
What Causes Hypersomnia, Cold Intolerance, Brain Fog, Irregular Menstruation And Excessive Emotional Behavior?

Posted on
Tue, 28 Mar 2017


Question : I'm a 32 year old woman who in the last 6 months or so began experiencing symptoms that I thought may be thyroid related. (My mother also had her thyroid removed at 10 due to a goiter that was large enough to impede breathing and swallowing.) The symptoms includedÂ
extreme fatigue- previously I dealt with insomnia and rarely got more than 4 hours a night. Now I'll sleep as much as 12 hours at night and still need an afternoon nap to be functionalÂ
cold intoleranceÂ
brain fogÂ
hyper emotional- the tiniest thing can set off a crying jag or make me irateÂ
change in menstrual cycle- previously every 30 days or so, 3 days long and no cramps. Now every 2-3 weeks, 5 or so days and cramps like I haven't experienced since high school.Â
I also lost about 15 pounds within a month, no change in diet. The weight loss has slowed since, but I'm down around 22 pounds.Â
At the initial visit my doctor could determine that my thyroid was enlarged and asymmetric, and ordered an ultrasound and tsh test. I never saw the values for the initial tsh test, but was told it was "within normal" and didn't warrant further testing.Â
The ultrasound showed both lobes to be significantly enlarged with the left being half again as big as the right. Both were full of nodules, but three stood out enough to warrant biospy, including one of 4.7cm that contained a calcification. My biopsy is later this week.Â
These result were enough to convince my doctor to run more blood tests, which I assumed were the full shebang. I picked up the reports from the lab today and discovered what she'd run: tsh, total t3, free t4 and tpo. I'll put the results and reference ranges below, followed by a few questionsÂ
TSH-1.72uIU/mLÂ Â Â Â range: .34-5.60Â
t3 total-118 ng/dLÂ Â range: 71-180Â
free t4- .87 ng/dLÂ Â range: .61-1.12Â
TPO- 14 IU/MLÂ Â Â Â Â Â range: 0-34Â
my questions:Â
1. Should I request any other tests?Â
2. Does being within range mean these values are all healthy values? A basic google search of ranges for each of these shows at the very least some disagreement on "normal" and optimal values.Â
3. Obviously any next steps are going to have to wait on the results from the biopsy, but should I be seeking out an Endocrinologist for further examination? My doctor is dismissive and agrumentative to the point of being nonsensical: she had to be convinced by me being near tears to run ANY of the tests she has run and is convinced I'm "just depressed" but when I offered to try an antidepressant she said I just needed a multivitamin and more sunlight
extreme fatigue- previously I dealt with insomnia and rarely got more than 4 hours a night. Now I'll sleep as much as 12 hours at night and still need an afternoon nap to be functionalÂ
cold intoleranceÂ
brain fogÂ
hyper emotional- the tiniest thing can set off a crying jag or make me irateÂ
change in menstrual cycle- previously every 30 days or so, 3 days long and no cramps. Now every 2-3 weeks, 5 or so days and cramps like I haven't experienced since high school.Â
I also lost about 15 pounds within a month, no change in diet. The weight loss has slowed since, but I'm down around 22 pounds.Â
At the initial visit my doctor could determine that my thyroid was enlarged and asymmetric, and ordered an ultrasound and tsh test. I never saw the values for the initial tsh test, but was told it was "within normal" and didn't warrant further testing.Â
The ultrasound showed both lobes to be significantly enlarged with the left being half again as big as the right. Both were full of nodules, but three stood out enough to warrant biospy, including one of 4.7cm that contained a calcification. My biopsy is later this week.Â
These result were enough to convince my doctor to run more blood tests, which I assumed were the full shebang. I picked up the reports from the lab today and discovered what she'd run: tsh, total t3, free t4 and tpo. I'll put the results and reference ranges below, followed by a few questionsÂ
TSH-1.72uIU/mLÂ Â Â Â range: .34-5.60Â
t3 total-118 ng/dLÂ Â range: 71-180Â
free t4- .87 ng/dLÂ Â range: .61-1.12Â
TPO- 14 IU/MLÂ Â Â Â Â Â range: 0-34Â
my questions:Â
1. Should I request any other tests?Â
2. Does being within range mean these values are all healthy values? A basic google search of ranges for each of these shows at the very least some disagreement on "normal" and optimal values.Â
3. Obviously any next steps are going to have to wait on the results from the biopsy, but should I be seeking out an Endocrinologist for further examination? My doctor is dismissive and agrumentative to the point of being nonsensical: she had to be convinced by me being near tears to run ANY of the tests she has run and is convinced I'm "just depressed" but when I offered to try an antidepressant she said I just needed a multivitamin and more sunlight
Brief Answer:
Wait for your biopsy report.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,
Thanks for trusting hcm about your health care.
I have gone through your history and understand your concerns.
I have seen your report and it is with in normal limits.
But I can understand your issues as your thyroid is showing nodules in it and thyroid function is normal, but sometimes initially thyroid function can be normal with all the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
So in your case as you are having symptoms of hypothyroidism but your thyroid function is normal, you should wait and watch for your biopsy report.
Have you done your blood sugar, haemoglobin,liver function tests and renal function test?
Hope to hear from you soon.
Good luck
Regards
Wait for your biopsy report.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,
Thanks for trusting hcm about your health care.
I have gone through your history and understand your concerns.
I have seen your report and it is with in normal limits.
But I can understand your issues as your thyroid is showing nodules in it and thyroid function is normal, but sometimes initially thyroid function can be normal with all the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
So in your case as you are having symptoms of hypothyroidism but your thyroid function is normal, you should wait and watch for your biopsy report.
Have you done your blood sugar, haemoglobin,liver function tests and renal function test?
Hope to hear from you soon.
Good luck
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T

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