I finally went to see my primary physician after putting up with all the symptoms associated with (what I didn't know was hypothyroidism for quite a while) thinking it was all due to stress, until walking up the stairs was exhausting me, and I saw my primary physician about Jan. 2008.Lab test was done for TSH, T3, & Free T4. I had a TSH of 8.5 and fairly normal T3 & Free T4. I was given a Rx. for 50 mcg. Levoxyl, and after a few months I felt somewhat better. The same lab test were checked periodically, and my TSH went down to about 2.9 and averaged around there. In June of 2009 I began experiencing rapid & hard heart beats, palpitations, nervousness, hand trembling, loose bowels, increased appetite, 5# weight loss in a week, eye pressure, etc. etc. Per phone call with physicians nurse - doctor ordered a TSH. I was left a message on my phone by the nurse that my "thyroid was off" - and to change my dosage of 50 mcg.of Levoxyl each day to - one day 50, and the next day 25. I did this for 2 days, and I was shaking, my heart racing etc. etc., so I stopped taking Levoxyl & I was seen in the office 3 days later, by her PA. He did an EKG (it was OK), reviewed the labs with me that was left on my voice mail the previous week - My TSH was Suppressed and not detectable (<0.01), and he advised me to stay off the Levoxyl (that I stopped taking 2 days before seeing him), and he gave me a lab slip to repeat a TSH, and added T3, & T4 along with a CBC. The TSH was still <0.01) - T3 - 176 (60-181) - Free T4 - 1.4 (0.9 - 1.8) - I was told to continue to stay off Levoxyl and re-check in 3 weeks (Symptoms continued) - 3 Week lab check was about the same. I was told to repeat agin the same labs in 6 weeks. I decided at that time to see an Endocrinologist (which is what I should have done sooner) My thyroid problem is due to abnormal ANTI TPO AB, and Throid Stimulating Immunoglobin.(So it is Autoimmune etc. etc.) He did a complete exam and labs, & a follow up appointment & my TSH from last week was a little better at: 0.29, and the T3, & Free T4 are still in the normal range. Also, interesting is that around the time of my TSH being so high, my GYN found I had an abnormal Bone Density (Osteopenia),and I was severly Vitamin D deficient, and he had some thoughts about me having Celiac Disease. This was at the same time my thyroid went wacko. I was given Fosamx, & a Rx. for Vitamin D (that level improved after checking). I will be seein the GYN next week, and he will discuss with my Endocrinologist, and at this time I am not taking anything at all (not even vitamins). I will also be repeating my labs for TSH etc. and have another appointment with the endocrinologist and see where we go from here. (I have multiple allergies (antibiotics, NSAIDS, IVP Dye etc. ) I also have an appointment to see a Cardiologist in a few weeks because my father died from heart disease at 61 years old. So when my endocrinologist suggested I take Metropolol, to help with cardiac symptoms, I told him I would feel better to see a Cardiologist before taking any heart med,and he was very OK with that. So I went from having Hypothyroidism to Hyperthyroidism in a very short period of time. Now, we just have to see where this is going. (I am also changing primary physicians)
My advice to anyone is to see the Specialist as soon as possible.