Hypothyroidism Support Group
Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyrohormone by the thyroid gland. There are several distinct causes for chronic hypothyroidism, the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism. Advanced hypothyroidism may cause severe complications, the most serious one of which is...
Hi All,
I was hoping you all could give me some advice.
I woke up the morning of June 26, 2010 and my world has been turned upside down. I woke up that morning with a terrible headache, tremors, and trouble breathing. I went to the ER and was basically told that I had a panic attack and they sent me on my way home.
Ever since that day I have progressively gotten worse. I have been to at least 30 different specialists/doctors and they still can't figure out what is wrong with me. I have had ct scans, mri's, stress tests - you name it.
I have a gut feeling that this has something to do with my thyroid but the only thing that I have had tested so far is my TSH (1.45) and my free T4 (1.0). The doctor told me that these were normal enough to not cause any concern and would not do further testing.
The reason I am asking for advice is because I recently found a really excellent doctor in NYC. They actually call him "The Real Dr. House" and he solves medical mysteries. I just want to have some ideas of what this could possibly be so that I might be able to at least steer him in the right direction and get some relief as soon as possible.
My symptoms are -
-pounding heartbeat all the time with occasional palpitations, sometimes worse upon lying down
-chest pain with a feeling as if I can't get a full deep breathe in. Saw a pulmonary doc and they did a breathing test. I did badly while breathing out.
-constant anxiety (which I have never had before). Don't know if this is part of what is going on or if this is because I am so worried about what is wrong.
-a constant feeling as if my throat is being squeezed, as well as a lump when I swallow. I have pain on either side of my throat where my thyroid is located (worse on the right side). I recently felt 2 lumps on the side of my windpipe which one of my docs said were probably just lymph nodes but I feel as if they are actually attached to my thyroid.
-almost constant tremors and shaking. This causes frequent urination and diarrhea.
-almost no appetite at all. The first 2 weeks of being sick I lost 15 pounds. When I do eat I have a constant feeling on indigestion and I get full very quickly. I then feel as if I have to burp and while trying I feel like I can't breathe.
-I have extreme muscle pains and joint pains.
-When I lie down I feel as if my jugular distends - each side depending on what side I am lying down on.
-I am always cold and shivering but my body feels like it is on fire inside.
-I went 5 months with no period. I just recently got one 2 weeks ago but it only lasted 3 days. Although I still have menstrual cramps even when I'm not on my period.
-I can see veins in my body that were never visible before. This might sound ridiculous but I feel like I see spider webs all over my legs, hips, arms, chest and neck - and they ache.
-frequent migraines.
-most recently - eye pain. Red eyes with blurry vision. I feel like my eyes are popping out of their sockets.
- A feeling of pressure/pain around my sternum area that makes me nauseated almost all the time.
-Insomnia. The only thing that helps with this is Klonopin because it is a muscle relaxer. The first 2 weeks of being sick I didn't sleep at all - at one point I went for 4 whole nights.
I know this is ridiculously extensive and I am sure I am still missing something. I had surgery for scoliosis in 1999 and had Harrington Rods placed in my back. I had partial removing of the rods in 2002.
I have recently read about Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and was wondering if this could be something to look into as well.
I am not sure if I am experiencing Hyper of Hypothyroid symptoms. Is it possible to have either one but those 2 pieces of blood work come back normal?
My doctor is sending me this week for more thyroid blood work - T3 total, T4 total, TSH again, and T3 uptake? Does anybody know what these will show and is there any other tests I should be asking for?
He is also doing a full hormone blood work testing on me but I can't go to get this until the 21st day of my cycle (about another week and a half).
Sorry about the ridiculously long post . I just need any type of advice anybody can give. If I can see somebody's personal experience then I will have an idea of what tests I want to ask for.
I feel like 3 months ago my life was completely taken from me and I have been completely miserable since. I recently was married last October and I feel like I cannot even enjoy being a newlywed.
Everyday is a struggle and everyday I experience each and every one of these symptoms. I am so sick of doctors telling me I have anxiety and casting me off like I am crazy - it is the most frustrating and humiliating experience. Not that there is anything wrong with anxiety - but when you know something is physically wrong with your body you feel as if you are just being cast off.
I finally found this doctor and I want to make sure he checks everything that he can be checking. Each day that goes by and I still don't have an answer makes me cry. I can't take much more.
I would really appreciate any advice or insight anybody could give.
Thank you & God Bless.
Keri
I was hoping you all could give me some advice.
I woke up the morning of June 26, 2010 and my world has been turned upside down. I woke up that morning with a terrible headache, tremors, and trouble breathing. I went to the ER and was basically told that I had a panic attack and they sent me on my way home.
Ever since that day I have progressively gotten worse. I have been to at least 30 different specialists/doctors and they still can't figure out what is wrong with me. I have had ct scans, mri's, stress tests - you name it.
I have a gut feeling that this has something to do with my thyroid but the only thing that I have had tested so far is my TSH (1.45) and my free T4 (1.0). The doctor told me that these were normal enough to not cause any concern and would not do further testing.
The reason I am asking for advice is because I recently found a really excellent doctor in NYC. They actually call him "The Real Dr. House" and he solves medical mysteries. I just want to have some ideas of what this could possibly be so that I might be able to at least steer him in the right direction and get some relief as soon as possible.
My symptoms are -
-pounding heartbeat all the time with occasional palpitations, sometimes worse upon lying down
-chest pain with a feeling as if I can't get a full deep breathe in. Saw a pulmonary doc and they did a breathing test. I did badly while breathing out.
-constant anxiety (which I have never had before). Don't know if this is part of what is going on or if this is because I am so worried about what is wrong.
-a constant feeling as if my throat is being squeezed, as well as a lump when I swallow. I have pain on either side of my throat where my thyroid is located (worse on the right side). I recently felt 2 lumps on the side of my windpipe which one of my docs said were probably just lymph nodes but I feel as if they are actually attached to my thyroid.
-almost constant tremors and shaking. This causes frequent urination and diarrhea.
-almost no appetite at all. The first 2 weeks of being sick I lost 15 pounds. When I do eat I have a constant feeling on indigestion and I get full very quickly. I then feel as if I have to burp and while trying I feel like I can't breathe.
-I have extreme muscle pains and joint pains.
-When I lie down I feel as if my jugular distends - each side depending on what side I am lying down on.
-I am always cold and shivering but my body feels like it is on fire inside.
-I went 5 months with no period. I just recently got one 2 weeks ago but it only lasted 3 days. Although I still have menstrual cramps even when I'm not on my period.
-I can see veins in my body that were never visible before. This might sound ridiculous but I feel like I see spider webs all over my legs, hips, arms, chest and neck - and they ache.
-frequent migraines.
-most recently - eye pain. Red eyes with blurry vision. I feel like my eyes are popping out of their sockets.
- A feeling of pressure/pain around my sternum area that makes me nauseated almost all the time.
-Insomnia. The only thing that helps with this is Klonopin because it is a muscle relaxer. The first 2 weeks of being sick I didn't sleep at all - at one point I went for 4 whole nights.
I know this is ridiculously extensive and I am sure I am still missing something. I had surgery for scoliosis in 1999 and had Harrington Rods placed in my back. I had partial removing of the rods in 2002.
I have recently read about Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and was wondering if this could be something to look into as well.
I am not sure if I am experiencing Hyper of Hypothyroid symptoms. Is it possible to have either one but those 2 pieces of blood work come back normal?
My doctor is sending me this week for more thyroid blood work - T3 total, T4 total, TSH again, and T3 uptake? Does anybody know what these will show and is there any other tests I should be asking for?
He is also doing a full hormone blood work testing on me but I can't go to get this until the 21st day of my cycle (about another week and a half).
Sorry about the ridiculously long post . I just need any type of advice anybody can give. If I can see somebody's personal experience then I will have an idea of what tests I want to ask for.
I feel like 3 months ago my life was completely taken from me and I have been completely miserable since. I recently was married last October and I feel like I cannot even enjoy being a newlywed.
Everyday is a struggle and everyday I experience each and every one of these symptoms. I am so sick of doctors telling me I have anxiety and casting me off like I am crazy - it is the most frustrating and humiliating experience. Not that there is anything wrong with anxiety - but when you know something is physically wrong with your body you feel as if you are just being cast off.
I finally found this doctor and I want to make sure he checks everything that he can be checking. Each day that goes by and I still don't have an answer makes me cry. I can't take much more.
I would really appreciate any advice or insight anybody could give.
Thank you & God Bless.
Keri
I had to go to a Naturopathic doctor to get any help. I took a lot of information to my MDs and couldn't get any thing from them except "I will be interested to hear what you find out". What isn't that your job as my doctor?
Oh well, I didn't wait for them to do their job, I took matters into my own hands and you know what? In the end they didn't want to hear what I found out!!
He tested my TSH again, total T4, total T3 and T3 uptake.
It is possible for all these tests to come back normal and still have a thyroid problem? Should I bother asking him for further tests or is it unlikely that this is the problem?
I am so frustrated.
Ninja - Do you have Hypothyroidism as well or just Adrenal Fatigue? Is it possible for me to have adrenal fatigue and my thyroid is possibly fine?
I am so frustrated as I thought I was going to get an answer to this hell that I have been going through and now I feel like I am back at the beginning. As I write this my whole body feels like it is on fire inside. What the heck is wrong with me?
:(
I will definitely ask my doctor for that this weekend.
As crazy as it sounds I want to have a thyroid problem because I have gone for so long without being diagnosed!
I want to make sure everything is being covered.
Thanks again!
Before I was tested and treated for the adrenal fatigue I felt like I was in a living hell. I finally researched until I found a Naturopathic Doctor that I felt could help me. (NDs are different than 'holistic' doctors as they go through one of the two approved colleges in the US and are board approved in a state that has that available). She changed my life. I no longer suffer from Ulcerative Colitis and with the adrenal fatigue. The medical doctors do not seem to have a clue about adrenal fatigue, but I don't think I would be here today with out my ND and her help.
The best thing is to pray hard about it and never give up on yourself. There are many options and different doctors if this one can't find out how to help you.
On Monday morning I have an appointment with a Vascular Dr. just to rule out Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, as this has been a concern of mine too.
On Thursday I go in for my hormone blood work (including cortisol) so I am hoping this will show something as well.
When I meet with my doctor again I am going to ask him to run my Free T4 and Free T3, as well as the antibodies tests.
My husband's aunt is really good friends with an excellent endocrinologist and she said that he would run all of these additional tests and everything for me if my doctor didn't think it was necessary. So that is good news at least.
Hopefully this will be a productive week. My goal on my profile is to be diagnosed by October 22 so I gotta hurry up!!
I hope you get the answer that you need...and soon. I'm sure that you are doing a lot of reading; and here is yet another article that may give you some answers.
Good Luck
http://drrichardhall.com/Articles/hashimoto.pdf
I actually broke my collarbone when I was younger as well. And I have scoliosis. I have Harrington rods in my back that were placed when I was 16 and 2 years later had partial removal of the rods. I work at a desk all day and before all this started I was working out a lot and doing some weight lifting. So I am pretty much a prime candidate for TOS which is why I wanted to get it checked. My orthopedic doctor has nerve testing set up for me on October 5. But he said there are different kinds of TOS. There is also venous and arterial TOS which is what I am afraid of. I have bad pains in my arms and neck and terrible circulation. I also have jugular distention on both sides. So with my luck I have that as well :)
Thanks for the article Bik :)