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Can high thyroid antibodies cause constant dizziness and head pressure?
I have seen many doctors - ER docs, a cardiologist, EN&T, neurologist, ophthalmologist, obgyn, and PCP. The last 6 months have been a nightmare.
My thyroid levels are in the range of normal TSH - 2.762, T4 - 1.28, T3 - 3.4, but my Anti Thyroglobn is 45.1 (should be between 0.0 and 40.0) my TPO Auto Ab - (antibodies) are 2332.0 yes - in the thousands range - should be between 0.0 - 35.0. I believe this means my immune system is attacking and trying to kill off my Thyroid? I'm on low doses of Thyroid hormone 5 mcg of Cytomel and 25 mcg of Synthroid. Since my TSH, T3, T4 are within normal range my PCP does not want me to get too much and go Hyperthyroid. Hopefully this added Thyroid hormone treatment will help lower the antibodies. I go in for more blood draws tomorrow and see her again on Monday to go over test results. Thyroid problems affect everyone in my family, my mom had the right side of hers removed, my younger sister had Graves disease and had her thyroid irradiated, my ID twin sister was on Synthroid for two years almost 25 years ago, but has not been on Thyroid hormone for more than 23 years as they say her levels are within normal range - (she's getting hers checked again) my younger brother was just diagnosed with being hypothyroid. It been 3 weeks since being on hormones and I'm feeling more ache and odd burning sensation in my neck area - very noticable. I've had an enlarged thyroid with many lumps/goiters for more than 15 years but have not been on hormones before now, should I see and endrocrynologist - can high antibodies mean thyroid cancer?
I saw an EN&T in January to have hearing tests - I've had tinnitus in my left ear for more than 3 years and since Sept. 07, a constant weird vertigo that makes me feel as if I'm tilting tipping dipping lifting and now this ever present head/ear pressure. His tests showed I have no hearing loss which is usually the case with Meniere's, but that doesn't rule it out as a diagnosis according to the EN&T. The full vestibular assessment test at the U of W I'll have done on March 20th will determine if or if not my inner ear is causing the balance problems. The dizziness and head pressure has had me so scared, because I feel so awful, and have felt like I was near death. I went to the ER back in mid Nov. because I thought I was having a stroke or heart attack. That's how the vertigo diagnosis was determined. Unfortunately it's not the spinning with nausea vertigo that goes away in a few hours or days but the type of vertigo that makes me feel like I'm dipping / lifting, tilting / tipping - ALL DAY LONG. I don't feel like I'm going to fall over, and I feel it less when I'm active. Walking really fast helps, but when I slow down or stop - oh boy do I feel it so much stronger. Sitting at a computer for a long length of time is almost unbearable. I have to get up often and move around a bit and I have been doing so writing this email to you. Driving is not too bad, it's just when I come to a stop I feel the dizziness converge. Go figure.....
On top of all this I'm pre-menopausal - just turned 50. I had gone several months without my cycle and was counting the months to total a year without a period, but my cycle kicked back in on Feb 14th. My previous period was in early Nov. Three weeks ago my vitamin D3 levels were tested at 15.1 and they shouldn't be lower than 32.0 and for optimal health closer to 100.0. So I'm on mega doses of Vitamin D. 50,000 IU every 3.5 days for two weeks and then 50,000 IU every 7 days for two more weeks. Thank God I can take that amount of D with one pill (by prescription) and not have to take 50 - 1000 IU pills in one day! Barf! My thyroid issues have severely depleted my calcium levels in my bones. My N - telo/Creat Ratio, Ur H is 79 and should not be greater than 38, so this mega dose of vitamin D and taking calcium citrate along with potassium/magnesium may get me going in the right direction.
I've been trying to keep my sodium intake between >300 mg and <1000 mg, as my EN&T doctor said sodium aggravates Meniere's and suggested until we reach a diagnosis to reduce my salt intake as it might help relieve the dizziness / head pressure symptoms.
I'm desperate to feel better and very frightened. When I was in the ER in Nov, they did a chest x-ray, EKG and CT scan of my head, a neurologist checked that CT scan from Nov and said she saw nothing and didn't see a need for an MRI. I'm so afraid of this balance issue and head pressure, I want her to reconsider the MRI. A coworker suggested I may have a sinus infection? I've not had a runny or plugged up nose.................the EN&T never suggested that route.........
Grateful for any insight you may offer :)
My thyroid levels are in the range of normal TSH - 2.762, T4 - 1.28, T3 - 3.4, but my Anti Thyroglobn is 45.1 (should be between 0.0 and 40.0) my TPO Auto Ab - (antibodies) are 2332.0 yes - in the thousands range - should be between 0.0 - 35.0. I believe this means my immune system is attacking and trying to kill off my Thyroid? I'm on low doses of Thyroid hormone 5 mcg of Cytomel and 25 mcg of Synthroid. Since my TSH, T3, T4 are within normal range my PCP does not want me to get too much and go Hyperthyroid. Hopefully this added Thyroid hormone treatment will help lower the antibodies. I go in for more blood draws tomorrow and see her again on Monday to go over test results. Thyroid problems affect everyone in my family, my mom had the right side of hers removed, my younger sister had Graves disease and had her thyroid irradiated, my ID twin sister was on Synthroid for two years almost 25 years ago, but has not been on Thyroid hormone for more than 23 years as they say her levels are within normal range - (she's getting hers checked again) my younger brother was just diagnosed with being hypothyroid. It been 3 weeks since being on hormones and I'm feeling more ache and odd burning sensation in my neck area - very noticable. I've had an enlarged thyroid with many lumps/goiters for more than 15 years but have not been on hormones before now, should I see and endrocrynologist - can high antibodies mean thyroid cancer?
I saw an EN&T in January to have hearing tests - I've had tinnitus in my left ear for more than 3 years and since Sept. 07, a constant weird vertigo that makes me feel as if I'm tilting tipping dipping lifting and now this ever present head/ear pressure. His tests showed I have no hearing loss which is usually the case with Meniere's, but that doesn't rule it out as a diagnosis according to the EN&T. The full vestibular assessment test at the U of W I'll have done on March 20th will determine if or if not my inner ear is causing the balance problems. The dizziness and head pressure has had me so scared, because I feel so awful, and have felt like I was near death. I went to the ER back in mid Nov. because I thought I was having a stroke or heart attack. That's how the vertigo diagnosis was determined. Unfortunately it's not the spinning with nausea vertigo that goes away in a few hours or days but the type of vertigo that makes me feel like I'm dipping / lifting, tilting / tipping - ALL DAY LONG. I don't feel like I'm going to fall over, and I feel it less when I'm active. Walking really fast helps, but when I slow down or stop - oh boy do I feel it so much stronger. Sitting at a computer for a long length of time is almost unbearable. I have to get up often and move around a bit and I have been doing so writing this email to you. Driving is not too bad, it's just when I come to a stop I feel the dizziness converge. Go figure.....
On top of all this I'm pre-menopausal - just turned 50. I had gone several months without my cycle and was counting the months to total a year without a period, but my cycle kicked back in on Feb 14th. My previous period was in early Nov. Three weeks ago my vitamin D3 levels were tested at 15.1 and they shouldn't be lower than 32.0 and for optimal health closer to 100.0. So I'm on mega doses of Vitamin D. 50,000 IU every 3.5 days for two weeks and then 50,000 IU every 7 days for two more weeks. Thank God I can take that amount of D with one pill (by prescription) and not have to take 50 - 1000 IU pills in one day! Barf! My thyroid issues have severely depleted my calcium levels in my bones. My N - telo/Creat Ratio, Ur H is 79 and should not be greater than 38, so this mega dose of vitamin D and taking calcium citrate along with potassium/magnesium may get me going in the right direction.
I've been trying to keep my sodium intake between >300 mg and <1000 mg, as my EN&T doctor said sodium aggravates Meniere's and suggested until we reach a diagnosis to reduce my salt intake as it might help relieve the dizziness / head pressure symptoms.
I'm desperate to feel better and very frightened. When I was in the ER in Nov, they did a chest x-ray, EKG and CT scan of my head, a neurologist checked that CT scan from Nov and said she saw nothing and didn't see a need for an MRI. I'm so afraid of this balance issue and head pressure, I want her to reconsider the MRI. A coworker suggested I may have a sinus infection? I've not had a runny or plugged up nose.................the EN&T never suggested that route.........
Grateful for any insight you may offer :)
Guys, we all need to know about hashimoto encephalopathy. It is when the thyroid antibodies are attacking your brain too. It is an extremely rare diagnosis but suspected to be grossly under diagnosed and not so rare in occurance. We need to push for recognition of this condition. It is treated with high dose prednisone or other immunosuppresants. The medical community struggles to accept the idea of autoimmune brain stuff. If your hashimoto is causing this and you are fortunate enough to get on treatment it is life changing.
I understand being un- or under-insured, but I think the U/S would be money very well spent. Once you get a diagnosis, the treatment for thyroid disorders is usually quite inexpensive, and the difference it can make in your life is significant. Have the U/S...it's important to know what that lump is all about.
I am 45 years old and starting feeling so dizzy about a week ago. The same day as the dizziness started, I notice that my neck had a golf size lump on it. You could see this visibly without even getting close. I have all of the symptoms that most of you list. Fatigue, irratable, crying (even though on Celexa for the past 10 months). I went to the doctor on Thursday and they said that my thyroid was enlarged and they sent me to the lab for a blood drawer. They also wrote me a script for an ultra sound. The problem is that I do not have insurance and don't know if I should bother with the ultrasound. How serious of an issue could this be? I do feel like crap all of the time and don't want to feel this way any longer but also don't want to bankrupt my family for nothing.
:) thanks for the help again. My doctor didn't say anything about hashi's but like you said I will call and ask. And I'm going to get my results too so I can keep track. When I went to the gyno they suggested an ultra sound because I had 'abnormal cells' in my tummy. So next month I'm going to work on that...and about the exercise I'm going to try too, I'm almost ready to try anything to make it go away. :)
Hashi's is short for Hashimoto's thyroiditis. It's an autoimmune disease that's the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the developed world. Whether you have it can be determined by a blood test to check for the antibodies that your body produces if you have Hashi's.
It's a very good idea to always get the results of all the tests your doctor runs. You can call your doctor and either get the results verbally or ask for a copy. You should keep all your thyroid blood work together so that you have your own personal history available at all times. I put all of mine in a spreadsheet.
Once you get your results, you can post them if you'd like, and members will help you interpret them. If you get your results over the phone, please be sure to ask for reference ranges along with results. Ranges vary lab to lab, so you have to post them along with your results. Also, you might want to post your own new question...sometimes old threads like this one get kind of ignored.
An ultrasound is always a good idea to check for and monitor nodules and swelling. Most of us with Hashi's have nodules. Your doctor might be able to feel them is she palpates your thyroid, but a U/S is more accurate.
My vertigo sent me to the ER as well. I thought I was having a stroke since I knew that I hadn't had the ten drinks too many that would have given me the spins that I had! LOL Try the exercise...it's completely effortless...it might not help, but it won't hurt.
It's a very good idea to always get the results of all the tests your doctor runs. You can call your doctor and either get the results verbally or ask for a copy. You should keep all your thyroid blood work together so that you have your own personal history available at all times. I put all of mine in a spreadsheet.
Once you get your results, you can post them if you'd like, and members will help you interpret them. If you get your results over the phone, please be sure to ask for reference ranges along with results. Ranges vary lab to lab, so you have to post them along with your results. Also, you might want to post your own new question...sometimes old threads like this one get kind of ignored.
An ultrasound is always a good idea to check for and monitor nodules and swelling. Most of us with Hashi's have nodules. Your doctor might be able to feel them is she palpates your thyroid, but a U/S is more accurate.
My vertigo sent me to the ER as well. I thought I was having a stroke since I knew that I hadn't had the ten drinks too many that would have given me the spins that I had! LOL Try the exercise...it's completely effortless...it might not help, but it won't hurt.
3 Comments
Really strange and nightmare health turn. all stated during trip to Cincinnati Ohio trip on may 12 I felt really bad and very weak like flu. So bad that took to wheelchair. But did hit back of head in soft spot on table as I was laying back on air mattress. Was fweling bad before though.Went to er on way back one nurse thought one ear was inflamed he had to dig around and looke good and he looked at tonsils said they were still to inlarged from the tonsillitis I had a month before thought body is still fighting it. But doc the actuly doc did not see me tell very end and said was just fatige tests show fine. Need more done but he would not do it.arge .Just wonding if that virus good have went to ear? Any way little bit better with rest
then all the vertigo and real bads nausa could not eat much for weeks lost 20ilbs.which told bppv no one would do eply had to wait a month to see ent.was given prednisone which put me in more daze and gave real cold bad shakes shot bloodpressure up 170 over 100 somthing and was then give after that that put me in complete brain fog/ weak couldn't thank which stoped after off it for a for few weeks but still don't feel right. so medicine may have prolonged this. Also noticed i was geting dizzy after using sinus rinse. Before trip .Was not as dizzy before and after doing them felt like i might have got water in ears so i shook my head alot. Wish i have never used the rinse.this was before trip. Now having still having a little balance issue but mainly truple with eyes thing i see move give bad feeling and they dont seem to want to focus and there alot blurrer then before all this started matter of fact eye doc first time seeing one said near sighted 20.50 but i know i could see clearer before all this. Also main thing still bothering me is eye thing even somtimes hurt and bothers eyes to look at phone. And can't focus and concentrate to whatch tv and light headed have wooshy swimy head fealing when moving at times.weak in daze feel like i going to faint some days and barly stay to myself like out of not conected to world.some Sorry for long story. Just want to get back to myself and well. Before all this went to Florida in 2016 did 3 theme parks one day no problems was well. Also have seen ent did vng thought bppv but it was a month in to symptoms so nysteagmes had stoped he though had slower moving fluid left side and a tiny nystagmus. So did eply sent home with to to do for left side. No ear pressure showed and no hearing loss becouse seen another ent to who done hearing test. But he almost is saying he don't think it's ears possable butsending me to nuraligist and vrt rehab.also all blood work they have done all the basics plus few others show good no high white blood count. Have had that many times due to er visits. Had ct said fine ultra sound of abdominal and ct showed fine other than fatty lever. Only think I have been told is low vita d 13.4 and scored low on pulmonary stress test which showed low lung capicity 60 67 with inhaler but xray chest clear and test for copd says not predposed. Mid you did not have shot of breath before all mentioned I have spent days crying and so stressed out couse I can't do anything tell .also can't take any inhalers for side effects.all of them. Update recent spirometry came back nomal Any one have any ideas or advice just want life back.
now still swimy type headed light headed have trouble focusing eyes watching movement bothers me ever bad felling or almost some sort of disconnect hard to explain. vission has changed during all this as well. But eye doc says eyes fine just need glasses for nearsightedness 1.50 percription. Cant wear caouse throughs more dizzyness and is just to much on top of everything.Eyes were fine or clearer before all this. Also heart rate is up some days when standing and moving can go all the way 136 to 140 pulse rate. Not always though last few days been down around 100 to 115 some time little lower? Extremely weak last few days again and can't stand to look at motion. Very dizzy lightheaded.
Just looked up latest TSH is 0.37 was 0.89 in may then a few months ago was 0.59
Docs just now taking me seriously. StI'll done so may other tests blood work er visits etc. Now heart in and other of rythem cardo heart doc says. Is this sound like hypothyroidism or adrenal problem doc finely doing tests. But can't get me a to endo unless a dignosses is already made????
then all the vertigo and real bads nausa could not eat much for weeks lost 20ilbs.which told bppv no one would do eply had to wait a month to see ent.was given prednisone which put me in more daze and gave real cold bad shakes shot bloodpressure up 170 over 100 somthing and was then give after that that put me in complete brain fog/ weak couldn't thank which stoped after off it for a for few weeks but still don't feel right. so medicine may have prolonged this. Also noticed i was geting dizzy after using sinus rinse. Before trip .Was not as dizzy before and after doing them felt like i might have got water in ears so i shook my head alot. Wish i have never used the rinse.this was before trip. Now having still having a little balance issue but mainly truple with eyes thing i see move give bad feeling and they dont seem to want to focus and there alot blurrer then before all this started matter of fact eye doc first time seeing one said near sighted 20.50 but i know i could see clearer before all this. Also main thing still bothering me is eye thing even somtimes hurt and bothers eyes to look at phone. And can't focus and concentrate to whatch tv and light headed have wooshy swimy head fealing when moving at times.weak in daze feel like i going to faint some days and barly stay to myself like out of not conected to world.some Sorry for long story. Just want to get back to myself and well. Before all this went to Florida in 2016 did 3 theme parks one day no problems was well. Also have seen ent did vng thought bppv but it was a month in to symptoms so nysteagmes had stoped he though had slower moving fluid left side and a tiny nystagmus. So did eply sent home with to to do for left side. No ear pressure showed and no hearing loss becouse seen another ent to who done hearing test. But he almost is saying he don't think it's ears possable butsending me to nuraligist and vrt rehab.also all blood work they have done all the basics plus few others show good no high white blood count. Have had that many times due to er visits. Had ct said fine ultra sound of abdominal and ct showed fine other than fatty lever. Only think I have been told is low vita d 13.4 and scored low on pulmonary stress test which showed low lung capicity 60 67 with inhaler but xray chest clear and test for copd says not predposed. Mid you did not have shot of breath before all mentioned I have spent days crying and so stressed out couse I can't do anything tell .also can't take any inhalers for side effects.all of them. Update recent spirometry came back nomal Any one have any ideas or advice just want life back.
now still swimy type headed light headed have trouble focusing eyes watching movement bothers me ever bad felling or almost some sort of disconnect hard to explain. vission has changed during all this as well. But eye doc says eyes fine just need glasses for nearsightedness 1.50 percription. Cant wear caouse throughs more dizzyness and is just to much on top of everything.Eyes were fine or clearer before all this. Also heart rate is up some days when standing and moving can go all the way 136 to 140 pulse rate. Not always though last few days been down around 100 to 115 some time little lower? Extremely weak last few days again and can't stand to look at motion. Very dizzy lightheaded.
Just looked up latest TSH is 0.37 was 0.89 in may then a few months ago was 0.59
Docs just now taking me seriously. StI'll done so may other tests blood work er visits etc. Now heart in and other of rythem cardo heart doc says. Is this sound like hypothyroidism or adrenal problem doc finely doing tests. But can't get me a to endo unless a dignosses is already made????
Have lost a total of 40ilbs and still losing.
The above is a duplicate to your other post, which I answered.
Hi, I don't know what Hashi's is but my doctor did my blood work two days ago & I'm on Levothyroxin the generic synthroid. I'm taking 25 mcg. She didn't tell me that I had the goiter or nodules but I will do the research on the benign vertigo. But I went to the hospital & they told me I have vertigo. I've been extremely busy and can't get out of bed. Sometimes I don't want to talk and sometimes any little noise will hurt my head. And thanks for the reply.
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