Could this be a heart condition??

[mommy2two2008]

Hello all - I am coming from the thyroid forum to ask some advice about some wierd symptoms I seem to be accumulating.  Here goes and I'll try to be brief.

In late March - I noticed some right neck swelling from the thyroid region to the ear.  I have been to several doctors and I seem have thyroid enlargement with a heterogeneous texture, but normal bloodwork.  Had a CBC, ANA and other testing and had no abnormal findings with the exception of a life insurance urine testing finding an 8 (range started at 10) on urine creatinine.  Anyway, in July, my ENT said I had carotidynia (carotid artery swelling) and prescribed several things for this.  It went away for a time.  During June and July, my blood pressure has dropped from its normal ranges of 120/80 (usual for me) to 98/60 (seemingly very low).  I have switched my thyroid med and currently take Armour thyroid.  On no other meds with the exception of a muscle relaxer (Zaneflex) here and there a bed time if my neck is really swollen.  And tylenol for headaches that I seem to be getting freqently.

We took the kids to the circus today and when we were getting up to leave, I noticed one leg (left) was VERY tight and made it hard to walk comfortably.  I got to the car and pressed on the right calf and it moved easy.  Pressed on the left, and it was full, tight and did not move.  The entire way home I put my left foot up on the dash and by the time I got home (about 20 minutes) it was normal again.  My ankle was not swollen looking, but my foot was a little puffy. The circus was 3 hrs but, we only sat for about 45 minutes at a time b/c of intermissions.  This really freaks me out.   My body seems like it is falling apart.  I have not checked my blood pressure lately, don't have a monitor.  My heart rate is not bad either.  My neck is swollen today.  I am 5 foot 3 and I don't think I am overweight.  I currently weigh 144.  I am 30 years old.  I have never had a blood test reveal hypo or hyper or hashi for that matter.  My abdomen looks swollen to me some, but it is a little better since starting the Armour.  Wieght gain for me has been in the abdominal and upper thigh area.  (Gained 15-17 lbs since April 3, 2008).   The leg sometimes still has some tingling in it this evening, but can't tell a difference except to say that it was bigger, calf to ankle when this happened today.  Last night I woke in the middle of the night and decided to go the the potty - when I got out of bed I got out with my left leg, it buckled and I fell to the floor.  I sat a minute and then was able to get up and walk, just struck as odd after the swelling today. I also have some red/white spotting of the palms.  

I know this is a lot and I apologize.  I am just beginning to wonder if this is not my thyroid at all really and if it is more related to heart.

Does any of this nonsense sound like a heart condition?  I would appreciate anyone's feedback.  Thanks!

[mommy2two2008]

maggiemag - thanks so much for your comment.  An endo put me on Levothyroxine (low dose .25) in May for the swelling thyroid and multiple symptoms of a thyroid problems, but my labs have all been normal.  I later switched to an ENT because of some major difficulty with my endo.  The ENT thinks the carotidynia is caused from the swelling thyroid causing compartment syndrome in the neck.  He changed my medicine to Armour to see if the swelling would stop with the medication.  I had a thyroid US in April and will probably have another in September (6 months of swelling).  The first one showed enlargement and swiss cheese texture (heterogeneous) but no nodule.  The ENT feels one now.

Anyway, I really wanted to thank you for taking the time to read this mess and respond.  I have not had any arrhythmias but while on Levothyroxine, did get a very fast heart rate. That subsided with the switch to armour.  I see the doc again on 9/2 so I guess I will go over all of this with him.  Thanks again! :)

[maggiemag]

I don't see anything that points to a heart condition frankly. Your blood pressure is fine too.  If one leg is more edematous than another it might point to peripheral vascular disease, like venous insufficiency from varicose veins, not serious.  My question is: if you have never had any blood test show hyper or hypo-thyroid levels, why on earth are you on Armour then?  That's just asking for trouble, like cardiac arrhythmias.  Have you had an ultrasound of your thyroid?  There are many reasons for weight gain that are not thyroid related.