Hypothyroidism with other odd symptoms

[lodoms]

I am a 36 year old active duty female who recently have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism.  My TSH level was up to 38. I'm on medication 100 mg of Levothyroxine and lately I have had serious heat sensations in my left lower quadrant. I thought it was my car but today I was in an interview sitting in a chair and had the sensation come and go all day long. It is hard to explain b/c I feel as if I am burning up in the lower left portion of my back. Lately my symptoms seem to be getting worse besides the exhaustion, the hair loss, cold sensitivity, terrible mood swings, decreased sex drive NOW I have serious hoarseness in my voice, daily severe headaches and my menstrual cycle was off by 2 weeks and its always been regular at 28-30 days. I had to have a CT scan done of my abdomen because of severe pains and now this heat sensation in my lower left back area.....Can all these symptoms caused by the medication or should I be asking my PCM to refer me to an endocrinologist? I have been on meds since the 4 April 2006.  I have also gained approximately 25 lbs in about 2 months.  

[lodoms]

Graywings,

Thanks for your comments.  I posted my case because I could not find any thing else online about this weird burning sensation and all the other symptoms.  I just finding amazing how NOW that I am about to retire from the Army after 20 years everything is hitting me at once.  It is so frustrating trying to get through these Army doctors about what your symptoms are when your "doctor's appointment" is only slotted for a 20 minute session.  However thank you very much and I'll keep digging.  

[graywings]

Lodoms,

I too had the pain in left shoulder, burning sensation, but mine started after an injury in lifting about a year ago, but the pain would not stop.  I could find no answer and I do massage every three weeks.  Physical therapy didn't help.  In fact I have had the burning sensation on and off for the last few years.  Then in January I caught the virus that was going around.  Doctor finally started to treat me for hypothyrodism.  I had a bad attack to muscles with virus, then after several weeks on Synthroid and not lifting for 3 weeks, the pains disappeared.  I also during this time had daily headaches which were horrible.  I was sick of them and no meds would stop them.  My headaches finally stopped about two weeks ago.  Right now I am assuming this was all due to getting the thyroid medication in me.  I very much think they had to do with being hypothyroid.  Meds are just starting to take hold, but I also found as we dug deeper that my ferritn levels were low and my DHEA.  Just educate yourself with all you can read because it is going to take that education to get yourself well.  You need to know when you need to push doctor or when to fire them.
Good luck!

[GravesLady]

Always get hard copies of your thyroid test, TSH, FT-4 and FT-3.
You can follow your progress and it will help when posting questions.

Hashi is the autoimmune disorder of hypothryoidism.  You can have hypothyroid and not have Hashi(Hashimoto's)but you can't have Hashi without hypothyroidism.  Graves' disease is the other end,that is, Graves' disease is autoimmune hyperthroidism, that is, you can have hyperthyroidism and not have Graves' but you can't have Graves' without hyperthyroidism.

I never get headaches except when my FT-4 is way out of Lab range to the hyper side, so perhaps for hypo/Hashi when levels are way out of Labs to the hypo side might cause headaches.  Other than that maybe somethimng else is going on.

Back heat/burning could be anything gone amiss, such as a pulled muscle or legaments/tendens, disc, etc. It doens't take much activity for back problems. If it has lasted longer than a week or two, you should see a doctor because by that time it probably won't heel on it's own. Back problems are very common and hard to dia., so better to see a doctor.

[lodoms]

Thank you for your comments.  I have an appointment next week and I will see what my blood test reveal.  However I have not been doing much activity as far as physical fitness so I know I have not hurt my back doing such, it is not a pain feeling it the heat/burning feeling and the severe daily headaches that concerns me the most. Is Hashimoto's disease the same as hypothyroidism or is Graves disease the same?    

[GravesLady]

I would not think that any of the symptoms have anything to do with thyroid medication.
Your back problem would need to be checked out by the proper doctor dealing with the back, you might have hurt it being so active.  The other symptoms are true to hypothyroidism. You probably haven't been on meds. long enough for the symptoms to subside or you might need some dose adjustments at some point in time.  Healing takes time.  You didn't get thyroid condition over night, likewise your healing. Weight has to be watched even more with thyroid issue and taken care of with a proper diet that fits you.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

The meds are likely just kicking in now -- it may take a few months for the thyroid to get normalized, sounds like you are on a good starting dose though.  The left lower quadrant sensation is atypical for thyroid and I am glad you had the CT to make sure nothing else was the matter.  Hang in there while the levothyroxine has a chance to work and shoot for a TSH in the 0.5 to 2.0 range -- next test should be coming up in 2 weeks.