Dr. Lupo

[horevo]

Hi all, I have had a bunch of strange symptoms that started about three months ago.  It all started probably numbness and tingling in my legs and feet and excessive fatigue.  After that I began to have all over muscle twitching and then right leg weakness with burning sensations down my right leg when I try to strech it out.  I have had MRI's of my entire spine and my brain and nothing significant has shown up.  I have also had two EMG tests that have come back normal.  All my bloodwork including vitamin levels and Thyroid have come back normal as well.  I have B12 levels on the low end, but this wouldn't be causing my weakness in my right leg.  I'm not sure what this could be but I am afraid this might be ALS... is that a possibility?  Could this be Hypothyroidism even with tests in the normal range?  I am not sure what to think anymore.  Any help would be appreciated. I forgot to mention that my Thyroid levels were checked about four or five mmonths TSH and T4 and they came back normal.  Also, I am 27 years old with no history of any other medical conditions.  My Mother has been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and her sister and neice also have it so there are familial tendencies in my family.  The worst of my symptoms is the twitching, leg weakness, burning leg, and extreme fatigue.  Even with coffee I feel like I need to sleep.  Often times I sleep more than 8 hours a night and I do not feel refreshed.  I have also had symptoms of Depression and Anxiety and Insomnia within the past few months.  I have always had fatigue, but this is worse.  I drive to work then take a nap for about half an hour.  By noon I am tired again and when I get home I lack the energy to do anything. My leg feels progressively weaker but gets a little better with rest.  Lately I also feel like there is something in my throat that makes it hard to swallow.  Could this be a Thyroid condition?  Should I be retested?  I have been to two neurologists and there doesn't seem to be anything neurological going on.   My TSH was 1.06 and my T4 was 1.3 the last time I had it checked.  But I feel like my symptoms are better the week before and the week of my cycle and then get worse again... that's a sign right?  Would my ANA be positive if this was Hashimoto's or could that be negative and this still be Hashi's?  I have a gut feeling this is all Thyroid related.... now just to get the docs to belive me and accurately diagnose me...... that would be nice.... Any ideas or suggestions??

[Barb135]

This is a very old thread, and your situation would get more attention if you post a new thread of your own.  You can do that by clicking on the orange "Post a Question", at the top of this page, type in your question, then the green "Post a Comment" button.  

That said, if you a copy of your labs, please post them here for members to see and we will help you interpret them.  Numbness/tingling in the extremities is often caused by low vitamin B12 levels, as is extreme fatigue; however, you do also have some symptoms of hypothyroidism.  

When posting lab results, be sure to include the reference ranges from your report, since ranges vary lab to lab and have to be posted with the results.

[jokaer196]

Please help.  Any suggestions appreciated. I am a 41 y.o. female who suddenly last summer began sleeping 14 plus hours a day.  Noone could arrouse me.  My fingers and toes would tingle and become numb, then especially on the right, my hand and foot would be swollen and I wouldn't be able to open/use my hands/fingers-stiff.  I then began having breathing difficulties and I would sweat and appear as though i just came out of the shower.  Lately, I am always tired.  I often am foggy and confused with no mo cannot get out of bed most days.  I have difficulty swallowing at times and can  never tell when I will suddenly feel like I have the flu.  My stomach is so painful, swollen etc.  I do have hypothyroid but it is under control and a diagnosis of IBS.  I cannot get a doctor to take my condition further than  simple blood tests.  They ruled out RA and then sclaraderma and now ignore me as my life is out of my control.  I dont know how to read my bloodtests but often my MD doesnt mention them.  A lung function test said I have some Asthma.  What does that mean.  I am often too unpredictable due to my symptoms so I miss appointments and have to wait months for a new one.  What specialist should I focus on.  How do I take control of my care to get some.

[LazyMoose]

My previous comment Jan 28 was meant for you, mistakenly I addressed it to Dalubaba. Hypo brings on body pain in many. Goolarra made a good point, any previous or lingering injuries or other existing issues can become more noticeable while being hypo.

[goolarra]

Yes, all the symptoms you list could be thyroid related.  I have arthritis in my lower back/hips.  When I was hypo, I stopped on the way from bed to the coffeepot in the morning because I didn't think the muscles in my back were going to hold me up.  I still have back issues because of the arthritis, but that awful feeling of the muscles being about ready to give out is gone now that I'm on meds.  Hypo will exacerbate any condition that you already have (like my arthritis).  Any injuries to your right leg that might be being rekindled due to possibly being hypo?

[horevo]

Hi all, it's me again.  I saw a specialist at a University hospital and was cleared of any major Neuromuscular conditions including ALS and MG..... We are in the process of re-checking my thyroid levels and my thyroid antibodies.  I was wondering if anyone has experienced any muscle weakness because of the thyroid condition.  My right leg is somewhat weaker than my left.... it feels very strange and my whole body feels weak sometimes.  I get very fatigued as the day goes on and cannot seem to sleep well through the night either... I toss and turn and wake up many times.  Has anyone had these types of symptoms?  Any other ideas I might look into?  

[LazyMoose]

This is not the expert forum where Dr Lupo answers, this is the member forum.

Since the expert forum takes limited questions, I will give my opinion, though I am not a doctor.

Many (myself included) had symptoms you describe and were from thyroid problems. These can also be from other causes, so its tricky, if your thyroid labs dont point to thyroid as the cause. My opinion: You need a free T3 test to see the whole picture. And since thyroid issues run in your family, ask for thyroid specific antibody tests also.

Poor sleep can be from thyroid as well as other things. Lack of quality sleep has a trickle down affect on whole body health. It affects cholesterol, glucose, BP, muscle and nerve health, everything. Light sleeping without reaching a few hours of REM has negative effects. Ask your doctor about possibly taking asleep aid for a few weeks (if it works for you) to a month to see if you have health improvements. If you do, you know sleep is the cause of some problems.

Muscle / nerve condition and (spine health included) are affected by thyroid and many other things as well. All cells need thyroid hormone to operate correctly. So you need more thyroid testing or all of it I should say.

If thyroid looks OK, whole body infections can be responsible for some or all of your symptoms. Besides the well known disease, these are some not regularly looked for: Lyme (tic) disease, digestive bacterial overgrowth invading all cells, Celiac (you dont mention digestive pains though).

[Dalubaba]

I am 79. we are a thyroid family. Most of my siblings(six brothors and two sisters) are hypothyroidic.Looking to your symptoms and your family back ground, one can surmise that your are having hypothyroidic issur.
I am takiing thyroxine 100 microgram since last 35 yrs.I keep a yearly dhen on t3, t4 and Tsh.
I have some issues like tightness in  feet, dependant on 1mg. of Alprozolam for sleep.As per our family experience, replacement therapy with thyroxine is quite effective.