Hypothyroid? Confusing labs

z1512

Hi all,

Like many people on here, I suspect I have hypothyroidism, but I'm confused by my lab results. I also wonder if my lab results are being skewed by my young age (23) and my medications (Adderall and hormonal OC).

To get right to it, my labs were:
4/8/2011, Non-Fasting:
TSH- 1.14 (0.450-4.500 uIu/mL)

5/12/2011, Non-Fasting:
Free T4- 1.1 (.08-1.8 ng/dL)
Free T3- 4.0 (2.3-4.2 pg/mL)
TSH, 3rd Generation- 1.67 (0.40-4.50 mIU/L)

3/19/2012, Non-Fasting:
TSH- 0.85 ( 0.34-4.82 mIU/mL)
Free Thyroxine- 0.81 (.59-1.17 ng/dL)

The 5/12 labs were ordered by an endo. She said there was nothing wrong with me. I asked her to put me on thyroid medication or even a placebo just to see if it made a difference, but she refused "because medication will hurt your thyroid". The 3/19 labs were by a rheumatologist- he said there wasn't any point in going to another endo because my numbers are fine.

I've heard so many conflicting things about ranges, being in top/lowest quarter of a range- what do you guys think?Is it worth it to see another endo? Should I go off medication before being tested again?

Long version/Symptoms:

When I was a child, I was diagnosed with RA and treated with steroids. When I hit puberty, I felt like I went from a happy, energetic child to a lethargic, irritable teenager. I was constantly falling asleep in class, freezing cold in the middle of summer, wandering attention, miserable for a week due to heavy periods. I was told I had ADD and 'most girls feel sick with their periods', so I was put on the Adderall and OC. These seemed to help for a few years; I was also put on several anti-depressants in succession, but those never seemed to make a difference. No matter how much Adderall I'm prescribed, I feel like my body is awake and my mind is drowsy.

All of the same symptoms have been getting worse in the last two years. I'm exhausted and gained 10 lbs (still normal weight, but I used to be a size 0), but the worst is the 'brain fog'- I can't remember how to spell words, I forget what I'm saying mid-sentence, I walk into a room and I'm not sure why I'm there. My voice is so hoarse that I sound like I'm whispering when I mean to speak loudly. I'm not warm unless it's 85F.

Even my best friend, a doctor in training, said I am just a hypochondriac. My partner suggested I am "one of those people who needs 12 hours of sleep", but I can't live life that way. I'm afraid I'll never be able to advance my career or have children because I'm so exhausted!

Both of my grandmothers have hypothyroidism, and my mom has always had the same symptoms. She thinks she is hypo, too. I feel like all of my symptoms fit... but with so many medical professionals telling me that I can't be hypothyroid, I don't know what to think. Please tell me whether I am off-base here.