Could this be hypothyroidism?

[xxEmmaxx]

I recently had blood tests done to check my thyroid and these are the results as follows:
Free T4= 14.3 (12-22) This appears to be normal
TSH= 8.34 (0.2-4.2) This was high
Free T3= 4.8 (3.1-6.8) Normal
Thyroid peroxidase antibodies= 82.9 (Negative is less than 60, equivocal is 60-100 and positive is over 100) so i tested equivocal

My doctor refuses to prescribe me levothyroxine despite me getting a lot of the symptoms of hypothyroidism. I have chronic fatigue and feel exhausted everyday with headaches. I have chronic nausea, i ache all over and i am intolerant to the cold and get frequent heart palpitations. I have very painful irregular periods and brittle hair. I have become unable to tolerate a lot of foods i used to have no problems with but have been tested for things such as celiac disease. Things have got so bad I have had to take a gap year from college and quit my job and this has been like this for the past two years. They haven't found much else and the only thing that appears to indicate why i am so exhausted are these test results. I have tried changing my diet, excluding everything from dairy to gluten and a low fodmap diet with the help of a dietician with no relief. the only symptom i don't have for hypothyroidism is weight gain,much the opposite i am actually underweight with a low bmi. I think this could be down to the poor appetite i have caused by me having chronic nausea and acid reflux which i am on medication for to try and control.

I would be grateful if anyone could tell me if this does look like i do in fact have hypothyroidism or if not what other things could be causing these symptoms? It's so frustrating having the doctor say they aren't going to do anything, one of them just said i need more exercise which i've tried and only made me more tired. Thank you

[goolarra]

That's a really good idea.  This guy isn't giving me that warm and fuzzy feeling I get from good thyroid doctors!  Don't let this doctor keep you feeling sick...find someone who knows what s/he's doing and will treat your symptoms.  In a way, you're lucky your TSH is high, that usually makes it a lot easier to get treatment.  Second opinion for sure...

[xxEmmaxx]

i was surprised too, especially seen as i'd had my tsh level tested 2 months before and my tsh level was 6 and now its up to 8.34, it seems obvious to me its going to continue rising. The way the doctor was talking it seems like they won't treat me for it until my ft4 level has dropped below range, i just don't think he knew much about thyroid issues unless the results are too obvious to ignore. im going to try and get a second opinion and see what they say.

[goolarra]

Most doctors put a lot of stock in TSH.  So, I'm surprised that they won't treat based on your elevated TSH result.  Did your doctor give any indication of how high you TSH had to go before he'd treat?  Why is he ignoring your TSH, especially with borderline FT4?

[xxEmmaxx]

Thank you for commenting, i completely agree. It's so frustrating trying to get the doctors to listen to me. They keep treating each symptom i get as separate and not looking at the big picture. They wouldn't even test my ft3 or tpo antibodies originally so i had to pay to have them done privately. They said they won't test my thyroid again for at least another 3 months. in the mean time i have to just continue suffering like this while they do nothing.

[goolarra]

You are clearly hypo.

The guideline for FT4, based on where many of us have to be fore symptoms relief, is 50% of range.  Yours is 23% of range...much too low.

The guideline for FT3 is 50+% of range.  You're at 46%.

TSH is clearly above range.

Considering your symptoms and your thyroid hormone levels, it's probably just a matter of time before TPOab goes from "equivocal" to positive.  Next time around, you might ask them to test TGab (thyroglobulin antibodies) as well.  That's the other marker for Hashi's.  

I think you'd feel better on meds.