Is hyperthyroid the problem?

Hi,I've posted here before.I'm a 22 yr old male.I've had widespread twitching,muscle aches and pains,exercise intolerance,diarrhea,heart palpitations,shakyness,joints that "snap, crackle and pop" and other sx's since june of 2002. My fasciculations are all over but worst in my thighs. The onset was burning muscle pain in my groin and pain throughout my ribcage.At onset of twitches I suddenly felt shaky.All tests have been normal...up until last december when mt TSH level was shown to be .14 .I've had a clean emg(done at baylor-Dallas,2 clean neuro exams,mri(of brain and entire spine),normal G.I. workup for diarrhea and lots of normal blood work.When the low TSH level showed up my Dr.did a detailed thyroid study and all of my T levels were off.My antibody test was over 70(normal being below 2).I had an ultrasound of my thyroid and a scan/uptake. They said that I have "Hyperactive Hashimoto Thyroiditis".This is the only thing that has shown up wrong in over 8 months of tests.I have a couple of questions:
1. Could this problem be causing my sx's?
2. Is it possible for me to have had normal TSH levels back in July but still have had symptoms?
3.Is there a way to tell between an ALS twitch and a non-malignant twitch?(I get eye twitches as well as all over my body)
4.How can you seperate weakness from fatigue? I can still run/lift heavy things etc..just not for as long as I used to.
5.Why do the muscles ache?(When a muscle twitches for a while it aches..I also have widespread aches and pains)
6.Atrophy-what does it look/feel like?some of my muscles feel bumpy/lumpy
Thanks!

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Please keep in mind that I have not personally examined you nor reviewed the results of your diagnostic testing.  Any answer I give has the possibility of being inaccurate or nonspecific to your particular case.

1.Possibly, yes. Many of your symptoms sound as if they could be related to abnormal thyroid function.
2.Bit of a loaded question as the sensitivity of the lab, how fulminant your presumed underlying disease was, and what exactly your symptoms were in July come into play. Can't answer that.
3.Clinically, we have to take the whole picture into account. Can't just tell by type of twitching alone without the clinical context.  However, by EMG, there are some features that have been reported to help the neurologist performing the EMG (not the patient) to distinguish between fasciculations seen in ALS and more benign diseases.
4.Not a hard and fast rule , but for your purposes fatigue is the perception of tiredness or exhaustion that tends to come with exertion or towards the end of the day. Weakness is more constant and can be picked up on a neurological examination.  In the setting of diseases such as myasthenia gravis, fatigue in the eye muscles can be seen with prolonged upgaze on exam.  
5.Muscle aches/pains also known as myalgias can be caused by a number of reasons depending on what disease processe is the underlying etiology. In cases such as the flu, multiple types of infections no known cause is found.  In other diseases, lack of oxygen with exertion/exercise is a factor (ischemia) and inflammation is another cause.
6.Wasting of the muscle. It's just plain gone or is replaced by fatty or fibrosed tissue.
Good luck

[lil sunshine]

Hi,

I also have the symptoms you described and the high thyroid tests. my TSh is at the low end of normal at 1.40 but my thyroglobulAB is 50.0 with normal being under 2.0 and anti thyroid perioxidase{sp} is 361 with normal also under 2.0. My PCP has sent me twice to endocrinologist and he says no problem is there. What gives. I also have low iron, had colonoscopy and endoscopic to look for causes.  My CRP is also around 5.2 , not the highest it's been lately but it is always elevated. ESR is normal except for right after surgery in Oct 01 and apparently that's normal.My twin sister is also having the same symptoms only her dr never checks her thyroid level and my brother in law is a doctor so usually my sister gets 1st class attention.


Good luck,

Bonnie

[lil sunshine]

Forgot to mention that I am a 41 yr old female who has a limb salvage prosthesis due to a tumor. I just found out I am allergic to the cobalt and nickel in my prosthesis and I also have 3 lesions in my brain. Why? who knows?