Do I need a better endo workup?

[zoobug]

Do I need a better endo workup?:

*chronic 24/7 dull boring headache with muscle stiffness in forehead,
*confusion/dreamlike state  24/7
*shortness of breath when at rest - it actually IMPROVES with exercise (alternates with nausea...when I have nausea I'm not short of breath and vice versa)
*feeling of throat swelling shut, and inadequate lung capacity, frequent gagging on food/drink
*chronic 24/7 turbinate swelling
*occasional vertigo-that resembles CNS vertigo

Tests performed are extensive:  
ANA, Lupus, Lyme, CBC, CMP, TSH, HIV, Hepatitis C, Liver function;
ABG, Pulmonary Functions, Echocardiogram, Chest Xray, EKG, Allergy testing, ENG;
MRI, MRA, and MRV of brain, CT of brain, MRA and MRI of neck

ALL TESTS ARE NORMAL.....No spinal tap yet..

My doctors aren't helping me much anymore and since everything is negative they shrug their shoulders at me now!

I have a low level CO detector and it has never gone off.  However, I do live in an attic space with seperate heating/air condition ducts and I have a seperate heater located in my room. Outside the "trap door" to the attic it gets extremely hot in the summer and I live in the south where its humid too.

I have considered things such as mycotoxin exposure but can't prove or disprove this.  I have also thought about adrenal problems or problems with my thyroid the TSH didn't pick up.  Please, please help, I have no insurance

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Would test am cortisol (if >11 then unlikely adrenal insufficiency).  Doubt thyroid but could repeat TSH along with free T4/T3.  Otherwise, the symptoms are difficult to pin down to an endocrine disorder.  

Was MVV (minute-ventilation-volume) included in the pulmonary function?  That is helpful in looking at neurologic related pulmonary disease that is subtle.

[mshypo]

seems like they always test for everything but thyroid antibodies..all your symptoms could be Hashimoto's, autoimmune thyroid disease.  TSH often is perfectly normal and the patient is perfectly miserable.

[zoobug]

WOW is that true...tsh can be easily normal and T4 and T3 be off?  is that what you were talking about?

[zoobug]

Autoimmune,  doc told me ANA was tested, is that the same thing?

[mshypo]

I think what happens often with Hashimoto's is that TSH will look normal with the Free levels in the lower 1/3 of the range.  This is often hypo.  

ANA is not the test.  Ask for TPO (thyroid peroxidase) and antithyroglobulin...these are the thyroid antibody tests most commonly used to test for autoimmune thyroid disease.

[HashiMan]

What an honor it is to have avenues like this one, to help people recieve desperately needed info. Like many others on here, I have had bad experiences from medical people in the past and it genuinely hurt! I admit it caused suspicion on my part for a time, toward others I should not have, that are also in the medical field but I'm learning! In fact all of this has been a learning experience, good and bad.
I'll be the first to admit, I have to re-check myself at times, to make sure I'm not reverting back to attitudes that stem from those riginal hurts. I became suicidal at one point, early during my search for answers and is why I take informing others who are in the same boat I was in, so seriously.
I've seen times on forums, when people posting, had the motive of displaying their "superior knowledge" and having "contests of wits" or clicks of people from other forums, are actually talking about the activity on other forums!! They also bring attitudes in from those other forums, kind of amounts to gossip.
Talk about something a forum that's purpose is helping people, does not need, those are prime examples!
I'll never do another post of this type again but wanted to say it one more time.
I'll input in a cut & dried fashion, if I see where I can add anything and may be farther between.
I hope to see people continue to be helped by sincere motives of other patients and of course we are especially thankful to Dr. Mark. Without Med-Help International, this would not even be available and I know it is a hard job they have in monitoring everything. I had to express this, just one more time. Let's put our sincere attitudes, faith etc..., into helping Med-Help keep it helpful!

[bgtown]

This msg is for Hashiman (or any that may benefit from it) This forum really does help sooo much.  I have always considered myself to be of rock solid mental health.  But now as my symptoms progess, so does my emotions I am happy one minute and in the restroom at work having a "good cry" the next.  It is hard to remind yourself sometimes that it is truly a sickness that is causing the emotional toll.  When I read that others have struggled as I do, I am sorry for your pain but it really helps me feel better.  Thank you for your honesty and your sincere desire to help others, it works.  I do not know anyone else who has what I do and I was feeling really alone until I found this forum.  Thank you for making me feel more human and sane that I have in years.

[NURSELPN]

This is a medical person & a thyroid suffer saying...Well Said, that was beautiful. I'm glad to see you back (Jim Lo) I missed you while you were gone.......May God Bless You!

[HashiMan]

Hi ladies,
Thank you both for your unlifing comments.
Nurselpn, I can remember your uplifting comments to me and others, even back when I posted as JimLow. Thank you.

Bgtown, I'm so glad you've been encouraged. It was greatly encouraging to me too, when I was able to correspond with other patients having same illness.
One reason the illness was so difficult for me, comes from always being hard working, strong (220lbs) and suddenly hit with thyroid disease (Hashimoto's), along with the depression-symptom. I still work hard, never stopped, I have a stub-haul delivery route, early-morning for my state's newspaper, plus rack/store delivery of my town paper and do field-inspections for a mortgage company. These were only side-jobs back when I was in mfg/marketing of a fishing tackle product, I now have licensed to a major tackle company. Keeping on with my jobs, during this illness, was overwhelming at times because it took quit some time for really good results to happen because of need for so many dose-changes, the first two years. I was tempted at my worst, to look into disability because I was also having adrenal problems, that showed up plainly on tests.
I still have a more passionate heart for things than before the illness, which I see as a good thing. My heart goes out to others who suffer thyroid diseases and I have found myself many times, sobbing at the keyboard. I still have symptoms, but are mild however, I have read many articles stating that it is common for thyroid patients to continue having mild to moderate symptoms, even with treatment. I believe people who have absolute recovery with no symptoms at all are the exception and not the rule (my opinion). Some on here have had complete recovery but others can follow their EXACT SAME REGIMEN and retain some mild symptoms. I am on Armour but cannot assume it is superior for 100% of people but it is my belief that it is for many. Bgtown stay encouraged and keep reading & posting!!