Do I have hyperthyroidism?

[beezer20]

For the past couple months Ive been suffering from some severe symptoms, rapid heart rate,chest pain, palpitations,dizziness, whole body burning sensations, visual disturbances, anxiety and panic etc. Ive been to the emergency room numerous times in the past 2 months even a few day stay. They always tell me my tests are normal and im suffering from anxiety. Even though my tests were normal I decided to set up an appointment with a cardiologist because of the rapid heart rate, chest pain and palpitations. As the cardiologist was going over my test results from the hospital he told me that my free t4 was 1.97 . so he set me up for another ft4 test. the problem I have is my symptoms are severe and i dont go back to him for another two weeks to get the results . Ive read some things online about comparing ft4,t3 and tsh but i dont have the results of the t3 and tsh. without the t3 and tsh does anybody know if my ft4 could be causing my symptoms. thanks.

[ewford]

  In my opinion from seeing your posts and a few symptoms, you have either Lymes disease or mycoplasma infection.

  Symptoms are, let me guess, Chronic headaches, eye pain, sensory overload (hypersensative), anxiety, Fatigue, migrating joint pain, uti like symptoms, IBS, stabbing sensations, ankles and feet hurt, feel like you are going to retch, heart or chest pains, flutter in heartbeat, sometimes rage, OCD tendencies, "brain fog", chronic sore throat, or swollen glands. Hot and cold sensations on skin, weird rashes. dry cough occasionally.    Any of these ring a bell?

[Barb135]

It's always best to do the FT3 and FT4 tests at the same time; that way you know what they both were, since there could be some fluctuations between now and Monday; however, if you can only get one FT4 and you've already done that, by all means, get the FT3 on Monday, anyway.

[beezer20]

Thanks for the replys. Well, I went to get my FT4 and FT3 done today ,but it seems my doctor misprinted the tests I needed. The lab told me they ordered a Free T3 by ria test which she says they dont have. They have a Free T3 and a T3 by ria but they dont have FT3 by ria.So i have to call monday and get it straightened out. I went ahead and took the FT4 today, and im planning on taking the FT3 on monday. But as I was driving home I realized that that would be a 48 hour window between the tests,and I didnt know if that would affect the accuracy of the test. They didnt advise against it. Should I retake my FT4 on monday with the FT3 or not? so confused!

[blueeyes1962]

I agree with goolarra....I don't think the doctors are aware of how miserable these hyperthyroid symptoms can make a person feel...I was out of work for 5 weeks  till mine got under control and I hear that is fairly quick.  I had dismissed many of the symptoms to other things like my shaky hands and palpatations to too much coffee or hormone imbalance (thinking maybe perimenopause).  One day I just couldn't deny it was something more serious when my heart rate hit 160 and  I had chest pressure.   So ....be persistent and maybe they can put you on a low dose beta blocker to control your discomforting symptoms until they can sort out the details....I don't like pills but I do know that the beta blocker saved my life (decreased the racing heart and palpatations)  and sanity (I was getting panic attacks).
Best of luck--it does get better:)

[beezer20]

I do not know the reference range of the FT4 it was done in the E.R. and they had said nothing to me about my thyroid being high. it was the cardiologist who had pointed it out to me. I have been dealing with these symtoms for a while now and im honestly at my breaking point . I told him how bad my symptoms were, and he knew how many times i had been to the E.R. ,but he acted like it was nothing seroius. its irritating, but Im getting bloodwork tommorow and hopefully I can call and get the results back before two weeks. thank you very much for the feedback.

[goolarra]

Do you know the reference range on your FT4?  Ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from your own lab report.  A fairly "standard" range for FT4 is 0.8-1.8, so your result of 1.97 would be clearly high, indicating hyperthyroidism.  So, if your lab's range is similar, your FT4 level could definitely be causing your symptoms.

Call your doctor and impress upon him how severe your symptoms are and how important it is to see him before two weeks.  Results are usually available within a day or two, so there's no reason (except the doctor's schedule) why you should have to wait that long.  Someimes these guys just don't understand how truly miserable we are.