Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
1600188 tn?1329859845

Please help...I'm confused and I think my doctor is too

Heres a quick history.

I had the right side of my thyroid remove in 2010. Upon biopsy, they descovered I had cancer. It was small enough that they got it all and I didnt need treatment.

I have chronic sinus infections and a history of ovarian cysts.
Here's my problem.... My urine calcium is 3Xs the max limit, my blood calcium is 9.6 and the have found that I have a small amount of IgG in my Urine.

My doctor has told me it could be caused from one of three things... She said, parathyroid dease, cancer....after she said cancer I didn't here what the third thing was.

Has anyone have any idea what this could all be caused from?
Physically, I am always tired and unsteady.

Anything really...Please help me understand this.
26 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
1600188 tn?1329859845
After seeing my doctor yesterday, it seems my thyroid levels are a lesser problem unless this is all somehow conacted. She is now trying to rule out Multiple myeloma. My urine calcium is high, as is my alpha2 and mono(something). I go to see an Oncologist next Friday. BUT In talking to her I found that other things can cause these levels to be off. Such as dehydration (i am), Ovarian cyst (which I have). I understand that I am going through the "rule out" process but I am terrified. Even if theres a slight chance. I don't have the exact levels and names of the test, as soon as I can I will get them and post them.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You definitely have some work cut out from you I'm afraid.  The lab results don't look horrible and all are within range (for whatever that's worth)   However most importantly you clearly sound like you are Hypo from your symptoms.

I fear that because your numbers look so well you may face an up hill battle trying to convince the Dr that you need medication at all.  I hope that I'm wrong.

The general rule of thumb target is to have your FT4 mid range (50%) and you testing at 1.08 is almost exactly mid range at 49%.  (50% would be 1.09).

And the rule of thumb for FT3 is to be in the upper 1/3 (66.7%) of the range.  You are testing at 2.8 (26% of the range) and upper 1/3 range you would need to be at 3.6.

The fact that your FT3 at 26% of the range compared to your FT4 being at 49% of its range suggests that you may likely have a conversion problem of some kind.  This may be a Reverse T3 problem, or simply just a poor efficiency issue from the conversion of T4 to T3 or something else is going on.  Have you had your adrenals tested as that can also play a role in conversion?

Since your T4's are about where most people would love to see them, but your FT3 being quite low in the range, I would strongly encourage you to discuss with your Dr. the idea of prescribing a starter dose of a T3 med to get your FT3 levels up some.  

If I recall correctly you are under a lot of stress which is also consistent with potential reverse T3.  So you may also want to talk about getting the RT3 test done as well to see if that is an issue or not.

I have absolutely no problem with Natural Dissected Thyroid (NDT).  But since your FT4 levels are just about exactly mid range, I'm not sure you really need any more T4. Getting your T3 levels up would seem to be more the concern.

If you are started on a T3 medication, make sure you discuss with your Dr a starter dose of an amount over about 10 mcg as many people have reported trouble tolerating a starter dose of T3 that large.  Some people can handle it.  Many others have to start out with smaller doses and work their way up.  This can be done by stepping up every few days or so.  Again discuss this with your Dr.  Also T3 meds are usually taken half in the morning and half in the early afternoon to help level out the amount of T3 available throughout the day. Rather than a single blast all at once since T3 is available by the body to be used immediately unlike T4 which must be processed and converted into T3 before use.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
For help with your Endo appt. tomorrow, I think you can be better prepared to get what you need if you read through this info written by a good thyroid doctor.

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

Most doctors only want to prescribe T4 meds.  I have to agree that T4 meds are easier to administer.  They are much slower acting than meds containing T3.  However, Free T3 is the biologically active thyroid hormone that largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions.  The T4 med has to be converted to T34, to perform the necessary biological activity.  Hypo patients taking T4 meds frequently find that their body does not adequately convert the T4 to T3, resulting in a need to drive Free T4 ever higher in its range, in an attempt to relieve symptoms through conversion of the excess T4 to T3.

Based on my own experience with this, and knowing what I have learned, If I were in your shoes, I would ask to be put on a NDT type med, such as Armour Thyroid or Nature-Thyroid. Yes, I know that not everyone will agree with this.  It is just my own preference, based on long years of taking 200 mcg of T4 med and still having hypo symptoms until I switched to NDT med.

This recommendation may well be academic anyway.  The number of Endos that will prescribe NDT type thyroid meds seems to be few and far between.  He will tell you there is no benefit from T3 meds.  That is true only when there is no problem converting the T4 to T3.

Good luck to you tomorrow.
Helpful - 0
1600188 tn?1329859845
Here are my new labs
TSH 1.44
FT4 1.08 ref. range 0.7-1.48
FT3 2.8 ref. range 2.3-4.2
I see my Endro tomorrow. I KNOW things are off. I'm freezing almost always. Headache, fatigue, short of breath, weak.... I seem to have it all.
I just hope my doctor listens to my symptoms and doesn't only go by the "within range" attitude.
My question is what is the best medication. I seem to have reactions to a lot of things. I have never been on thyroid meds and don't know anything about them.
Helpful - 0
219241 tn?1413537765
G'day I am going to tell you something that will make you go, WTF? Just because your Parathyroid levels are good does NOT mean you don't have hyperparathyroidism. Good huh?
Here is the link to a fantastic site...you will have to copy and paste into your browser to look at it.  http://parathyroid.com/diagnosis.htm

You can have skewiff levels for quite sometime of thyroid if you have only one side. It can take many months for the other side to pick up the slack or go into spaz mode and go too much (hyper) as it adjusts, or it never recovers and you need meds.

  Just as an aside, do you know what type of cancer it was? Papillary, follicular, etc? I am curious as you say they got it all. Many people need radiation therapy after to make sure ALL cells are gone.

To let you understand why I know these things, I have parathyroid damage from my thyroid surgery. I had one side taken out then went hypo, then months later had the other side out due to a form of pre-cancer Hurthle cell adenoma. No radiation is needed in that case.

The sinus issues are often totally unrelated to thyroid issues. It's difficult for most to realise that not everything is thyroid related however, a lot it is!
You may have a tendency to them and need a stronger antibiotic to clear it up.

Your FT3 is a tad low and no doubt you will feel cruddy on that level. However I would still give the remaining side a chance to kick in per-se and see how you go.
I have extremely low FT3 and have for nearly 5 years since my remaining side was taken out. So maybe give it a few months (or what you feel is a reasonable time frame) and see how you feel and get retested.
Oh! BTW if your calcium levels are off this can affect thyroid levels so maybe by getting the parathyroid checked correctly and treated you may well find the levels start to rise of their own accord, which does happen.
Cheers!
Helpful - 0
1600188 tn?1329859845
OK here are my latest results.
TSH is 1.44...Ref Range .35-5.50
FT4 1.08...Ref range 0.7-1.48
FT3 2.8 Ref range 2.3-4.2
AntiThyroglobin 14

I am so tired ALL the time. I think it's do to my FT3
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community

Top Thyroid Answerers
649848 tn?1534633700
FL
Avatar universal
MI
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.