Is it pituitary problem causing hypo or is fybromyalgia?

[imtiredofbeingtired]

I'm 29 years old and and when I was about 27 my gyno found 2 thyroid nodules. They sent me to the endo and she put me on the smallest dose of Levothyroxine to try to shrink the nodules (actually I just took half = 12 mcg). I noticed right away that even though it was such a small dose, I actually had ENERGY and remembered things. I don't think I have had that much energy in years. I wondered if I actually did need it even though my endo said I was normal based on my lab results. I was on it for about 6 months and then I started losing a lot of hair. I told my endo I felt it might be due to the meds but she said no, so I kept on taking it. After a lot of hair loss and a rash, I asked her to switch me to another med but she said no and told me to stop altogether. I have been off of the meds for 5 months now and I feel horrible. I feel exhausted every day, I can barely do anything without draining the little energy I have left, my muscles ache A LOT and so do my joints, I have anxiety, depression, cold intolerance, brittle nails, painful and irregular periods, memory loss, slow thinking, and the list goes on. The newest symptom is night sweats. I wake up drenched sometimes and have to change clothes. I went back to the endo and of course she said I am normal because I am within the range (my TSH is .61 and my T4 is .8 & T3 is 296). Yes I am within the "normal" range but I am on the low ends, almost borderline I would say. I went to a Naturopathic Dr since I was getting nowehere and she thinks I may have hypopituitarism since my TSH & T4 are both on the low side and my IGF-1 is also low. I went back to the endo and she still said nope I am fine. I went to my PCP for a second opinion and I got the same answer. He says I might have fybromyalgia instead. I'm going crazy trying to figure out what it is. They both have almost identical symptoms. What is your opinion? Thanks for taking the time to read this by the way!

[imtiredofbeingtired]

Thanks for the comments everyone. The ranges my lab uses are:
TSH - (.4 - 4.5), mine is .61
Free T4 - (.8 - 1.8), mine is .8
T3 - cant remember exactly but I think it was like 250 - 450, mine is 296

So I'm on the low end on TSH and T3 & borderline on T4, but still within the normal ranges, thus im not hypo/hyper, based on my endo.

[Smilerdeb]

Until now there has not been a lab test that is specific for fibromyalgia. Research studies to date have shown that the APA Assay can identify between one-half and two-thirds of fibromyalgia patients tested.
What does the APA Assay detect?
The APA (Anti-Polymer Antibody) Assay detects IgG anti-polymer antibodies in human serum

Its the APA antipolymer blood test.
Ask for this to  be done.


Mine came back negative.

Also low levels of Seratone is a link to Fibromyalgia.......might be worth getting that checked along with Cortisol.

[Smilerdeb]

There is a test here in Australia.
I will go through my records and find out the name for you...give me a few days as just getting over Anaphalaxix.

Also get on a mega B plus vitamin.....this will give you back some of the energy and relieve some anxiety.
They take a while to 'kick in' but well worth it.
B12 is the major vitamin for energy and stress.


My good ranges are:

FT4 17.0 (1.0 - 19.0 )
TSH 2.3 (0.50 - 4.0)
FT3 4.7 (3.5 - 5.5)

But remeber also that I have prolapse of Mitral and Trisucpid Valve and a heart murmur (from birth) and had a heart attack in 1994.
So if I go higher with the FT3 , I get Tachycardia bad.

I havent been on beta blockers since the RAI in 2008. I havent needed them.
Check up is due for another Doppler Ultrasound in the next week or so as most thyroid patients end up with Mitral Valve prolapse.
Get that checked too.

[compnet]

Just curious.  What are your lab reference ranges for your tests?  Did you have a Free T3 done?  That would be very helpful to have done.

To: Smilerdeb
"Dont let the Docs confirm Fibro until you have been tested for it.
I was diagnosed with the same thing and Fibro came back negative and I was Hypo. "
What test is there for Fibro?  Is there a test for CFS?  I last heard that neither had a conclusive test.

[imtiredofbeingtired]

Thanks so much to the both of you for responding. I have asked my PCP to send me to another endo and I'm waiting for approval as we "speak." Yes I will take those vit D right away. Thanks!

[Lori707]

Please see another endocronologist for your 2nd opinion!!

[Smilerdeb]

Dont let the Docs confirm Fibro until you have been tested for it.
I was diagnosed with the same thing and Fibro came back negative and I was Hypo.
You just may need that little bit of T4 med.
Your symptoms point to HYPO and also you need to take a Vit. D supplement as that will cause a lot of symptoms if you are low.
I take a daily capsule (600mg) of Calcium/Vit. D combined and when I stopped taking it for 3 months...noticed the difference straight away.

[imtiredofbeingtired]

I'm new to this so I dont know how to edit my post. I forgot to add that one of my main symptoms are also headaches and migraines. My lab results also showed I was very deficient in Vit D.