Hypothyroidism blood test results. Do I need a second opinion?

[monica0323]

I went to the doctor today once again for the ongoing symptoms of hypothyroidism. I am always cold, my hair is falling out, I'm using the bathroom once a week, I am always tried (sleep around 10hrs a day), can hardly get up in the morning, I was even diagnosed with depression and take wellbutrin, but it does not help one bit. Also it is impossible for me to lose any weight. I went up from 145 pounds January 2013 to 160lbs March 2013. I am now 5'3 and 160lbs. The symptoms have slowly gotten worse and worse over the past 8 months. In July these were all my blood results:

Cortisol, AM (baseline)= 23.9 (lab range 5.0 to 25.0)
Testosterone, free serum = 0.86 (lab range is 0.06 to 2.57)
Testosterone, serum = 44.5 (lab range is 8.4 to 48.1)
Thyroxine (T4) = 8.5 (lab range is 4.5 to 12.0)
Thyroxine, free (RIA) = 1.22 (lab range is 0.83 to 1.62)
TIBC, Component = 322 (lab range is 228 to 428)
TSH = 3.330 (lab ranges are 0.270 to 4.2)

I noticed that their TSH range levels are not .3 to 3.0... should I look for another doctor??

ALSO, I complained that not enough tests were done before and requested some new ones.
These are the ones I got tested for today:

Anti-thyroglobulin Antibody, Serum
Anti-microsomal Ab (THY.PEROX.)
T3, Total
T3, Reverse, Serum or Plasma
T3 uptake
T3 Free, Serum
Thyroxine, Free (RIA)
Thyroxine (T4, total)
TSH

Should those be enough to get accurate results? or is something important missing? Should I get a second opinion?

[monica0323]

I totally agree with the part where you say where does all that stuff go lol. I ask myself that all the time, its like my body absorbed it all lmao. Looking at the test results it seems my body does not absorb vitamin D or b12. I was recommended to get b12 SHOTS, so I might ask about those. But I don't want to focus in on just one thing and have all the other million symptoms... I wan't all the things to get better. But right now I'll do anything even if its to feel a little more better, I just wish I had excellent doctors who can read my results and tell me what could be the cause, even if its in the range, because like you said, we might be in the range but we are in the low end of it or the high end when its suppose to be reverse... I am in the process of looking for a new  doctor that will really look into the problems. I will keep everyone posted, especially after the new test results, any changes in that could really help zero in on the problem when compared to the old results. Unless the new results are exactly the same as the old results! Then I'm getting no where once again!

[Barb135]

As with everything, both the pickle juice and vinegar must be used with caution and there's no guarantee that will  make a difference.  Sometimes when I would try them, it would seem for a while to make things worse, but it usually helped after a while.  

BTW - apple cider vinegar is also supposed to help boost metabolism; haven't tried it for a long enough length of time to know whether it's true or not.  From what I can see -- all things in moderation.

[leilajax]

Yes, OJ is the worst with acid reflux for me!   I don't drink it anymore either.  And now that you mention it, my husband said something about apple cider vinegar and I know I've seen it on one of those "low stomach acid" websites. Maybe I'll give the pickle or vinegar a try today.

[Barb135]

Strange as it sounds, I sometimes found that my acid reflux would get better if I drank a little bit of dill pickle juice or a few ounces of water with a tablespoon of vinegar and teaspoon of honey.  It's true that sometimes, the problem is not enough acid, rather than too much.  

I was on aciphex for several years for my reflux, but sometimes it just wouldn't touch it.  Omeprazole did nothing.......  pickle juice or vinegar water would sometimes settle it.  

Also try raising the head of your bed about 3-4 inches; that helped me, too because it kept the acid from refluxing as badly.

Oh, one more thing -- OJ was/is one of the biggest offenders when it came to acid reflux for me.  Even today, I rarely have the acid issue, but OJ will do it every time. I no longer drink it, though I can occasionally eat an orange, with no trouble.

[leilajax]

LOL!!!  It's uncanny!  The way you describe your constipation is EXACTLY verbatim what I told my GI.  I don't have to go and it's not normal to not have to go... where is all of this food going if it's not coming out???  When I prepared for my colonoscopy, I only had to drink a couple of glasses of the 1 gallon laxative solution before I was passing clear watery fluid AND I'm a moron and forgot to stop eating 12 hours before drinking it, so that was after eating 2 meals.  So weird!  Your chloride is about the same as mine, low normal.  I'm so sick of being on the low end and high end of normal, I could scream!!!  I, too, take the B12 (1000mcg) and the iron + vit.C and Vit. D, yet all the symptoms are still there.  No relief!  I have a new theory after reading about all of this digestive stuff (not only hypochlorhydria, but also leaky gut, which both have to do with thyroid symptoms: causing them or as a result of them).  I wonder if these vitamins/minerals aren't being properly absorbed in the gut because of low stomach acid.  Maybe, just maybe, if I fix my stomach/gut the vitamins/minerals may actually have an affect on my symptoms and provide a little relief.  At this point, I'm ready to guinea pig myself just to see.  My thyroid issues aren't going away (I was positive for the thyroid antibody tests), so I may as well try anything that provides relief.  I have seen ALL of the specialists too and I have yet to convince them that all of my symptoms point directly at my thyroid.  Idiots!  

Anyway, I live in between DC and Baltimore.  If you are close by, I would definitely recommend giving my latest endo a try.  With your numbers, she would be able to try to help you.  If you aren't near, post a question about recommended endos in your area.  Someone on this forum has a list of endos in different locations that others have recommended and treat symptoms not based on the ref. range.  

[monica0323]

The crazy thing is those tests were done in the summer time, during a time I was at the beach 2-3 times a day and getting plenty of sun, I drink a cup of OJ in the morning almost everyday, and I include Skim Plus into my diet. I also take B12 supplements (1000mcg) because I was told it can increase energy but with those results it's as if I do nothing! I already am looking for a different endo doctor, a friend of mine recommended hers so I will see if they accept my specific insurance =/ if not I am stuck with these clinic doctors that don't know what they are doing :( I will see an endo doctor at my clinic on april 9th. But he also just glanced at my results and said everything is "normal" when it clearly isnt. After seeing how his appointment goes (I will try to point out a few things in my results) depending on how he reacts I'll ask him for a trial, if not I'll ask him for a referral to a thyroid specialist, hopefully he will give it to me...