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Tremor, racing heart, headaches - Grave's Disease Fits
This is not a question, it's a post to hopefully help anyone who has suffered the same symptoms I have without an answer.
I was waking at night with racing heart and blood pressure soaring. I also had a tremor. Doctors at University of Iowa wrote me off as having anxiety. Even the endocrinologist said that she thought my tremor that lasted 5 days was anxiety. I knew that it was not.
They refused to MRI my head. I was concerned about a brain tumor or adrenal tumor because of the tremor that would not stop. I flew to Paris France and got cat scans of my head, neck, chest, abdomen and MRIs of head and abdomen. No adrenal tumor found but small hemorages in my brain were found (French doctor said probably due to spikes in blood pressure).
Since then, I have found an explanation that fits everything. My grandmother had Grave's disease and it's relatively common. Searching message boards I found that Grave's patients sometimes have what feel like adrenaline rushes and blood pressure spikes. It's surges of thyroid hormone. Grave's also causes the tremor. Thyroid do not always detect Graves's disease especially in the early stages. This is why there are now antibody tests (since Grave's is autoimmune) which are more conclusive. The endo doc. at University of Iowa did not do this test. I will soon be seeing a doctor in Chicago who will hopefully be willing to work with me to find answers instead of writing me off as having "anxiety" because they cannot find the answer.
To all who have suffered an undiagnosed disease, do not give up hope. Be your own advocate, do your own research.
This discussion is related to Undiagnosed chest tremor and heart palpitations.
I was waking at night with racing heart and blood pressure soaring. I also had a tremor. Doctors at University of Iowa wrote me off as having anxiety. Even the endocrinologist said that she thought my tremor that lasted 5 days was anxiety. I knew that it was not.
They refused to MRI my head. I was concerned about a brain tumor or adrenal tumor because of the tremor that would not stop. I flew to Paris France and got cat scans of my head, neck, chest, abdomen and MRIs of head and abdomen. No adrenal tumor found but small hemorages in my brain were found (French doctor said probably due to spikes in blood pressure).
Since then, I have found an explanation that fits everything. My grandmother had Grave's disease and it's relatively common. Searching message boards I found that Grave's patients sometimes have what feel like adrenaline rushes and blood pressure spikes. It's surges of thyroid hormone. Grave's also causes the tremor. Thyroid do not always detect Graves's disease especially in the early stages. This is why there are now antibody tests (since Grave's is autoimmune) which are more conclusive. The endo doc. at University of Iowa did not do this test. I will soon be seeing a doctor in Chicago who will hopefully be willing to work with me to find answers instead of writing me off as having "anxiety" because they cannot find the answer.
To all who have suffered an undiagnosed disease, do not give up hope. Be your own advocate, do your own research.
This discussion is related to Undiagnosed chest tremor and heart palpitations.
Jessika,
I understand how miserable you must feel right now. In addition to any drugs you might be taking, I recommend that you also work on reducing the stress in your life because it aggravates Grave's Disease.
There's a book I've found to be really helpful in reducing overall stress but also in coping with the symptoms when I have them. It's The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook by Martha Davis (and others). I use some of the relaxation techniques to try to relax my mind and my body as much as possible. When I relax, I can try to separate what part of my symptoms is my body/the disease and what is due to stress. For me, it helps me to feel less stress to be able to mentally know that what I'm feeling is physical not anxiety. I try to acknowledge the physical feelings and not let my brain tell me I'm anxious. It works for me often, but not always.
Good luck. I hope you can get treatment soon that will help.
I understand how miserable you must feel right now. In addition to any drugs you might be taking, I recommend that you also work on reducing the stress in your life because it aggravates Grave's Disease.
There's a book I've found to be really helpful in reducing overall stress but also in coping with the symptoms when I have them. It's The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook by Martha Davis (and others). I use some of the relaxation techniques to try to relax my mind and my body as much as possible. When I relax, I can try to separate what part of my symptoms is my body/the disease and what is due to stress. For me, it helps me to feel less stress to be able to mentally know that what I'm feeling is physical not anxiety. I try to acknowledge the physical feelings and not let my brain tell me I'm anxious. It works for me often, but not always.
Good luck. I hope you can get treatment soon that will help.
I to have Grave's Disease, at age 26. And it *****, I'm constantly worrying my family and friends calling them up telling them that my hearts about to explode and that I feel like I'm dying. The anxiety and heart/headaches are horrible, I still have 2 weeks until my thyroid scan, but at least i know what it is. I just have to keep reminding myself that im not gunna die.
-Jessika
-Jessika
Grave's Disease Confirmed!!
An update - I just got back the results of my thyroid antibody tests. Thyroperoxidase antibody levels were 5x normal which indicates I have Grave's Disease. Note that all my thryoid levels, TSH, T3, and T4 were in normal ranges. I hope this is helpful for someone out there searching for answers.
An update - I just got back the results of my thyroid antibody tests. Thyroperoxidase antibody levels were 5x normal which indicates I have Grave's Disease. Note that all my thryoid levels, TSH, T3, and T4 were in normal ranges. I hope this is helpful for someone out there searching for answers.
Thank you, i will look up the green tea, and the lemonbalm and bugleweed.
At the moment my graves i giving me a bit off a bad time, so i am prepared to try anything.
But when your a single mum off two children, life can throw many disasters,and you end up running round like a dog trying to find its tail.
I wish you much luck with your tests, and if you ever need any information i could help you with, then just give us a note.
Happy New Year to you, and take care.
Nicola
At the moment my graves i giving me a bit off a bad time, so i am prepared to try anything.
But when your a single mum off two children, life can throw many disasters,and you end up running round like a dog trying to find its tail.
I wish you much luck with your tests, and if you ever need any information i could help you with, then just give us a note.
Happy New Year to you, and take care.
Nicola
Hi thyroidian,
Thanks for your response. Although I regret your suffering, it's really comforting to know I'm not alone.
Fortunately, although I myself am not a medical professional, my sister is a psychiatrist and neurologist and my mom does research on botanicals. With their help and my own research on the internet, I have found some things which are supposed to help.
Green tea extract is reported to be helpful with autoimmune diseases. While I didn't find any research about it's use with Grave's, Grave's is autoimmune. I understand that all brands of green tea extract are NOT equal. One that she has worked with and tested is Tegreen 97. So the objective here would be to stop the cause of the disease.
I did other research on Grave's Disease and natural remedies. Lemon Balm and Bugleweed are both supposed to be helpful.
Fish oil is supposed to be an anti-inflamatory. It's also used to help with depression and anxiety.
Because I don't have a diagnosis, I haven't tried to treat myself with any natural treatments. I don't want to interfere with any blood tests and hamper a possible diagnosis. The only thing I've been taking is the fish oil because I figured it would not interfere with the tests. For the last few months, my symptoms have been diminishing and only flare up with exercise and severe stress. So I've been able to control it by not exercising every day. I've also found relaxation exercises to help greatly. When I relax my mind, I feel what symptoms are left and those I know are due to physical causes. Then I remind myself constantly that what I'm feeling is not stress and to keep my mind relaxed (or course it's not easy!). When I'm working and symptomatic, I try to speak slowly, think slowly, and act slowly so as not to betray my shaking body and racing heart and mind. This seems to help.
Best of luck to you and thanks again for your post!
indigo
Thanks for your response. Although I regret your suffering, it's really comforting to know I'm not alone.
Fortunately, although I myself am not a medical professional, my sister is a psychiatrist and neurologist and my mom does research on botanicals. With their help and my own research on the internet, I have found some things which are supposed to help.
Green tea extract is reported to be helpful with autoimmune diseases. While I didn't find any research about it's use with Grave's, Grave's is autoimmune. I understand that all brands of green tea extract are NOT equal. One that she has worked with and tested is Tegreen 97. So the objective here would be to stop the cause of the disease.
I did other research on Grave's Disease and natural remedies. Lemon Balm and Bugleweed are both supposed to be helpful.
Fish oil is supposed to be an anti-inflamatory. It's also used to help with depression and anxiety.
Because I don't have a diagnosis, I haven't tried to treat myself with any natural treatments. I don't want to interfere with any blood tests and hamper a possible diagnosis. The only thing I've been taking is the fish oil because I figured it would not interfere with the tests. For the last few months, my symptoms have been diminishing and only flare up with exercise and severe stress. So I've been able to control it by not exercising every day. I've also found relaxation exercises to help greatly. When I relax my mind, I feel what symptoms are left and those I know are due to physical causes. Then I remind myself constantly that what I'm feeling is not stress and to keep my mind relaxed (or course it's not easy!). When I'm working and symptomatic, I try to speak slowly, think slowly, and act slowly so as not to betray my shaking body and racing heart and mind. This seems to help.
Best of luck to you and thanks again for your post!
indigo
Dear indigo, your post is really interesting. I am a sufferer of graves disease, i would say i have had what we call the thyroid dump, which is a large surge of thyroid hormones, and causes you to feel like your dying.
I have had two surgeries for my disease, none of the meds worked for me.(bad-do)
I even got diagnosed with anxious, when they new i had graves disease.
The endo-dummies, as i call them, just think ,take a pill you will be ok.
Well i would love to give them a dose of this for only one week, just to know how it feels.
My best advice to you would be find a endo, who specialises in thyroid disease, and not diabetes, as the one who specialise in diabetes, havent got a clue.
when it comes to thyroids.
That is my experience.I dont know how long you have had your illness for, but my moto is avoid stress at all counts.(I know thats hard) becasuse graves disease causes you to feel anxious, It is not you being anxious , its the disease what causes anxiety symptoms. (Its them nasty raging anti-bodies v hormones)
Are you taking any meds for your graves, or are you just trying to ride it out.
Your story was one like many thyroid sufferers have to go through.
I wish you well, and if i can help you in any way i will. With tests results, symptoms. etc.Let me know.
We also have a fantastic thyroid forum here on medhelp, with some good strong advice.by people who have suffered, and fought there way back to recovery.
Take care
Nicola
I have had two surgeries for my disease, none of the meds worked for me.(bad-do)
I even got diagnosed with anxious, when they new i had graves disease.
The endo-dummies, as i call them, just think ,take a pill you will be ok.
Well i would love to give them a dose of this for only one week, just to know how it feels.
My best advice to you would be find a endo, who specialises in thyroid disease, and not diabetes, as the one who specialise in diabetes, havent got a clue.
when it comes to thyroids.
That is my experience.I dont know how long you have had your illness for, but my moto is avoid stress at all counts.(I know thats hard) becasuse graves disease causes you to feel anxious, It is not you being anxious , its the disease what causes anxiety symptoms. (Its them nasty raging anti-bodies v hormones)
Are you taking any meds for your graves, or are you just trying to ride it out.
Your story was one like many thyroid sufferers have to go through.
I wish you well, and if i can help you in any way i will. With tests results, symptoms. etc.Let me know.
We also have a fantastic thyroid forum here on medhelp, with some good strong advice.by people who have suffered, and fought there way back to recovery.
Take care
Nicola
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