Can Hypothyroidism also cause balance problems?

[angeleyes1978]

Since feb of 2002 I've have been diagnosed as hypothyroid.  I've been on medication for quite some time and it's stabalized.  But I have also had balance problems since august of 2004 and the doctors and specialists have yet to discover what the diagnosis is.  I've seen countless neurologists, ent specialists, allergists, endocronologists and no one can find out what's causing these symptoms.  They thought is was MS but that has been ruled out too.  Even the Ent specialist has ruled out things like vertigo and inner ear disorders.  All my tests come out negetive.  It's very frustrating having the doctors look at me as if i'm making this up.  I even went to see a psychiatrist and he told me that I didn't fit the profile of someone who was psychosematic.  I"ve lost my job, my independance, as well as the chance to have a doctor take me seriously.  
My question is can being hypothyroid cause these symptoms?    I"m at a loss and really don't know where to turn anymore.  I always get the brush off and no one will take me seriously.  
I would appreicate any advice anyone can give me.  Thanks   Angeleyes....

[Jessi63]

Sorry you have to go through all of this.  I to am Hypothyroid and I have some problem with dizziness and balance.  There are some great sites that can help you.  I just hope Kitty responds to you. When was the last time you had your labs checked?  What where they?  Are you on any other kind of medications?

[angeleyes1978]

I'm scheduled for another lab test.  I usually go every three months.  Last time my levels were extremely high and they upped my dose of synthroid.  The doctor said he was suprised I had any energy to function at all.   I can't exactly remember what the numbers were but one of them I think it was TSH or the the other was at 13.    NO i'm not on any other kind of medications but they did have me on serc which was quite awhile ago and that didn't help either. They thought it was vertigo.  But it's not a dizzying sensation or spinning sensation, it's more of a feeling off balance while I'm walking, it feels like i'm gonna be pulled to the floor.   All the doctors are baffled and they kind of threw me into a group of people named "failure to diagnose".    I keep getting so many excuses and now they want to send me to a sleep study to see if that's what is causing these strange symptoms.   But I still say it probably all leads back to me being hypothyroid.  Before I was diagnosed with this I was healthy as a horse and it's all been downhill from there.  HOwever I keep positive and try to make the best of it. :)   I am also sorry that you're having the same kinds of problems.  I would truly appreciate hearing from you again.  Thanks so much and I'll keep ya posted.   Sincerely Angeleyes...

[kitty9309]

I know exactly how you feel with the off-balance thing. I too experienced what you did with doctors. 13 years ago, I was diagnosed with Meneire's Disease (inner ear). I never believed I had that and the treatment didn't work either. Then I was diagnosed with Migraine Associated Vertigo last year. Still didn't buy the diagnosis.
My TSH results were always in the high end of "normal" during this time. I asked doctors and they said "No, it's not your thyroid." I still wondered, though. I work in the lab as a Microbiologist and have a medical background.
Then my "luck" changed this past summer when I finally had a TSH above the normal range. I was diagnosed 1 month later and began taking Synthroid.Just before diagnosis, I had extreme insomnia with anxiety.
For the first time in a long while, I went to the mall, grocery store and work and didn't feel dizzy for even a second. That was just this weekend. What a good feeling, finally.
I believe the hypo was causing my off-balance, pulled- to- the- left feeling. It took so much energy from me, I could almost do nothing else. I had trouble with standing, sitting and walking. I have spent many thousand out of pocket at neurologists, oto-neurologists, ENT, GP, psychiatrist, and all the associated tests. To think that maybe a trial of this inexpensive pill may have helped me all of these years is upsetting. I can get over it, though, as long as I am well now.

Vertigo/balance problems are listed as a symptom in hypothyroidism. In fact, one artcle from a textbook states that hypothyroidism should be suspected with undiagnosed cause of vertigo.

If you message me, I can give you a few links regarding this.

I have only met one other person describe what you and I have experienced. She too was just diagnosed with hypoT. I found her through this forum.

Do you know where your levels are now?

Kitty

[Catlong]

I too have the off balance thing. It feels like I'm walking to the right and not in a direct straight line even when I try my best to. No energy. I too have problems standing, sitting and walking. I get so frustrated with it everyday. And walking up steps without a rail or anything to hold on to is so hard to do. So off balance! I can not walk in the dark ...as it completely throws my balance off! Could you give me a few links to read. Thank you. Cathy

[angeleyes1978]

They will only do tests for my thyroid every three months.  So I'm still waiting to take that test once again.  But with each test it gets worse.  They keep putting me on synthroid and uping the doses but it doesn't seem to work or keep it functioning normal.   I also suffer from bad insomnia which is why they want to send me to a sleep study.   I can completely understand what you have gone through, at this point I still can't go to the stores unaccompanied.  However I was luckier to get a diagnosis right away.  Unfortunetly the doctors keep saying well stick to this pill but it doesn't seem to make my levels decrease.  So it's all confusing right now.   It's scary cause even though i've been diagnosed with hypothyroidism my doctor doesn't seem to be taking it as a serious disease.   With luck though maybe he can prescribe something else.   We'll see when I go for my bloodwork again.   I appreciate your reply.  It's nice to know that some people are out there who can understand.  I'll keep you posted and I hope things only get better for you now that you have your medication.   Take care    angeleyes....

[kaiandhudson]

my TSH levels are all low I am on thyroid (armour) 30mg I am seeing my thyroid dr tomorrow  sandy

[kitty9309]

It is very crappy!! :{
What dose are you on? Can you asked be tested at 2 months instead of 3? Do you also get free t4 tested?
Are you taking the meds on an empty stomach and not eating for at least 1/2 hour after?

Thanks for your encouraging words and I hope the same for you. Do keep me posted, as we seem a bit unusual in the symptom category!

Kitty

[Jessi63]

Hey guys.  I guess we are unique to say the least?  LOL  Hey Kitty I'd like to have some of those links you are talking about.  I'm gonna take them with me to my next endo appt.  Angeleyes-do you have an endo?  Jessi

[kitty9309]

http://ivertigo.net/vertigo/versystemic.html

http://www.mcl.tulane.edu/departments/psych_neuro/neurolect/book/wch4.pdf
see page 8

Jessie- I'd rather be normal instead of unique! ;)

angeleyes- I hope these can be of use to you, too.

Kitty

[angeleyes1978]

I'm on .05 mgs of the synthroid   I think it's call levothyroxine.  Lol i forget the spelling.   Even though my levels were extemely high last time the doctor kept me on this level for some dumn reason.  Yes I also get the free t4 tested and that's off too.  Yes I take them on an empty stomach.  Usually the same time every morning.   That's a good question I should ask my doctor if I could tested every two months.  I'll do that.     To Jessie :  They sent me to an endo once to see if my balance problems were due to another hormonal reason, he didn't even ask to see me again related to my thyroid. So unfortenetly I have to go through my family doctor.   Unique yes LOL  I"d say all of us are uniquely frustrated as well  LOL   Thanks so much Kitty for the link and I'll keep you posted.  Good luck Jessie with taking that info to your Endo.  I tried that once with my family doctor and he thought I was trying to look smarter than him. hehe    Take care both of you and keep in touch.    Angeleyes...

[tashan]

yes yes yes!!!!!we really are unique persons.i do suffer from the same problem of balancing.to ur info i too felt better before i was on medication.i feel as something pulling me downward to earth.i feel only well when i lie down.i too have gone to many endos.ents and all of them are worthless,i feel i manipulate or overpresent my symptoms.i think this is all due to hypothyroidism.its such a tragedy we eot levo for curing but we still suffer with so many other symptoms.there is no use in spending money on other dept. of medicali.e,ent endo and alll.its a sheer waste of money.i think we have to bear the grunt or wait for the medicine dosage to click.best of luck!!!

[laura1967]

Knock knock me too.....I hate the dizzy feeling too. Sometimes I even feel as though I am walking on egg crates. I even gave myself B12 shots to see if it was a deficiency. It wasn't. I agree it has to be from being hypo.

[shane1001]

Hi

[shane1001]

Hi, i have recently given birth and been diagnosed with hypothyrodism. My brain is always in a fog and i have balance problems too.Always feeling like i am being pulled to the left and that i am floating.On top of it i also have tinnitus(ringging in the ears) Told my endo of all my symptoms and he says it is not related to being hypo.I'm so confused now with my symptoms.Anyone out there with similiar symptoms? Badly looking for answers as doc's are not able to help! Hello Kitty, wish you could help me as my symptoms are similiar to yours! Any advise from anyone will be greatly appreciated!

[Mercedes1967]

May I ask did you ever get diagnosed what was wrong with you I have the exact same symptoms

[Carmenyc]

I have the balance issues too, swaying & bouncing. I've concluded its the thyroid problems.

[corkysgirl80]

Thank you SO much for your comments. I have recently been diagnosed with a very small 'thing' in my left thyroid...too small for a biopsy and the Endocrinologist said to come back in 'six months' - however, I have severe balance problems, only when walking and I, too, am being "pulled to the left." I am also unusually tired from the time I wake up in the morning until I go to bed. I do not have insomnia and sleep well. I do have neuropathy (they say) and my feet up to my ankles feel as if they are wearing elastic stockings. I am not sure if this is related to the balance issue or not but now believe it is my thyroid, thanks to all of you. I have an appointment later this month (October) to see the Endocrinologist with this new information. Thank you again and again. I will keep in touch.
Donalie

[flyingfool]

I agree that Hypo can cause dizziness balance issues.

However.  another thing to consider.  I had dizzy feelings to and could not figure out what it was.  I would get a little worse each day in the early afternoon.  I finally traced it back to NutraSweet in Diet Coke that I was having every day at lunch.  At the same time I had some heart palps and I cut out Caffeine too.  

Long story short. When I cut out caffeine for the most part AND 100% of anything with NutraSweet and diet soda's as a rule,  My dizziness feelings went away.  Turns out I did some more research and one of the side effects to NutraSweet was dizziness.

So if you drink a lot of diet soda's or stuff with NutraSweet in it. You may want to cut that out and see if that helps.  For me it took a couple weeks.

All I know is since I've stopped, I've almost never had that light headed dizziness feeling for unknown reasons again.

Just a thought!

[gimel]

Just to throw in another possibility, it could be related to allergies.  I have found my self having balance issues due to the so-called "inner ear" being affected by allergic reactions, especially during the pollen season in the Spring and good old goldenrod and ragweed in the Fall.  I found that a good nasal spray like NasalCrom helped a lot.

[sick179]

I to am having major balance issues and have had a thyroidectomy 20 yrs ago. My lab tests supposedly are normal but after reserching the net I am hypothyroid. My TSH is 3.6 which is in the normal range although  25% of people show signs of hypothyroidism with TSH greater than 3. I have also had ear problems with hearing loss but knew it was not the ears that had thrown my balance. I too felt as though I was being pulled to the floor. I also felt panicky as felt I would pass out. It was a confusing time as am 53 and have just been through menopause although was still getting the odd peroid which is symptomatic of hypothyroidism.
I took it upon myself to increase Thyoxine tablets and am now thankfully back to normal. The Doctors rely totally on blood results and not hypothyroid symptoms. I was on such a low dose of Throxine (75mcg) it was obvious I was hypothyroid to me!!
I hope this helps you as it is really debilitating.

[catpal]

kitty,
I have the same off balance sensations, and was just recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism (after a year and a half of endless tests) ... although endo suspects this may be hashimoto's.  I would appreciate the links that you mentioned to learn more about the imbalance and dizziness that can accompany hypothyroidism.  It almost feels like I am walking on a marshmallow sometimes ... kind of a drunken sensation.  

Thank you.

[shelley368]

Hi guys I was recently diagnosed with an under active thyroid as well and the doctor put me on Synthroid too but she is very confused as to why I am so dizzy all the time, she told me that "medically speeking" it is not a symptom of thyroid disease but she said it is kind of weird that this happened around the same time as being diagnosed the doctor is sending me for an angiogram (which I am very nervous about) to see if there may be a blockage,it makes me feel a bit better to know that I am not alone out there thank you for sharing your stories I wish you all the best and will keep in touch as well

[duhmomm]

Currently, I am experencing balance problems, however, my balance issues pull me to the right side.  I have been to my personal physician several times in three months as I thought my ears and sinuses were infected.  As it turns out, my sinuses and ears aren't infected but I constantly have ringing  in my ears.  I was told several years ago that I had hearing loss.  I am soooo caught for words, angry because the physicians look at you like your losing your mind.  I was beginning to wonder if it was my heart that was the cause.  In recent months, I had that checked as well and my stress test  showed that my heart was fine!!! I have an anxious feelling with this balance issue as well.  If we are all hypothyroid, and we all have the balance issue, why is it that balance issues are a symptom of hypothyroidism?  

[Janisleigh]

I have had hypothyroidism for years, but recently have had trouble keeping tsh in range. Also have some palpable nodules. Im getting an ultrasound. In the meantime i have developed severe insomnia, and strange balance issue. As you all dscribe, i feel im being pulled to the right, sometimes to the left. Like trying to walk w hen you're really drunk.

[Dmeartem]

HI all! I am also suffering from thyroid problems,have many other health problems, about dizzynes wanted to point to you ,who have this problem(i have myself) to check your iron levels,especialy ferritin..Iron  deficiency can cause vertigo and dizzynes and i think a lot of people with thyroid problems might have iron deficiensy , but you need to get tested to know for sure. Great life saving info at
http://www.*************************  You should inform yourself and get some real help

info about iron  and thyroid here  http://www.*************************/ferritin/

[Dmeartem]

It seems the link is not visible, i dont know how to post the link that you can see it ..Can somebody tell me?

[chrisoula123]

I have recently had surgery to remove my complete thyroid.  I also had issues with balance, dizziness and panic even prior to surgery (actually for 2 years).  It has been almost three weeks since my surgery and I am still feeling the same, but the dizziness is less often but the balance issue remains.  I strongly feel that this is related to hypothyroid.  I will be seeing the doctor in the coming month to take blood work. Has anyone been where I am now and if so, have you gotten better?

Thanks.
Chris