Thyroid?

Nina J wrote: I think it was a member here who said something about thyroid problems, when I made a post about feeling unwell? It might have been somewhere else, and I am confused.

Anyway, does anyone know more about thyroid problems? I just looked it up, and I the things I am reading sound like me. The extreme fatigue, weight loss, even little things like I get sooo thirsty, and palpatations and sweating.

I read one thing about anxiety, like anxiety attacks, especially sudden. I have had about 3 anxiety attack, or panic attacks (not sure what you call them) in recent months when I have never experienced them before. They suck, I had one at the cinema with friends and had to leave. I thought I was dying.

My doctor has told me I have irritable bowel syndrome, but from what I have read things like diarrhea can be associated with thyroid problems, and up until a few months in to last year, I had an upset stomach maybe once a year. Now it is more like once a fortnight, if not more.

I don't know, I don't know anything about this and for all I know, I got tested when they did my cholesterol and vitamins. I don't recall and if they did, it would be good because I could go an find out. If not, I could get tested. However, I don't know how justified I am in getting tests done (if I haven't had them done already). This past year (from this time last year, to now) I have not had a good run. I have been to the doctors a lot and I hate making appointments now because I think the receptionists think I am totally weird!

I might do some more reading. I went to the doctors for my fatigue and she said I have hay fever, and gave me some nasal spray, which has done nothing I have gotton used to not feeling 100% and honestly, it would be so nice to just not feel under the weather.

I just don't know, I do really feel unwell but it seems like no one really cares, I am not coughing, not spewing. I just sweat, sleep and get so thirsty I could never have enough water

Mommy2Isabella replied:

It is difficult to keep going to Dr.'s and it seems that aren't figuring out what is wrong with you. Thyroid problems aren't things to sit around and wonder about though. I would go and ask to have it tested and just let them know that the nasal spray isn't working for you.

moped replied: I have a hyperthyroid..........and yes sounds like you have all the symptoms excpet that I was too hyper to be tired. So I never slept well or much. Best to get checked. It is no fun!

punkeemunkee'smom replied: I have hyperthyroidism but have all the symptoms for Hypo They actually treat it with thyroxin which helped me SO much. I also have SEVERE anemia and alot of what you are discribing sounds like that!

luvmykids replied: I have mild anemia compared to Abbie, but yes anemia and thyroid both can cause a lot if not all the symptoms you're having. I'd call and find out if they checked your thyroid, I could be wrong but I think it's an extra test, not part of a regular physical....I'm thinking you didn't get the test because my drs have always said clearly "Thyroid came back ok".

Nina J replied: I called and managed to get an appointment at 11:45am (it is 10am right now). I figured I would not ask about whether or not they tested, because either way something is making me feel like this. I do think it may be the medication, I don't know but these symptoms can also be side effects of the medication I am on. So, I want to see what they say.

I am usually very tired in the afternoon and evening and when it comes to say, 10pm, I just get more energy until anywhere between 12am-2am. Last night I went to bed at about 12:30am, couldn't sleep so I came on the computer. Couldn't sleep again. Eventually I ended up just sitting on the couch with my laptop, watching tv. I would put the laptop down, watch tv and just try and sleep. But I couldn't, I wasn't even tired. So now I am nearly 24 hours with no sleep and I am so sick of this.

I mostly hate that I do not look sick, but I feel sick. Not so much sick as in I have the flu, just under the weather.

I think though that if my regular doctor is not helpful today (I am sure she will be), I will get a second opinion. She has been my doctor for a while and honestly, it seems like she is doing the opostie of her job Not her fault, though. She's nice.

luvmykids replied:
I seem to have loooong bouts of that same problem.... I am a night owl with TONS of energy late at night, then spend the day dragging and feeling like I am so tired I could literally DIE. But no matter what, come time to go to bed, I cannot sleep.

I'm curious to hear how that plays into your other symptoms.

I'm so sorry you haven't been able to get to the bottom of it, even if they say you don't "need" the thyroid test, I'd insist on it. KUP!!!!

eta: When I'm going through a no sleep phase, the ONLY way I can get through a day is with a Feosol (an iron supplement, because of the chronic mild anemia), a Super B vitamin, and melatonin at night to kind of force my body to sleep.

Boo&BugsMom replied: Did they take your blood? You'll want to make sure they do a TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone), then also a Free T4 and a T3 depending on the results of the TSH. Most physicians will order a TSHR, which is a TSH with reflex (includes a Free T4 in it).

I know that probably doesn't mean anything to you, but this site is the best one I could find that explains it. I always find it is more helpful to know what they are testing, what it's measuring, and what the tests will tell you. I'm just thorough like that, especially now since getting to know all these tests at work that I have to order. I hope you find out what's going on.

http://www.endocrineweb.com/tests.html

Nina J replied: I am back. I have had a thyroid check, last year. It was all normal.

I was in the waiting room and had a panic attack, I was shaking and as soon as I got in to the doctors office I just started to cry. I have been having a few panic attacks (or anxiety attacks, don't know what they're called).

I am going to go to a counsellor for some stress coping techniques. And I also got referred to a heart specialist to make sure that my fatigue and everything is not due to something with my heart. I am looking forward to seeing the counsellor, and am grateful my doctor is looking in to all the possible causes.

I feel better knowing that it is getting sorted. It was embarrassing to be shaking and crying, but I think it was good for my doctor to see what happens when I have the attacks.

It's been a long day, I haven't slept in close to 30 hours. I was prescribed some sleeping tablets, so I am looking forward to a good sleep

Thank you all, though. I will keep you posted on what happens next Things are moving along though, I am soooo glad that I went today, I can't wait to get things sorted and feel better.

My blood pressure was high today, but obviously I was upset so I don't know what it would've been otherwise. It was 158/70.

I hate the panic attack things, though. They just come at totally unexpected moments, I can be sitting alone in a room and I will suddenly feel as though I am going to puke, my heart goes so quickly and I just shake. It's terrible, I knew as soon as I felt sick what was going to happen. I nearly did a runner and left, I knew I'd cry as soon as I got in the doctors room.

But she is used to this stuff, I think I might have freaked her out a little. I was crying as soon as I got in there and she did not realise and was shutting the door with her back turned chatting away and turned around and I was just have a good old cry Then I couldn't talk for a minute or else I knew I'd break out in my ugly cry

luvmykids replied: I HATE the ugly cry

Please KUP And get some sleep!

boyohboyohboy replied: Have you also considered diabetes?
a lot of the symptoms you are describing also sound like that..
and even though you had the thyroid test last yr, it might be worth repeating it..
have you been taking any other prescriptions that could cause a drop in thyroid?

Boo&BugsMom replied: I wondering about diabetes too. That can do crazy things to your body even though many people don't often associate those things to it. I hope you can get your answers. I can't imagine having that much anxiety, I'm sure it's aweful.

coasterqueen replied: I've had my thyroid checked numerous times by my general physician. Thyroid problems run in my family big time. Each time it has come back being ok. I talked to a friend about it whose dealing with the same issues and she said the best bet is to see an endocrinologist. She had hers come back ok at the GP and then went to the specialist and they did certain tests and found out indeed she did have a problem with hers.

Nina J replied: I haven't thought about diabetes.I think I got tested for it, too. I am not sure. I know I got tested for a lot of things when they found out I had hypertension.

But panic attacks do run in my family, my grandmother had them and some of my Aunt's do. As well as my mother. My mother suffered a lot with them, though. I think I tend to be more like my Aunt's, where they happen randomly and once they're over, you don't worry about them happening again. My mother would worry about them and avoid things.

But I am fairly sure I got checked for diabetes when I got my cholesterol checked, I had to fast. That is when I got my thyroid checked, as well.

My hypertension is getting under control (slowly, lol).

My doctor was supposed to ring me yesterday about the counsellor thing, but it is tomorrow now and she hasn't rang so I don't know if I should ring and see if they forgot? I would feel like a nuisance