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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by River1924 on March 2, 2006, at 16:37:29
Hi,
Sorry this is so long: Over the last little while, my hands began to ache when I gripped things & my hands felt swollen. My back ached and no amount of stretching and exercise seemed to relieve the tension. (Normally, back problems are cured for me if I exercise for a few days.) It was hard to go up and down stairs because it hurt (almost as if I had arthritis all of a sudden.) Then my back started to spasm and this made my work as a nursing assistant in a nursing home difficult.
Then, I realized these symptoms started (slowly at first) after a doctor prescribed120 mg (2 grains) thyroid for a low-normal thyroid. I had given credit to the thyroid supplement for my feet not being frozen when I got into bed but not for my restless sleep and everything else I mentioned.
Tomorrow will be the third day without any thyroid medication. I've missed two days of work due to spasms and pain. But I should be okay enough by tomorrow.
I am assuming it will be out of me system completely in 7 to 10 days. Is that correct? Can I speed this up somehow?
Thanks again. River.
PS: I made the connection between my aches and pain and the thyroid med when I read this online.
"Muscle and Joint Pain With Thyroid Disease
Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause a variety of muscle or joint-related symptoms. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are known to cause what are called myopathies -- the medical term for diseases that affect skeletal muscle.
Symptoms for those with hypothyroidism include:
* General muscular weakness and pain, including cramps, and stiffness
* General joint pain, achiness, stiffness, known as "arthropathy"
* Tendonitis in the arms and legs
* Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
* Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome-- similar to carpal tunnel, with pain, tingling,burning and other discomfort in the arch of your foot, the bottom of the foot, possibly extending into the toes.Symptoms for those with hyperthyroidism include:
* difficulty climbing stairs
* difficulty holding or gripping objects with hands
* difficult reaching arms above the head. "
Posted by Phillipa on March 2, 2006, at 21:19:22
In reply to amour thyroid (see PS for carpal tunnel info), posted by River1924 on March 2, 2006, at 16:37:29
Are you sure you looked the right conditions? Hypothyroidism causes fatigue, wt gain, cold hands and feet, lethargy. And some others. hyperthyroidism causes anxiety, wt loss buldgiing eyes and others. I have hypothroidism and I've never heard of muscle and joint pain. Now I could be wrong I am a lot. Could you post the link where you got your info always willing to learn. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by River1924 on March 3, 2006, at 0:08:57
In reply to Re: amour thyroid (see PS for carpal tunnel info) » River1924, posted by Phillipa on March 2, 2006, at 21:19:22
Well that specific information was from:
http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles.htm
in the section titled: "Thyroid-Related Symptoms & Conditions."That site seems a little cheezy with all the ads on the home page. Here are a couple links that are for medical people. (I understand about every sixth sentence.)
http://www.emedicine.com/pmr/topic57.htm
http://www.emedicine.com/NEURO/topic125.htmOr, you can just google "hyperthyroid" or "hypothyroid" and the word, "myopathy" (or "myopathies") and you'll get a pile of links. I didn't know the word myopathy until yesterday.
Whatever the reason, stopping the thyroid tablets has eased up my pain a great deal. If my theory is correct, I overshot and became more and more hyperthyroid. I plan to go back on it at a lower dose. The doctor I saw was a little odd and gave me a six months supply... without any retesting. I just thank god for the internet.
Later, River.
Posted by Phillipa on March 3, 2006, at 0:26:57
In reply to Re: amour thyroid (see PS for carpal tunnel info) » Phillipa, posted by River1924 on March 3, 2006, at 0:08:57
A lot of the things sited occur in children one is the giant syndrome I believe. And they arll occurr with out the proper tx ie thryroid replacement. But you must get you thyroid levels checked rgularily. Once corrected sytomes disappear. Without the proper bloodwork you could end up taking to much and become hyperthyroid. So looks like you ouvershot. Love phillips ps when are you getting more bloodwork. Graves is overactive treates with radiation and then thryroid replacement.
Posted by Larry Hoover on March 3, 2006, at 8:13:04
In reply to Re: amour thyroid (see PS for carpal tunnel info) » Phillipa, posted by River1924 on March 3, 2006, at 0:08:57
> Here are a couple links that are for medical people. (I understand about every sixth sentence.)
>
> http://www.emedicine.com/pmr/topic57.htmYou understood every sixth sentence, and the first link you present is about hypothyroid myopathy. I'm very concerned that you have acted rashly, and instead of seeking a second opinion, you have acted precipitously. If what you have *is* hypothyroid myopathy, you have done precisely the wrong thing.
> Whatever the reason, stopping the thyroid tablets has eased up my pain a great deal.
You may have presented yourself with a king-sized placebo effect. That's why doctors use bloodwork to assess thyroid function, not patient reports. Bloodwork *and* patient reports, ideally (ya, I know Phillipa), but bloodwork at this juncture would be crucial.
> If my theory is correct, I overshot and became more and more hyperthyroid.
If *my* theory is correct, you need to see a doctor, pronto. Armour thyroid supplement is unique, in that it is derived from pig thyroid glands. It has the potential to activate immune targeting of your thyroid gland, for example. So, instead of helping you, that particular thyroid med might have caused a flare-up of anti-thyroid antibodies, exacerbating hypo symptoms despite supplementation. Which would be clearly observable if the proper bloodwork was done.
I appreciate that you don't trust the doctor who was treating you. Please, get a second opinion, right away. Tell the other doctor everything. Everything.
If you have a thyroid problem, it will be your responsibility to understand better what you're taking, so you can make good informed treatment decisions. We can help with that.
Best,
Lar
Posted by River1924 on March 4, 2006, at 1:23:14
In reply to Re: amour thyroid (see PS for carpal tunnel info) » River1924, posted by Larry Hoover on March 3, 2006, at 8:13:04
1)Yes, you are right. How could I have been so foolish as to trust my own bodily sensations? Placebo affect. I bet you are a doctor.
2) Second, I listed hypothyroid myopathy because Phillipa said she was hypothyroid. I was never hypothyroid.
3) My foolishness was taking meds without really paying attention to it affects on me. I should have wondered why the doctor put me 120 mgs when my thyroid was normal, on the low end but normal. At the time, however, I was pleased he wasn't a slave to blood test numbers. I shouldn't have said I didn't trust this doctor... he is just inconvenient to visit and I saw him because he is one of the few immunologists in the area. I don't need to drive 50 minutes for a thyroid test or pay 300 dollars for an office visit with my PA-C.
4) I emailed my PA-C and my psych doc of my problems, my theory and my plans to discontinue my thyroid for the time being. Neither seemed that concerned. "Do it and we will see what happens."
5) I don't really need to justify myself. I trust my instincts. In the last several months, I bit my tongue and "trusted" that the system is capable of doing a decent job. Wrong. It just doesn't work that way.
6) I will keep your autoimmune idea in mind... I don't think it applies to me but I think it is interesting.
Good Bye. I don't spend a lot of time here. I should have just looked up the information I asked for in the first place. I was being lazy. I always just end up getting annoyed and angry. I know people who have had problems with muscle pain, carpal tunnel, and now at least I can give them the info about the thyroid's impact. It is a connection I never made and, it would be my guess, their doctors hadn't thought of it either. Whatever, I'm outta here.
Posted by River1924 on March 5, 2006, at 23:11:05
In reply to Re: amour thyroid (see PS for carpal tunnel info) » River1924, posted by Larry Hoover on March 3, 2006, at 8:13:04
Larry,
Sorry for spazzing. I can't even make myself reread what I wrote. I hope I wasn't extremely rude.
I have a fault of never listening to advice: I don't take it at face value or give it a fair listening. I feel ignored and get insulted. I work at, at least, holding my tongue. I failed this time. You meant well and your comments were, well, fine.
Sorry. River.
Posted by Larry Hoover on March 5, 2006, at 23:34:08
In reply to Sorry. » Larry Hoover, posted by River1924 on March 5, 2006, at 23:11:05
> Larry,
>
> Sorry for spazzing. I can't even make myself reread what I wrote. I hope I wasn't extremely rude.
>
> I have a fault of never listening to advice: I don't take it at face value or give it a fair listening. I feel ignored and get insulted. I work at, at least, holding my tongue. I failed this time. You meant well and your comments were, well, fine.
>
> Sorry. River.Accepted without reservation. Thank you.
Lar
This is the end of the thread.
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