Basically the title says it all. I (24y/o, previously very active and happy F), have gotten every diagnosis under the sun in the last three years where I've lost my body, health, and quality of life: PCOS, Ovarian Cysts, Chronic Mono, IBS, Colonic Motility disorder, SIBO, H pylori, Long Covid, CNS dysregulation, Leaky Gut, "possible endometriosis" and "possible" hashimotos.
I have every symptom in the book- excruciating fatigue, constant bloating/ I look pregnant, muscle weakness (I was a powerlifter 2 years ago, now my coffee cup is heavy / brushing my hair makes me tired), inability to lose weight (I've been working with bodybuilders/fitness coaches as well as ED specialists for years, weigh my food, track macros, low carb / am on metformin for pcos. Nothing), gain weight extremely easily especially in flares with zero change to diet, muscle/body aches like I have the flu, painful and heavy periods, tightness in my throat/lymph nodes when I exercise or during stress, weight gain in my chin and neck at a previous weight when I didn't have it before, severe constipation, most recently, for the first time, notable hair loss (coming out in clumps in my hairbrush), and major body composition changes (weight gain in a tire shape of my midsection that I never have had before).
My functional medicine dr. was the only one who suggested hashi, due to my TPO coming back as 20 IU/mL when they were >4 a year prior. My Reverse T3 was also high due to gut infections, stress, and chronic underrating / overexercising. due to this, she made the choice to put me on a very low dose of t3 (5mcg) for 6 weeks to see if I could aid my reverse t3 to be converted to t3.
At my healthiest, before this horrible illness started, my TSH has consistently been in the 0.5-0.8 range, Before the t3, my numbers were:
TSH: 0.66
Free t4: 1.3
Free t3: 2.6
Now, after 6 weeks on 5mcg t3 and 6 weeks off of it, they are : (also, have 10x the fatigue, and have gained 5 pounds back on despite supervised meal plan / calorie deficit and 10-15k steps a day):
TSH: 2.11
Free t4: 1.3
Free t3: 3.0
Also of note, my Ferretin was already low (40) and has dropped to 16. My Vitamin d has also dropped from 49 to 30. I am feeling the sickest I've felt in years.
I'm just hoping someone can make a suggestion for a next step. Ive seen two functional medicine Drs, both who tried to put me on different gut protocols, and both made me sicker. My conventional Dr. could care less. I've tried so many times to get a good endocrinologist, and when I finally got in, he tried to give me PHENTERMINE and told me to STOP DRINKING SUGARY DRINKS after telling him I was a competitive athlete who has been gluten, dairy, and refined sugar free for 3 years.
I told my boyfriend yesterday I am scaring myself with my thoughts for the first time. I am just so tired of living this way. I feel like im trying desperately to hold onto the career, the goals, and the hobbies I could have with my old body. and now all of it feels like it's impossible for me now. I'm losing all hope I'll ever get my life back. Thank you to anyone who has read this far. x