thyroid...or something else

Hello I am confused about my next action , I have been having these issues for years but just in the last six months have they spiraled out of control. I am a 27 year old female. For the past at least six plus years I have suffered with the following issues. Constantly cold no matter what the temp fatigued for no reason chronic aches and pains , most recently extreme weight gain. I have not changed my diet I eat healthy only drink water juice or tea. Recently memory loss. I was told perhaps thyroid was issues so I went to Dr. They ran blood and felt my thyroid. The blood came back normal except instances that possibily mean I'm border line lupus. But he psyical examine revealed my thyroid to be enlarged. The doctor wrote me off as vitamin d deficient and gave me strong vitamins that have done nothing for my energy or feeling cold. When I spoke of weight gain I'm talking thirty lbs in about a month no I am not pregnant. Once the weight gain began I have been working out since and have not lost a single lbs or inch in six months. I'm still very concerned considering my normal weight is about 115/120 and now I am 145 and holding strong. I dont think my Dr diagnosed me correctly does anyone else have experience with thyroid issues and where I can seek help

Did you see a GP or did you see an endocrinologist?

Do you know your exact thyroid test numbers?

My mom has thyroid issues and her GP was crap in treating them. My mom has a LOT of typical thyroid issue symptoms but because her test numbers were *slightly* within the normal range, the doc told her she didn't need medication. (Such crap, you don't only go by the numbers if someone is THAT symptomatic, especially since the normal range is a "normal" across all people and low for one person may still fall within the so called normal range.)

I think it's important to see a specialist when it comes to thyroid issues.

Most doctors really don't understand thyroid issues AT ALL - you could have "normal" lab results and still have hypothyroidism. Plus, the typical lab panel for thyroid doesn't even include some of the key markers. There is a whole website dedicated to improperly diagnosed thyroid sufferers offering really detailed information (is overwhelming with info at first.). If interested, go to StopTheThyroidMadness dot com.

Wishing you good health!

You need to see an endocrinologist. You should have been referred to one with symptoms that severe. I would also be concerned about "borderline lupus" -- but this would all be studied by the endocrinologist. Please don't spend a lot of time online or listen to everyone's stories (I am hypothyroid but my story isn't relevant.) What is relevant is that you see a specialist. Please don't wait too long because if you are found to be hypo by the endocrinologist the sooner you get treatment the better you will feel. I didn't experience such a drastic weight gain. That's a pretty severe symptom. My heart goes out to you. Please see an endocrinologist. Best of luck.

Thank you. Unfortunately the way my insurance runs I have to be tested for lupus first, but this Dr seems to also think its thyroid, so fingers crossed I can get some relief soon

Ask for a referral to an endocrinologist. It took me over a yr to get in but worth it.

Thyroids are very touchy & most GP's won't bother w/them. Take it into your hands & get to a specialist.
I demanded it after my tests kept coming back "low normal".

Ask for a free T4 and a T3 to be measured along with your TSH. You could have subclinical hypothyroidism. Also ask about getting your cortisol checked to rule out Cushing's disease. I'd also ask for them to run a panel checking your female hormones. It sounds hormonal in some way. Is the weight gain in any particular area especially? Any med changes, additions or increases?

I had the exact same symptoms as you and I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid.
Maybe ask for a second opinion. What you describe does sound like the thyroid.

Sounds like hypothyroidism-I gave it. My gp handles mine but sometimes I wonder if I shobud go to specialist.

I hope you get answers soon!

Would suggest tests for lyme and co infections

I have the same problem to exactly. Gained 30 lbs, enlarged thyroid, mood swings, eating well, exercising borderline normal numbers... No help yet. I got further testing done by an R.E. but it didn't help. So... I am nowhere with this really.

Most of my weight is abdominal and I have endometriosis and adenomyosis, so bloat is a BIG problem for me, but still, it's frustrating. That's for sure.

went to thyroid dr today, he didn't even seem to care, looked at me previous tests said their normal felt my thyroid which is still enlarged says not a big deal and then gave me dieting brochures. when asked what my symptoms were i pulled the page a half list i have kept, didn't look at it or read it or ask what i said. im even more frustrated than ever.

Ugh.
Wrong doctor, imo....

You need to be listened to.

I know it's difficult to find a competent endocrinologist, but I would strongly suggest you keep trying. An enlarged thyroid and sudden weight gain are worrisome.
What imaging have you had? Have you done tests for Lyme disease? (Westernblot, Elisa, PCR) Did you get tested for Grave's disease? For Lupus, there is no single test that can accurately diagnose you, but there are typical symptoms and your doctor would typically diagnose it by writing down these symptoms and running tests to rule out other things.
The first goal imo is to find out if the thyroid is the cause or a symptom and go from there in excluding illnesses. Wish you well on your journey

Sorry to hear that! I think that I might have thyroid issues too as my mom & sister have issues with it. I can't seem to loose weight now! I have gained a ton of weight in the last ten years, ugh! My sister has Graves disease. My Dr. told me that I need to get blood work done first instead of going straight to a endrocoligist.

The way that they phrased things made it sound like I was worried about nothing, ugh! They honestly made it sound in a nice way that I'll be wasting their time w/o getting the bloodwork done first as they look for and deal with specific things.

How did everyone else go about this? Did you go to see a Dr. and get bloodwork first? Or did you go straight to the endrocologist? Also, if you ended up taking any meds, did it help you loose weight or not?

@the o.p, look up PCOS. If you also have excessive hair growth on your face, acne, mood swings, etc....then that could be one issue that you're dealing with too. The full name is Polyisitc Ovarian Syndrome.

One other thing, if your Dr. is being dismissive, go to another one for a second and even third opinion. Also, some foods cause major bloating like white processed foods, and rice, flour, wheat, potatos, chips, pasta, bread, sugar, artificial sweetners, cabbage, brocolli, beans, gum, and carbonated drinks like soda. Even diet soda. So try to cut out those foods and test for Celiac disease. It's an allergy to wheat. Also, dairy products can cause bloating and gas in some people. Try to cut that out for a few days and see what happens. Drink lots of water and green tea w/o any honey or sugar in it too. No fruit juice. It's full of sugar. Fruit is OK. Good luck with everything!

Ace, I am so sorry you were treated like that. What a rude and unhelpful doctor. I hope you can keep the energy going to continue to advocate for yourself to find out what's going on.

I have taken multiple blood tests for each except the endo Dr because he didn't even seem to care. Again I have written down all my symptoms and shown each Dr , which endo didn't even take the time to ask or look or read it. His only response is it was my birth control and to remove it. I did change my birth control a few more this ago, but its clearly not the problem when all these symptoms plus weight happened before the switch. I assume at some point I'm just gonna go back to my reg Dr and we if she can give me any relief. She is more understanding and be lives its my thyroid. I'm sick of the run around between drs. It just makes things worse