What could it be?

[Lynn8889]

Brief hx: 36 yo, F, 121 lbs, about 5'9.  Hx of thyroid disease (currently on meds).  Sat. night, went to bed, felt fine - other than increased in my PVC's (had these looked into by cardio and was told not to worry), woke up Sunday and felt horrible.....epigastric discomfort and tenderness, bad nausea...just felt terrible - ended up staying in bed the whole day.  Monday woke up......terrible headache (still w/epigastric discomfort)head hurt basically the back of neck and the front of neck up towards jaw and ears.  I went to see Dr. He did and EKG (due to increase in PVC's) which was normal......when I was laying there getting the EKG.......My head and neck was hurting and had this burning sensation terrible that I thought I was going to pass out.  I sat up and started to feel better.  He did labs.....sed rate, CBC, electrolytes and thyroid test..all was normal other than TSH was a little bit higher than normal (5.65)- but they aren't doing anything about it. I haven't been running a fever, and my blood pressure has been fine.  In addition to all of this, my legs were somewhat bothering me yesterday too, and through all of this.....my upper back has been painful, lesses pain in lower back and my sides and both rib areas too.  i work in a drs. office and checked my urine...it was fine.  Last night I went to bed and was laying on my right side and suddenly.....my whole left side of my body just felt like it was burning..it scared me.  Anyone have any ideas what this could possibly be? Dr. thought indigestion & put me on meds.  I really don't think its that. Thanks for input!

[Lynn8889]

I'll talk to my dr. about referring me to an endo. My TSH has been on the high side for the past year and half (anywhere from 5.65 to 11) and I begged my dr. to increase my Synthroid (hoping that would make me feel better), but she won't do it. Anyway, thanks for all of your informative info.  I appreciate it and I'll f/u here when I know more.  Thanks!

[amythist2779]

Charley and Lynn.
I also have fibromyalgia. Its no picnic. I have not been dx with any type of thyroid problem though. I have been tested many times but they always say its fine. I sometimes wonder though because I also have a pituitary tumor and I have always had a problem with being somewhat overweight. Do either of you have this problem? I mean I even went as far as to have gastric bypass hoping it would relieve some of the pain in my legs from the fibro. Thinking that not carrying around all that extra weight would help, but it actually has made the pain about 3 times as bad as it was before the surgery. Not to mention I have only lost about 60 pounds and I am a year out. This is why I wonder about the thyroid.

[charley1986]

Hi Lynn,  Some will tell you that it doesn't go hand in hand - but I think it does.  Once you have been diagnosed with one autoimmune disorder, you are much more likely to have another.  I had to be diagnosed with fibro by a rheumatologist.  It is more of a clinical diagnosis.  There is no blood test for it.  The main criteria for that is "pressure points" - having a certain number. I think that you experience more of this around the time of your period b/c our immune systems are lower (IMO) during that time and we tend to "feel" worse than normal...I know that I do, atleast.  Don't be concerned with Doctors who don't believe in Fibro.  Alot don't think it exists.  Research is proving them wrong.  Remember when doctors (MAINLY MEN! he he) used to say that menstrual cramps were all in our heads!!!  I would see if general physican will refer you to rheumatologist and then endocrinologist as well.  I beleive that these two disorders go hand in hand.  Good luck to you.  Let me know how it goes.
Charley

[Lynn8889]

Thanks for your response.  Regarding fibromyalgia - does it coincide with hypothyroidism?  I am curious because I have had a couple drs. tell my that I have fibromyalgia and others say I don't.  I guess......how does one know if they actually have it?  All I know is that I feel horrible often...and it seems right before I 'start' every month, I get worse...I get worse before I start or a few days after I stop. I am at a loss.  Again, thank you!

[charley1986]

Hey, I am hypothyroid as well.  You said your tsh was a little higher than normal (5.65).  I have read on the thyroid forum that most people feel much better when TSH is aroun 1.0 - 2.0.  Most general physicians don't know this.  They go by old school methods...ie:lab says normals are whatever - whatever and if you are in that range they see no need to up meds, etc.  I would try to get in to see a endocrinologist.  Thyroid can cause lots of things that you wouldn't think would be related to it.  Read some on the thyroid forum or try to post to the doctor there.  maybe that will shed some more light.  I am in the midst of lots of different things going on - endo and neuro.....funny how some of this stuff works.  I also know that when my tsh was fairly high, (6.0), I had aches and pains too, and then again, I also have fibromyalgia.....know this is no clear cut answer but maybe it will help in some way.  Good luck to you and keep posting to let us know how you are doing.
Charley