Throat & Chest Pain?

[bncrump]

I have been suffering from some chest tightness (my sternum and under my left breast mostly) for a few weeks. Just recently, my throat started feeling tight and I have been waking up feeling like I can't breathe and now the pain is now in the center part of my chest. I have had tons of tests done in the past few weeks...HIDA scan, Upper GI, ultrasound of abdomen and pelvis...NOTHING. I have an appt with a GI specialist on the 31st. I had an ultrasound of my thyroid in November there were no notable nodules but my endo said that my right lobe is enlarged and is bigger than the last ultrasound I had.

The pain was so bad last night, I went to the ER. They ran heart tests and said everything was fine. They gave me a shot of Torodol and the pain got a little bit better. They said that it was an anti-inflammatory so maybe my problem was inflammation.

Could this at all be related to my thyroid? My last labs were TSH 2.85 (November 29th) and Free T3 2.9 (2.6-4.4 pg/mL) and Free T4  1.07 (0.7-1.7 ng/dL). I feel terrible and have NO ENERGY and NO AMBITION to do anything. I am thinking about asking my endo for some Cytomel...although I don't think she will give it to me until I get my labs redone next week. Should I beg? I am at the end of my rope...I am tired of feeling so bad.

Oh and I should add that Ativan doesn't help!
Thanks in advance!

[bncrump]

Thank you for your response :)

I was prescribed 125mcg of Levothyroxine and felt terrible even though my endo said my numbers were fine. He refused to run a Free T3. I asked him to switch to Synthroid which he did. The dosage was then way too high and was having tremors, heart palpitations, anxiety attacks and breaking out into sweats at night. I asked him to lower the dose and he refused. I took it upon myself to cut my pills in half. I did this for 1 month.

I had blood drawn a 6 weeks after the problems started and that's when my TSH was 4.5. I saw a new endo who agreed that 125 must be too high and decided to start me at 75mcg of synthroid a day to see how I did. Since then my TSH is slowly coming down, was 2.85 on 11/29. I am going for more bloodwork on the 26th. Talked to new endo yesterday and she refuses to give me Cytomel until she gets my new labs and will not prescribe Armour.

Thank you for your understanding. I appreciate it more than you know. I agree that for some of us, it is so complicated. I have a friend with hashi's who takes her synthroid everyday and feels great...no problems. I am happy that she doesn't have to go through what we do but at the same time, I wish it was that easy for me :)

Thanks again and happy holidays!

[laura1967]

Anyone with hashi's should have supressed TSH of .50-1.0, unless on Armour then it will appear hyper. Your free t3 should be high normal and your t4 should be mid range. You are undertreated and will remain sick until you get more medicine and get these levels optimal. My endo said if you have hashi's and remain undertreated you will get sicker and sicker and it will take twice as long to heal....it happened to me. I am still paying the price of 2 yrs of being undermedicated. I went on Armour because my T3 levels were low too....it has made a big difference. Yes all your symptoms are very familiar and common with hypo.
Why did your dr cut back your meds with a TSH of 4.5?? You should have been increased. When did the tsh of 2.85 come into play??
I agree that you would probably benefit from added T3....you do need to call your dr asap and get him to help you to feel better or find a new doctor. It is no fun to be sick!! Been there...done that....refuse to stay sick!! I found a new doctor and so glad I did! You deserve to heal and feel better. Having hashimotos is very challenging for some of us and you have to demand proper treatment from your doctor or move on.
Hang in there....it is very stressful and emotional but in time you will get better, IF you get proper treatment. Just know that the thyroid is not an overnight fix so don't get discouraged....don't let it depress you. We are here for you to encourage you with complete understanding. :)

[bncrump]

Yes, I have hashi's. My TSH was 4.5 early November because I was being overmedicated and decided to cut my pills in 1/2 everyday (125/2) because my old Endo refused to lower my medication. New endo changed dosage to 75mcg Synthroid to start off to see how I tolerated that dosage. I know that my 2.85 TSH is not optimal and maybe that has something to do with my issues...with my Free T3 being so low, I figured that could be causing some of my symptoms as well.

Symptoms are:

Extreme fatigue (I could sleep every 3 hours for at least an hour)
Chest Pain
Abdominal Pain
Hands and feet freezing all the time
Dizziness
Lightheadedness
Pain in my throat
Joint pain
Headaches

Those are the worst...but there are more. I know that hashi's is a real butt-kicker and maybe that's it. I am just so frustrated. My husband is very supportive but I know that it is getting to him. I nap everyday at work and on the weekends sometimes twice a day. I JUST WANT MY LIFE BACK :)

[laura1967]

You are still hypo according to your tsh and free t3...I would ask, it doesn't hurt. Your TSH and T3 levels have room for improvement. Do you have hashi's?