Thyroid Problem? *Please Help*

[adzib]

Please can somebody help me figure out if i have a problem with my thyroid.... I'll start at the beginning.
About 2 months ago i had a huge sinus infection that lasted for weeks and cleared up after a course of antibiotics, soon after i started to have twitching and trembling all over.
The trembling seems to have stopped now but i am still getting muscle spasms and twitching, i have since started to sleep for about 10 hours at a time (having to force myself awake), i feel tired all the time and i also my shoulders and left arm feel so fatigued (and my leg, the concerning thing is that it’s mainly my right side effected) i also have had the occasional buzzing/crawling sensation in my calf muscles.
At first the fatigue came in what i like to call 'episodes', which would last for a while and then go away, now it seems to be getting worse and i am constantly fatigued with heavy arms, muscle spasms (not constantly), neck pain, fatigue in my left arm and back muscles, sometimes aching hands and feet and i am also having some joint pain.
My weight seems to be going up and down like a Yo Yo, it will go up by about 5 pounds and then drop back down.... i think this is because my appetite varies from day to day.
When these 'episodes' come on I feel like my muscles are so tired that I want to drop, I get a little breathless and my temperature rises, I also have some anxiety whilst it is happening (like i want to go to the hospital straight away… but not like a panic attack), I also slightly elevated blood pressure.
I have read that thyroid disease can effect the eyes as well, I have had red eyes for years, meaning that the littlest thing irritates them (even waking up early in the morning) my eyelids have always been a little puffy and my right eye seems to protrude a little more than my left, when my eyes do get irritated, blinking really hard seems to help (I think because it pushes my eyeballs further inside my skull for a moment).
These symptoms were none existent until I got that sinus infection a couple of months ago, but once again I have read that thyroid disease can leave you wide open to infections.
I have a history of getting depressed so i don’t think that my doctor is really taking me seriously, i am writing in the hope that sufferers of thyroid disease in this community can tell me if there symptoms were in any way similar to what i am experiencing now.
Please reply with your opinions because the fatigue and muscle symptoms are really effecting my life in a bad way, i've tried going to the hospital (before I thought it was my thyroid) but they gave me a standard blood test and said that i shouldn’t go to the ER and that i was to go through my doctor..... and like i said, he thinks that i'm just depressed (as it runs in my family) and the symptoms are from depression…. I know my body and IT IS NOT DPRESSION!

Sorry for writing such a long question, I’m just really desperate to find an answer to what is wrong with me, all I have is time on my hands to worry about what it could and couldn’t be.

Thankyou.

[adzib]

Thanks, i will look into hormone levels as well.

I feel a lot better just discussing it or researching the problem.... makes me feel like i'm doing something productive while i have to wait.

I will post again when i know a little more about whats going on.... really, thanks for the input because it makes me feel more in control of my situation.

I can't thank you all enough!

[stella5349]

When hormone levels are out of whack - many things start to surface. I think many doctors want to take a look at the major things first - like heart - kidneys - liver before they dig entirely into a hormone problem. I think making sure major issues can be ruled out is good, however I think our medical society should take hormone issues more seriously and test for them appropriately before chalking everything up to depression and scamming an anti depressant down us.

It seems after my battle - that it was easier to Dx - depression - script a med and then shove me out the door. Now that I unlocked the ordeal with my hormones - I no longer have any depression and can handle my life again. I am very thankful I found doctors now - who know how to help me with my thyroid issue and have given me the patience of figuring out "what" I need to live again. It's been priceless on what these people are doing for me now.

Everything above that you mention are "classic" signs that "something" is wrong. It's tough for a doctor to figure all of it out and it takes time and sometimes a little "imagination" to unlock the "reason" for your ill feeling. I hope this doctor shows you a level of concern to try and find things out to get you well again. I encourage you to read up on all the hormones involved in making you feel at your best. There are alot of things out there that can teach you how to feel your best and to live very happy.

When you don't have your health, you have nothing, in my train of thought. Ask for tests, when you learn about them. They should run them - no questions asked. A simple vitamin issue can swing things out of control for some people and can be solved simply by just "knowing" its off.

[adzib]

Thankyou all for your invaluable advice,

I had some blood tests yesterday, i actually brought up the subject of my thyroid and he said 'ok we'll throw that test in too'.... i think it was the T3 test but I’m sure he only ordered the tests to appease me (i think the other tests were for liver and kidney function).
I'll just have to wait it out until my tests come back, thankyou so much for the list of thyroid tests and cardio advice as i will bring up the subjects with my next appointment if i get no answers with my results.... i can only get an appointment with him every 2-3 weeks so it's a hellish wait!

Until then i'll just have to think happy thoughts! :)

[tiredfedup]

It sounds like you are so frustrated and worried.  It can be so aggravating when you feel so sick and the doctors keep brushing you off.  I have been going through this as well, as it sounds so many people with Hashimoto's go through.  I definitely recommend getting a full thyroid panel done, but make sure you request all of the tests.  I can't seem to get one doctor to do all of the tests.  
They keep leaving things out.  Start by doing that and then follow up with other specialists, like cardiologist, etc.  Keep changing doctors if they don't take you seriously.  Sometimes not feeling well can make you anxious and cause depression, but you know your body and if you don't feel well, keep pushing until you figure it out and the doctors understand.  Hang in there.  You are not alone!

Thyroid Panel:
TSH
Free T4
Tree T3
TPOab
TGab
Total T4

[goolarra]

Have you had a cardiac workup?  The heaviness you describe sounds like it might be angina, which could indicate a cardiac problem or could also be secondary to a thyroid problem.  You need to beat your doctor up a bit and get him to do some more testing.

Good luck.

[mtkst13]

the best thing to do is to get a full thyroid panel...tsh, free t3, free t4, thyroid antibodies.  also get other blood work run...cbc and some of the standard checkup bloodwork.  

i hope you feel better.

[adzib]

I forgot to add that when an 'episode' happens, i also get fatique/weakness across my chest which is followed by the breathlessness.... it feels like my chest wants to sink into my body.