wack but give normal test ranges. I hope you get this sorted out soon...keep us posted!

Cynthia

PJC · 02-22-2007, 08:14 PM

Thank you, Cynthia...

Are you saying I should be getting the thyroid tests, plus antibodies (tested)? I don't know if I had the whole deal done before. I might have, but I don't know. I will definitely look into that though. I'm just going to wait for my ob to call back next week...but maybe I should just call tomorrow and make the appt with my endo anyway. I'm well overdue for an appt with her anyhow.

BTW, I like your Winston Churchill quote in your siggy...some good advice I need to take at the moment, lol.

Thanks...

mommavia · 02-23-2007, 11:25 AM

I would go ahead and make the appointment with your endocrinologist, especially if you are overdue to see her. If she is an endo who works with lots of thyroid patients then she probably already does run the thyroid panel with antibodies. I would mention it to her; I wasn't checked for anitbodies until 3 years after I found out I was hypo. Turns out, they should have checked because I had Hashimotos's and thyroid cancer the whole time, not hypothyroidism! I was not seeing a endocrinologist or even the same primary doc the whole time, I was in college.

I have been thinking about the carpel tunnel, and I don't think it is related to thyroid issues...but don't quote me on that. If you type a lot, it could be from that...I would bring that up at your upcoming appointments too, because it needs to be taken care of as well.

Hope you are having a sunshine-y day!

Cynthia

PJC · 02-23-2007, 01:10 PM

Cynthia...
I'm going to make an appt today. It shouldn't take too long to get one. As far as the carpel tunnel, I had never heard that one either. But I did read (and i think there's an article Kat posted here on SC) that says tendonitis is a symptom of HT. I think what i have is called DeQuervain's syndrome...though I am diagnosing myself...but the description is what I'm experiencing. The carpel tunnel thing was something I had trouble with during pregnancy, which I guess is common. I had never experienced it before or in my first pregnancy...but I wasn't working then either. I had a crappy little cashiering job, so it wasn't like I was typing all the time. I'm sure there was some level of repetitiveness, though. My tendonitis started after i came home from the hospital, and in the wrist that was least affected by the carpel tunnel which I thought was weird.

Anyway, DeQuervain's is usually something associated with things you do after giving birth, like breastfeeding, picking up children, etc. I don't know why it's affected me since I am not doing those things, unfortunately. I am not working either, right now.

Susan Marie · 02-23-2007, 01:29 PM

I just wanted to chime in on the carpal tunnel. I used to get excrutiating pain in my lower palm and wrist and thought I had carpal tunnel. I used to even wear a wrist splint to bed to help it. I then started getting all sorts of joint aches and multiple other symptoms. I was diagnosed w/ Hypothyroidism. I do have to say, since my thyroid has been under control (w/ med.) (it took a while because I was so out of whack).... my wrist hasn't hurt, not once, nor the other joint aches I used to have.

I am so sorry for your losses too. I am praying for a very happy future for you; you deserve it!!!!!!!!

PJC · 02-23-2007, 03:41 PM

Susan...Thank you, and I might add your twins are beautiful...you've been doubly blessed.

When I first came home from the hospital, I thought my wrist pain was carpal tunnel. I thought it was weird, though, because when I would have days off from work before that it would seem to get a little better. It had been really bad causing not only numbness, but severe pain during the night when I slept. I couldn't understand why my wrist hurt so much...I had been in the hospital for almost 2 weeks...which meant I was doing nothing (including internet typing, lol). After I had looked it up on the internet when I got home I decided it was tendonitis. Sometimes it is just the slightest of movements in my hand which is excrutiating. If you could see my face when it happens you'd think someone just cut my arm off, lol.

Anyhow, I just made my appt. It's 3/26/07. She had a cancellation for Monday afternoon, but I didn't want one that soon. It's also my EDD on Monday, so I may not be in the best frame of mind emotionally anyway that day. Maybe I can try and lose a little something (weight) by then, too. I'm trying but it's not easy.

Gezza · 02-26-2007, 04:16 AM

Patty

I was saddened to hear that your two precious ones are not with you ATM and that you are going thru a tough time with DH.
I have heard alot about carpel tunnel and hypo/adrenal stuff lately and found this for you. I hope it helps. BTW - make sure you ask for Free T3 and Free T4 tests along with antibodies - these are the only ones that really show you whats happening with your thyroid.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
"What is the relationship between hypothyroidism and carpel tunnel syndrome? A published answer would be greatly appreciated." -- MT, Buckingham, VA

Carpal tunnel syndrome is due to compression of the median nerve at the wrist. It results in pain, tingling, and weakness of the wrist with symptoms most prominent in the thumb and the adjacent three fingers. Risk factors include repetitive trauma to, or use of, the wrist joint (especially in workers on an assembly line), as well as hypothyroidism and acromegaly (growth hormone excess).

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Hypothyroidism may be associated with carpal tunnel syndrome because hypothyroid patients tend to retain fluid in connective tissues due to an accumulation of mucopolysaccarides, a substance that accumulates abnormally in hypothyroidism. This exacerbates the swelling and worsens the compression of the median nerve as it passes under the connective tissues overlying the wrist.

When hypothyroidism is treated, the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome may improve. Therefore, unless there is evidence of severe nerve injury, hypothyroid patients with carpal tunnel syndrome should wait for a few months after their hypothyroidism is corrected before considering surgery to release the pressure on the median nerve. Conservative measures such as a splint, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen may be useful while waiting for hypothyroidism to resolve.

PS Patty - you can see if your hypo by doing a basal temp test. Do a search for this on this forum.

PJC · 04-04-2007, 11:37 PM

Hi ladies,

I just wanted to update you on my endo appt. These are my thyroid levels:

TSH:2.455 (normal range 0.5-5.0)
T4:6.9 (normal range 5 to 11)

Should I have been tested for something else in regards to my thyroid? Those did come out normal, according to the lab.

I will also let you know that I got my period the last day I posted (that night at 10 weeks pp). And I just started a second one...the cycle is a little longer than I'm used to...I think this last one was 38 days...not too bad in the grand scheme of things, but I'm hoping it will regularize itself out back to normal.

My doctor also told me to see a rheumatologist for my wrist. She did in fact mention DeQuervain's, but also, wouldn't you know, for some reason my wrist wasn't hurting when I got up that morning. It hurt after I left her office, though and after that, but...argh. Anyway, after doing a little internet search, I realized you can buy the splints and whatnot without a prescription. I didn't know that. I also read I should be taking an anti-inflammatory...and I can't believe I've been in that much pain and didn't think to do that. So I've been taking aspirin (Bayer)...not even every day, but at least every other day, and sometimes only once a day. I haven't bought a splint, but I'm hoping the aspirin alone will take down the swelling and let it heal itself. So far it still hurts but I haven't had any of that pain I was talking about before...I think it's the pain of re-injury. Most of the time it feels pretty good...I can still tell it's there, but nothing at all like before.

The only thing abnormal was my insulin level was a little high. It was 20.1 (normal range 2-18). My glucose and A1c was normal. She wasn't going to give me metformin unless my insulin levels were high. She called me 3 days later and phoned in a script for me. Now hopefully I can lose some of this weight! I had pretty good luck with it before.

Gezza · 04-06-2007, 06:58 AM

Patti

The tests that you have posted will not give an adequate picture of whats really going on with your thyroid. Please see the first post on this list for the tests you need to have to do this.
Not all - in fact - not many Endo's are using the right instruments to gather the needed information. The day has long past that Specialist are up to date.
I strongly advise that you see someone who tests the full range if you are still thinking you might be hypo. It is well worth the search as quaility of life becomes so much better.

All the best on your journey to health