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Hashimotos and Breathing Problems?
Hi I have been visiting this site for awhile, but this is the first time I have posted. I haven't seen anything regarding what I am experiencing, but am wondering if it is related to my hashis/hypo condition. I was diagnosed with hashis in September this year. I am still in the med adjustment era, and am currently on Synthroid 100mcg. I have been experiencing for the past 3 days a hunger for air. I CAN'T take a deep enough breath. I feel hungry for air constantly, not just with exertion, but constantly. This is the fourth episode I've had with this over the past year. It has lasted 1-3 weeks each time. The first time I went to walk-in and was told it was just gas (I knew better), the second time I had spirometry performed, as well as a chest CT which both were normal. This was before I was diagnosed hashis although around the same time I noticed my goiter. My family doc told me I was having panic attacks although I didn't feel this was accurate. (He also tested my TSH at this time per my request 4.5 perfectly fine he told me no chance my thyroid was off-I am now in the care of an endocrinologist-after my TSH hit 15.) He(my family doc) prescribed Innopran (a beta blocker)for my breathing problems, which I didn't take because I thought if it was bronchospasm it would worsen my breathing troubles. I had my TSH tested yesterday for my 6 week check after dosage increase, but won't have results till monday. Are breathing problems such as I've described commonly associated with hypo patients???
Your TSH is still at hypo level. The new range as revised by the AACE, is 0.3 to 3.0, so that anthing above that upper end, is still considered hypothyroid. The AACE also recommends a TSH at around 1.0 for patients on thyroid replacement hormone.
So many people are UNDERtreated, due to many Dr.s not knowing enough about treatment guidelines. They will tell a patient a TSH is "perfect", even when it's high-normal.
Also to add even more problem, most labs still use the old TSH range of about 0.5 to 5.0 and are very slow in adjusting to the revised range listed above.
Bottom line; You are undertreated.
If your Dr. is like many, he will never admit this and will likely make you feel ridiculous for suggesting it. This should raise a red flag, to get a NEW DOCTOR.
So many people are UNDERtreated, due to many Dr.s not knowing enough about treatment guidelines. They will tell a patient a TSH is "perfect", even when it's high-normal.
Also to add even more problem, most labs still use the old TSH range of about 0.5 to 5.0 and are very slow in adjusting to the revised range listed above.
Bottom line; You are undertreated.
If your Dr. is like many, he will never admit this and will likely make you feel ridiculous for suggesting it. This should raise a red flag, to get a NEW DOCTOR.
I was diagnosed Hyper in March 05. I only knew because I have jogged 3-miles a day for 5 years and a year ago was barely able to jog 50 yards without feeling gassed. Since I am 40 yrs old and would like to have one more child within the next year, I opted for radioactive iodine in August 05. My thyroid didn't quit working until November when I gained 20 pounds (before Thanksgiving) became unable to move due to joint pain and became a huge puffy blob of a human. I finally called my Endo who put me on 100 MCGs of Synthroid at the end of November.
I just had my labs done on Jan 12, and my TSH 3rd generation was 3.578 with a ref range of .400 - 5.100.
I am still unable to run without feeling completely out of breath and like my muscles have no energy. I am also unable to drop any of the extra weight I gained. Just curious if others have experienced this and if trying Armour has worked for them. I (like most others on this site) just want to feel and look normal again.
I just had my labs done on Jan 12, and my TSH 3rd generation was 3.578 with a ref range of .400 - 5.100.
I am still unable to run without feeling completely out of breath and like my muscles have no energy. I am also unable to drop any of the extra weight I gained. Just curious if others have experienced this and if trying Armour has worked for them. I (like most others on this site) just want to feel and look normal again.
Lindy,
When your TSH is high your actual thyroid hormones are low...
TSH stands for thyroid stimulating hormone. When your actual thyroid hormones T-3 & T-4 are low the pituatary sends out the thyroid stimulating hormone to, of course, stimulate the thyroid to produce more thyroid hormones for your body. which means your medication usually needs to be increased to make up for the low thyroid hormones & high TSH.
When the stimulating hormone (TSH) is too low, the actual thyroid hormones are usually high. Which means your medication needs to be reduced to prevent too much thyroid hormone from being utilized.
The AACE (American Academy of Endrocrinologist) now recommends a TSH level of (.3-3.2) I beleive. If I've quoted it correctly.
Dr. Mark (the endrocrinologist on this forum) usually tells everyone to try & keep their TSH around 1 to feel their best.
You may already know this, but in reading your post, it almost sounds like the Dr. did the opposite with you. Letting you go hypo & actually your last TSH is still alittle high. Does your Dr. check yout free T-3 & free T-4 along with your antibodies too. It may give you more of a whole picture where you stand.
I know you are new to this forum but it's good to post the normal lab values with your lab as most normals generally the differ somewhat from lab to lab.
Dr. Mark should be back on the forum soon. He's been gone for a couple of weeks now & he's really good about answering any questions you have. Just post as new question when they start accepting them again. Or ask more questions here if you need too.
Welcome Aboard, Jean
When your TSH is high your actual thyroid hormones are low...
TSH stands for thyroid stimulating hormone. When your actual thyroid hormones T-3 & T-4 are low the pituatary sends out the thyroid stimulating hormone to, of course, stimulate the thyroid to produce more thyroid hormones for your body. which means your medication usually needs to be increased to make up for the low thyroid hormones & high TSH.
When the stimulating hormone (TSH) is too low, the actual thyroid hormones are usually high. Which means your medication needs to be reduced to prevent too much thyroid hormone from being utilized.
The AACE (American Academy of Endrocrinologist) now recommends a TSH level of (.3-3.2) I beleive. If I've quoted it correctly.
Dr. Mark (the endrocrinologist on this forum) usually tells everyone to try & keep their TSH around 1 to feel their best.
You may already know this, but in reading your post, it almost sounds like the Dr. did the opposite with you. Letting you go hypo & actually your last TSH is still alittle high. Does your Dr. check yout free T-3 & free T-4 along with your antibodies too. It may give you more of a whole picture where you stand.
I know you are new to this forum but it's good to post the normal lab values with your lab as most normals generally the differ somewhat from lab to lab.
Dr. Mark should be back on the forum soon. He's been gone for a couple of weeks now & he's really good about answering any questions you have. Just post as new question when they start accepting them again. Or ask more questions here if you need too.
Welcome Aboard, Jean
Hello to everyone. This is the first time I have posted to this site, but in looking for some answers to my symptoms, I have read posts from so many that have same issues as me. After the birth of my daughter 20 years ago I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease. It took years to get me regulated but finally success with symthroid .2mg. I took this for years but last year during a check-up my doctor said my thyroid levels were a bit high. I had no symptoms at that time but had been dieting and for the first time in my life had been successful. I lost 75lbs. then instead of feeling better I began to feel awful. At one point my TSH level was 12.5, my medication was reduced to .150mg of synthroid, in October 2005 my TSH waas 6.5, then in December my level was 4.5. My doctor says this is normal, but I still experience anxiey, nervousness, some times I can actually sleep 5 hous at night other times I just seem to spend the night resting. My arms go to sleep at night, my weight loss quite, as a mater of fact I have gained back 30 pounds while still being very careful with what I eat. I also have found I have to watch for periods of low blood sugar throughout the day, but in the morning I have days were it is over 6 (after fasting all night). I have also started to experience shorness of breath in the last few days. This morning I went for blood work, so should get results in as few days. This morning out of frustration I didn't talke by synthroid. I'm at a pont where I'm trying to help myself but I don't know if I need more or less medication. Tahnks for listening any suggestions are wwelcome.
Buzzman, you are so right about people needing to learn as much as possible. I am glad you are doing better with the swtich of meds and I hope it continues!
Although I do not want others to have the shortness of breath and heart palpitations, it is good to know that they are symptoms of hypothyroidism.
just_breathe I am sorry you are still feeling so bad. I wonder if you would do better on a T3/T4 medicine like Armour instead of a T4 only like Synthroid?
just_breathe I am sorry you are still feeling so bad. I wonder if you would do better on a T3/T4 medicine like Armour instead of a T4 only like Synthroid?
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