What do you think? My dr. thinks MS, but I dont know...

[jenniferk86]

I had a grand mal seizure almost a year ago this march. It resulted in a major concussion where I didn’t remember anything for 15 min not even my name.  My memory returned to normal ( well more normal) I cannot remember a lot, like why I am going to another room) and nobody could ever find the cause. I found out I have factor 5 lieden and protein s def. which means my blood clots easier but that is about it everything else seemingly normal.  So about 2 months after, I began getting so tired I could not drive TO work even after 12 hours of sleep. Tried everything to see if it would help for 2 months. Nothing so I saw a dr. did thyroid tests and a barrage of other tests with everything seemingly normal.  My lipase was high, albumim was low, mean platelet high, but dr.s were not concerned about those levels as they were not terribly out of range.  I have every hypo thyroid symptom out there and my pain is especially bad. I have to take percocets to function. It seems as though the only test I haven't done is hormonal tests and MRI I asked my obgyn and she said there is no need if I am not missing my period completely, but have read everywhere else otherwise.  My complete list of symptoms is( I took most of this from a list of symptoms and deleted the ones I didn’t have off stop the thyroid madness.com):

I can't lose weight even though I'm exercising 5 times a week at an hour and a half (800-900 cals burned) & eating right foods (1800 cals or less per day, 6 small meals per day), Lost some weight the first 4-5 days once starting 25 mg synthroid and 37.5 mg of phentermine, but weight loss stopped and in fact gained back 1-2 lbs with no weight loss since.


- Less energy than others
- Long recovery period after any activity
- Inability to hold children for very long
■Arms feeling like dead weights after activity
■Chronic Low Grade Depression
■Suicidal Thoughts
■Often feeling cold
■Cold hands and feet
■Hard stools
■Constipation
■Dry Hair
■White hairs growing in
■Dry cracking skin
■Nodding off easily
■Inability to concentrate or read long periods of time
■Forgetfulness
■Foggy thinking
■Inability to lose weight
■Always gaining weight
■Inability to function in a relationship with anyone
■NO sex drive
■Moody periods
■PMS
■Excruciating pain during period
■Nausea
■Swelling/edema/puffiness
■Aching bones/muscles
■Hives
■Exhaustion in every dimension–physical, mental, spiritual, emotional
■Inability to stand on feet for long periods
■Complete lack of motivation
■Extremely crabby, irritable, intolerant of others
■Internal itching of ears – wow this happens all the time, but I didn’t think anything of it.
■Broken/peeling fingernails
■Dry skin or snake skin
■Major anxiety/worry
■Ringing in ears – rarely but it happens
■Joint pain
■Carpal tunnel symptoms
■Blood Pressure problems – Low almost always, when I am in lots of pain, high.
■Varicose Veins
■Dizziness from fluid on the inner ear
■Low body temperature
■Tightness in throat; sore throat
■Headaches and Migraines
■Sore feet (plantar fascitis); painful soles of feet
■irritable bowel syndrome
■painful bladder
■Extreme hunger, especially at nighttime
■Dysphagia, which is nerve damage and causes the inability to swallow fluid, food or your own saliva”–This happened to me only once for about 2 days.

I have taken 3 thyroid tests now to date.  One in September, one in October and then one in December. If my TSH is going down, then shouldn’t my free t4 be rising?  That is not happening with me.  They are both dropping My TSH is dropping slightly faster than my free t4, but both still dropping. And should they be changing this much in a matter of 3 months? Here are my test results:

09/07/10

TSH - 1.83 (.4-4.5)All Tests Had these reference ranges.
Free T4- 1.1 (.8-1.8)
NO FREE T3 Done

10/13/11

TSH - 1.48(.4-4.5)
Free T4- 1.0 (.8-1.8)

11/2
Tested for Cortisol levels.  it was 16.2 at 4 pm

12/03

TSH 1.0 (.4-4.5)
Free T4 - .8 (.8-1.8)
Free T3 - 3.5 (2.3-4.2)

Everything I have read says that TSH should go up if your frees are low or declining.  I have read that a tsh of 1.0 and lower with a corresponding Free t4 of .9 or lower is indicative of a pituitary problem and central hypothyroidism should be considered.  Since I have had head trauma and menstrual irregularities along with severe mood swings and depression, all starting about 2 months after my head trauma/concussion this is evidence and reason enough to check for other pituitary hormones and an mri of the pituitary gland.  

I am dizzy upon standing and recently started experiencing blurred vision.  I have had a constant headache that will not go away for the last 2 weeks.  I could starve my self for 3 days and not lose a pound (I have only done this once, out of curiosity)  My whole body feels like the flu as far as achiness and nausea every day.  

I also have recently developed a sore throat and scratchy voice like I lose my voice if I talk too much. I now have a painful lymph node under my right jaw on the jaw bone.... not swollen though.

Tests to Ask for:
by Daniel M Prevedello, MD , Feb 16, 2011 08:59AM
To: jenniferk86
Dear jenniferk86

Based on  your symptoms i do agree that it is worth to study your pituitary function. The pituitary controls the Thyroid and other glands in the body including the ovaries and adrenals. I would ask your family doctor to order a complete pituitary panel (GH, igf1, cortisol, ACTH, prolactin, LH, FSH, estrogen and thyroid hormones that you had already done). You may want to see an endocrinologist as well for further investigation.

Tests I haven't done, but think I should get, but doctor wont test...

Complete Pituitary Panel:
ACTH
LSH
FSH
Igf1
GH
Prolactin
Estrogen

DOCTOR WONT DO THESE  I think I have a mild thyroid disorder, but no disease and not causing all my sympotms, I dont have the numbness or bladder problems that most with MS do, could I still have it? My pain is my main complaint along with my fatigue.... oh and my latest labs showed a low anion gap and low albumin if anyone knows if this is related to anything it might help me....

[Sparkysarah]

Hi and welcome to the forum,although I am sorry that the reason you have posted is that you are feeliing so unwell.

No-one on the forum is going to be able to tell you if you there is a possibility that you have MS and this is for a neurologist to investigate. However you will find empathic, understanding folks here who can offer support.  Most of the sx that you describe can be attributed to a thyroid condition as you are aware and certainly this would seem to be a priority to get stable so I would echo others suggestions that you need to see a good endocrinologist.

Let us know how you get on.

Best wishes

Sarah x

PS It may be worth while considering looking at your diet and seeing a dietician to try and eliminate foods that do not help you and upset your body. I have IBS and know that some things trigger it. It was suggested for me that I eliminate yeast, citric foods and red meat and the dietician said that I had candida in my gut and also needed probiotics.  I followed all her suggestions and my 2 month headache disappeared and my IBS cleared up and I felt much better. However obviously we are all different and so you would need to be assessed and seen as what works for one person is not the same for someone else.

[COBOB]

I kind of doubt that it would speed up.  MS is a disease of the central nervous systems and seems to be driven by the immune system.  Doses of levothyroxine designed to bring your system back into the "nominal range" should be fine.  You can talk with your doctor, but there are people on this forum that can tell you most of us must manage our general health first.  Many take BP Meds, Statins, etc.  to manage other chronic conditions along with MS DMDs.

Bob

[jenniferk86]

I have been doing some initial research, and I am beginning to think more and more that this is a real possibility... also, could levothyroxine make ms symptoms worse, by speeding up the metabolism or something?  anyone with similar symptoms as mine?

[jenniferk86]

thank you guys.  

I am taking levothyroxine 50mg, to see it helps, so far things are only getting worse.  I am pissed that my doctor wont refer me.  He just says it doesnt fit, the pituitary is not the problem, and neither is the thyroid, but since my numbers are a bit off, I can take the thyroid meds.  So at least he is treating my symptoms of thyroid dysfuction.

But basd on that, and the fact that my numbers arent too out there, I am almost certain now that the pain i experience along with the blurry vision and now some slight balance problems, cannot be explained through the thyroid.  I do think the thyroid is what is attributing to my weight problem, however I think most my other symptoms would be lessening if it were thyroid from taking the meds, not worsening.  

My question is for you guys out there with MS....

Is this a real possibility that I could have MS? I mean I dont have any bladder problems and no constant numbness, although I do get numbness from sitting too long or holding my phone too long for example.  My doctor thinks that its a possibility, but I know my Godfather has MS and it doesnt present itself like me at all.  I am only 25 and maybe this could be just the beginning? anyone point me away from MS or does it seem like a real possiblity?

[COBOB]

There is no rule that says you can not have both.  Seeing an endocrinologist and a neurologist at the same time might be a good route.  Each is going to look at what they specialize in.  An MRI would seem to make a lot of sense since a pituitary lesion or tumor might be detected.  Pituitary function labs would also seem reasonable.

These symptoms and contradictory lab values need endo and neuro specialties.  These are really outside the "wheelhouse" of most PCPs or OB/GYNs.  I'm a bit surprised that your doctors have not referred you out to the specialists at this point.

Again, this is just my opinion.

Bob

[drsdonthelp]

Wow!!! As I was reading this, the first thing I was thinking is a thyroid condition, I have Graves Disease and I am going through the process of being tested for MS as well.

You have listed alot of sx that point toward hypothyroid, but I am not a dr. and I am not really one to give my 2 cents worth on this, but maybe you should look for another endocrinologist one who is willing to hear you.

Having  a Thyroid Condition is hard enough to deal with, but having possible MS as well is the icing on the cake.

Good luck to you and I hope you can get a better and more informed answer to this.


Pam