Is it more than Hypothyroidism?

[san58]

I am 58years old and have hypothyroidism, and my latest results came back;
FreeT4  13.1 pmol/l    TSH 16.40 mIU/l    

I am concerned I have adrenal insufficiency,as I have complete exhaustion, find it hard to wake up, let alone get through the day.   All my white blood cells are low and I have neutropenia. My muscles are so painful, and sore to touch. They fasiculate, my CKmm is 414. I also get numbness and tingling.   Terrible back pain just above the waistline.  Cholesterol at 9. Alk Phos 144.  Suffer horrendous vertigo with sickness, terrible funny headaches and eyesight goes blurry. I could go on but I am so fed up of it all.  Feel I have suffered for over 10 years, after a perriod of extreme prolonged stress. Once I was rushed into hospital unconscious for 7 hours, was found cold, with blue lips, was given equivalent of 30 teasp. sugar and heaps of salt. When I got to hospital I was still unconscious, and hypoglycaemic, they gave me Saline,  next day they tested for Addisons. Negative result. Now am I right in thinking that after all that salt and sugar a test so soon after treatment would be useless?  I have been tested for diabetes also negative. I was started on thyroxine about 3 years ago and the dose keeps on going up, now at 150mg a day, the dosage stays fine for a few months then I just seem to need more. ...Please give me some advice!  By the way my son has Addisons and Type1 Diabetes.  Also my mother had all these symptoms when she died. My older sister also suffers from most of them.

[san58]

Gosh this all makes sense! You have just made me realise that I have a lot of questions to ask. I don't know what level my T3 is at, and I do know how important it is, but you know I have been that ill I have not been thinking properly, so thank you again I will ask. I have never had an ultrasound, or seen an endrocrinologist, but since my (Levothyroxine) has been increased lately I may well have the energy to ask the right questions now... before my levels fall again, because it keeps doing this it makes me think there is something else missing, perhaps cortisol or DHEA. If I have high anti-bodies then that would answer that one, am I right?  My doctor says he will check me again in 4 weeks, it scares me that where I live is so far away from 'proper' specialists. It's why I joined this site. Your response has made my mind up to insist on an endocrinologist. You know my son who has Addisons has never seen one, it was the diabetic clinic he was sent to.

[mtkst13]

thyroid panel would check free t4, free t3 (the most important hormone), tsh, thyroid antibodies (antithyroglobulin, antiTPO).  these labs would give a better picture of what is going on overall.  if you have high antibodies, that means that your body is attacking your thyroid, which is causing your hypothyroidism.

your free t4 is definitely on the low end.  i suspect that your free t3 is either on the low end or LOW.  being that your tsh is high, i would demand a full thyroid panel and thyroid ultrasound.

are you on thyroid replacement (synthroid, levoxyl)?  are you following up with a doctor?  endocrinologist?  i would definitely find an endocrinologist to treat you, especially with your current symptoms and family history.  

[san58]

Ref range for:-
FreeT4 result13.1 pmol/l  (10 - 28)
TSH     result16.40mIU/I   (0.34 - 5.40)
No other thyroid labs done.   What is a thyroid panel?
Thanks.

[mtkst13]

what is rhe reference range for the ft4?  did you have any other thyroid labs done?  b12?

hypothyroidism can definitely cause the muscle pain and even blurry vision.  i'm not positive about the other symptoms.  hypothyroidism can disrupt other blood levels, but i'm not sure how and which ones.

have you had a thyroid panel done recently?  what are the results?