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Thyroid Disorders Community
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Are high blood pressure and bloating symptoms of hypothyroid?
by WordGamer, May 27, 2007 12:00AM
Recently, my doctor thought I had either Ovarian or Endometrial Cancer. I posted in the Ovarian Cancer forum to get support and now realize this is where I need to be. (This is not a cross post.)
However, after doing some research I'm beginning to believe my symptoms are that of hypothyroidism. I've been treated for it for the past 4 years. When I first presented with symptoms in 2003 I had nearly the same ones as now and my doctor then (not the one now) thought I had Endometrial Cancer too.
In 2003 my symptoms were:
High blood pressure - 154/90 (normally it is 100/60 to 120/75 ); Severe abdominal bloating; Fatigue, weakness; Abnormal uterine bleeding (post-menopausal) - the bleeding was irregular and prolonged; Pelvic cramping and pain; Full feeling in abdomen; Low back pain; Nausea; Mild reflux; Burping; Flatulence.
The first doctor, from 2003 to 2006, decreased my thyroid medication in June 2006 because she thought some new symptoms meant my thyroid was normalizing. In reality, it turned out to be an Acute Narrow-Angle Glaucoma attack! Those symptoms are so similar to hyperthyroidism. So my dose was cut from 88 mcg to 75 mcg.
I started having low thyroid symptoms again about four months later. Left untreated they steadily worsened until the post-menopausal bleeding began again in February. When the bleeding kept going I saw a doctor. By that time had the above symptoms and all the ones below.
Current symptoms are those above plus:
Extreme exhaustion; Weakness; Extreme fatigue after exercise; Shortness of breath after any exertion; 20 pound weight gain; Inability to lose weight with exercise and diet; Chills and sensations of cold; Feeling run down, sluggish, lethargic; Coarse and dry hair and falling out big time; Alligator skin (that’s what I call it); Hoarse; Pains, aches in joints, hands and feet; Numbness and tingling in feet; Puffiness and swelling around my eyes and face; Carpal-tunnel like symptoms; Mood swings; Difficulty concentrating; Forgetful; More feelings of sadness; Can’t seem to remember things; Low libido; Cuts take longer to heal; Snoring more lately; Shortness of breath and tightness in chest; Need to yawn a lot; Eyes feel gritty and dry; Eyes sensitive to light; Tics in eyes; Dizziness; Strange feelings in neck and throat; Difficulty swallowing; Sore throat feeling; Choking on small bits of food; Choking on water; Inability to eat more than a cup of food at a time; Burping, belching even after drinking water; Tinnitus; Lightheadedness.
My current doctor just put me through the ringer with a multitude of tests. One after another showed no signs of cancer, just as before. Before I was sent to a Gynecologist, I asked about my thyroid tests because I believed these current symptoms were indicative of hypothyroid. He said my thyroid was fine. I then asked to see the results.
T4 Range:
.58 - 1.74
Result: .98
TSH Range:
.98 - 5.74
Result: 3.71
I couldn’t believe he thought those were normal! Then he told me, ‘all these numbers mean is results fall any where along the range of numbers. So your results are normal.’
Well thank goodness I used to work in a medical laboratory and have a nursing background! I knew that was total bunk! I wondered if he had gotten his degree off a box of cereal!
So I asked him for a prescription for thyroid medication. He told me to wait until after I saw the gynec. I couldn’t believe it, especially with my load of symptoms. After the next set of test results came back negative, I asked again and he gave me the prescription.
I’ve been on the medication for 6 days and have noticed some improvements. I think the biggest is I can eat a nearly normal amount of food. I couldn’t before because of the severe bloating. It was pushing up against my stomach. I was and still am so bloated that I look 4 to 5 months pregnant! I had to get new clothes because nothing would fit and I couldn’t handle any band across my stomach/upper abdominal area. I haven't been able to wear a normal bra, only lightweight sports bras, since the bloating started. And the excessive burping, belching, and flatulence has been significantly curtailed. Has anyone heard of this? I have yet to find a whole lot of information on it.
And of course the other symptom is my high blood pressure. I always heard about low BP but not high BP being a symptom. Has anyone heard of this as a symptom?
However, after doing some research I'm beginning to believe my symptoms are that of hypothyroidism. I've been treated for it for the past 4 years. When I first presented with symptoms in 2003 I had nearly the same ones as now and my doctor then (not the one now) thought I had Endometrial Cancer too.
In 2003 my symptoms were:
High blood pressure - 154/90 (normally it is 100/60 to 120/75 ); Severe abdominal bloating; Fatigue, weakness; Abnormal uterine bleeding (post-menopausal) - the bleeding was irregular and prolonged; Pelvic cramping and pain; Full feeling in abdomen; Low back pain; Nausea; Mild reflux; Burping; Flatulence.
The first doctor, from 2003 to 2006, decreased my thyroid medication in June 2006 because she thought some new symptoms meant my thyroid was normalizing. In reality, it turned out to be an Acute Narrow-Angle Glaucoma attack! Those symptoms are so similar to hyperthyroidism. So my dose was cut from 88 mcg to 75 mcg.
I started having low thyroid symptoms again about four months later. Left untreated they steadily worsened until the post-menopausal bleeding began again in February. When the bleeding kept going I saw a doctor. By that time had the above symptoms and all the ones below.
Current symptoms are those above plus:
Extreme exhaustion; Weakness; Extreme fatigue after exercise; Shortness of breath after any exertion; 20 pound weight gain; Inability to lose weight with exercise and diet; Chills and sensations of cold; Feeling run down, sluggish, lethargic; Coarse and dry hair and falling out big time; Alligator skin (that’s what I call it); Hoarse; Pains, aches in joints, hands and feet; Numbness and tingling in feet; Puffiness and swelling around my eyes and face; Carpal-tunnel like symptoms; Mood swings; Difficulty concentrating; Forgetful; More feelings of sadness; Can’t seem to remember things; Low libido; Cuts take longer to heal; Snoring more lately; Shortness of breath and tightness in chest; Need to yawn a lot; Eyes feel gritty and dry; Eyes sensitive to light; Tics in eyes; Dizziness; Strange feelings in neck and throat; Difficulty swallowing; Sore throat feeling; Choking on small bits of food; Choking on water; Inability to eat more than a cup of food at a time; Burping, belching even after drinking water; Tinnitus; Lightheadedness.
My current doctor just put me through the ringer with a multitude of tests. One after another showed no signs of cancer, just as before. Before I was sent to a Gynecologist, I asked about my thyroid tests because I believed these current symptoms were indicative of hypothyroid. He said my thyroid was fine. I then asked to see the results.
T4 Range:
.58 - 1.74
Result: .98
TSH Range:
.98 - 5.74
Result: 3.71
I couldn’t believe he thought those were normal! Then he told me, ‘all these numbers mean is results fall any where along the range of numbers. So your results are normal.’
Well thank goodness I used to work in a medical laboratory and have a nursing background! I knew that was total bunk! I wondered if he had gotten his degree off a box of cereal!
So I asked him for a prescription for thyroid medication. He told me to wait until after I saw the gynec. I couldn’t believe it, especially with my load of symptoms. After the next set of test results came back negative, I asked again and he gave me the prescription.
I’ve been on the medication for 6 days and have noticed some improvements. I think the biggest is I can eat a nearly normal amount of food. I couldn’t before because of the severe bloating. It was pushing up against my stomach. I was and still am so bloated that I look 4 to 5 months pregnant! I had to get new clothes because nothing would fit and I couldn’t handle any band across my stomach/upper abdominal area. I haven't been able to wear a normal bra, only lightweight sports bras, since the bloating started. And the excessive burping, belching, and flatulence has been significantly curtailed. Has anyone heard of this? I have yet to find a whole lot of information on it.
And of course the other symptom is my high blood pressure. I always heard about low BP but not high BP being a symptom. Has anyone heard of this as a symptom?
Pam
After reading your post, I feel inclined to share my symptomps too.
I was diagnosed with severe HYPER thyroidism back in 2002, and they doctor gave me medications to lower down my thyroid hormone level.
Whenever I was HYPO, as a result of the medication, I feel exactly the same ways you felt.
Bloating, Weight Gain, Tongue swelling, Neck felt heavy and tired, muscle pain, cramps, joints pain, tummy bloating, severe burping.
In 2006, I finally decided to completely remove my THyroid Gland because I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer. After that I had to take Hormone Replacement pill, which was Synthroid.
This did not work out for me at all. It made me psychotic, sad, and most importantly, it did not do what it was supposed to do.
so in 2007, I switched doctor, went for second opinions, and after reading many forums, many people suggested another Hormone Replacement Pill, which is more natural, cheaper, which is called Armour.
I began taking ARmour in December 2007, and now it's May 2008, and i have never felt better.
Recently my High Blood Pressure was a little high, 154/100 and the doctor told me to back off the ARmour first for 2 weeks, and the same symptomps of HYPO thyroidism came back...first, tongue swelling, then