kelley_bsb
11-15-2005, 11:41 PM
My doctor just called about the results of another standard blood check and apparantly my thyroid levels are on the low side or something so she wants me to have more tests done. What does it mean if your thyroid count or level or w/e is low? Is this normal for people with fibro?
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STILLGOIN
11-16-2005, 08:10 AM
My doctor just called about the results of another standard blood check and apparantly my thyroid levels are on the low side or something so she wants me to have more tests done. What does it mean if your thyroid count or level or w/e is low? Is this normal for people with fibro?
STILLGOIN
11-16-2005, 08:12 AM
Hi Kelly: Don't worry about your thyroid, be glad you have a dr who is giving you bloodwork, even for kidneys and liver. I have a nodule on my thyroid 3.2cm and I take Eltroxin for it. Supposed to stop its growth. I remember reading something about thyroid and fibro, unfortunately I cannot remember. As far as I am concerned it has nothing to do with fibro. Look on the internet and ask that question. You can get all the correct information. Hope I have helped in some small way. Take Care
Glojer
11-16-2005, 06:42 PM
If you are hypothyroid it will make you very fatigued and have joint pain and muscle pain and cause weight gain and a whole host of other problems. These symptoms on top of fibro are almost unbearable. Did your doc do a TSH test? Most women feel better when their tsh is between 1 and 3. I did not start to feel better thyroid wise until mine hit 0.99. When I started on synthroid and my tsh lowered that helped to improve some of my symptoms and of course over the course of 2yrs. The doc and I have continually worked on it. Until the thyroid symptoms are alleviated it is very hard to discern what is fibro and what is thyroid and to try to get your life back to some sort of normalcy.
This is just a quick reply, I am in a bit of a rush right now. There are many other tests and if I can help any more let me know. I will check in tomorrow and if you want I can give you some info on the other tests I have had done. Checking the internet is good, look up Mary Shoman (she has a web sight) she gives a great deal of info about thyroid, not so much the fibro.
Glojer
This is just a quick reply, I am in a bit of a rush right now. There are many other tests and if I can help any more let me know. I will check in tomorrow and if you want I can give you some info on the other tests I have had done. Checking the internet is good, look up Mary Shoman (she has a web sight) she gives a great deal of info about thyroid, not so much the fibro.
Glojer
kelley_bsb
11-16-2005, 10:26 PM
Thank you for your help, I just went in today to get some 'more extensive blood tests', not sure exactly what that was.. possibly this TSH deal. I am very achey and extremely fatigued and all that (as coincides with symptoms of fibro) but if it were due to hypothyroidism wouldn't I be overweight? As it stands I am underweight, though it is easy for me to gain weight, I also lose weight easily. Every week it seems like I have gained or lost at least 5 pounds. My mother said that hormones control the thyroid so I might just have an extreme hormonal issue. You seem to be knowledgeable so I was wondering how this all sounds to you? At the moment I am fairly confused since I thought we finally had it all figured out that I just have fibro and now a blood test came back with my thyroid goin crazy..
Glojer
11-17-2005, 01:12 PM
Hi Kelley,
You don't always gain weight if you are hypothyroid some people don't and can easily lose weight. But going from one extreme to the other can be a sign of thyroid problems. Some people cycle from hypo to hyperthyroid which is your thyroid working overtime and I think that can be worse. Most fibro people would be hypo though I believe, just my opinion from the symptoms.
Ususally one of the first tests done is the TSH which is thyroid stimulating hormone test to see what level it is. The standard with most labs is 0.5 to 5.5 and many docs will tell you that you are fine if it falls in that range. But you may not be fine, most women feel the best if their tsh falls between 1 and 3 and it is very important to ask the doc and get copies of your blood tests to see what they say.
They should also do a FreeT3 and FreeT4 test and the range of your results should be in the upper 70% of the test range. My FreeT4 is good but my FT3 is usually a little low but that is ok as long as my tsh is in a good range for me and I feel good.
My Ana count came out positive and according to my new rhuemy that is because I have a thyroid problem (mine is called Hashmotos thyroiditis) which I think means hypothyroid and I may have had a little nodule that went away with the right thyroid meds.
There are tests like thyroglobulin antibodies and thyroid peroxidase antibodies and mine are high because I have a thyroid problem even though I am on meds and have my tsh level in a good spot. These tests will always come out high because I have a problem. Does that make sense?
You could have a thyroid problem it does sound possible but that won't mean you don't have fibro. If you do have your thyroid messed up it only means you need to find a very good endocrinologist or a doc you trust to keep working with you to get your levels to where you feel the best so you can discern what is thyroid problems and what is fibro. Of course this is just my opinion.
There is a thyroid board on here, check it out and look up the Mary Shoman sight when you have time. It is a journey to get to good thyroid health just like it is fibro. You usually have to start on low doses of meds and increase them every 3 or 4 mo.s so it takes a long time and many docs think as soon as your tsh level drops or increases depending on hypo or hyper you are fine. No there is a level you will feel best at and you need to keep working for that and you will know it when you get there BELIEVE ME!!!!
Hope I have helped, good luck and let me know how you are doing and what you find out.
Glojer
You don't always gain weight if you are hypothyroid some people don't and can easily lose weight. But going from one extreme to the other can be a sign of thyroid problems. Some people cycle from hypo to hyperthyroid which is your thyroid working overtime and I think that can be worse. Most fibro people would be hypo though I believe, just my opinion from the symptoms.
Ususally one of the first tests done is the TSH which is thyroid stimulating hormone test to see what level it is. The standard with most labs is 0.5 to 5.5 and many docs will tell you that you are fine if it falls in that range. But you may not be fine, most women feel the best if their tsh falls between 1 and 3 and it is very important to ask the doc and get copies of your blood tests to see what they say.
They should also do a FreeT3 and FreeT4 test and the range of your results should be in the upper 70% of the test range. My FreeT4 is good but my FT3 is usually a little low but that is ok as long as my tsh is in a good range for me and I feel good.
My Ana count came out positive and according to my new rhuemy that is because I have a thyroid problem (mine is called Hashmotos thyroiditis) which I think means hypothyroid and I may have had a little nodule that went away with the right thyroid meds.
There are tests like thyroglobulin antibodies and thyroid peroxidase antibodies and mine are high because I have a thyroid problem even though I am on meds and have my tsh level in a good spot. These tests will always come out high because I have a problem. Does that make sense?
You could have a thyroid problem it does sound possible but that won't mean you don't have fibro. If you do have your thyroid messed up it only means you need to find a very good endocrinologist or a doc you trust to keep working with you to get your levels to where you feel the best so you can discern what is thyroid problems and what is fibro. Of course this is just my opinion.
There is a thyroid board on here, check it out and look up the Mary Shoman sight when you have time. It is a journey to get to good thyroid health just like it is fibro. You usually have to start on low doses of meds and increase them every 3 or 4 mo.s so it takes a long time and many docs think as soon as your tsh level drops or increases depending on hypo or hyper you are fine. No there is a level you will feel best at and you need to keep working for that and you will know it when you get there BELIEVE ME!!!!
Hope I have helped, good luck and let me know how you are doing and what you find out.
Glojer
kelley_bsb
11-17-2005, 11:24 PM
Thank you so much for all of the wonderful information, I'll keep you posted when I hear more about my recent tests!
Glojer
11-21-2005, 08:39 PM
Hi Kelly,
Just wondering if you have heard anything back from your blood tests. Did you get a copy of your bloodwork from your doc? That is always a good idea so you can keep track of how your tsh and free t's go up or down. That is if you do have thyroid problems. Keep us posted, and have a great Thanksgiving.
Glojer
Just wondering if you have heard anything back from your blood tests. Did you get a copy of your bloodwork from your doc? That is always a good idea so you can keep track of how your tsh and free t's go up or down. That is if you do have thyroid problems. Keep us posted, and have a great Thanksgiving.
Glojer
kelley_bsb
11-25-2005, 04:55 PM
Hi Glojer, thank you for your concern, I just got sent a copy of my FREE T4 test and it came back at 1.1 and the doctor wrote a note saying that is normal. I guess it's not my thyroid afterall. I hope you had a wonderful turkey day!
~Kelley
~Kelley
Glojer
11-25-2005, 08:35 PM
Kelley what was your tsh? What was the lab reference ranges for your FreeT4? A result of 1.1 is certainly within range if your lab ranges are 0.8 to 1.8. A lot depends on the other lab results if you don't get to feeling better, try to see an endocrinologist that deals with thyriod problems a lot. Check the Mary Shoman web site for a doctor in your area that others recommend to being a good one for thyroid. I'm sorry I don't mean to be pushy but I know how bad I felt and how hard it was to get my thyroid right and until that happened I really could not discern which was worse the fibro or the thyroid. Of course that is me and you may not have the same problems.
My turkey day was wonderful. Went to our sons house, and my DIL is a great cook. A fire in the fireplace, football on the T.V. and family and great food and our little grandson. You can't ask for more than that except the fact I didn't have to cook or clean up!
Good Luck!
Glojer
My turkey day was wonderful. Went to our sons house, and my DIL is a great cook. A fire in the fireplace, football on the T.V. and family and great food and our little grandson. You can't ask for more than that except the fact I didn't have to cook or clean up!
Good Luck!
Glojer
*Versailles*
11-27-2005, 01:44 AM
Hi,
I know this is your post, (I apologize for posting my issues) but after reading it...I just had to ask a question. I've been having really, really bad aches and pains, fatigue...blah, blah....possible fibro symptoms. I am also hypothroid. I've been in terrible, terrible pain constantly for the last five months or so. My thyroid was recently found to be HYPER due to my medicine and so they lowered it. I am also on Naproxen Sodium as needed and 30 mg. Lexapro. I guess my question is when should I suggest getting tested for fibro...and how long should I wait and see if this is thyroid related...because after over two dozens tests (including tons of bloodwork, x-rays, and pelvic exams), I'm getting kinda frustrated with having no possitive diagnosis.
Any advice??
I know this is your post, (I apologize for posting my issues) but after reading it...I just had to ask a question. I've been having really, really bad aches and pains, fatigue...blah, blah....possible fibro symptoms. I am also hypothroid. I've been in terrible, terrible pain constantly for the last five months or so. My thyroid was recently found to be HYPER due to my medicine and so they lowered it. I am also on Naproxen Sodium as needed and 30 mg. Lexapro. I guess my question is when should I suggest getting tested for fibro...and how long should I wait and see if this is thyroid related...because after over two dozens tests (including tons of bloodwork, x-rays, and pelvic exams), I'm getting kinda frustrated with having no possitive diagnosis.
Any advice??
Glojer
11-27-2005, 01:16 PM
Hi Versailles
Anyone is welcome to post anytime you are certainly not butting in we value all opinions. There is no specific test for fibromyalgia, it is really just an elimination process. If you have been tested for all the usual suspects and they all came out negative or OK and you are still having the same symptoms then the diagnosis is usually fibro.
I would say if you know where you feel the best with your thyroid. That is what TSH level and you can keep it at that level by medication adjustments and you still have the muscle aches and pains and the fibro symptoms (check the list of symptoms on the sticky post) I would say it is time to be thinking about the fibro diagnosis.
As I have said, I didn't feel good thyroid wise until I got my tsh at 0.99 and my endo was fine with that because I finally felt good. She was happy with it at 2.40 because it was finally under 3.0 and all levels FT3&4 were in good range. But I did not feel that great until it lowered to 0.99. I'm sure it has gone up a bit but I am also sure it has stayed under 2.0.
I guess you just have to know your body and know what feels right and what doesn't. You have to listen to what your body is saying and not what the docs are saying. I'm sure I was not that much help, but I hope just a little. If your symptoms are still there and you aren't having thyroid problems I would say see your gp or a rhuematologist to find out what may be causing your pain. Good Luck, keep us posted.
Glojer
Anyone is welcome to post anytime you are certainly not butting in we value all opinions. There is no specific test for fibromyalgia, it is really just an elimination process. If you have been tested for all the usual suspects and they all came out negative or OK and you are still having the same symptoms then the diagnosis is usually fibro.
I would say if you know where you feel the best with your thyroid. That is what TSH level and you can keep it at that level by medication adjustments and you still have the muscle aches and pains and the fibro symptoms (check the list of symptoms on the sticky post) I would say it is time to be thinking about the fibro diagnosis.
As I have said, I didn't feel good thyroid wise until I got my tsh at 0.99 and my endo was fine with that because I finally felt good. She was happy with it at 2.40 because it was finally under 3.0 and all levels FT3&4 were in good range. But I did not feel that great until it lowered to 0.99. I'm sure it has gone up a bit but I am also sure it has stayed under 2.0.
I guess you just have to know your body and know what feels right and what doesn't. You have to listen to what your body is saying and not what the docs are saying. I'm sure I was not that much help, but I hope just a little. If your symptoms are still there and you aren't having thyroid problems I would say see your gp or a rhuematologist to find out what may be causing your pain. Good Luck, keep us posted.
Glojer
kirstee
11-29-2005, 12:58 AM
Hi Kelly:
Many people with fibromyalgia have hypothyroidism, along with hypoglycemia. It sure makes you dddddrrrrraaaagggggg. . . .
I am not overweight and I have a hypothyroid condition; however, I also take thyroid meds to control it. So maybe gaining weight might not be a standard for everyone. My cousins have hypothyroidism and they are very obese, and then there is little old me. We sure look unusual lined up in a photo for holidays! But, I also excercise everyday and walk my dogs which stokes your muscles to burn more fuel.
Kirstee
Many people with fibromyalgia have hypothyroidism, along with hypoglycemia. It sure makes you dddddrrrrraaaagggggg. . . .
I am not overweight and I have a hypothyroid condition; however, I also take thyroid meds to control it. So maybe gaining weight might not be a standard for everyone. My cousins have hypothyroidism and they are very obese, and then there is little old me. We sure look unusual lined up in a photo for holidays! But, I also excercise everyday and walk my dogs which stokes your muscles to burn more fuel.
Kirstee
kelley_bsb
12-03-2005, 12:48 AM
Hello again all, sorry I have been too busy to respond for a while! My lab report said that normal range was b/w 0.9 and i think 2 or something (can't find it right now) and then mine was at 1.1 (this was for T4 FREE, remember) Anything else I do not know the results of..
To Versailles: I'm sorry to hear of your woes and definitely feel for ya, hopefully everything turns out ok for you and you are welcome to post here anytime!
~Kelley
To Versailles: I'm sorry to hear of your woes and definitely feel for ya, hopefully everything turns out ok for you and you are welcome to post here anytime!
~Kelley