Adding T3

Despite my reservations, my visit to the endocrinologist actually went quite well.

The resident who took my history for the better part of an hour was excellent. She quickly picked up on my anxiety and skepticism from previous medical encounters and assured me that she would cover everything possible during my exam. Her presentation of my case to the specialist was impressive - she summarized everything I had shared with her into a complete profile, highlighting the issues that she most felt related to thyroid. Her future patients are going to be fortunate to have such a thorough and caring physician.

The endocrinologist told me that adding T3 made virtually no difference for most people - the only notable exception being people with depression. Because of my history of depression, he thought it would be worthwhile to try adding T3 at 25mcg/day (half in the morning, half at night).

The theory is that in some people, T4 does not effectively convert to T3. I pray that I am one of these people. What a joy it would be to feel like my 'old self' again.

One interesting aside - both the endocrinologist and the resident noted my high ANA level (1:640, speckled), saying that it was suggestive of 'some other process' going on in my body. They took blood tests to look for markers of inflammation; which I should hear more about soon.

So this morning I took my first dosage of T3...and I screwed it up! I took a whole pill in the morning instead of half. Here's hoping all goes well today.

Where's my IgM?

Back from holidays - what a glorious trip! I snorkelled with stingrays and spent as much time as possible outside in the shade enjoying the pool. What a difference a little health makes!

I returned home to some interesting blood lab results. My ANA is still 1:640, but my ENA is negative, ESR is negative and anti-dsDNA is negative. That's a whole lot of negativity!

But there was also something else missing...apparently my Immunoglobin M (IgM) is on the 'low side'. I'm not as up to date on immunology as I would like to be, but I think that means that something is up.

Oddly, my CK was elevated, which is weird because I hadn't been exercising before my test or doing anything else that should have affected the results.

Also, my MCH is high (which has been consistent for the past few years). My B12 and Folic Acid are ideal and I consume next-to-no alcohol, so that doesn't make a whole lot of sense either.

I really need to go to med school - if only to make sense of my own lab work!

Is a 1:640 ANA titre meaningful?

When I first started feeling ill, my psychiatrist wondered if I might have Lupus.

While my mood responded to antidepressants; the constant fatigue, fevers, chills, migraines and brain fog led him to think that there was more going on than a psychiatric issue.

He tested my ANA and found it positive 1:160

Referred to Rheumatologist. Disaster. She didn't want to test me further because I was a psychiatric referral. Depression causes fatigue, therefore I had a mental health issue and was waisting her time.

My new family doctor wondered about my ANA and re-tested it. It had increased to 1:320

Referred to an Internal Medicine Specialist. She ran a panel of autoimmune tests which came back negative. She diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia and told me my ANA wasn't meaningful.

Fast forward - one year later. I am feeling quite a bit better, but fatigue and headaches, brain fog still happen with alarming regularity. Often I'm fine on a brisk walk, can lift heavy objects without breaking a sweat...and then suddenly... I find myself short of breath doing the simplest of things. Anything physical or emotional stress comes at a cost. A busy day-trip to Detroit with my mother led to a three day sleep, with fever and aches.

But my mood is fine!

My psychiatrist is still not happy with my physical symptoms, and still doesn't believe that they are related to depression. He did another ANA last week which found a titre of 1:640 (Speckled).

He is puzzled by this, as a year ago, I tested negative for anti-thyroid antibodies, anti-phospholipid antibodies, anti-Sm, anti-Ro, anti-DNA....

Clearly, something is still wrong with me. Is a 1:640 titre important? I keep feeling like there is something else going on in my body, but running out of directions.

lupus?

My test results are back. It appears that they are all normal, except for one.

I tested positive for high anti-nuclear antibody (ANA). It seems that can happen in about 20% of the population for no good reason, so I may not have Lupus. But considering my symptoms, there is a good chance that I do have it.

My doctor's office is seeing me tomorrow morning for follow up.

I feel a ray of hope shining in. Maybe I will finally know what's been wrong with me for so long.