Strange things afoot here....

jjkrhbb · 08-22-2008, 12:49 PM

I originally posted this in the "do you have this problem" section, however, received some great advice to post here as well.

For the past several months, 8.5 to be exact, I have had these swollen nodes in both my armpits. Darn things itch like crazy. And now one of them is red on the surface, however, still deep inside. Which makes no sense. I have always been an itchy person, but clawing myself for relief, which by the way it doesnt provide much, seems just wrong. And then there is the cold/sweating. I am cold all the time. 100 degrees outside and I am wearing jeans and a sweater. But, at night.....I wake up drenched in sweat. But yet, I am cold. Does that make sense??

Of course, this is not to mention all the other junk I am dealing with. Hair loss where I want it to be growing, Hair growth where I want it to be gone, tired/fatigued as heck, acne, too much weight, etc.

I went to doc for the nodes and got nothing. Went to doc about the other symptoms and was told I am borderline Hypo but no treatment. Well please tell me how going from 1.76 TSH to 3.75 TSH (which is over the high range according to the endo website), that there is nothing that can be done. How in the world do I get a doctor to listen to my labs WITH my symptoms?? So far my doc has said that I am dreaming up my symptoms. Nice, right? Needless to say, I don't go to her anymore.

I have taken spiro for 6 months going on 7. And I take BCP for regulation, since I would only have one period a year if I didn't regulate it. I have had these symptoms above for a long time, since the birth of my second child 5 years ago.

Hope this didnt turn into too much of a rant, but I am just tired of it all and need some help. Does anyone have this stuff happening as well? I really appreciate whatever you can tell me. Thank you for reading.

SoSilly · 08-22-2008, 04:18 PM

Oh my goodness. You poor thing

That is just horrible that the doctor's havent really listened to your symptoms along with your labs and when they do, they say you're dreaming them up? What the heck is THAT! I'd have slapped that doctor in the face. Yes, you're dreaming up these awful symptoms because you WANT to be wearing a sweater and jeans in the 100* heat and you WANT to wake up drenched in sweat every night. Geez *roll eyes* What a treat.

I'd suggest finding another doctor. It has taken me a long time to be diagnosed with anything and I finally found (after the 3rd doctor) a dx for all of my symptoms and am on my way to feeling a lot better. Were you going to a GP or an Endo? I'd strongly recommend an Endo as they have more expertise in this area (however some are still dumb as rocks).

From what you're describing, it sounds to me like Hypothyroidism. Your TSH is within normal limits for the old range. Now, anything over 3.0 is high. Doctor's are so fricken stupid sometimes when it comes to the TSH issues. When I went to my gyno (November of 07), I had them do routine blood work because I just did not feel right. My TSH came back at 2.98. Technically normal but right on the borderline. I had it retested again this past spring at my GP's office because my symptoms were getting out of control(only 4 months later) and it went up to 7.89. That could have been prevented by starting me on a low dose of Synthroid to get me back to normal limits.

Call up your dr's office that did the TSH labs recently and ask to be mailed (or faxed) a copy of your recent labs. When you go to another doctor, they'll want to see them. The hair loss and the cold rings a bell for hypothyroid. Are you feeling tired/no energy a lot? I thought I was becoming depressed because I was crying all the time over nothing, I was so tired every single second of the day.... if I could, I would have napped the whole day. Definitely put some effort into finding a better doctor. It takes a lot of patience but it is so worth it when you find someone who gives you the answers you've been waiting for.

jjkrhbb · 08-22-2008, 04:53 PM

SoSilly....thank you for all of your information. I have seen three GPs and two GYNs. One of the GYN groups had an endo in their practice, however, they would not let me see her first. And since the dumb gyn from that group said I was dreaming it up, I was never able to make an appt with the Endo. I tell you what...I am so tired all the time. I could take a nap at anytime and sleep and sleep. I have noticed my energy levels worsening even more lately. I mean I cant stay awake during the day and I cant get up off my bum to exercise. Vicious cycle. Then here I am crying over some Olympics commercial. LOL. So nuts. I am very irritable too, unfortunately for hubby, who is very supportive, yet is in the crossfire.
I see you are in Chicago...I am about 5 hours from there in St. Louis. I wish I could see your Doc.

Well I am going to check my insurance to see what they will cover. I have about two months before I am out of the 6 month wait period, I think. They cover things sporadically. So we'll see.

Congrats on being on your way to feeling better. So wonderful to hear the good stories. Thank you again.