I feel like I am crazy

[Nicole_M]

Recently (4 weeks ago) I was told I am hyperhtyroid.  My T4 and T3 are quite high and my TSH is almost nil.  When I went in 7 weeks ago to find out why I was loosing weight and felt okay except the heart palpitations, being hot and flushing.  Now I feel anxious, worried, on edge.  My findernails are peeling and very thin.  My mestural period was light before but has now stopped.  I feel shaky quite often.  Can this condiditon actually worsen as it is left untreated?  Oh, and of course I read too much online and see that if it is due to autoimmune that you have a higher chance of developing another AI (so now I have visions of developing MS, Lupus,...)  Angain the excessive worrying.

I am waiting to see a specialist to find out why before treatment.  I am seeing an Internist since there are no Endos around here.  Anyone see an Internist?

[1jitterbug]

Armour and Cytomel???  TSH of 0.16 & they put you on a higher dose of Armour???  There's something wrong here...
Who is taking care of you because something is wrong.

CRASH COURSE!!
A normal TSH (Thyroid STIMULATING Hormone) should be between 0.3-3.0. Dr Mark usually recommends a TSH maintained around 1.0. I order for you to be diagnosed with hypothyroidism yout TSH had to be elevated usually over 6.0..
Usually anything under 1.0 is considered high thyroid or hyperthyroidism either because your taking too much medication or for some reason your thyroid is producing too much hormone.

Your thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) cause your thyroid to produce T-4 which converts to T-3 which is the thyroid hormone
your body uses.

Thus if you have too LITTLE (T-4 & T-3) hormone in your body
you will have a HIGHER TSH.  HYPOTHYROID!

If you  have too MUCH (T-4 & T-3) hormone in your body you will have a lower TSH. HYPERTHYROID!

*This is why I wondered why your physican would increase your Armour if your TSH was 0.16 which already shows you were on
too much medicine.

*Also, Armour is a natural thyroid hormone made from pig thyroid (desiccated porcine thyroid gland). It contains T-4
& T-3. The hormone T-3 is much stronger than T-4. (T3 is 4x more potent than T4) & can be very dangerous if too much is perscribed.

Cytomel is another one of the active thyroid hormones T3. How much Cytomel are you taking?  

I have never heard of giving Armour & Cytomel together!!!
They both contain T-3 which is very very potent.

Please try to go back to the original thyroid forum page &
post a new question so that Dr Lupo will answer you directly
OK. They only allow so many questions daily so if you don't get in...keep trying OK...He usually does not go down in the
another post & answer anything new.

Good Luck. TJ
  

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Talk to your primary about methimazole (once Graves is confirmed -- either an I-123 uptake/scan or a TSI blood test) -- usual start dose is 10-20mg a day.

To screen for adrenals - would test am cortisol - if >11, then it's not Addison's (adrenal insufficiency), if <11, then an ACTH stimulation test may be necessary -- but adrenal disease is not as common as the average websurfer may be led to believe....

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

You have hyperthyroidism -- would think that many of the symptoms are due to this and it should be treated.  Most common cause would be Graves Disease.  There is usually NOT another autoimmune disease associated. Seeing a thyroid specialist (even if it means travel) is the best choice for hyper.

[Nicole_M]

Just an update...

I finally see a specialist on May 21 (they FORGOT to send my referral).  Until then I am on 300 mg or PTU and doing okay with it.  But my eyes are dry.  It has been really windy around here so I don't know if that is contributing to it as well.  Had an appointment with my optometrist for a check up.  I have strang muscles in my eyes and all check out normal.

I go for a thyroid ultrasound tomorrow and had antibody tests done last week.  They won't be back for a while.

[iunderstand69]

I was diagonosed with hyperthyroid in Oct of last year.  I couln't take the meds to feel better and I had a ton of complications.  I would HIGHLY advise you to see an endo and I would also advise you to see an alternative doctor.  I wish that I would have seen an alternative dr. before I had my thyroid removed.  I would try an alternative approach before you do anything drastic.  I wish I did.  I am now miserable being hypo.  I don't know which one is worse.

[pa4106]

I was diagnosed with hypo and put on Armour and Cytomel. Went back in after 30 for blood work and was put on more Armour as my TSH is 0.16.  Ever since then I am a different person. I am exhausted, with no energy what so ever, I am gaining weight, I am thirsty and feel very foggy in my head and eyes. I went to the doc on Friday and told her what I am feeling and she said to lower the Armour from 90 to 60 but am not feeling any better yet. How long does it take to start feeling relief if I am simply over medicated?  Should I call my doctor or be patient?  I have 4 kids and just can't keep up and am so emotional as this is taking over my life~looking for help :)
Patty

[Nicole_M]

I did a Google search tonight and Saskatoon (1.5 hrs away) now has 3 Endocrinologists.  I still haven't heard from the Internist so I may call my GP and ask for a  referral to one of the new Dr.'s there.

Muscle pain - great.  I have sever roto scolosis in my upper back and neck as well as spondlyothesis (sp) in L5-S1 and half a dozen arthritic spots through out my spine.  The scoliosis cause one shoulder to be higher and my rib cage twisted.  I already have a fair share of muscle pain.  But maybe it is increased due to my thyroid issues??

How long could someone have hyperthyroidism before noticing?

[GravesGirl]

Yes, like the doc says, you probably have Graves disease. I had a lot of these symptoms too in the beginning. I am on anti- thyroid meds now, and although it can be tricky to get you on the right dose, you NEED to be on them. Graves is not good for the heart or bones. An internist would be able to treat this as many endos are internists too.
It sucks to feel like this but you can get better. At least try the meds. I have no side effects from them, really, just some muscle pain, but that goes along with thyroid disease too. Doctors will usually try to talk you into RAI, but that makes you hypo forever and on meds too, and also hard to control at first till your thyroid eventually dies off. Don't read too much, especially at this stage, it can be a serious disease, but controllable and even curable.

[Nicole_M]

Thanks for the replies and the relief that you have just given me Dr. Lupo.

What are adrenal issues?  My GP can only order a basic thyroid panel.  Other tests must be done by a specialist.  So I guess it is a wait and see when I can get in kind of thing.  Our city population is 45 000 and only 2 Internists, so I could be waiting a while.

The nearest Endocrinologist is a 9 hour drive from here. :-(  I live in Saskatchewan, Canada and am told that we do not have 1 in the province!  Of course if this is the best plan I can discuss this with my GP.

I have never been on any thyroid meds.  I do worry a bit about that because I have many drug sensitivites and a few allergies.  Given my track record taking a medication is a bit scary.

I do make light of it and say it is sympathy for my dog who is Hypo and on thyroid meds.  LOL

.

[graywings]

Sounds to me you might have adrenals issues.  Plus with losing weight, I would guess you are Hyper also.  Too high of thyroid meds can cause heart palps.  Being anxious, worried and on edge and shakey indicate adrenals.  I would get your doctor to do  ACTH stim test, check your ferritin, B12, DHEA.  The hyper symtoms are similar to hypo symtoms and can be quite as bad.  I hope you can find a good doc.  They are hard to find.

graywings