Dear Dr. Roach: A few months ago, I had routine follow-up thyroid tests, and my results were normal except for a slightly high free T4 level. My doctor decreased my medication dose to 137 mcg from 150 mcg; now my TSH is high (8.77), but my free T4 and T3 levels are normal.
Fatigue is my biggest symptom, and I am often chilly. I do have some constipation, for which I have been taking a stool softener for a number of years.
Anon.
In an ideal world, people with symptoms of low thyroid would have consistent laboratory findings: low thyroid hormone levels, both T4 (thyroxine, the medicine you are taking) and T3 (the active form of thyroid hormone); and a high TSH level (the hormone your body uses to regulate the thyroid). A higher TSH means the body is trying to make the thyroid put out more thyroid hormone.
However, it doesn’t always work the way it should. People can have symptoms with normal labs. The TSH and the T3/T4 can point in different directions. When that happens, I base treatment mostly on symptoms, not numbers. Of course, the hormone levels are important too: If the T3 and T4 get too high, it increases the rate of atrial fibrillation and can adversely affect the bones.
In your case, your doctor has a choice: On one hand, there is a normal T4, a high TSH and symptoms of low thyroid; on the other, there is a slightly high T4, but normal TSH and no symptoms. While I am oversimplifying a bit, the better choice (to use the higher 150-mcg dose and treat the symptoms) seems easy to me.
Dear Dr. Roach: I am a woman on gabapentin for pudendal neuralgia; I take 300 mg three times daily. When taken faithfully, my pelvic pain is under control. My question is: Why do so many doctors have no knowledge of this dreadful disease? I have been to nine doctors, and no one helped me. I finally researched on the internet, brought the info to my primary care doctor, crying hysterically in pain, and asked her if we could try gabapentin. Thank goodness she worked with me; I feel better, but not cured. Can you please write an article about this disease so others may become educated? The pain is horrendous.
T.R.
Pudendal neuralgia is a cause of chronic pelvic pain. As you said, it often is incorrectly diagnosed (or not diagnosed at all), and so the true number of people suffering is unknown. Women with PN have pain in the distribution of the pudendal nerve (the genitals and rectum); usually worsened by sitting; does not wake the person up at night; with no loss of sensation; and relieved by a nerve block. The pain may come on or be worse with sexual activity, but it does not have to.
Why did nine of your doctors fail you? Why is it difficult to discuss? I can’t answer those questions. Probably some women are reluctant to bring it up, maybe for fear of being labelled “difficult.” Certainly, many doctors are unaware of the condition.
A specialist in pelvic pain is the ideal practitioner to make the diagnosis. Unfortunately, there are not enough of this kind of specialist. First-line treatment is with physical therapy, especially myofascial release of the pelvic floor. Again, a physical therapist with expertise in the pelvic floor is essential. Medications, such as gabapentin (you are on a low-to-moderate dose) also are helpful. A minority of women, especially those who develop this after surgery, may benefit from surgical decompression of the pudendal nerve.
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to [email protected].
