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...

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Endocrine System
/ Graves' Disease Support Group

TSH Level

annbower1125
annbower1125
So for the last few months I have had some really weird issues going on. Insomnia, brain fog bad, fatigue and I just have no interest in anything, or do anything. I could set in my chair all day and do nothing. Last night my heart was skipping a beat for like 30 minutes so I went to the hospital and come to find out I was really dehydrated and they also diagnosed me with heart palps. They tested my blood and he said great news that my tsh was 2.55 that doesn't sound right. I will be going on Tuesday to get the rest of my results as all he said was I was in the normal range on everything. But something is wrong. Any idea? I cant lose weight either, I have gained over 35 pounds since I have been in remission for graves. I am 5'7" and I weigh 195, I used to weigh 117, but over the years I moved up to 160. if my levels are off how can I boost up my metabolism to were I can lose some weight.
Courage2010
Courage2010
You sound hypo but your labs will reveal that- post them all here once you get them... The people here will show you the way once you get those labs... It'll get better!
Courage2010
Courage2010
By the way- your TSH sounds high as well... I'd put money on that you're now hypo...
mmztcass
mmztcass
Ann:

Have you found out yet what your Free Ts are? It sounds like you may be of the 20% category where people go hypO. If so you may benefit from taking replacement meds now.

{{{hugs}}}
bransnana
bransnana
Yes, I would say if your tsh is 2.something, your frees are too low. Don't let them fool you with that "everything's normal" B.S. when you are clearly sympotomatic for hypo.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I have two friends who went HypO from Hyper shortly after their pregnancies. They were diagnosed with Hashimotos instead of Graves even though they were diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism for years prior. I know from my personal history, I feel like that my extreme hyper periods were preceded or followed by weight gain. Both of my friends now take synthroid.
annbower1125
annbower1125
went to the hospital and got my results of my blood tests and darnit he only tested my tsh, so can someone give me some advice on what blood tests I need to tell my regular dr to write the prescription for, thanks!
dairytech
dairytech
I agree...with your TSH at 2.55...you are hypo. The ranges were changed several years ago...its universal now...anything over 1.5 is considered going hypo.

Ask your doctor to run TSH FT4 and FT3...if your doctor wont or you cant afford regular labs...the most important is the FT4. You could run the FT3 every 2nd or 3rd lab and the TSH in my opinion can be sacrificed the most...Big Hugs...Kathy
Fern-RL
Fern-RL
It is so typical for them to only check the TSH... or, if they find it out of range they will check the FT4, rarely T3, and my endo #3 in Denver said the FT3 is a poor test because there is such a small amount in the blood, it can hardly be found (unless you are extremely hyper, I suppose.) She said the total T3 is a better more reliable test. [I had previously read that many labs do a calculation from total T3 and just call it "free T3," anyway.]
Fern-RL
Fern-RL
I also read, on about.com, that brain fog is associated with adrenal fatigue which can be a result of having too low thyroid over too long period of time.
Fern-RL
Fern-RL
From the Mayo Clinic, I read that "adrenal fatigue" does not exist in the real medical world--the term is "adrenal insufficiency, or Addison's Disease." [I don't know if they recognize "brain fog" either.]