Need expert advise on test results and Brain Fog!!

[rocky321]

Hi,

My names Rocky and I'm a 22 year old male. Well, for the past year I've had some really serious symptoms: severe cognitive impairment (horrible memory, slowed processing, no concentration), muscle spasms all over my body, and dizziness upon standing. I've also had some minor symptoms like a bit of hair falling out, white coated tongue, etc. The symptoms developed over about a week and started with bad headaches. However, the headaches have completely subsided.

I have seen neurologist, infectious disease, naturopath, internal medicine, and a few others and they haven't been able to figure out what's causing my problems. I finally got recommended to an endo and she diagnosed me with mild hypothyroidism. Here are my results:

TSH: 3.67
T4, total: 7.7    ref. range = 4.5-12.5
T4 Free: 0.9     ref range = 0.8-1.8
T3, Free: 302   ref range = 230-420
T3, total: 89     ref range 76-181


She started me on 50 mcg a day and I have been taking it for 2 weeks now and haven't noticed any difference in my symptoms. The doc also said she wasn't sure if my thyroid was causing my symptoms but wanted to try my on the meds.

Has anyone ever experienced this severe cognitive impairment with mild hypothyroidism? I'm aware that people with serious hypothyroidism have memory loss and such and even people with mild hypothyroidism have brain fog. However, I wouldn't even consider mine "brain fog" because it is sooo horrible (feels like my IQ dropped 30 points) and never goes away. SO I'm just wondering if I should start looking elsewhere to the cause of my symptoms (any suggestions??) or if I should stick with this path for now.

Thanks

[abhi123567]

same sympotams as you greatly improve on 60000 isu d3,mqganasium,ivermecin,alina,cifiximine

[mollymoe]

Oh my I feel the same way.Total brain fog.Like I am in slow motion and sometimes I feel I cannot think straight.My Dr put me on a low dose of levothyroxine because I was borderline hypothyroid.I started to feel weird.I wasn't feeling like this before the meds.So I went to an endo and he pulled me off levo and I still feel weird but, that could be because the meds are in  my system still.Well, I go back to my endo in Dec.I guess I will see what he says then.I can't believe we have alot of the same symtoms.So I know how you feel.Good luck with everything..

[rocky321]

wow. You're like a doctor but more informed. Thank you soo much for your help. That article was really interesting.

I really hope my cognitive impairment vanishes once I get me levels adjusted.  I guess I'm just so hesitant about the diagnosis because the I don't have all the "normal" hypothyroid symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, etc. And also my symptoms developed so rapidly (one week from noticing my first minor symptom to my fully developed symptoms) and I've heard most people with hypothyroidism have their symptoms slowly develop over months. I'm really just hoping this is what is causing my severe cognitive impairment because it is reversible.

[gimel]

First you should be aware that symptoms frequently lag changes in blood levels of thyroid hormones.  You need at least a total of 4 weeks on the meds to get to 90 % of the total effect on blood levels.  Doctors usually want a patient to wait for 6-8 weeks before a followup appointment.  If you are anxious to move ahead as quickly as possible, then you might try to get the doctor to do the testing in advance of the appt.  That usually saves a week or so in getting meds increased.  

I did not suggest adding a T3 source at this time.  T4 meds are so much easier to administer, that I would wait and see if the FT3 level will increase proportionately with the FT4 levels.  If not, then you can request adding in a T3 source, as necessary to relieve symptoms.  Don't forget what I also mentioned about treatment.

"In my opinion the best way to treat a thyroid patient is to test and adjust levels of FT3 and FT4 with whatever type of medication is necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by TSH levels.  I think you need to find out if your doctor is willing to treat you in this manner.  If not you will need to find a good thyroid doctor that will do so."


If you are interested in details of the effects of hypothyroidism on cerebral blood flow and brain function, try this link and then click on the full text pdf on the right side.  It's very interesting.

http://jnm.snmjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/45/10/1712

[rocky321]

So are you suggesting I ask my doctor to add a T3 med to my current med, which is synthroid.

Also, so you do think that these levels can have this big of an impact on my brain function???

[gimel]

Personally I wouldn't call it mild hypothyroidism, in view of those symptoms plus the fact that both of your active thyroid hormones (FT3 and FT4) are low in their ranges.  Just being within the range limits is frequently inadequate to relieve symptoms.  Many of our members tell us that symptom relief for them required that FT3 was adjusted into the upper part of its range and FT4 adjusted to at least midpoint of its range.  I think you might find the info in this link to be interesting to you.  

http://www.hormonerestoration.com/Thyroid.html

In my opinion the best way to treat a thyroid patient is to test and adjust levels of FT3 and FT4 with whatever type of medication is necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by TSH levels.  I think you need to find out if your doctor is willing to treat you in this manner.  If not you will need to find a good thyroid doctor that will do so.

Raising your Vitamin D level will also be beneficial.  I also suggest that when you go back, if you haven't been tested for thyroid antibodies (TPO ab and TG ab), that you should also request those tests, to see if that is possible cause for becoming hypo.

[rocky321]

Thanks for the reply

ya, they also found a vitamin D insufficiency and put me on prescription vitamin D. I have been tested for celiac and it was negative. I tried a gluten free diet for a month and didn't notice any difference so quit. I don't think they've tested my iron levels. What are the symptoms of that?

I've been thinking about going to an allergist to see if its anything I'm allergic to. However, my symptoms don't fluctuate so I doubt it's an allergy but who knows.

Anybody else with mild hypothyroidism have severe cognitive symptoms?
Any other suggestions about what I should test for?

Thanks

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

you need to be patient to see if the meds work.  It takes about 4 - 6 weeks for levels to stabilise.

Also make sure they check vit D levels, iron etc.

have you been tested for celiac / tried a gluten free diet?

Just some mmore things for you to look at.