First time posting blood test results

[Guest guest]

Hello. I was wondering if someone could tell me about my blood test

results outside a doctor's point of view.

A little about me: I'm 22 years old and diagnosed with hyperthyroidism

when I was 19. I had frequest " panic " attacks because of it. I had a

multinodular goiter which grew to the size of a softball after

Radioactive Iodine treatment...although my body calmed down a lot.

As a result of that goiter...I had a complete thyroidectomy one year

ago in January 2006.

As mentioned, I am 22 years old. I am 5'6 " and 130 lbs. My last

bloodtest results (as of one week ago) were TSH 4.82 and Free T4 as

12. I was just wondering what those meant as I am withinn " normal "

range.

I guess I bring it up because I'm concerned about my heartrate.

Anytime I try to do a little bit of excerise: whether a short bike

ride, some fast walking and my heart rate gets up there, it takes

alllll day to get back down to a " normal " heart rate. And no one can

tell me why. It does scare me cuz I can just feel it go! I mentioned

this to the doctor and I had a cardiogram done and it said normal. So

I dunno.

But I have felt constant anxiety lately, making a big move. And it

feels just like all tbose panic attacks when I was hyperthyroid. I

don't know if I mentally cause them or why I have heart palpatations.

All I can say is I am physically exhausted.

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Sheena

[Guest guest]

Well.. your TSH is way too high.. .current ranges, as of January 2003

have the high end of the range at 3.0, you're over that..

As for Free T4.. .we need to know your lab's range for that one.. there

are several tests available to check the levels of Frees, so we need to

know the ranges for the one your lab used.

The elevated heart rate for HOURS after physical activity....

I had that when I was hyper, I didn't really have that when I was in

thyroid storm, it was always high then, and just flat our higher if I

moved, anything.... I've also had it when hypo, too hypo with tuckered

out adrenals.

The hypo part, with the tired adrenals.... what happened with me is that

my 'too hypo' body has to work too hard to do stuff. that increases the

physical effort and stress involved in doing stuff.... the more

physically demands on your body the more it has to work to oxygenate

itself, to just move around the blood.

My take on it is that the heart is weaker, just like all the other

muscles in our bodies, and it's not beating with the same strength/umph

that it should, so it has to beat faster to try to keep the blood moving

to keep the cells oxygenated and fed.

The longer you go hypo, the more hypo that you are, the greater the

stress and work load to your adrenals, they end up taking up where they

thyroid hormones are falling short.

What I'd look into, if I were you? I'd want to get the TSH a LOT lower,

with little or no gland function left I'd be definitely aiming toward the

near zero TSH level while keeping a CLOSE watch on the thyroid hormones,

especially Free T3, aiming toward high end of the range, but not over.

Oh.. a bit about me... I no longer have a working thyroid gland, they

nuked mine (RAI) and killed off the entire beastie cuz I was in thyroid

storm, my resting heart rate was 160. If I stood up, it was over 200..

they stopped at that and told me to sit down. After I got nuked I went

hypo, of course. At my worst my resting heart rate was 50. If I did

anything it would shoot up and hold for hours, while I sprawled,

exhausted.

With the adrenals.. it's hard to find a doc to test, but it would be

worth the effort to find out if they are tuckered, and if they are to

give them some help...

How to help fatigued adrenals once you find out your's are? Some

suggestions are:

Eat breakfast, don't skip meals

Reduce/cut out caffeine and other stimulants

Get regular sleep (there are sleep habits that give clues as to the

health of adrenals, we can talk more about that) - that is to say going

to bed at a set time, getting up at a set time to allow your adrenals to

get back on schedule

Make sure that you are eating healthy foods, as much as you can, and

getting proper nutrition, through supplements, as needed

Optimize your thyroid hormone levels.

Tell us some more stuff.....if you can.. please?

What type of thyroid hormone replacement are you on?

How much do you take? How (often, swallow or sublingual, with food or

without.. that stuff)

What supplements do you take?

How long have you been on your current dose?

What was your original diagnosis, what caused the hyper that caused them

to give you the RAI?

What did they say caused the goiter after the RAI?

Can you tell us more about how you sleep?

Are you able to fall asleep quickly or does it take forever?

Once asleep, are you able to stay awake or keep waking up, are you able

to fall back to sleep easily?

How do you feel when you wake up in the morning?

Topper ()

On Mon, 26 Mar 2007 18:26:47 -0000 " monkeybean21 "

ducksgurl9@...> writes:

> Hello. I was wondering if someone could tell me about my blood test

> results outside a doctor's point of view.

>

> A little about me: I'm 22 years old and diagnosed with

> hyperthyroidism

> when I was 19. I had frequest " panic " attacks because of it. I had a

> multinodular goiter which grew to the size of a softball after

> Radioactive Iodine treatment...although my body calmed down a lot.

>

> As a result of that goiter...I had a complete thyroidectomy one year

> ago in January 2006.

>

> As mentioned, I am 22 years old. I am 5'6 " and 130 lbs. My last

> bloodtest results (as of one week ago) were TSH 4.82 and Free T4 as

> 12. I was just wondering what those meant as I am withinn " normal "

> range.

>

> I guess I bring it up because I'm concerned about my heartrate.

> Anytime I try to do a little bit of excerise: whether a short bike

> ride, some fast walking and my heart rate gets up there, it takes

> alllll day to get back down to a " normal " heart rate. And no one can

> tell me why. It does scare me cuz I can just feel it go! I mentioned

> this to the doctor and I had a cardiogram done and it said normal.

> So I dunno.

>

> But I have felt constant anxiety lately, making a big move. And it

> feels just like all tbose panic attacks when I was hyperthyroid. I

> don't know if I mentally cause them or why I have heart

> palpatations.

> All I can say is I am physically exhausted.

>

> Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

>

> Sheena

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for the advice.

I am taking synthroid 0.100mg and have been on that dosage since my

thyroidectomy surgery in January 2006 as my blood tests have always

come back " normal " . I take it first thing in the morning, either with

water or sometimes orange juice.

My sleep habits have been kind of irregular lately as I've made a big

move in my life but they are also that I can usually fall asleep

really quickly, but I often wake up in the middle of the night least

once. I can usually get back to sleep pretty quickly, but by morning,

my body still feels pretty exhausted.

There's been some history of hypothyroidism on my Mom's side of the

family, but i turned out hyperthyroid for reason's I'm unsure, but was

going through a lot of stress at the time...so that's my thought. The

radioactive iodine killed off those over working nodules, but as much

as I've asked, I've never gotten a straight answer as to why my goiter

just kept getting bigger.

It doesn't take much lately to exhaust me and I know I shouldn't feel

this way for being 22 years old.

My boyfriend has been excellent in helping me get on a healthier

diet...Lots of veggies and fruits, beans and lentils, lots of organic

stuff and grains...but I still try to sneak a bit of candy..heh and

it's probably bad on my part....but I've been missing out on meat

lately...cuz we tried to go vegetarian.

Another thing -- I feel like I need to eat alllll the time...and I

have yet to put on any pounds.

I do take an all natural multi-vitamin and minerals...but if I'm

honest, it's not on a regular basis, cuz I sometimes forget.

I got tested for anemia but my hemoglobin and all the other ones

associated with it came back as normal...I started on an irom

supplement and felt good taking it, but after I was told as normal and

didn't need to be taking it...I stopped.

Umm before Christmas time, I had a series of panic attacks and my

heart palpatating. My doctor said it was stress and when my body gets

anxious, it shoots out too much adrenaline in my body. But my adrenals

never got tested...it was based on assumption.

So does the higher the TSH is the closer to hypothyroidism you are?

I realized lately my body needs routine more than I've been giving it

these past 2 months and I want to work on doing that.

You gave some wonderful suggestions which I do need to work back into

my life. Since I have no thyroid, what are the best ways to optimize

your thyroid level..adding to what you've said, might I need my

thyroid medication upped a dosage? Is there certain foods that may

help it?

Thank you soo much for the support.

Sheena

[Guest guest]

>

> Thank you so much for the advice.

>

> I am taking synthroid 0.100mg and have been on that dosage since my

> thyroidectomy surgery in January 2006 as my blood tests have always

> come back " normal " . I take it first thing in the morning, either

with

> water or sometimes orange juice.

Just some Info on Synthroid that will help you.. Synthroid needs to

be taken on an empty stomach.. one hour before or two hours after

food.. most people take it in the morning but as long as you take it

at the same time each day it does not matter..what matters is that

Synthroid has a sodium molecule attached to it that the high acid

levels of an empty stomach needs to break down before the body can

use Synthroid.

The other Synthroid rule is no iron, calcium or supplements

containing them for 4 hours after your Synthroid as they bind with

Synthroid on a cellular level..

So water is good..OJ is out..

Now something you can show your doc is the Synthroid insert,

website , monograph itself..

They reccomend 1mcg of Synthroid per lb for a full replacement dose..

They also reccomend that the T4 be in the upper half of the range..

Now you posted you were 130lbs..and on 100mcg..also with a range of 9-

24 ..you should be shooting to get your T4 above 16.5.. now this is

the half way mark although most people actually do feel better with a

T4 in the upper 1/3 end of the range..so around 19..or higher with

the ranges your lab uses.

Now I am not saying Synthroid is right..following 's advice

regarding eating proeprly, not skipping meals, getting enough sleep

will help you use the most of your hormone replacement..but

considering you no longer have a thyroid to produce thyroid hormone

you need to get it from somewhere..

Also you need a doc that understands that you have no thyroid..

TSH is a thyroid stimulating hormone..your body determines if it has

enough, too much or not enough thyroid hormone..it then sends a

signal to the pituary gland, which in turn sends out a signal called

TSH for the thyroid to produce more or less hormone..so the higher

the TSH the more your body thinks it needs more hormone..now for

someone with a thyroid..the thyroid would respond and produce this

extra hormone..someone with a thyroid does not have this option..so

what you want is a very low TSH..under 1 if not closer to zero..

Kats3boys

[Guest guest]

That sure sounds more like a Total T4 to me, not a FREE T4, which is the amt

in the blood that is able to be changed into T3, the most useable form of

thyroid hormones. 4 for TSH is way too much for most people, IMO.

first time posting blood test results

> Just a note on my t4 being 12....the range given is 9-24 pmol/L

[Guest guest]

Thank you everyone for their informative information. I will be

taking these things to my next doctor's appointment with me. I've

seen different doctors and I'm tired of people saying I'm normal

because I don't feel anything close to it.

The tiredness is okay to handle, it's my heart palpatations that

scare me...especially since I'm not hyperthyroid....is it possible

to have symptoms of both?

I feel constant anxiety, shortness of breath and it feels like my

heart it just bouncing in there. And I do sometimes wonder if it's

my thyroid or if there's an underlying problem...

All I ever want to do is sleep. I'm tired of people thinking I'm

lazy and I'm tired of it myself. I'm 22 years old...this is a time

where I should be enjoying myself...but I just don't care

I just want to feel even close to normal again. I know it's going to

take time...but it's hard as you all know.

I really do appreciate all the help everyone.

> >

> > Thank you so much for the advice.

> >

> > I am taking synthroid 0.100mg and have been on that dosage since

my

> > thyroidectomy surgery in January 2006 as my blood tests have

always

> > come back " normal " . I take it first thing in the morning, either

> with

> > water or sometimes orange juice.

>

> Just some Info on Synthroid that will help you.. Synthroid needs

to

> be taken on an empty stomach.. one hour before or two hours after

> food.. most people take it in the morning but as long as you take

it

> at the same time each day it does not matter..what matters is that

> Synthroid has a sodium molecule attached to it that the high acid

> levels of an empty stomach needs to break down before the body can

> use Synthroid.

>

> The other Synthroid rule is no iron, calcium or supplements

> containing them for 4 hours after your Synthroid as they bind with

> Synthroid on a cellular level..

>

> So water is good..OJ is out..

>

> Now something you can show your doc is the Synthroid insert,

> website , monograph itself..

>

> They reccomend 1mcg of Synthroid per lb for a full replacement

dose..

> They also reccomend that the T4 be in the upper half of the range..

>

> Now you posted you were 130lbs..and on 100mcg..also with a range

of 9-

> 24 ..you should be shooting to get your T4 above 16.5.. now this

is

> the half way mark although most people actually do feel better

with a

> T4 in the upper 1/3 end of the range..so around 19..or higher with

> the ranges your lab uses.

>

> Now I am not saying Synthroid is right..following 's advice

> regarding eating proeprly, not skipping meals, getting enough

sleep

> will help you use the most of your hormone replacement..but

> considering you no longer have a thyroid to produce thyroid

hormone

> you need to get it from somewhere..

>

> Also you need a doc that understands that you have no thyroid..

> TSH is a thyroid stimulating hormone..your body determines if it

has

> enough, too much or not enough thyroid hormone..it then sends a

> signal to the pituary gland, which in turn sends out a signal

called

> TSH for the thyroid to produce more or less hormone..so the higher

> the TSH the more your body thinks it needs more hormone..now for

> someone with a thyroid..the thyroid would respond and produce this

> extra hormone..someone with a thyroid does not have this

option..so

> what you want is a very low TSH..under 1 if not closer to zero..

>

> Kats3boys

>

[Guest guest]

I know exactly how you feel. I am 23 and I have Hashimoto's

thyroiditis (auto-immune thyroid disease). I was diagnosed almost a

year ago. I am technically subclinical hypothyroid since my T4 so far

has been in the normal range but my TSH is high. The last lab I had

my TSH was 7.98 (upper range being 4.5) and my T4 was 14 which is

close to the middle of the range. I bounce back and forth on how I

feel. Sometimes I feel very hypo and other times I feel very hyper,

which is apparently classic Hashi's. I am not on any kind of hormone

replacement yet. My doctor wants me to go on Synthroid. I tried it

for about a week about 4 months ago and I started having really bad

panic attacks. I haven't tried the Synthroid again because I am in my

last semester of University and I just want to finish and I can't

handle feeling anxious and having panic attacks all of the time.

I am on Atenolol (a beta-blocker) for palpitations, which has helped a

lot both with the palpitations and with the panic. Before I went on

the Atenolol I was having chest pain a lot of the time along with my

palpitations which was very scary for me, I kept on thinking I was

having a heart attack. I get breathless when I walk up a flight of

stairs, I usually have to stop halfway. I haven't been able to

exercise really at all because my heart rate goes really high even

though I am on the Atenolol and takes a very long time to come down

which scares me. Just taking a walk is tiring for me. It is really

frustrating because I want to stay out late and go to parties and all

of that stuff and I just can't. It is especially frustrating because

not all of my friends understand why I can't go out with them or do

things that I used to do. Well I just thought I would let you know

you are not alone in the way that you feel. Hope this helps a little.

~

> > >

> > > Thank you so much for the advice.

> > >

> > > I am taking synthroid 0.100mg and have been on that dosage since

> my

> > > thyroidectomy surgery in January 2006 as my blood tests have

> always

> > > come back " normal " . I take it first thing in the morning, either

> > with

> > > water or sometimes orange juice.

> >

> > Just some Info on Synthroid that will help you.. Synthroid needs

> to

> > be taken on an empty stomach.. one hour before or two hours after

> > food.. most people take it in the morning but as long as you take

> it

> > at the same time each day it does not matter..what matters is that

> > Synthroid has a sodium molecule attached to it that the high acid

> > levels of an empty stomach needs to break down before the body can

> > use Synthroid.

> >

> > The other Synthroid rule is no iron, calcium or supplements

> > containing them for 4 hours after your Synthroid as they bind with

> > Synthroid on a cellular level..

> >

> > So water is good..OJ is out..

> >

> > Now something you can show your doc is the Synthroid insert,

> > website , monograph itself..

> >

> > They reccomend 1mcg of Synthroid per lb for a full replacement

> dose..

> > They also reccomend that the T4 be in the upper half of the range..

> >

> > Now you posted you were 130lbs..and on 100mcg..also with a range

> of 9-

> > 24 ..you should be shooting to get your T4 above 16.5.. now this

> is

> > the half way mark although most people actually do feel better

> with a

> > T4 in the upper 1/3 end of the range..so around 19..or higher with

> > the ranges your lab uses.

> >

> > Now I am not saying Synthroid is right..following 's advice

> > regarding eating proeprly, not skipping meals, getting enough

> sleep

> > will help you use the most of your hormone replacement..but

> > considering you no longer have a thyroid to produce thyroid

> hormone

> > you need to get it from somewhere..

> >

> > Also you need a doc that understands that you have no thyroid..

> > TSH is a thyroid stimulating hormone..your body determines if it

> has

> > enough, too much or not enough thyroid hormone..it then sends a

> > signal to the pituary gland, which in turn sends out a signal

> called

> > TSH for the thyroid to produce more or less hormone..so the higher

> > the TSH the more your body thinks it needs more hormone..now for

> > someone with a thyroid..the thyroid would respond and produce this

> > extra hormone..someone with a thyroid does not have this

> option..so

> > what you want is a very low TSH..under 1 if not closer to zero..

> >

> > Kats3boys

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your response . It's good to know I'm not the

only one my age feeling this. Your experiences sound a lot like

mine...and through all the symptoms I've experienced...it's the

heart palpatations that scare me... If I'm suppose to be hypo as per

my blood test results....I wonder why my heart does what it does...

Because I have been trying really hard to live a healther life style

with better foods and excercise...but it does take soo long for my

heart rate to get down, I'm sometimes too nervous to try anything

excerice related, no matter how simple.

I've complained about chest pains and palpatations in the past, but

no one seems to be too concerned....maybe I need a beta blocker, I

dunno...because all I can say is I'm tired of feeling like this and

being scared.

I also too get breathless walking up the stairs, and the anxieties

are tough, with my heart just pouncing and big knots in my stomach.

But I guess I just have to take it one day at a time...we all

do...and I've certainly learned a lot in these past few postings for

you all...and certain things I should be asking and telling my

doctor. Thanks.

> > > >

> > > > Thank you so much for the advice.

> > > >

> > > > I am taking synthroid 0.100mg and have been on that dosage

since

> > my

> > > > thyroidectomy surgery in January 2006 as my blood tests have

> > always

> > > > come back " normal " . I take it first thing in the morning,

either

> > > with

> > > > water or sometimes orange juice.

> > >

> > > Just some Info on Synthroid that will help you.. Synthroid

needs

> > to

> > > be taken on an empty stomach.. one hour before or two hours

after

> > > food.. most people take it in the morning but as long as you

take

> > it

> > > at the same time each day it does not matter..what matters is

that

> > > Synthroid has a sodium molecule attached to it that the high

acid

> > > levels of an empty stomach needs to break down before the body

can

> > > use Synthroid.

> > >

> > > The other Synthroid rule is no iron, calcium or supplements

> > > containing them for 4 hours after your Synthroid as they bind

with

> > > Synthroid on a cellular level..

> > >

> > > So water is good..OJ is out..

> > >

> > > Now something you can show your doc is the Synthroid insert,

> > > website , monograph itself..

> > >

> > > They reccomend 1mcg of Synthroid per lb for a full replacement

> > dose..

> > > They also reccomend that the T4 be in the upper half of the

range..

> > >

> > > Now you posted you were 130lbs..and on 100mcg..also with a

range

> > of 9-

> > > 24 ..you should be shooting to get your T4 above 16.5.. now

this

> > is

> > > the half way mark although most people actually do feel better

> > with a

> > > T4 in the upper 1/3 end of the range..so around 19..or higher

with

> > > the ranges your lab uses.

> > >

> > > Now I am not saying Synthroid is right..following 's

advice

> > > regarding eating proeprly, not skipping meals, getting enough

> > sleep

> > > will help you use the most of your hormone replacement..but

> > > considering you no longer have a thyroid to produce thyroid

> > hormone

> > > you need to get it from somewhere..

> > >

> > > Also you need a doc that understands that you have no thyroid..

> > > TSH is a thyroid stimulating hormone..your body determines if

it

> > has

> > > enough, too much or not enough thyroid hormone..it then sends

a

> > > signal to the pituary gland, which in turn sends out a signal

> > called

> > > TSH for the thyroid to produce more or less hormone..so the

higher

> > > the TSH the more your body thinks it needs more hormone..now

for

> > > someone with a thyroid..the thyroid would respond and produce

this

> > > extra hormone..someone with a thyroid does not have this

> > option..so

> > > what you want is a very low TSH..under 1 if not closer to

zero..

> > >

> > > Kats3boys

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I forgot to mention you said in your second post that you and your

boyfriend were trying to go vegetarian. I am not sure if you meant

strictly vegetarian. But if you are replacing your protein with soy

products you may want to be careful. People with thyroid problems can

have problems with soy. I am not saying you will necessarily have

issues. I haven't done a ton of research on it but I do know from

personal experience it makes me feel really bad if I eat a lot of it.

I used to eat a lot of soy stuff because my roommate was vegan so I

would eat a lot of her food but this was before my thyroid problems.

~

> > > > >

> > > > > Thank you so much for the advice.

> > > > >

> > > > > I am taking synthroid 0.100mg and have been on that dosage

> since

> > > my

> > > > > thyroidectomy surgery in January 2006 as my blood tests have

> > > always

> > > > > come back " normal " . I take it first thing in the morning,

> either

> > > > with

> > > > > water or sometimes orange juice.

> > > >

> > > > Just some Info on Synthroid that will help you.. Synthroid

> needs

> > > to

> > > > be taken on an empty stomach.. one hour before or two hours

> after

> > > > food.. most people take it in the morning but as long as you

> take

> > > it

> > > > at the same time each day it does not matter..what matters is

> that

> > > > Synthroid has a sodium molecule attached to it that the high

> acid

> > > > levels of an empty stomach needs to break down before the body

> can

> > > > use Synthroid.

> > > >

> > > > The other Synthroid rule is no iron, calcium or supplements

> > > > containing them for 4 hours after your Synthroid as they bind

> with

> > > > Synthroid on a cellular level..

> > > >

> > > > So water is good..OJ is out..

> > > >

> > > > Now something you can show your doc is the Synthroid insert,

> > > > website , monograph itself..

> > > >

> > > > They reccomend 1mcg of Synthroid per lb for a full replacement

> > > dose..

> > > > They also reccomend that the T4 be in the upper half of the

> range..

> > > >

> > > > Now you posted you were 130lbs..and on 100mcg..also with a

> range

> > > of 9-

> > > > 24 ..you should be shooting to get your T4 above 16.5.. now

> this

> > > is

> > > > the half way mark although most people actually do feel better

> > > with a

> > > > T4 in the upper 1/3 end of the range..so around 19..or higher

> with

> > > > the ranges your lab uses.

> > > >

> > > > Now I am not saying Synthroid is right..following 's

> advice

> > > > regarding eating proeprly, not skipping meals, getting enough

> > > sleep

> > > > will help you use the most of your hormone replacement..but

> > > > considering you no longer have a thyroid to produce thyroid

> > > hormone

> > > > you need to get it from somewhere..

> > > >

> > > > Also you need a doc that understands that you have no thyroid..

> > > > TSH is a thyroid stimulating hormone..your body determines if

> it

> > > has

> > > > enough, too much or not enough thyroid hormone..it then sends

> a

> > > > signal to the pituary gland, which in turn sends out a signal

> > > called

> > > > TSH for the thyroid to produce more or less hormone..so the

> higher

> > > > the TSH the more your body thinks it needs more hormone..now

> for

> > > > someone with a thyroid..the thyroid would respond and produce

> this

> > > > extra hormone..someone with a thyroid does not have this

> > > option..so

> > > > what you want is a very low TSH..under 1 if not closer to

> zero..

> > > >

> > > > Kats3boys

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Adrenal fatigue can also do this, big time. Low thyroid causes the adrenal

glands to have to work over time to make up the difference in energy, that

is, until they just can't do it any more. The adrenal fatigue sets in,

causing palpitations, panic attacks, etc...etc...

Re: First time posting blood test

results

> Thank you for your response . It's good to know I'm not the

> only one my age feeling this. Your experiences sound a lot like

> mine...and through all the symptoms I've experienced...it's the

> heart palpatations that scare me... If I'm suppose to be hypo as per

> my blood test results....I wonder why my heart does what it does...

>

> Because I have been trying really hard to live a healther life style

> with better foods and excercise...but it does take soo long for my

> heart rate to get down, I'm sometimes too nervous to try anything

> excerice related, no matter how simple.

>

> I've complained about chest pains and palpatations in the past, but

> no one seems to be too concerned....maybe I need a beta blocker, I

> dunno...because all I can say is I'm tired of feeling like this and

> being scared.

>

> I also too get breathless walking up the stairs, and the anxieties

> are tough, with my heart just pouncing and big knots in my stomach.

>

> But I guess I just have to take it one day at a time...we all

> do...and I've certainly learned a lot in these past few postings for

> you all...and certain things I should be asking and telling my

> doctor. Thanks.

>

>

>>

>> I know exactly how you feel. I am 23 and I have Hashimoto's

>> thyroiditis (auto-immune thyroid disease). I was diagnosed almost

> a

>> year ago. I am technically subclinical hypothyroid since my T4 so

> far

>> has been in the normal range but my TSH is high. The last lab I

> had

>> my TSH was 7.98 (upper range being 4.5) and my T4 was 14 which is

>> close to the middle of the range. I bounce back and forth on how I

>> feel. Sometimes I feel very hypo and other times I feel very

> hyper,

>> which is apparently classic Hashi's. I am not on any kind of

> hormone

>> replacement yet. My doctor wants me to go on Synthroid. I tried it

>> for about a week about 4 months ago and I started having really bad

>> panic attacks. I haven't tried the Synthroid again because I am

> in my

>> last semester of University and I just want to finish and I can't

>> handle feeling anxious and having panic attacks all of the time.

>> I am on Atenolol (a beta-blocker) for palpitations, which has

> helped a

>> lot both with the palpitations and with the panic. Before I went

> on

>> the Atenolol I was having chest pain a lot of the time along with

> my

>> palpitations which was very scary for me, I kept on thinking I was

>> having a heart attack. I get breathless when I walk up a flight of

>> stairs, I usually have to stop halfway. I haven't been able to

>> exercise really at all because my heart rate goes really high even

>> though I am on the Atenolol and takes a very long time to come down

>> which scares me. Just taking a walk is tiring for me. It is

> really

>> frustrating because I want to stay out late and go to parties and

> all

>> of that stuff and I just can't. It is especially frustrating

> because

>> not all of my friends understand why I can't go out with them or do

>> things that I used to do. Well I just thought I would let you know

>> you are not alone in the way that you feel. Hope this helps a

> little.

>>

>> ~