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Thyroid Cancer, Nodules & Hyperthyroidism (Expert Forum)
Thyroid hell ?hashitoxicosis
Answered by
Mark Lupo, M.D. - Thyroid Nodules, Thyroid Cancer, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Thyroid Ultrasound
Thyroid & Endocrine Center of Florida
Sarasota - FL
Questions in the Thyroid forum are answered by Mark Lupo, MD. Topics covered include Goiter, Graves Disease, Hyperthyroid, Parathyroid/Calcium Problems, Thyroid Cancer, Thyroid Nodules/Cysts, Thyroiditis, Thyroid & Pregnancy, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Thyroid Tests, and Thyroid Surgery.
Thyroid hell ?hashitoxicosis
by princess100, Dec 15, 2007 10:42AM
Since april 2007 I have had thyroid problems. Presented with hyperthyroid bloods and symptoms. Scintograph showed a 97% excess uptake 3 months ago, despite bloods being hypothyroid and symptoms persistantly hyperthyroid. I have a goitre, confusion, digestive problems, insomnia, hair loss, oligomennhorea, weight loss, anxiety, agitation and a persistant tremor. My eyes hurt and I am light sensitve.
I am on propholactic lithium for rapid cycling bipolar depression which was diagnosed 10 years ago and has not been a problem since. My doctors now want me to see a psychatrist as my thyroid bloods are sitting at the lower end of normal and antibody tests all bar one have returned negative. Still awaiting one antibody test. I have been off work as a midwife since this all started. My goitre remains...more enlarged on the right side.
I feel all the doctors are doing is looking at the bloods...i have been told I am a medical mystery because of the hyper symptoms that are so apparent in combination with the hypo bloods but this is soul destroying. The request for psychiatric review is such an insult in view of how I have coped so well with my bipolar and managed to work undisturbed by it.
Could I have hashitoxicosis?
Thank you!
I am on propholactic lithium for rapid cycling bipolar depression which was diagnosed 10 years ago and has not been a problem since. My doctors now want me to see a psychatrist as my thyroid bloods are sitting at the lower end of normal and antibody tests all bar one have returned negative. Still awaiting one antibody test. I have been off work as a midwife since this all started. My goitre remains...more enlarged on the right side.
I feel all the doctors are doing is looking at the bloods...i have been told I am a medical mystery because of the hyper symptoms that are so apparent in combination with the hypo bloods but this is soul destroying. The request for psychiatric review is such an insult in view of how I have coped so well with my bipolar and managed to work undisturbed by it.
Could I have hashitoxicosis?
Thank you!
Doctor's Answer
by Mark Lupo, M.D., Dec 17, 2007 05:59PM
, Dec 17, 2007 05:59PM
The increased uptake may be caused by lithium -- also hypothyroidism causes an increased uptake due to high TSH --- so the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism is based on a low TSH and high T4 and T3 -- without these, cannot make the diagnosis of an overactive primary thyroid problem.
The story sounds auto-immune - would test tpo, tg and TSH-receptor antibodies - but sounds like this has been done.
The lithium can cause goiter and thyroid problems as well.
Would see a thyroid specialist -- check out aace.com to find one for a second opinion.
Hypo and hyper can aggravate psychiatric problems -- so if labs consistently hyper or hypo, would treat to see if this improves -- even though symptoms suggest hyper, can still be hypo....
The story sounds auto-immune - would test tpo, tg and TSH-receptor antibodies - but sounds like this has been done.
The lithium can cause goiter and thyroid problems as well.
Would see a thyroid specialist -- check out aace.com to find one for a second opinion.
Hypo and hyper can aggravate psychiatric problems -- so if labs consistently hyper or hypo, would treat to see if this improves -- even though symptoms suggest hyper, can still be hypo....
Member Comments (3)
by pjgovitz, Dec 15, 2007 12:59PM
To: princess100
Have you been diagnosed with hashitoxicosis? I had both stimulating and blocking antibodies was diagnosed with Graves and Hashimotos simutaneously. The diagnosis was a long time coming. Hashitoxicosis is a living hell...I did seek physiatric help on my own, it helped because it didn't and the counselor insisted after a few visits there was nothing she could do., my symptoms were because my thyroid was screwed up, even though it wsn't producing enough it never shut off either, spilling excess hormone randomly. I did take RAI 131 last May, life isn't great but it's a whole lot better...and in time I expect to feel normal. also make sure they are testng your blood sugar levels, mine was all screwed upp too do to the thyroid and caused alot of symptoms (hypoglecymia induced by endocrine out of wack).
by princess100, Dec 16, 2007 06:02AM
To: pjgovitz
I haven't been diagnosed with hashitoxicosis yet as bizarrly antibodies are fine (just awaiting 1 more antibody result) although my long term lithium treatment may be causing the problems. It has been agreed that stopping it is not an option though due to the nature of my bipolar. Strangly enough, my blood sugars have never been checked.
