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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Re: fatigue associated with autoimune disease
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Re: fatigue associated with autoimune disease
by CCF Neurolgy MD - AY, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By CCF Neurology MD - AY on October 10, 1998 at 21:33:23:
In Reply to: fatigue associated with autoimune disease posted by Debbie Schmidt on October 10, 1998 at 17:29:40:
I have been diagnoised with rheumatoid arthristis and hashimotos thyroiditis.
The endo doc said my blood levels for thyroid were normal and is not going to treat me
for the hashimotos. I am currently taking voltaren (sp?) for my rheumatoid arthritis. My concerns
are the following.......My neck is puffy and so is my face I am extremely tired all the time, even
after a great nights sleep......These seem to be symptom of the thyroid and from what I understand can be
relieved by synthroid or some other drug...both parents and my sister have hypothyroidism and this is what they take.
I have seen a big change in them.....so why wouldn't the doc put me on something for hashimoto's?
and do you think the extreme fatigue and puffiness could be caused by the rheumatoid arthritis? That is what my doctor seems
to think. Should I contact my rheumatologist to see if there is some other kind of medicine
he can put me on to control the fatigue and puffiness? I know this is the neurology forum, but I really need
some answers and not sure where else to go. I am really tired of being tired!
Thanks in advance for all your help.
Debbie Schmidt
Thanks for your question. Your symptoms are indeed suggestive of hypothyroidism.
As you probably know the auto-immune/inflammatory process of the Hashimoto's
thyroiditis can manisfest as a hyperthyroid/euthyroid/hypothyroid state
initially, but will most frequently progress to a hypothyroid state when
the damage to the thyroid gland is severe enough. You mentioned blood
tests indicating proper thyroid hormone levels, but were those tests recent?
Is it possible that your current symptoms are a much more recent development?
Because of your diagnosis of Hashimoto's your physician should ascertain
that you are indeed euthyroid before investigating other possibilities
such as your Rheumatoid Arthritis.
I hope this information is helpful. Best of luck.
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only.
Please consult your doctor regarding diagnostic and treatment options.
In Reply to: fatigue associated with autoimune disease posted by Debbie Schmidt on October 10, 1998 at 17:29:40:
I have been diagnoised with rheumatoid arthristis and hashimotos thyroiditis.
The endo doc said my blood levels for thyroid were normal and is not going to treat me
for the hashimotos. I am currently taking voltaren (sp?) for my rheumatoid arthritis. My concerns
are the following.......My neck is puffy and so is my face I am extremely tired all the time, even
after a great nights sleep......These seem to be symptom of the thyroid and from what I understand can be
relieved by synthroid or some other drug...both parents and my sister have hypothyroidism and this is what they take.
I have seen a big change in them.....so why wouldn't the doc put me on something for hashimoto's?
and do you think the extreme fatigue and puffiness could be caused by the rheumatoid arthritis? That is what my doctor seems
to think. Should I contact my rheumatologist to see if there is some other kind of medicine
he can put me on to control the fatigue and puffiness? I know this is the neurology forum, but I really need
some answers and not sure where else to go. I am really tired of being tired!
Thanks in advance for all your help.
Debbie Schmidt
Thanks for your question. Your symptoms are indeed suggestive of hypothyroidism.
As you probably know the auto-immune/inflammatory process of the Hashimoto's
thyroiditis can manisfest as a hyperthyroid/euthyroid/hypothyroid state
initially, but will most frequently progress to a hypothyroid state when
the damage to the thyroid gland is severe enough. You mentioned blood
tests indicating proper thyroid hormone levels, but were those tests recent?
Is it possible that your current symptoms are a much more recent development?
Because of your diagnosis of Hashimoto's your physician should ascertain
that you are indeed euthyroid before investigating other possibilities
such as your Rheumatoid Arthritis.
I hope this information is helpful. Best of luck.
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only.
Please consult your doctor regarding diagnostic and treatment options.
