PSA: Get those thyroids checked!

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Chris Braile

Posted Sunday, November 15, 2009 12:46 AM

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Last Login: Wednesday, December 23, 2009 12:12 AM
Posts: 166, Visits: 142

I had been doing very well but was still sluggish and intermittently overwhelmed with fatigue. Then my neck/face started swelling, and I thought it was the Sjogren's syndrome. Or something more ominous since I still have that swollen lymph node (that to now has checked out fine, after an aspiration biopsy).
Then my left hip and shoulder started being really painful, my neck became very swollen and painful, and finally my hands started swelling and hurting, something they hadn't done this badly in over a year since eliminating nightshades.

Finally got off my butt and made an appt with a more naturally-oriented doc, who said my thyroid was very swollen. Got bloodwork done and finally the answer: hypothyroidism, which explains all of the above. Since my thyroid antibodies were sky high, the assumption is that I have Hashimoto's disease, or - surprise! LOL - the autoimmune version of hypothyroid.

I started meds today, but obviously it'll be a few weeks before I start feeling better, and a few months to get up to a solid level where I should feel "normal". I'm really interested in seeing what "normal" is since I was on such a good track before all this came up.

Here's the thing: my bloodwork (free T3 & T4, TSH) was in the "normal" range, but by the new thinking (TSH under 2) it was off. T3 and T4 were low normal, but that varies since hypothyroid can be cyclical. The sky high antibodies plus my symptoms (90% of the Hashimoto's symptoms) were the clues.

So I'm posting this since some of the Hashimoto's symptoms can easily be confused with RA symptoms, especially the bolded ones listed below, and if you're on prednisone you might expect the facial puffiness and weight gain. People with lupus or fibro could also be missing the signs:

From http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hashimotos-disease/DS00567 :

* Fatigue and sluggishness
* Increased sensitivity to cold
* Constipation
* Pale, dry skin
* A puffy face
* Hoarse voice
* An elevated blood cholesterol level
* Unexplained weight gain - occurring infrequently and rarely more than 10 to 20 pounds, most of which is fluid
* Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness, especially in your shoulders and hips
* Pain and stiffness in your joints and swelling in your knees or the small joints in your hands and feet
* Muscle weakness, especially in your lower extremities
* Excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)
* Depression

SAHM/homeschooler Diagnosed 2009 with RA
Diet (no nightshades/gluten), supplements (fish oil, cal/mag, Vit D, Vit C), Chinese herbal medicine (3rd Coast Herb Company), acupuncture, yoga

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Grandpavan

Posted Sunday, November 15, 2009 1:24 AM

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Last Login: Today @ 1:47 PM
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While hypothyroid does require medication, it is only one pill once a day and I'm not aware of any side effects, at least not in me. Also it is a well-known medication and there doesn't seem to be any guessing what will work. You do have to adjust the dose if necessary but that's easy to do. God bless.

Age 82, diagnosed RA 12/2001, married since 1952, 4 sons no daughters, 4 grandsons 1 granddaughter. Doing well on Methotrexate and Remicade.

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michellez

Posted Sunday, November 15, 2009 2:01 PM

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Last Login: Monday, December 21, 2009 7:51 PM
Posts: 63, Visits: 139

True...it's all autoimmune disorders... an indication that something could be going wrong in the digestive track.

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