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SURVEY - Thyroid and Fibromyalgia
Have any one out there been diagnosed with both thyroid problems,(particularly Hypo/hashi's), AND Fibromyalgia?
I AM CONVINCED THERE IS A CONNECTION
Since my PT 6 months ago, I have had increasing problems with Fibro pain. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia 5 years ago and generally manage the symptoms with various pain medications. However, since the op' the joint pain has gotten worse again and I am now convinced there is a connection. I don't really understand all the stuff about the 'auto immune system' but I have been told that mine is showing signs of being 'compromised'. Specifically the Anti Nuclear Antibody test was 'positive' and my Thyroid Peroxidase was 'significantly' raised. My Tsh/T4 levels etc are all well within in the normal ranges. I am being referred on to a Rheumatologist now!!
I just so want to be well and get the pain under control again. I am hobbling around on very sore legs at the moment and trying to piece this jigsaw of symptoms together.
So - Fibro or Thyroid??? Or both!!!
Let me know your thoughts please
J
I AM CONVINCED THERE IS A CONNECTION
Since my PT 6 months ago, I have had increasing problems with Fibro pain. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia 5 years ago and generally manage the symptoms with various pain medications. However, since the op' the joint pain has gotten worse again and I am now convinced there is a connection. I don't really understand all the stuff about the 'auto immune system' but I have been told that mine is showing signs of being 'compromised'. Specifically the Anti Nuclear Antibody test was 'positive' and my Thyroid Peroxidase was 'significantly' raised. My Tsh/T4 levels etc are all well within in the normal ranges. I am being referred on to a Rheumatologist now!!
I just so want to be well and get the pain under control again. I am hobbling around on very sore legs at the moment and trying to piece this jigsaw of symptoms together.
So - Fibro or Thyroid??? Or both!!!
Let me know your thoughts please
J
COMMUNITY LEADER
While it's true that iodine has many uses, it is not recommended for most people with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, as it can actually cause the disease to be worse. It should also never be used without the blessing/guidance of your doctor and should not be given more credit than it deserves.
There is an online-Iodine group that promotes Iodine to kill or lessen the Anti-bodies. I have read testimonies that their numbers go down. They promote Iodoral & Lugol's.
Iodine is an enzyme that God put in the soil. It is used for many uses.
Iodine is an enzyme that God put in the soil. It is used for many uses.
There is an Iodine Group on Yahoo. I learned that a lot of people take Iodine for many symptoms. They promote Iodorol or Lugul'sfor the best choice of Iodine. I use Sea kelp for pain in the joints of my hands and find relief. It also gave me improved concentration before being put on Armour. I had breast surgery and it shrunk the scar and the mass of scar tissue under the scar. I read a lot of their testimonies before taking it. Iodine in an Enzyme that our bodies lack. This may be somethingl to look into if you can't find relief. It reallly works for me. Iodine is used to
shrink cysts in the ovaries
breast cancer,
boo-boos
shrink fibroids, (FBD) fibrocystic breast disease
shrink nodules on the thyroid
Improves stamina
lessen hair loss
Military uses it to sterilze the water in the canteens.
lowers Glucose in diabetics
I hope this info is helptul to you.
shrink cysts in the ovaries
breast cancer,
boo-boos
shrink fibroids, (FBD) fibrocystic breast disease
shrink nodules on the thyroid
Improves stamina
lessen hair loss
Military uses it to sterilze the water in the canteens.
lowers Glucose in diabetics
I hope this info is helptul to you.
I was diagnosed with Hashi in 2004.
I believe BODY ACHES is a symptom consistent symptom.
I am on Armour Thyroid and my hands seems to be one of the last linger ACHES in my body. I take Sea Kelp for the pain and it completely relieves the pain. I has also given me relief of FBD, fibrocystice breast disease.
I started taking the T4-based medication at bedtime, which is also contributing to the improvement of Body Aches. It seems like T4 is responsible for making the Body Aches disappear.
Now that I'm on a T3/T4-based medication I can clearly feel that T3 plays apart to improve or makes the Brain Fog & Depresssion improve OR Disappear.
By taking it at bedtime I felt an immediate imrpovement within 9 hours.
I never felt an improvement for the Brain fog & Depression with the Levothyroxine alone.
==================================
Should You Take Your Thyroid Medication at Night?
By Mary Shomon, About.com
Updated: March 23, 2007
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board
Every thyroid patient has heard the advice that for best results, we should take our medication first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, and wait at least 30 minutes to an hour before eating.
(And also, that we should wait at least three to four hours before taking calcium or iron, which can interfere with thyroid hormone absorption.)
But research reported in the journal Clinical Endocrinology found that taking the same dose of levothyroxine (i.e., Synthroid) at bedtime, as compared to first thing in the morning, might be better.
The small pilot study was prompted by observation that some patients had improved thyroid hormone profiles improved after they switched from taking their levothyroxine in the morning, to bedtime.
The purpose was to look at the impact on thyroid hormone profiles by changing the time levothyroxine was taken from early morning to bedtime.
They also evaluated the impact of this change on the circadian rhythm of TSH and thyroid hormones and thyroid hormone metabolism.
The study, while small (12 subjects), was fairly conclusive in its findings, which the researchers said were “striking” and which have “important consequences for the millions of patients who take l-thyroxine daily.”
Researchers reported that taking medication at bedtime, rather than the morning, results in “higher thyroid hormone concentrations and lower TSH concentrations.”
TSH decreased and Free T4 levels Rose in all patients by changing thyroxine ingestion from early morning to bedtime and T3 levels Rose in all but one subject. And TSH DECREASED irrespective of the starting TSH levels, suggesting better absorption of the thyroid medication when taken in the evening.
Interestingly, the researchers found that the circadian TSH rhythm -- the typical daily fluctuations of TSH that occur during a 24-hour period -- does not vary.
The researchers suggested several explanations for the results:
Even when waiting at least 30 minutes to eat, breakfast may be interfering with the intestinal absorption of levothyroxine thyroxine.
“Bowel motility is slower at night,” which means that it takes longer for the levothyroxine tablet to transit through the intestinal system, resulting in longer exposure to the intestinal wall, and therefore, better uptake of the medication.
The conversion process of T4 to T3 may be more effective in the evening.
From Mary Shomon: What are the Implications for Thyroid Patients?
Taking medication at bedtime instead of in the morning could have major implications for many thyroid patients.
**First, it’s easier, as you don’t have to worry about when to eat breakfast.
**Second, it’s easier to avoid medications, supplements and foods, like calcium, iron, and high-fiber foods that can interfere with thyroid medication absorption.
**Third, it might offer some improvement in symptoms to people who are just not getting optimal absorption by taking thyroid medication during the day.
While this was a small study, it confirms what many patients anecdotally have been reporting for years -- that they feel better if they take their thyroid medication in the evening, rather than the morning.
You may want to talk to your practitioner about changing the time you take your levothyroxine (i.e., Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid, Unithroid, Eltroxin) to bedtime, versus morning. And if you decide to change to taking your thyroid medication in the evening, be sure to have your thyroid levels evaluated -- six to eight weeks is a reasonable timeframe -- after you’ve made the switch.
The blood test results, along with any improvements or worsening of symptoms, will help you and your doctor to determine if you need to adjust the dosage or timing of your medication.
Note, however, that this study was conducted with levothyroxine -- a synthetic form of the long acting T4/thyroxine thyroid hormone. This form of the hormone must first be converted in the body to the active form (T3) and this can take days.
T3
Thyroid drugs that contain T3 -- Cytomel, Thyrolar, and the natural desiccated thyroid drugs like Armour can by used directly by the body within hours. These drugs were not evaluated in the study.
Anecdotally, some thyroid patients have reported improvement in symptoms when taking their T3-based thyroid hormone replacement medications in the evening. But some thyroid patients also find that if they take a medication with T3 later in the day or in the evening, the slight stimulatory effect of the T3 medication can make it difficult to sleep.
So keep in mind that while it’s very possible that if a similar study were conducted with T3 drugs, the results would be similar, there is some chance that it would impact sleep quality. Only make such a change after discussing it with your doctor.
Optimally, some doctors have suggested that patients who take medications with T3 split their doses to take them throughout the day, leaving a dose for bedtime. This approach seems to minimize sleep interference.
Again, if you do make a change to how you take your T3 thyroid medication, you’ll want to have a re-evaluation of blood levels and symptoms after several weeks, to determine if you need to adjust the dosage or timing of your medication.
*************************************************
"T4 is slow acting, with a half-life of about one week — after a week, you have about half the level of the T4 still in your body, a week or so later you have half of that half remaining, and so on. Its full effects aren't reached until about six weeks after starting or changing a dose, which is why lab tests are optimally done every six weeks or so until a patient with hypothyroidism has reached satisfactory and stable thyroid hormone levels.
T3, on the other hand, has a half-life of about a day. People on T3 sometimes feel its effects within minutes after taking it."
I believe BODY ACHES is a symptom consistent symptom.
I am on Armour Thyroid and my hands seems to be one of the last linger ACHES in my body. I take Sea Kelp for the pain and it completely relieves the pain. I has also given me relief of FBD, fibrocystice breast disease.
I started taking the T4-based medication at bedtime, which is also contributing to the improvement of Body Aches. It seems like T4 is responsible for making the Body Aches disappear.
Now that I'm on a T3/T4-based medication I can clearly feel that T3 plays apart to improve or makes the Brain Fog & Depresssion improve OR Disappear.
By taking it at bedtime I felt an immediate imrpovement within 9 hours.
I never felt an improvement for the Brain fog & Depression with the Levothyroxine alone.
==================================
Should You Take Your Thyroid Medication at Night?
By Mary Shomon, About.com
Updated: March 23, 2007
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board
Every thyroid patient has heard the advice that for best results, we should take our medication first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, and wait at least 30 minutes to an hour before eating.
(And also, that we should wait at least three to four hours before taking calcium or iron, which can interfere with thyroid hormone absorption.)
But research reported in the journal Clinical Endocrinology found that taking the same dose of levothyroxine (i.e., Synthroid) at bedtime, as compared to first thing in the morning, might be better.
The small pilot study was prompted by observation that some patients had improved thyroid hormone profiles improved after they switched from taking their levothyroxine in the morning, to bedtime.
The purpose was to look at the impact on thyroid hormone profiles by changing the time levothyroxine was taken from early morning to bedtime.
They also evaluated the impact of this change on the circadian rhythm of TSH and thyroid hormones and thyroid hormone metabolism.
The study, while small (12 subjects), was fairly conclusive in its findings, which the researchers said were “striking” and which have “important consequences for the millions of patients who take l-thyroxine daily.”
Researchers reported that taking medication at bedtime, rather than the morning, results in “higher thyroid hormone concentrations and lower TSH concentrations.”
TSH decreased and Free T4 levels Rose in all patients by changing thyroxine ingestion from early morning to bedtime and T3 levels Rose in all but one subject. And TSH DECREASED irrespective of the starting TSH levels, suggesting better absorption of the thyroid medication when taken in the evening.
Interestingly, the researchers found that the circadian TSH rhythm -- the typical daily fluctuations of TSH that occur during a 24-hour period -- does not vary.
The researchers suggested several explanations for the results:
Even when waiting at least 30 minutes to eat, breakfast may be interfering with the intestinal absorption of levothyroxine thyroxine.
“Bowel motility is slower at night,” which means that it takes longer for the levothyroxine tablet to transit through the intestinal system, resulting in longer exposure to the intestinal wall, and therefore, better uptake of the medication.
The conversion process of T4 to T3 may be more effective in the evening.
From Mary Shomon: What are the Implications for Thyroid Patients?
Taking medication at bedtime instead of in the morning could have major implications for many thyroid patients.
**First, it’s easier, as you don’t have to worry about when to eat breakfast.
**Second, it’s easier to avoid medications, supplements and foods, like calcium, iron, and high-fiber foods that can interfere with thyroid medication absorption.
**Third, it might offer some improvement in symptoms to people who are just not getting optimal absorption by taking thyroid medication during the day.
While this was a small study, it confirms what many patients anecdotally have been reporting for years -- that they feel better if they take their thyroid medication in the evening, rather than the morning.
You may want to talk to your practitioner about changing the time you take your levothyroxine (i.e., Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid, Unithroid, Eltroxin) to bedtime, versus morning. And if you decide to change to taking your thyroid medication in the evening, be sure to have your thyroid levels evaluated -- six to eight weeks is a reasonable timeframe -- after you’ve made the switch.
The blood test results, along with any improvements or worsening of symptoms, will help you and your doctor to determine if you need to adjust the dosage or timing of your medication.
Note, however, that this study was conducted with levothyroxine -- a synthetic form of the long acting T4/thyroxine thyroid hormone. This form of the hormone must first be converted in the body to the active form (T3) and this can take days.
T3
Thyroid drugs that contain T3 -- Cytomel, Thyrolar, and the natural desiccated thyroid drugs like Armour can by used directly by the body within hours. These drugs were not evaluated in the study.
Anecdotally, some thyroid patients have reported improvement in symptoms when taking their T3-based thyroid hormone replacement medications in the evening. But some thyroid patients also find that if they take a medication with T3 later in the day or in the evening, the slight stimulatory effect of the T3 medication can make it difficult to sleep.
So keep in mind that while it’s very possible that if a similar study were conducted with T3 drugs, the results would be similar, there is some chance that it would impact sleep quality. Only make such a change after discussing it with your doctor.
Optimally, some doctors have suggested that patients who take medications with T3 split their doses to take them throughout the day, leaving a dose for bedtime. This approach seems to minimize sleep interference.
Again, if you do make a change to how you take your T3 thyroid medication, you’ll want to have a re-evaluation of blood levels and symptoms after several weeks, to determine if you need to adjust the dosage or timing of your medication.
*************************************************
"T4 is slow acting, with a half-life of about one week — after a week, you have about half the level of the T4 still in your body, a week or so later you have half of that half remaining, and so on. Its full effects aren't reached until about six weeks after starting or changing a dose, which is why lab tests are optimally done every six weeks or so until a patient with hypothyroidism has reached satisfactory and stable thyroid hormone levels.
T3, on the other hand, has a half-life of about a day. People on T3 sometimes feel its effects within minutes after taking it."
I HAVE HAD MY THYROID GLAND REMOVED ALONG WITH THREEOF MY PARATHYROIDS FOR NON-TOXIC NODULES IN RELATIONS TO A PITUITARY TUMOR SINCE I WAS BORN ADDICTED TO CORTICOSTEROIDS. HAD PROBLEMS ALL OF MY LIFE WITH THIS AND CHRONIC CONSTIPATION AS WELL AS PDD. FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PIT TUmOR AT AGE 35-YRS OLD AFTER MY ACADEMIC AMD DCAREER EXPERIENCE WAS RUINED HAD THE TUMOR AT AN EXTREMELY YOUNG AGE I DO NOT PUT ANYTHING PAST THE PITUITARY GLAND DID A NUMBER OF ME THAT IS FOR SURE THE GLAND CAN BE PURE EVIL WHEN IT WANTS TO BE MORE LIKE A PRAYER-TO-PROFANITY GLAND
Hello
I am new to this. I am 33 and I have had hypothyroid for 7 years. I have always taken my meds (a low dose of levothyroxin) and presently feel awful. Very achy and tired. My concern is that perhaps my meds are not working effectively. I even taking them have a 4.6 thyroid level. Is this normal or possibly too high for being medicated? I appreciate any suggestions info b/c I am becoming very down about the way I feel.
I am new to this. I am 33 and I have had hypothyroid for 7 years. I have always taken my meds (a low dose of levothyroxin) and presently feel awful. Very achy and tired. My concern is that perhaps my meds are not working effectively. I even taking them have a 4.6 thyroid level. Is this normal or possibly too high for being medicated? I appreciate any suggestions info b/c I am becoming very down about the way I feel.
May I just add another "I might be caused by your thyroid" condition. I cannot tell you how many people I have talked to, heard about, and read about that have conditions and if you trace back one factor to each of them, it is the hashimotos (anti-thyroid antibodies). Epstein Barr Virus, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Bipolar Disorder. I have the worst thyroid that has been seen by the endroconologists I have seen. My tsh was 490 the last time we checked it. I knew it was bad, because I had gained 40 pounds in less than 3 months. I went on the armour thyroid *works much better for my body* and a heavy-duty dose of T-3 Cytomel. Guess what? Have already lost 36 of those pounds a month later.
I' know that the anti-thyroid antibodies attack the thyroid because they see it as a foreign threat. What I'm wondering is if these antibodies attack other parts of our immune system making us susceptible to other illnesses and disorders such as the Epstein Barr Virus, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and bipolar disorders.
Does anyone else have some of these or all of these things that they have dealt with?
Just an interesting thought.
I' know that the anti-thyroid antibodies attack the thyroid because they see it as a foreign threat. What I'm wondering is if these antibodies attack other parts of our immune system making us susceptible to other illnesses and disorders such as the Epstein Barr Virus, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and bipolar disorders.
Does anyone else have some of these or all of these things that they have dealt with?
Just an interesting thought.
Good Luck on that referral.
At least when you go back in now - you have more information than when you started.
At least when you go back in now - you have more information than when you started.
Thanks again for your comments every one.
I kind of agree with you Stella - I just wish he would listen to me and treat my SYMPTOMS not the lab readings. He is adamant though that he will not put me onto thyroxine until after I see the Rheumy and have my next set of blood tests done. Gosh this is so frustrating and doing a lot of reading over the last couple of days there are so many people with HYPOthyroid problems that are experiencing or being diagnosed as Fibromyalgic. Oh well - lets hope I get a referral soon.
J x
I kind of agree with you Stella - I just wish he would listen to me and treat my SYMPTOMS not the lab readings. He is adamant though that he will not put me onto thyroxine until after I see the Rheumy and have my next set of blood tests done. Gosh this is so frustrating and doing a lot of reading over the last couple of days there are so many people with HYPOthyroid problems that are experiencing or being diagnosed as Fibromyalgic. Oh well - lets hope I get a referral soon.
J x
I saw my gp a few months ago complaining of fibro type symptoms. She said that thyroid problems often mimic fibro stuff. She said to wait after my surgery to see if I still feel this way..............I do. There as to be a connection, everyone I know that has one, has the other or something similar.
I think your TSH is too high and you have low thyroid function casiung your pain.
I think you should be speaking to someone who will listen and get you on at least a trail of thyroid meds to bring down the TSH range to a 1.0 or slightly higher and increase your Free T3 and see what happens
Just my thought.
I think you should be speaking to someone who will listen and get you on at least a trail of thyroid meds to bring down the TSH range to a 1.0 or slightly higher and increase your Free T3 and see what happens
Just my thought.
Okay... just realized that my last post conflicted with Dr. Shaw's info. I knew that when I posted it, but should have commented on it. I don't have an opinion on what causes these illnesses... other than I believe the trigger (even what Dr. Shaw has said) is viral or bacterial.
My mom has Sjogren's syndrome, which is classified as an autoimmune disease. When I looked up the possible causes for Sjogren's, I saw that they were the same possible causes as CFS and fibromyalgia !
As a nurse, who was on the same protocol, wrote to me :
The virus was found loitering at the scene of the crime. That does not mean it perpetrated the crime, it may have only been an 'accessory after the fact.
Of course we may be genetically prone to catch these illnesses... but some physicians believe that mycoplasmas have the ability to alter our DNA. I know that some toxins do (remember Erin Brockovich and her discussion with the toxicologist about Chromium VI ?)
The virus was found loitering at the scene of the crime. That does not mean it perpetrated the crime, it may have only been an 'accessory after the fact.
Of course we may be genetically prone to catch these illnesses... but some physicians believe that mycoplasmas have the ability to alter our DNA. I know that some toxins do (remember Erin Brockovich and her discussion with the toxicologist about Chromium VI ?)
I believe your story because researchers are still trying to figure out the connection between hormones and autoimmune diseases. The majority of people with autoimmune diseases (and fibro or CFS) are WOMEN.
What concerns me is that we are seeing more allergies, food allergies in children and other autoimmune diseases. Some physicians think some of the factors responsible for this are vaccines (some of them have L-form bacteria in them), pesticides and other chemicals.
According to fibro / CFS physician, Dr. Mark Shaw, some of the triggers that cause fibro or CFS are :
Parasympathetic nervous systems are compromised and damaged. The condition is then maintained and exacerbated by musculoskeletal imbalance in the thoracic region causing irritation of the surrounding nerve ganglia.
2/ a viral/ chemical exposure which entered your system causing brain and spinal cord lesions, simultaneously leaving the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic nervous systems in a state of chaos. The condition is then maintained and exacerbated by musculoskeletal imbalance in the thoracic region causing irritation of the surrounding nerve ganglia.
3/ a viral/ chemical exposure which entered your system causing a temporary brain injury to the area of the brain that deals with immune response.
Types 1 and 2 will cause the most prolonged type of Fibromyalgia/CFS, with 3 being mostly related to the type of post viral illness PVFS caused by EBV, in otherwise healthy patients this will usually dissipate over a period of 6 months to a year and should not necessarily result in or be classified as Fibromyalgia/CFS.
I will try to get onto the forum and ask a few questions! Thanks for the invite :)
I have followed the above link you provided and it certainly makes interesting reading doesn't it?
My Fibromyalgia problems started during the time i was taking a drug called 'synarel' which shut down my reproductive system for 6 months to help me deal with endometriosis. It basically puts your body into a menopausal state by acting on the pituitary gland. I was given hrt at the same time to help with the worst of the meno' symptoms but I still felt ghastly during these 6 months. It took a long time to feel better - even though it did work on helping with the endo' pain but long term I wish I had never been given that drug. I still do not know if there was a possible link with that time and developing 'fibromyalgia'. Will I ever know I ask myself but I was a lot younger then and just did as the docs told me would help.
I have followed the above link you provided and it certainly makes interesting reading doesn't it?
My Fibromyalgia problems started during the time i was taking a drug called 'synarel' which shut down my reproductive system for 6 months to help me deal with endometriosis. It basically puts your body into a menopausal state by acting on the pituitary gland. I was given hrt at the same time to help with the worst of the meno' symptoms but I still felt ghastly during these 6 months. It took a long time to feel better - even though it did work on helping with the endo' pain but long term I wish I had never been given that drug. I still do not know if there was a possible link with that time and developing 'fibromyalgia'. Will I ever know I ask myself but I was a lot younger then and just did as the docs told me would help.
You are welcome to join us in the fibro / CFS forum. In early October, we will have a Dr. Garth Nicholson posting on our board answering any and all questions related to fibro, CFS, Gulf War Syndrome, autoimmune diseases and probably cancer as well. (Dr. Nicholson was a HEM/ONC physician and I read that he was diagnosed with CFS and now has been researching mycoplasma infections and their role in all of these conditions.
Wow! thanks for your comments.
Plateletgal - Goodness you have done your research! Chit chat said you were a good source of info :)
My ANA is showing 'positive' and the comment beside it on the sheet is 'suggest repeat to ***** significance of weak ANA'. This is why he is referring me on to the rheumatologist. I just feel this is not going to come up with anything.
bncrump - I agree with you too - I practically begged to just be given a try with the thyroid meds, (low dose), just to see if any improvement. (This is someone who hates taking pills). I do not want to be on meds at all but anything can help I'll try it now! He flat out refused saying that in his opinion they would not help OR they may help a little initially but in his experience would only lead to a life long dependence on thyroid medicines in ever increasing amounts.
I wish I knew what he hopes the Rheumatologist might do?
sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Plateletgal - Goodness you have done your research! Chit chat said you were a good source of info :)
My ANA is showing 'positive' and the comment beside it on the sheet is 'suggest repeat to ***** significance of weak ANA'. This is why he is referring me on to the rheumatologist. I just feel this is not going to come up with anything.
bncrump - I agree with you too - I practically begged to just be given a try with the thyroid meds, (low dose), just to see if any improvement. (This is someone who hates taking pills). I do not want to be on meds at all but anything can help I'll try it now! He flat out refused saying that in his opinion they would not help OR they may help a little initially but in his experience would only lead to a life long dependence on thyroid medicines in ever increasing amounts.
I wish I knew what he hopes the Rheumatologist might do?
sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
I think the rheumatologist suggested anti-depressants for you because they seem to help fibromyalgia patients sleep better and also decrease the muscle spasms in fibromyalgia patients.
Here is all of the information anyone needs about fibromyalgia (and CFS) and low thyroid :
http://www.fibroandfatigue.com/documents/clinical/Are%20all%20CFS%20FM%20patients%20low%20thyroid.pdf
Best,
PlateletGal
I have hashi's and was told by the rheum that I have Fibro. I am with Stella on this one. I do not think that it is a DX at all. I flat out told her that I will not accept that as an answer. She was very understanding and told me that FM is real and does cause real pain. I don't doubt that there are some who completely believe that this is what they suffer from. I do not though. I know that my problem is not anything else besides my thyroid. No lupus, No RA, No Lyme, nothing neurological, nothing...Rheum said anti-depressants and I said NO...already tried it and it didn't work. I feel you when you say you just want to scream at them. Just because you hurt doesn't mean your in pain! URGGGGG......
Is it a coincidence in Hashi patients? I don't think so. I agree with Stella that it is a situation. Reading all the posts on this forum, it is easy to see that there are so many people suffering from the thyroid...there are many, many situations that can be encountered.
Good luck at the dr and hope all goes well. Maybe you should see if your endo will try thyroid meds just to see how you feel. Maybe 3.66 is just too high for you, even though it falls within normal limits. It's worth a shot! Good luck!
Is it a coincidence in Hashi patients? I don't think so. I agree with Stella that it is a situation. Reading all the posts on this forum, it is easy to see that there are so many people suffering from the thyroid...there are many, many situations that can be encountered.
Good luck at the dr and hope all goes well. Maybe you should see if your endo will try thyroid meds just to see how you feel. Maybe 3.66 is just too high for you, even though it falls within normal limits. It's worth a shot! Good luck!
* Many people are often misdiagnosed or prematurely diagnosed as having fibromyalgia when they have another illness. It is important to rule out everything before getting a fibromyalgia diagnosis.
* Dr. Kent Holtorf is a physician who routinely treats fibromyalgia and CFS patients says that "close to 100% of individuals with these syndromes have low thyroid. This is, however, usually not picked up on the standard blood tests because the TSH is not elevated in these individuals due to pituitary dysfunction. Many of these individuals will also have high levels of the anti-thyroid reverse T3, which is usually not measured on standard blood tests. In addition, the majority of individuals can also have a thyroid receptor resistance that is not detected on the blood tests. Consequently, thyroid treatment, especially with timed release T3, is effective for many patients. T4 preparations (inactive thyroid) such as Synthroid and Levoxyl do not work well for these conditions."
So there is a thyroid condition that goes along with fibormyalgia and I've read that CFS patients are at high risk for thyroid cancer as well. (that could include fibro patients... still waiting for more info on that)
* 29% of fibromyalgia patients have a positive ANA titer. Dr. Garth Nicholson's research on autoimmune diseases has found that, "when mycoplasmas exit certain cells, such as synovial cells, nerve cells, among others that can be infected, they can stimulate an autoimmune response." --- I believe this is what happens with not only fibro patients, but patients who have autoimmune diseases as well. It would explain why so many people with autoimmune conditions or these syndromes have symptoms of other autoimmune diseases.
* Dr. Garth Nicholson studies have also found high frequencies of mycoplasmal infections in fibromyalgia and CFS patients.
* In 1994 researchers at the University of Texas Health and Science Center, department of medicine discovered an elevation in the level of the neurotransmitter Substance P in the spinal fluid of patients suffering from FMS. RedLabsUSA is a national lab that apparently is able to diagnose both Fibromyalgia and CFS. The test is still a research test at this time.
So there is a fibromyalgia - thyroid connection, but there are also people who have been misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia. And on top of that... some fibromyalgia patients can go for years without a fibro-flare.
Thanks for these replies so far - I really appreciate your taking the time.
Stella - yes there is a lot of controversy here in the uk too as to whether 'Fibromyalgia' is in fact a 'disease' or a 'symptom'. (And some docs who think it is a state of mind!!!).
When I was origianlly diagnosed as having FM, the Rheumatologist I saw did very specific examination of me and used various pressure points etc to establish that as he said I was 'typical' of Fibro patient. I have since done some reading and the pain points he singled out are particular to Fibro pain. HOWEVER, it is hard to get some other Docs to agree to this - I was even offered anti depressants to help me. 'I am not DEPRESSED'! I almost screamed at the Doc in question, 'I am in PAIN'!!
I am just trying to put together some ideas about what to expect with this new development and my being sent agin down the Rheumatology road. I wonder what he will have to say. Apparently this new one 'specialises' in Fibromyalgia so I'm guessing he will not try the anti d's thing LOL!
Anyway, it's all a muddle to me now - do I have thyroid problems or not?
By the way my TSH is 3.66 (range0.27-4.2)
my free T3 is 5.0 (range 2.8-7.1)
my free T4 is 15 (range10-24)
so according to these numbers I do not need thyroid meds...........................
Hey ho
Any other thoughts appreciated
Jx
Stella - yes there is a lot of controversy here in the uk too as to whether 'Fibromyalgia' is in fact a 'disease' or a 'symptom'. (And some docs who think it is a state of mind!!!).
When I was origianlly diagnosed as having FM, the Rheumatologist I saw did very specific examination of me and used various pressure points etc to establish that as he said I was 'typical' of Fibro patient. I have since done some reading and the pain points he singled out are particular to Fibro pain. HOWEVER, it is hard to get some other Docs to agree to this - I was even offered anti depressants to help me. 'I am not DEPRESSED'! I almost screamed at the Doc in question, 'I am in PAIN'!!
I am just trying to put together some ideas about what to expect with this new development and my being sent agin down the Rheumatology road. I wonder what he will have to say. Apparently this new one 'specialises' in Fibromyalgia so I'm guessing he will not try the anti d's thing LOL!
Anyway, it's all a muddle to me now - do I have thyroid problems or not?
By the way my TSH is 3.66 (range0.27-4.2)
my free T3 is 5.0 (range 2.8-7.1)
my free T4 is 15 (range10-24)
so according to these numbers I do not need thyroid meds...........................
Hey ho
Any other thoughts appreciated
Jx
Here is my ordeal with being dxd with Fibro about 2 years ago.
Diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy in Jan 2007, (neuro 1) did not believe i had that
Told no, you were missed diagnosed it is actually fibro April 07 (neuro 2) did not believe i had that. At first I accepted it, but i just did not have the symptoms i was supposed to have. Fatigue was never part of the picture, neither was the level of pain i would read about. Let the symptoms go for a while. Started noticing weight loss and that is what finally made me seek a 3rd opinion.
April 2008- New PCP.
Found mass in pelvis area (waiting on neurosurgeon to decide on that)
Submandibular gland will be removed, mass growing in it.
Possibility of being over medicated on the thyroid side of it.
All i can say, is I did not have Fibro as they kept telling me i did.
Diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy in Jan 2007, (neuro 1) did not believe i had that
Told no, you were missed diagnosed it is actually fibro April 07 (neuro 2) did not believe i had that. At first I accepted it, but i just did not have the symptoms i was supposed to have. Fatigue was never part of the picture, neither was the level of pain i would read about. Let the symptoms go for a while. Started noticing weight loss and that is what finally made me seek a 3rd opinion.
April 2008- New PCP.
Found mass in pelvis area (waiting on neurosurgeon to decide on that)
Submandibular gland will be removed, mass growing in it.
Possibility of being over medicated on the thyroid side of it.
All i can say, is I did not have Fibro as they kept telling me i did.
We have a new member Plateletgal who is a CL of CFS/ Fibro .... I hope she'll stopy by!
C~
C~
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