I'm a Hypo and going insane!

[amshum]

This will end up as a rant, but I'm getting desperate. I have Hypothyroidism, and have had this diagnosis since I was 16 (I'm now 25). Well, For over a year, I was on Synthroid .15mg (150mcg). I went back to my RE back in May and my TSH came back too low and out of range at 0.06.

So, she backed my dose down to .1mg (100mcg), and I feel like I'm going insane. My symptoms are back in full swing!

My mood swings have gotten awful, gaining weight despite exercising and eating moderately better, constantly tired and fatigued (sluggish, run down and lethargic), my hair is falling out more and feels thinner, I'm definitely depressed and restless, insomnia is in full force, I can't concentrate, I'm more forgetful, I over-react and get panicked easily, and the worst... I'm raging.

My relationship with my BF may be over because I got so nuts on him Tuesday night, after a wonderful time with him... I just went nuts on him, hurt him by saying awful things that I didn't mean, and now he doesn't seem to want to talk to me. He thinks that this is "in my head" because he doesn't understand my illness very well... I emailed him last night trying to explain it to him, but he hasn't written me back... So, it may be over for us...

I'm so depressed and angry. I was feeling so great, even tho I was "too low" in my TSH level. She backed me off way too far I think, and I'm sure now my TSH is too far out of range the other way, but we won't know until I get my BW done next Tuesday.

Please tell me I'm not losing my head, and that ya'll have experiences similar... I hope not losing a loved one, as I might have... But the symptoms... Please tell me this is not all in my head...

Thanks.

[shenacat]

Some people, especially people who have been on thyroid replacement hormone for a long time, do best with what is called a "suppressed" TSH. This means the TSH is very low or actually not traceable at all. Especially with an autoimmune disease, this is important for the health of the patient because a lot of what makes you sick with the disease is triggered by the TSH.

To give you some understanding of why you need to have your T3 and T4 levels tested, here is a little explanation:

TSH is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone. It is actually a hormone that comes from the pituitary gland. The pituitary is supposed to tell the thyroid how much hormone you need.

T4 is thyroxine. It is a thyroid hormone and the "inactive" form. T4 converts to T3 which is tri-iodothyronine, the "active" version of thyroid hormone. T3 is what actually gets to your cells.

So when the doctor measures your TSH, (s)he is actually measuring a pituitary function. To measure thyroid function one must measure T3 and T4, especially in a patient who has been on hormone for a long time like you. Both hormones must be measured because sometimes T4 does not convert well to T3 and this is something that we need to know about, or the patient will not feel better on T4 only medication like synthroid.

So if I were you I'd suggest getting a full thyroid panel done with FREE T3 and FREE T4. It may be that TSH is just no longer a good indicator of your thyroid status.

[amshum]

Thank you for that information.

Is there a difference in T3 & T4 and FREE T3 and FREE T4, or are they the same? When I ask my doctor to run these tests, do I need to stress that I want *FREE* T3 and *FREE* T4 run?

I will be sure to request a *full thyroid panel* with the *FREE* T3 and *FREE* T4 test.

Thanks again. I can't wait to get to the doc on Tuesday... I'll be sure to post my results here when I get them. Thanks for your help again.

[raidergrl]

Its not just you i also over react and stick my foot in my mouth when i dont feel my thyroid meds are working. i hope your boyfriend will be able to understand and forgive you. ill keep my fingers crossed for you!

[amshum]

Thanks raidergrl.

Unfortunately, he hasn't talked to me since Wed. night. I took some PMs and went to sleep early last night, but I wrote him an email, again apologizing for what I had done, and trying to explain to him that my meds are totally off. He didn't write me back last night or this morning. Tonight he'll probably work a 12 hour shift, and not write me... This weekend he'll spend with his family, and I doubt he'll write me. I don't know if we're finished or not, but I pray not. I love him so much, and I know he loves me (he's told me he does) and I hope I have not screwed us up for good. I hope he just needs some time to heal, and understand that this isn't all "in my head".

Sorry, I better stop for now, as I'm still on edge. I can't wait for Tuesday... This won't be a good weekend. Thanks again.

[prunepie]

free's are what are actually in your bloodstream,,available for use. the totals dont really mean much. your total can be fine..but if your free(available) is low..you will still feel like crap

xoxo jenn

[amshum]

Can those of you who knows something about this stuff (I feel like a moron) take a peek at this thread that contains my lab results? I'd appreciate any input. TIA!
http://www.soulcysters.net/showthrea...threadid=91773