Hashimoto's Thyroiditis/Encephalopathy

[JKenton]

A few months ago, I started to notice a vibration in my hands but thought it was my imagination at the time. A few months later I began to experience muscle twitches (fasciculations?).  I've had them in my calf, my abdomin, the bottom of my foot, my hand, even my tongue and my ear.EMG and nerve conduction came back normal. The tremor has continued to worsen. I notice it after movement and it in my arms when I put groceries away.

I also started experiencing myoclonic jerks. At night in my left hand, left arm/leg spontaneously, or jaw (clamps shut or opens). During the day to a lesser magnitude in my right hand and more generalized, and have developed what is best described as a myoclonic swallow, where I will swallow spontanously. A few months ago I started experiencing uncharacteristic irritabiliy. I also find myself experiencing very brief, but concerning moments of confusion.  I realized a few weeks ago I was eating off of someone elses plate at dinner when I never had a plate myself to begin with! Most of these episodes last only a few secondss but they have been frighteningly frequent and I have been having forgetfulness.

Recently I have become incredibly restless and have difficulty keeping still. When I was 14 (I'm 30 now) I had a thyroid microsomal antibodie level of 222.2 when normal was less than 1 so I decided to have my thyroid tested.

My recent THS levels came back as 13.3 and I was put on 25MCG of synthroid to start out. Thinking back, I figure I've probably been hypothyroid for quite some time, possible many many years, as I did have the typical symptoms, which to be perfectly honest I ignored, but i guess it's finally caught up with me.

I'm worried about this tremor and the other symptoms though. I'm particularly distressed that I was eating off of someone elses plate and I can't really pass that off as stress.

Is it possible I have sub-acute Hashimoto's Encephalopathy? How would one go about testing for this?

[Abhijeet Ghosh]

Dear Friend,
Well it's little difficult for me to comment at this stage as normally i get patient who have been diagnosed of this disease by an endocrinologist.
I would suggest you the same ie to meet a good endocrinologist and rule out thyroid involvement.
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, will take it over from that point.
However i would suggest you to forget about Encephalopathy and in that presentation, life becomes too difficult for the person as well as the relatives as he becomes too much dependent.
However in your case, your appear to be fine. Hence forget about the second case.
Feel free to discuss more.
Regards

[Abhijeet Ghosh]

Dear Friend,
60-65 % of the people may have headache

[JKenton]

Thankyou for your reply.

Do all people with HE have a headaches with it?

[JKenton]

Sorry, I meant TSH levels came back as 13.3