What causes hypothyroid and low testosterone in young men?

[Utaylor]

I am a 24yrs old male and have been having problems for the past ten years, only in the past five have things gotten so bad that I knew something must be wrong. I have been seeing an endocrinologist that diagnosed me with hypothyroidism, but even after taking Armor Thyroid (30mg) for a month the only difference I notice is my though process is a little clearer and speech doesn't slur as much, I wanted to know how could I get a doctor to find out what is really wrong with me. Today I went to see a neurologist today, and hopefully try to get him to get an MRI of my pituitary gland and thyroid, but he only prescribed some Imitrex (100mg), Propranolol (20mg), tramadol (50mg), and ibuprofen (800mg) for migraine headaches, I get them on and off, sometimes they are pretty bad but anyway that was all, and he didn’t see any other reason to have an MRI done. I really ready to give up, ‘m tired of being tired and only being not even half the man I used to be or know I can be, it’s very depressing. The endocrinologist said he didn’t see any reason to get and MRI either, but at this point I really want one. I have to take Testim 1% as well for my low testosterone and now my primary care physician is saying that he believed all my problems are pretty much self-inflicted, somatization, is what he calls it. He says my blood work is perfect and that I should try and move on with my life, but how can I when I don’t have the energy, motivation, and charisma to do it. (He’s not a mean guy but I just told him to give it to me straight.) Here are some lab test results: Does anyone out there see a problem or is it just me? I have my lab tests uploaded within my profile. Thank-you

Haven't started the neurologists meds because I'm afraid they will interfere with my thyroid.

[christaduff]

I thought I was going crazy because of my Thyroid.  Here is my story:

I went to a Psychiatrist who put me on medicine that made me feel even crazier and made me gain about 40 pounds. That was partially my own fault. The Psychiatrist did not want to put me on any medication at all but I begged him because I felt so mentally depressed. Also because my thyroid test results in the past reflected normal thyroid function, they were not complete panel test. I went back in and told him about how the medicine didn't help (like yours didn't help you, please don't take a medicine if it doesn't help you and tell your doctor about it!) and he referred me to my endocrinologist that I love who fixed my health. Sometimes you can take t3 for depression instead of antidepressants and it works when anti depressants do not. You will only get this from your endocrinologist mine takes people off their antidepressants and puts them on Armour even with normal ths levels because she finds that it works for them.

My point is the  Psychiatrist thought from the first visit it was my thyroid.  He was right I was wrong. I do not think the doctor is trying to make you feel crazy in fact I think you should see one because if you are having health issues not mental issues they will know. It can help you narrow down your search for the problem. A Psychiatrist is not going to just hand out medicine unless it is working and he will likely figure out if you need to be there or not. It's a liability for them to give you medicine like that.  

Going to a Psychiatrist does not mean your crazy or even that you should be there it is a suggestion to help you figure out the puzzle. Use it to help yourself because sometimes you need all the help you can get.

I thought I had off and on depression my whole life but it was just my thyroid. My mood issues cleared up completely within 2 weeks. I could feel a difference in 2 days mentally. I didn't wake up in tears for absolutely no reason it just ceased to happen.

[Shiv Prasad, MD]

Dear Utaylor,

Thank you for uploading the report, I have gone through them.

Your thyroid hormone and testosterone levels are normal, though testosterone is towards lower limit of normal. Based on the symptom profile you have described, you seem to be suffering from Myasthenia gravis for which your neurologist has prescribed medications. Your ptosis and slurred speech are related to myasthenia.

Your Endocrinologist and Family Physician have prescribed the required hormonal treatment and above this there is hardly anything I think can be offered from endocrine point of view. I know you are in need of psychological and moral support to cope with so many difficult problems and that is the reason why I advise you to see a Psychiatrist again. Appropriate treatment has already been given to your endocrine problem and I think the residual symptoms are unrelated to endocrinology.

Hope I have answered all your questions. Wish you Good Health.

Best Regards,
Dr. Shivaprasad C

[Utaylor]

Thank-you for not making me feel crazy, I tried anti-depressants and therapy for 3 years, but unfortunately it did not work, it lead me to seek help with my physical well-being, my current endo diagnosed me with adrenal fatigue and slight hypo, given that he looked at my Free T3 and T4, but even after he put me on the Armour and DSF Herbal (adrenal fatigue), I still don't feel 100%. I have submitted my labs and doctor notes to the Emory Health Clinic in Atlanta and after one of the Neurosurgeons reviewed my labs they scheduled me for an appointment on Jan 30.

[drkatzjr]

Copy to:  Utaylor


I think giving an implied somatoform dx to this young man, with this limited information, and making the statement "I think you need to seek the help of a psychiatrist"  was a profoundly inappropriate statement given the paucity of information, and especially in this context.

[drkatzjr]

I think giving an implied somatoform dx to this young man, with this limited information, and making the statement "I think you need to seek the help of a psychiatrist"  was a profoundly inappropriate statement given the paucity of information, and especially in this context.

[Utaylor]

I hope I'm not getting on your nerves or anything but I have had these problems for years, they started around the age of 12, the symptoms were just not that significant at the time, I didn't have any speech problems but I felt a little off, it felt like I had to try harder to do some of the things that had once been easy for me. The gap just kept getting wider and wider until I started having horrible anxiety, slurred and stuttered speech, and the inability to process information. Before I started diving into my physical health, I did attack the mental first, right after high school I went to therapy and was prescribed anti depressants but after 3 to 4 years of it not working I wondered if it could be something else. Ever since my endo put me on Armour, vitamin d, dim plex, and dsf herbal, in addition to the prescribed Testim from my regular family physician I'm starting to feel better not %100 but there is an improvement in my condition.

Here is the link to the first lab: http://www.medhelp.org/photos/show/7410220?type=posts

[Utaylor]

I posted my first lab results in a previous post within the public forum, they include a testosterone test as well.

TSH, 3RD Generation        1.01
T4, Free                            1.1
T3 Uptake                          35

Testosterone Total              300
LC/MS/MS  

I also have a ptosis in both of my eyes and even though the Armour Thyroid is helping it , the ptosis seems to migrate from one eye to the other, before my left eye was very droppy and stopped retracting, now since I've been on the medications the ptosis is slightly clearing within the left and moving over to the right.

[Shiv Prasad, MD]

Dear Utaylor,

The hormonal test reports that you have provided are normal. Based on these reports I don’t think you have hypothyroidism- probably the diagnosis of hypothyroidism was made with an earlier report which you have not provided. If a hypothyroid patient is started on treatment, it usually take 3-6 months to appreciate major difference. Also, there is nothing in the reports to suggest that your testosterone is low. It would be worthwhile to check your LH, FSH and testosterone levels again but not while you are on testim cream (only after it has been stopped for few days at least).

You can be rest assured that if any of the symptoms you have noted are due to hypothyroidism they will eventually subside. But you need to remember that you cannot attribute all your symptoms to hypothyroidism. Looking at your complaints there appears to be a psychological basis for at least some of them and hence treatment will also have to be on that line. I fully understand your problem and empathize with you,  but I can only help if there is any hormonal problem responsible for them.

You can take the medications that your neurologist has prescribed because any interference with thyroid can be addressed by modifying the thyroxine dosage.

I think you need to seek the help of a psychiatrist for your symptoms and I recommend that you get evaluated for depression. I definitely see a problem with your health just as you do, but there is nothing more that can be offered to you from an endocrine point of view and no hormonal treatment is going to relieve your symptoms. I would also urge you to try meditation and/or yoga to reduce stress. I too don’t find any obvious reason to get an MRI because MRI will hardly give any actionable information which would help to relieve the sort of symptoms you seem to be experiencing.

Hope that this information helps and hope that you will get better soon.

Thank you for using MedHelp's "Ask an Expert" Service, where we feature some of world's renowned medical experts in their fields. Millions have benefitted from our service to get personalized advice for them and for their loved ones.

Take care.

Best Regards,
Dr. Shivaprasad C