Graves' Disease Support Group
Graves-Basedow disease is a medical disorder that may manifest several different conditions including hyperthyroidism (over activity of thyroid hormone production), infiltrative exophthalmos (protruberance of one or both eyes and associated problems) and infiltrative dermopathy (a skin condition usually of the lower extremities). This disorder is the most common cause of...
Wondering if this is a case of “Doctors aren’t always right”. Please read on - advice and guidance on this situation will be much appreciated.
I recently visited my primary care physician with concerns of hyperthyroidism/graves. Not only does it run in the family, but my symptoms seem to really point towards it. I’ve never been able to put on weight. My heart rate spikes to 130+ with something as simple as walking. I feel constantly fatigued - as if my body is working too hard. I have purple tinted bags under my eyes at all times that are puffy, regardless of how much sleep I get. Brain fog every single day - people think I’m on drugs. I have horrible diarrhea that gets triggered by ANY kind of stimulant (caffeine, sugar, etc). My hair has thinned out so bad, that I’ve been forced to go bald at 20. I feel like shit, and it’s NOT in my head.
I expressed my concerns and asked my doctor for a “hyperthyroidism test” (I know, not proper medical terminology). She agreed, and scheduled me for a thyroid panel where they drew blood. After years of doctor visits for various issues, I was hoping that this single test would explain my symptoms and put me on the right path towards treatment.
I was wrong.
She claimed that the test results came back normal, and I was shocked. I asked her if she could show me the details (levels of hormones, etc.), so she sent me a detailed write-up on the test and I honestly think there may have been an error on her part. The test was for “Thyroid Stimulating Hormone”. It provided a standard range, and mine was on the low end of that range (0.75 to be exact). However, the write-up included nothing on the other two thyroid hormones, which are T3 and T4.
Now I’m no “Google doctor” by any means, but from what I understand, testing for only TSH is NOT a definitive rule-out of hyperthyroidism. Furthermore, in patients WITH hyperthyroidism, the TSH is often times low, and T3 and T4 are elevated, which is indicative of an overactive thyroid. My TSH was on the low end, and this write up includes nothing about T3 and T4.
I was told this is anxiety, and my symptoms persist. No closure whatsoever, and it’s depressing. Should I reach back out to my doctor and ask if she tested T3 and T4? Does this even sound like hyperthyroidism?
Thank you so much for your help in advance.
Order your own tsh freet 4 and free t3 test. It costs 65.00. Print out email/ lab form, go to Quest or Lab Corp. Get results via email next day. Take results to your Dr.