Thyroid with TOS
 

So, how many of us have thyroid problems with TOS?

I was just dx'ed hypothyroid yesterday.....and the little reading I have done mentions that if you have something like carpal tunnel it will get worse when your thyroid misbehaves. SO, since neurological TOS is more like Super carpal tunnel, i can only imagine.

I always thought being tired was a function of chronic pain....and I am really hoping adjusting and adding some thyroid support will help me get over the hump! I just started taking levothyroxin today...so we'll see what happens.

I don't know yet if I have the hashimotos antibodies, (doc didn't talk long on the phone) but I'll get my own copies of the blood tests on monday.

I know there are a few out there, and at least in one case (you know who you are!!) it is quite a big deal.

Just wondering if there are others?

Johanna

I've read of thyroid problems tied in with RSI also.

Not necessarily that either one is caused by the other - but that pain/sx can be worse if the thyroid is out of balance.

I will add that I wouldn't be surprised if extreme spasms in the neck and throat muscles could affect the thyroid somehow. Or even they may affect the flow of blood/nutrients to it.

I too started having hypothroidism AFTER being diagnosed with TOS. I take only a very small amount of levithyroxine but I must say it was the very first and only little pill that made such a difference in the fatigue I felt.

Hi there i have hypothyroidism i take synthroid .150 i was told i had it about 6 yrs ago. My doctor was only doing once a year blood work but now she checks my liver every 6 months she checks my thyroid at the same time. I never thought about it affecting my tos. Oh and i am happy to say that my liver is fine to but she keeps a close eye on since i have started all the pain pills i am on. But now that i have read your threads i do belive that the second year of pain she did have to put my pill up from 125 to 150 it only seem to make me feel good for about a week. Then i felt the same as before so i guess it could affect how one feels having tos and thyroid at the same time. I will have to ask my doc when i see her next month. One thing first do any of yous have trouble with your memory?

hypothyroidsm
 

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidsm quite a few years ago, but I've been dealing with tos and rsd for almost 6 years.
I will say that when I started on thyroid, I woke up, cognition improved, and I had a clearer head. This all went away when the pain continued to get worse. Now I am worse than ever, but I blame that on Chronic Pain.

YES!!!!! Really bad for awhile during the beginning & worst of my symptoms and my focus/concentration was horrible too.

who can focus on anything when you are hurting like this? ack.

Sandy- I am keeping my fingers crossed for the same results.

Mucker- Good to keep an eye on that liver. !!

Hope- do you still have your thyropid monitored with all else you have going on? Seems like it would be hard to mnitor just by symptoms alone, but that letting it get wacky again can't possibly be helpful. Are you still feeling better BTW?


My doc put me on 75mcg of levothyroxin. I started off yesterday feeling really nauseous after i took it, but then when i was able to get the pain meds down after i really perked up. I sure have my fingers crossed.

My hunch is that this has been going on for several years, i noticed my morning temps were low when I was trying to convieve my middle baby (late '02). I had thought about having it checked at the time, but didn't. (i thought maybe it was just my basal thermometer). That's it for me, any time i have a hunch i am getting myself in to have it checked..from now on!!!!

I really believe everyone comes with conditions that are sub par, but the more that is thrown at us, the less we can compensate for. I frankly haven't felt awake since I had baby #2. But everyone tells you (and I really expected) that it is normal baby stuff.....

When baby #3 came and dd #1 got dx'ed ADD, and baby 3 turned up asthma and i got TOS pretty much all at once, well, i have sure been struggling since then. Just sooooo tired all the time. My husband says i am lazy :rolleyes: and/or need to get an exercise some, but I know it has been more than that. I mean, i know a little cardio each day will make me feel better, but it isn't enough to make me feel "good" and i can't even drag myself to the gym most days anymore. I have also attributed my inability to focus on things to an ADD dx I had 1.5 year ago, but maybe it is just the thyroid and/or chronic pain doing it's thing.

It is SO VERY DIFFICULT to understand what "normal" is supposed to feel like because we just can't be in someone else's skin to experience it.

For me, it just had to be quite unbearable before i have really bothered to get things checked out. I knew while is was preggers with 2 and 3 that i felt really crappy all the time, and I used to have these crazy blood sugar drops and could not get moving. here were plenty of pregnant folks around me that didn't feel half as bad as i did....wish i'd have had it checked out then. :(

ah well live and learn.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that this really helps :Good-Luck:


Done with my mini rant now. :Talkative:

Johanna

tams "get all this checked" post.
 

PS, you know that long post that Tam has saying you should go get all the accessory stuff checked out before you have TOS surgery?

it's a really good one.

Hey Tam- is thyroid on that list? I can't remember. I know I went and did the rheumy studies, but my doc didn't do thyroid at the time.

I think she has full blood work up listed on it.


My test # came in at normal on 5/05

Free T4 =1.25 normal range is {0.8 -2.0}
TSH-HS =1.35 and normal range is {0.4-4.6} {0.5-8.9}

anyone want to add your numbers ??
we can do an informal comparison.

thyroid
 

Hi Johanna just to let you know yes she does the liver and thyroid every six months. It is hard to tell because of all the pain but i do fine one thing that sticks out when my thyroid is acting up and that is my hair hurts. Just the lightess touch or the wind blowing on it drives me crazy.

Martha- well, I was talking to a friend of mine today and brought this new finding up (when she asked how I was feeling) and turns out her hubby had his thyroid out many years ago because there were nodules growing on it. What type of doc did you see to get your worked up?

My doc did not order any tests or even feel it, though I am pretty sure the funny feeling in my neck is it being swollen right now. I plan to find a new endocrinologist (my regular doc is also one of these, but I never planned to need him for that) and talk at more length with Dr J. and the preop doc, and perhaps the surgeon next week.

My GP doc is too happy to blow stuff off in my opinion.

Mucker- that is really weird about your hair...


my numbers a month ago were
TSH 6.27 Range 0.47-5.01
Free T4 0.84 Range 0.71-1.85
Free T3 3.18 Range 2.30-4.20

a few days ago
TSH 16 Range 0.47-5.01
Free T4 1 Range 0.71-1.85
Free T3 * Range 2.30-4.20 (* means didn't get this one over the phone- I'll add it monday)

so clearly it was changing....I did start taking my B vitamins more regularly once i found out i was a little off, and I have had times where taking a b complex has made me feel really wacky before, like crying all the time, so I am not sure if they are somehow related or not.

Did I read that correctly?! Your TSH is now 16?! Mine was a little above 5 when I finally started going to an endocrinologist and he upped my Synthroid (that my PCP had put me on) and told me that they really like to see a TSH around 1 but mine is now a little above 2 and he's happy with that right now. Over the past few years endos. have lowered the numbers for the TSH that they think is optimal.

yeah, 16 is correct. at TSH= 6.27 he had talked me out of meds, because t3 and t4 numbers were OK- like I said, this guy is not my favorite, and I am going to find a new endo! I had him pull the levels again (he wasn't going to) when he tested for antibodies and he found the 16. The earlier 6.27 was a good day, i guess. :rolleyes:


good idea to compare numbers, JO. Thanks!

My t3 and t4 nos. are OK too but he still wasn't happy with my TSH. I'd get another opinion if I was you!

remember, too, that TSH goes on a log scale, not linear...so, the difference between TSH= 1 and 2 is similar in meaning to the difference between 10 and 20.

I fully plan to find a new endo...but for the meantime I have some meds to try ...:)

my doc
 

ah, well i got my own copies of the blood work today,
TPO antibodies were "to the moon" at 16128 (normal range 0-60)

and he doesn't want me to have surgery because the anistesia causes adrenaline rush...if thyroid is already messed up this can cause heart eurythmia....got to go look up cause i don't know what it means. anyone able to help me?

?heart arrhythmias?
 

Could this be what they mean?
***************************************

Medical Encyclopedia: Arrhythmias

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/001101.htm
Alternative names
Dysrhythmias; Abnormal heart rhythms; Bradycardia; Tachycardia Definition
An arrhythmia is any disorder of your heart rate or heart rhythm, such as beating too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregularly.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Normally, the 4 chambers of the heart (2 atria and 2 ventricles) contract in a very specific, coordinated manner.
The electrical impulse that signals your heart to contract in a synchronized manner begins in the sinoatrial node (SA node), which is your heart's natural pacemaker.
The signal leaves the SA node and travels through the 2 upper chambers (atria). Then the signal passes through another node (the AV node), and finally, through the lower chambers (ventricles). This path enables the chambers to contract in a coordinated fashion.
Problems can occur anywhere along this conduction system, causing various arrhythmias. Examples include:

• Supraventricular tachycardia - a fast heart rate that originates in the upper chambers (atria). The most common are atrial fibrillation or flutter, and atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia.
• Ventricular tachycardia - a fast heart rate that originates in the lower chambers (ventricles).
• Bradycardia - a slow heart rate due to problems with the SA node's pacemaker ability, or some interruption in conduction through the natural electrical pathways of the heart.

The risks of getting a tachycardia or bradycardia varies greatly, depending on the condition of your heart, prior heart attack, blood chemistry imbalances, or endocrine abnormalities.
Arrhythmias may also be caused by some substances or drugs, including beta blockers, psychotropics, sympathomimetics, caffeine, amphetamines, and cocaine. Sometimes antiarrhythmic medications -- prescribed to treat one type of arrhythmia -- can actually cause another type of arrhythmia.
Some types of arrhythmias may be life-threatening if not promptly and properly treated.
Symptoms

• Fast or slow heart beat (palpitations)
• Skipping beats
• Fainting
• Light-headedness, dizziness
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Skipping beats - changes in the pattern of the pulse
• Paleness
• Sweating
• Cardiac arrest

The person may not have symptoms.
Signs and tests
A doctor will listen to your heart with a stethoscope and feel your pulse. Your blood pressure may be low or normal.
The following tests may be performed to identify arrhythmias:

• ECG
• Ambulatory cardiac monitoring with a Holter monitor (used for 24 hours) or loop recorder (worn for 2 weeks or longer)
• Echocardiogram
• Electrophysiology study (EPS)
• Coronary angiography

If an arrhythmia is detected, various tests may be done to confirm or rule out suspected causes. EPS testing may be performed to locate the origin of the arrhythmia and determine the best treatment, especially if a pacemaker implantation or catheter ablation procedure is being considered.
Treatment
When an arrhythmia is serious, urgent treatment may be required to restore a normal rhythm. This may include intravenous medications, electrical "shock" therapy (defibrillation or cardioversion), or implanting a temporary pacemaker to interrupt the arrhythmia.
Supraventricular arrhythmias may be treated with anti-arrhythmic drugs. However, most supraventricular arrhythmias can be treated and cured with radiofrequency ablation, eliminating the need for lifelong drug therapy.
Increasingly, most ventricular tachycardias are treated with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). As soon as arrhythmia begins, the ICD sends a shock to terminate it, or a burst of pacing activity to override it.
Bradycardias that cause symptoms can be treated by implanting a permanent pacemaker.
Expectations (prognosis)
The outcome is dependent on several factors:

• The kind of arrhythmia -- whether it is supraventricular tachycardia, or a more dangerous arrhythmia such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, which are potentially fatal
• The overall pumping ability of the heart
• The underlying disease and its ability to be treated

With bradycardias treated with a permanent pacemaker, the outlook is usually good.
Complications

• Angina (chest pain caused by imbalance of supply and demand for oxygen in the heart muscle)
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Stroke
• Sudden death

Calling your health care provider
Call your provider if you develop any of the symptoms of a possible arrhythmia. Also call your provider if you have been diagnosed with an arrhythmia and your symptoms worsen or do not improve with treatment.
Prevention
Taking steps to prevent coronary artery disease may reduce your chance of developing an arrhythmia. These steps include not smoking; eating a well-balanced, low-fat diet; and exercising regularly.
Update Date: 11/6/2006 Updated by: Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

http://www.adam.com/urac/square-quart.gifA.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Adam makes no representation or warranty regarding the accuracy, reliability, completeness, currentness, or timeliness of the content, text or graphics. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007, A.D.A.M., Inc. Any dupli

yikes Jkat- that is some high number there- could it be a typo perhaps?
I think I would get it verified that someone didn't just hit a wrong or extra key when they were inputing the results.
maybe call the place where the labs were actually done and have then verify the numbers??

Or did dr say that this can happen the # being soo high?

my doc is useless...barely rememebred to tell me i had the antibodies at all, said the numbers were high, but didn't point to them being super unusual. He said i fell into the "moderately" hypothyroid category. with TSH over 5=mild, tsh over 10=moderate and tsh over 20=severe.

Well,

It seems that I am going to be a aguinea pig. My thryoid continues to be inflamme and as one doc said today...its inflamming the structures all around it including the nerves.

So that thryoid is coming out on July 31st. Say goodbye. :eek:

Well before we make the trip down surgery road how bout some steroids first :mad: :eek:

Yes please one medrol dose pack for me to bring down all the inflammation in the ole thryoid. Cheers

so, how long do you have to wait after that to get surgery?

Still on for 7/31 at this point. Only a 5 day steroid pak

It's always one more thing
 

Shell Belle & JoH
 

Thyroid removal gal pals?
Holy Moly!!
My thyroid is under control with synthroid.
What does doc J say about this?
U can PM me with that info.

Don't you~all think that when we are in so much pain and stress our body's r so out of wack that it affects everything since every single vessel, muscle and artery is connected? O then there is connective tissues. Lovely.

Steroids...
All I can say is that when I had chemo I actually looked forward to it.
About 10 hours of NO pain the day of.
Steroids and Benedryl in my IV's gave me the ability to actually go to the grocery store and cook a meal which is normally non existant. And how I LOVE to cook and create.

Dr. Agnew gives me steroid and anthesia injections in the Pec minor...
It helps for at least 2-3 weeks.

10 minute Compooper timer just went off
Off to my usual morning of Cyndy time.
Cardio, nerve glides, breathing, Edgelow, posture modalities, air pillow and my best friend, the floor.
XXOO

when i showed dr J my recent blood work he said "hmmm, looks like you've got a little problem with your thyroid!"

followed by, "yes, the party line would be that you should not have surgery while your thyroid is misbehaving" [i think thyroid removel doesn't count, here :p !!!]

follwed by a very accurate "well, this is really good news [that my thyroid is so off, but easily fixed], with a little bad news[that i had to put off rib resection surgery]"

[sorry, being very literal here... :)]

and yes- my life has been overwhelmed by the tiredness- It is so difficult to know when it is the pain or something else that is making us feel lousy. the lack of energy just covers EVERYTHING like a big blanket...but instead of being warm and cozy it is just heavy and hard to move around under :(

*shell*
 

in all seriousness- i think shelley's has caused just a whole BOATLOAD of trouble for her...and this is SO the right thing to do!!!!


:hug: :hug:

we're all rooting for you, bella :)

meds bumped up already ...
 

well, exisitng endo said today that my 16,000 antibody level was correct and only means that someday my thyroid won't work at all.

He also agreed to fast track the titration of my meds and took levels today (i'll get the results next week) and bumped up the Levothyroxin from 75mcg to 112mcg. I am excited because the 75 has already made me feel so much better, and if there is more improvement to be had, well, that's just gravy. I just can't remember what it is like to have spare energy.:cool:

He also agreed to do ultrasound so we have a baseline picture of what's going on in there...even though he "treats hundred of people with hashimotos never having taken an ultrasound"

I just told him that I am no longer in the business of assuming things are AOK where there is a perfectly easy test to check it with. I mean really, its a 10 minute ultrasound. :eek:

Was checking my calendar earlier today and realized that it was almost July 31, and that Shelley might be having thyroid surgery tomorrow. Haven't heard anything lately....Shelley, are you feeling any better? Are you still having the surgery? Best of luck if so! BTW, wanted to tell you I have a friend who had his thyroid removed maybe 10 years ago and he's been absolutely fine. And I don't remember the aftermath of the surgery being difficult for him.

I'd meant to post a response to the original question....I guess I'm the opposite of you guys...my tests fall in the normal range but very close to hyperactive. I have a bunch of benign nodules too.

I just heard from bella, she has decided to go ahead with surgery...after almost deciding not to :)
i'll start a new thread...

Stardust- that would fit with your petite and pretty figure :) I am sure all those pesky nodules aren't helping your TOS any.

I was reading over the past few days that the ratio of left handed people with thyroid problems is much greater than left handed in the general population...anyone else left handed?

I am!!

well, new blood tests indicate that my thyroid has normalized...that seems awfully fast? still keeping up with the higher meds, but my primary says i can go ahead and reschedule my right saide rib resection.

It's a good thing, too, 'cause i was about to ask dr J for another round of botox since it is bothering me so much.

soooooooooooo, looks like august 27. hope it stays stable :)

I'm glad they got your thyroid under control JoKat...hopefully things will stay "normal" so you can have surgery. I'm left-handed too.... and have all my problems on the left side. I'm gonna add the thyroid test to my list of things to ask Doc.