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Misdiagnosed?

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Thyroid Disorders
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Mike619er
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2009
Posts : 429
Posted 12/10/2010 5:41 AM (GMT -7)
Hi my name is Mike and I'm 25 years old.  The last year and a half has really had it's ups and downs.  Out of nowhere I started getting extremely down and anxious and getting extreme sleeping problems.  It seemed like it just came out of nowhere and I panicked.  I went to every doctor I could find to see what was wrong and they all assured me that I was medically fine.  This left me extremely uneasy because then I started worrying and thinking oh my god I'm crazy or something.  My ability to focus and concentrate was and still is (although better then it was) pretty hard.  It's affecting just about every aspect of my life.  I'm putting on weight, I'm having trouble holding a job (I'm losing interest in everything and constantly changing my mind to find a way out), I don't really want to be around anyone, and all I think about is how to get better but can't find a solution.  I'm a guy who used to love going out with the guys on the weekends and having a good time, blowing off some steam and socializing.  The fact that I blow off friends and family now to go out bothers me, I guess it's because I know deep down I would normally love to go but the last year or so I really just have no energy or enthusiasm about anything.

The reason for this whole post is, how long did it take for anyone reading this to be diagnosed with a thyroid problem?  I was tested for it a year and a half ago when my symptoms first started and according to the doctors at that time they said my levels were "around" normal levels.  My mother has thyroid problems, I believe its Hypothyroidism.  This is why I thought that it could be exactly what I have.   I guess it's just me hoping its not just depression/anxiety.

Basically I'm just tossing around teh idea in my head to go back to the doctor and get retested, but I don't want to get let down again.  Plus, financially with work being such a problem lately I don't want to waste all the copays on a result that is probably not going to show anything.  I really wish it was a thyroid problem though, atleast I'd be able to just get on the medicine my mothers on and be able to get back to feeling good again.

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couchtater
Elite Member
Joined : Jul 2009
Posts : 14475
Posted 12/10/2010 5:27 PM (GMT -7)
Which tests did they do? TSH? T4? T3? Antibodies?
You need the full scale to definitely rule out Thyroid issues.
Normal TSH is .8-2.5
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Bellember
New Member
Joined : Dec 2010
Posts : 8
Posted 12/10/2010 9:46 PM (GMT -7)
Mike, there are multiple patterns of hypothyroidism - most of the patterns do not display as high TSH levels, and so these types of patterns do get misdiagnosed. As Joy says below, it is important to get tested against a full panel and to ask to see the results.

Most doctors (including mine) test against the lab ranges, which are not accurate.
The functional range for TSH levels is 1.58-3.0 mU/L

I have just responded to another post from today with functional ranges for the other tests as well.
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Mike619er
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2009
Posts : 429
Posted 12/11/2010 4:49 AM (GMT -7)
Thanks so much, I'll definitely use this information when I go see my doc in about a week or so when I go get retested. I don't remember which exact test was done last time, but I think it was just the regular lab ranges in which he said I was within normal levels. I do have a different doctor now, as I wasj umping around from doctor to doctor to try and find an answer, never found one, but I just personally like the one I have now. Anyways, I'll go to him with all this info and ask for a more detailed test and ask for a copy of the results too.

One thing htough, do the complaints and symptoms that I have listed sound like it could be a Thyroid issue to you all? Or does it just sound like someone with anxiety who's looking for a way out? Cause that's what I'm wrestling around with in my head, could it really be a thyroid problem or am I just hoping it is because my mom has it and I know that if I went on thyroid meds I'd start to feel better.

Thanks
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couchtater
Elite Member
Joined : Jul 2009
Posts : 14475
Posted 12/11/2010 6:24 AM (GMT -7)
I found my anxiety level increases when my thyroid is off balance. I would get unexplained waves of depression at times.
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Bellember
New Member
Joined : Dec 2010
Posts : 8
Posted 12/11/2010 9:58 AM (GMT -7)
I have found myself nervous, irritable, and unsociable. Completely unmotivated to do anything, and the last few years have slipped by with no personal growth. Unable to concentrate to the point where I would lose track of what I was saying in the middle of saying it. I have gotten somewhat better on the medication, but I am still struggling with some of the symptoms.
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Mike619er
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2009
Posts : 429
Posted 12/11/2010 2:44 PM (GMT -7)
Yea that's exactly what I have Bellember, I will forget what I am saying or doing right as I am doing it. People at my job are like shocked sometimes how bad my memory is. I can't help it I'm just a walking 5 minute machine. If it didnt happen in the last 5 minutes I don't remember it. And I too catch myself trying to figure out what Im saying or doing while doing so. Kind of relaxes me a little bit to realize I'm not the only one with these probs and that other people who have thyroid problems battle with the same things.
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Bellember
New Member
Joined : Dec 2010
Posts : 8
Posted 12/11/2010 10:17 PM (GMT -7)
Hang in there Mike619er - get the full panel of tests and make sure to get a copy of the results.
Like I said, even if your TSH levels come back in the normal functioning range, you may still have thyroid issues even though your doctor may not say you will. A lot of doctors think there are thyroid issues only if the TSH levels look off.
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