Graves and others

[ar1281a]

Hi all, I'm new to this site and find it very helpful to read about other people's experiences. I was dx w/Graves 5 years ago, I was feeling awful at the time, I decided to treat it w/meds instead of having R or surgery. It's been sort of under control, some times higher, some times lower, but nothing that couldn't be resolved w/adjusting the dosis. A week and half ago, I had an severe allergic reaction to a spider's bite, as a result, my blood pressure was really low. I was told by a friend to watch my thyroid as it could be affected by this. It's been almost two weeks and I don't feel any better, yesterday I was taken from work in ambulance as my heart rate was really high and I had numbness/tingling sensation of my extremeties and I was very cold and my body was shaking. At the ER they said my heart was fine and blood work fine -including TSH which is 0.6 - I believe the TSH is borderline but I don't have an appt w/my endo until next week. So I'm wondering if I'm experiencing new hyper symptoms triggered by the event I had almost two weeks ago (although never had them before). I'm also wondering if there's any correlation b/t Graves and adrenal glands insufficiency, which may be causing some of these symptoms (low blood pressure - although it was actually high when I arrived to the ER). In the meantime, I'm at home wondering what's wrong with me and missing those days in which I used to feel better.

[christine01]

Actually, your TSH is in range. The new range is 0.3-2.5 for optimal thyroid homone. I dont know what kind of spider bit you, but maybe these symptoms are still a result of the allergic reaction. I think it is good you are going to see the endo, they can also run the T3 and T4 test, because if these are out of line that could also be effecting you. Another thing to consider is maybe you were having a panic attack, which is very common with thyroid diseases. I have had several panic attacks, since my thyroid problems and the symptoms your describing are exactly what happens to me. The first thing I notice is my hands and feet get numb and tingly. Then my heart races, I shake, and feel like I am freezing to death. Please discuss the panic attack aspect with your endo, because I strongly feel that is what has happened to you. I am hypo, but I heard these attacks are even worse with hyper patients.

[Jimlow]

Dear AR,
The following are just non-doctor layperson comments and may or may not be helpful but are possible research ideas.
I don't have enough knowlege to comment on the spider bite or Graves but I do know that an illness on top of your thyroid disorder, will cause anxiety symptoms as Christine01 stated. I have gone through both hyper and hypo symptoms with Hashimoto's and when I have an illness or am physically exhausted, it sometimes brings on anxiety symptoms. Hopefully your Dr. will check the other homone levels Christine listed, as she said, TSH can be normal with other levels being off. I've heard/seen this with people many times.
Best Wishes

[ar1281a]

Thanks, I didn't know that panick attacks were common to people with Thyroid disease. I'll talk to my endo about it, but the other problem I'm having as a result of the allergic reaction is a severe drop in blood pressure when I stand, making me dizzy and lightheaded. Can this be a result of my thyroid hormones been out of scale? or something related?
Thanks again for your responses.

[christine01]

Yep, it sure can. I have the dizzy spells all the time when standing up.

[Jimlow]

Ar,
It's funny you mention the dizziness upon standing from a seated or lying down position. I was just talking to ShannieK a few days ago after posting a question about this myself. I wondered if this (It's called "Orthostaic Intolerance") was common with thyroid disorder people and she replied, saying she also had this. Now I see Christine also has this. It is also called "Orthostatic Hypotension", meaning a drop in blood pressure. These next thoughts I have read on medical sites, so please take them for what it's worth because as non medical profession person, I can't substantiate them; They stated that about 10% of thyroid patients have some adrenal insufficiency. When they address Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (Autoiummune hypothyroidism), they state that 25% of patients have co-existing conditions including adrenal insufficiency, pernicious anemia, diabetes and other A.I. Diseases.
Graves however, though also an atuimmune disease, usually causes HYPER-tension. I have a question; Do they have you on a btea-blocker? This would be high-blood pressure medicine. If so, the above described is a common side effect. In the mean time, I'm going to search real quick for one of the websites that stated info. about the above and post it for everyone. It might help us expand our understanding in this area.
I hope there was some useful info in this.

[Jimlow]

I found the site and it's the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (www.aarda.org). When you go there, click on "Patient Information" icon, which takes you to page with a "select"-bar at top. Choose "Hashimoto's", then click submit and it will state the info. from my last post. AR, there is also "Graves" info., just select it and press submit and you'll get info.. All these will be brief summaries and you have to donate to get their more detailed reports.
ALSO: I mis-spelled two words in last post, should have proof-read but these are the corrected spellings "Orthostatic Intolerance" and "Beta-Blockers".

[etsyjetsy]

Hey there!
I was diagnosed with Graves about 5 months ago. On meds and blood tests show I'm respondin but I've still been sufferin from panic attacks, coldness in extremities and sometimes I feel pressure at base of throat - all in all, I don't feel particularly better! And these symptoms just appeared in last  9 weeks, before that I was pretty hyper, intolerant to heat, anxious, but I had never suffered from this perpetual state of panic that I seem to be in now!  Also, was originally put on low dose of beta blockers and that was doubled about 6 weeks ago but I haven't really noticed a difference!

So I guess I'm just wondering if there are any other Graves sufferers out there who've experienced similar symptoms? Because I'm starting to feel like I might be going a little bit mad! Or just suffering from a good ol' dose of hypochondria!

Any comments would be greatly appreciated! Cheers!

[ar1281a]

Thanks!!! this is great info!!

I was able to talk to my endo and she said that we need to rule out the presence of Addison disease (adrenaline insuficiency). According to her, people with one autoimmune disease are at high risk of developing another one. In my case, my body went thru a very stressful situation with the anaphylasis that could've triggered something else (I hope not). I'm going in next week for some blood test, I feel awful!

I've done some research on this thing and it appears that the drop on blood pressure when standing (Orthostatic Hypotension) is a sympton of adrenaline insufiency. I hope that it's because my body is readjusting and not becasue I have another AI disease.

No, I'm not on beta-blockers, and it's been perfectly fine until now. Meds have worked wonders. I decided to go with Tapazol per my Drs advice as it has less side-effects than PTU. Interestingly, Tapazol is the prefered drug used in Europe for hypers, while PTU is the prefered drug here in the states.

Thanks a bunch for your help and comments! I'll check the site

[ar1281a]

wow,

I really don't remember having those symptons after I was started on meds. I was put on a low dosis of beta-blockers while the Tapazol started to do some effect, but was quickly removed from it once my endo felt that I was starting to respond to the meds. I'm not a Dr but, why was your beta-blocker dosis doubled? did your heart rate increased? are you also taking other meds aloong with the beta-blockers?

Again, I don't remember having those symptons, I remember how well I started to feel after been put on medication. Coldness of extremeties sounds to me like what's happening now to me when my blood pressure drops. Again, I'm not a Dr. but you may want to give your endo a call.

[NURSELPN]

etsyjetsy
I am a Graves suffer & oh yea, I have had those symptoms. Your not losing your mind. See Mary Slomon's site re: Graves. I know I probably sound like a broken record on this forum but that is where I got my best info when I started exploring this on the web.Look under panic attacks & Graves hyperthyroidism. It sure hits home.