My Blood-Test Results!

Ok, so I just got my results back, I was tested for PCOS, Free T4 and TSH and Vitamin D.


My Results:
Thyroid results were High 
Testosterone was High 
Cholesterol both HDL and LDL- Normal
Triglycerides- High
Vitamin D- Low
Progesterone-64(Normal)

I have an appointment on June 6, my Dr. says he wants to see me and talk about what I can do for my abnormalities, but that it's not urgent. He says my levels are Mildly high.

When I look at these results it tells me that I probably have a Thyroid problem, which in turn is effecting my testosterone levels and in turn is messing with my bodies metabolism and hormonal balance and causing my triglycerides to be high because of my poor metabolism and making my cycles irregular from the elevated testosterone and making it harder for me to get pregnant and in the past probably in making it harder for me to not miscarry. This Then made me question what could be causing the thyroid problem? what can i do to improve this? What should i take to get my thyroid hormones balanced? Should I be Eating differently then I am now and If so What should I change?

My Symptoms:

• shakey when going longer periods of time without food
• heat intolerence 
• fatigue mid-day
• trouble losing weight
• trouble falling asleep at night
• irregular cycles
• Headaches behind my eyes
• hirsutism (chin,upper lip and belly button)
• achey bones/joints
• blood pressure fluctuates from normal to high
• 2 miscarriages with Low Progesterone in both cases

Apparently through research I've found the most common cause of Overactive Thyroid is Graves Disease.Where the bodies immune system attacks the thyroid causing it to produce too much thyroid hormones.

All about the thyroid gland:

The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system and is responsible for producing and releasing thyroid hormones into the bloodstream.

Artwork showing the location of the thyroid gland in the neck, in front of the windpipe. The voice box sits just above it.

Where is my thyroid gland?

The thyroid gland is located at the front of the neck just below the Adam’s apple. It is butterfly-shaped and consists of two lobes located either side of the windpipe. A normal thyroid gland is not usually outwardly visible or able to be felt if finger pressure is applied to the neck. 

What does my thyroid gland do?

The thyroid gland produces hormones which regulate the body’s metabolic rate as well as heart and digestive function, muscle control, brain development and bone maintenance. Its correct functioning depends on having a good supply of iodine from the diet.  

The release of thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland is controlled by thyrotrophin-releasing hormonefrom the hypothalamus in the brain and by thyroid stimulating hormone produced by the pituitary gland. This forms part of a feedback loop called the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis. 

What could go wrong with my thyroid gland?

The thyroid gland can become overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism). This may, rarely, occur from birth, or develop later on in life. Hypothyroidism is often accompanied by an enlargement of the thyroid gland known as goitre.

Thyrotoxicosis is the term given when there is too much thyroid hormone in the bloodstream. It may be a result of overactivity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) as in Graves’ disease, inflammation of the thyroid or a benign tumour. Symptoms of thyrotoxicosis include intolerance to heat, weight loss, increased appetite, increased bowel movements, irregular menstrual cycle, rapid and irregular heart beat, palpitations, tiredness, irritability, tremor, hair loss and retraction of the eyelids resulting in a ‘staring’ appearance. 

Hypothyroidism is the term given when too few thyroid hormones are produced by the thyroid gland. It may result from autoimmune diseases (when the person’s immune system starts to attack itself), poor iodine intake or be brought on by use of certain drugs. Since thyroid hormones are essential for physical and mental development, hypothyroidism during development (ie, before birth and during childhood) can result in learning difficulties and reduced physical growth. Hypothyroidism in adults results in decreased metabolic rate. This causes symptoms which include fatigue, intolerance of cold temperatures, low heart rate, weight gain, reduced appetite, poor memory, depression, stiffness of muscles and infertility.

How Hyperthyroidism Affects Ovulation

The more common of the two main thyroid disorders is hyperthyroidism, the over-production of thyroid hormones. This can happen over either a short or long period of time, and it can affect many different functions of the body because of the thyroid's influence over metabolism.

When the thyroid produces too much hormone, it can send the body into a state of over-activity, including high blood pressure, an increased appetite, and intolerance to heat and frequent sweating, as well as other side effects. When it comes to a woman's ovulation cycle, hyperthyroidism can cause irregular or even a complete lack of menstrual cycles.

Most instances of hyperthyroidism are cause by Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder that directly affects the thyroid. It is often treated by correcting the body's output of thyroid hormones [source: PubMed Health].

It is not impossible for a woman to get pregnant if she shows signs of hyperthyroidism. But, if she does have hyperthyroidism, it has to be treated and monitored by a doctor to protect both her and the baby during pregnancy.

Left unchecked, hyperthyroidism can lead to complications like preeclampsia, a spike in blood pressure late into the pregnancy, as well as premature birth, a low birth weight or even miscarriage [source:NEMDIS]. But these are only symptoms of severe hyperthyroidism. For women who have a mild case of the condition, treatment is not generally needed during pregnancy .

Treatments:

A rarer condition that occurs in only 0.5 percent of women is an overactive (rather than underactive) thyroid, or hyperthyroidism. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease, an autoimmune condition in which the body produces an antibody that causes the thyroid gland to release too much hormone.

Untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to infertility as well as miscarriage, maternal heart failure, preeclampsia, premature delivery, and stillbirth. 

Women with active Graves' disease need to receive appropriate treatment. Two antithyroid drugs – propylthiouracil and methimazole – provide the mainstay of treatment of Graves' disease during pregnancy. These drugs work to reduce the amount of hormone that the thyroid gland releases.

Propylthiouracil is recommended in the first trimester because methimazole has been associated with rare birth defects. In the second and third trimesters, however, your doctor may consider switching to methimazole, as it may be the safer treatment at that point.

Your doctor will give you the least amount of drug necessary to achieve control of your thyroid hormones.

The care of a pregnant woman with Graves' disease is complicated. For one thing, the dose of the medicine needed diminishes as the pregnancy progresses. In fact, many (but not all) women are taken off all antithyroid drugs before delivery.

In addition, both of these antithyroid drugs cross the placenta and can affect the developing baby. (To complicate matters even further, the antibody that causes Graves' disease also crosses the placenta and can affect the baby. Even women who have been successfully treated for Graves' disease may still have this antibody and require special monitoring during pregnancy.)

After your baby arrives, your doctor will continue to monitor you to make certain that your medication is adjusted correctly. It's not uncommon for Graves' disease to flare in the postpartum period.

Your baby's doctor will also monitor your newborn for thyroid problems that may be present at birth. This is a rare occurrence, but your doctor has to watch out for it, nevertheless.