Can hypothyroid make a person pass out ??

[AJWS6]

Hi,
I just returned from the ER, my blood test returned normal, my thyroid blood work will not return for 24 hours.  I've had an enlarged thyroid for 2 years and no answers.  I have a thyroid uptake scan the 13th of Jan.  

Anyway's, I was wondering if a person can pass out, or feel so weak they have to lay down from thyroid condition ??

I was feeling fine today, then all of the sudden I just felt incredibly tired, exhausted, my legs started shaking, bad head pressure, tinnitus, dizzy, had no control over eye movements, and felt extremely weak, I was about to pass out, but I kept pushing myself & finally called my mom to take me to the ER.  

After talking to the doc at the ER, I passed out.  After sleeping for an hour, I woke up and feeling fine again.  The Doc said thyroid conditions can cause a person to feel that exhausted, but I was also wondering if anyone else experience this type of weakness, exhaustion, etc.....  

Thanks for any feedback    

[gimel]

If you only have one test result I assume it is for TSH, correct?  If so, that is totally inadequate.  TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many things that it it is totally inadequate as the sole diagnostic for thyroid status.
TSH doesn't even correlate well with the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3 (not the same as Total T4 and Total T3).  

So, to really understand your thyroid status, you really need to test for Free T4, Free T3, cortisol, Vitamin D,  B12 and ferritin.  Can you get those done?

[gimel]

That link got cut off when I posted the comment.  Try this link.

https://tinyurl.com/y8k2zswb

[gimel]

This is so frustrating.  My prior comment did not post.  

I just said that if you want to confirm what I have said, read at least the first two pages of the link, and more if you want to get into the discussion and scientific evidence for all that is recommended.  

[gimel]

With hypothyroidism, the most important consideration for assessment is symptoms.  What, if any, other symptoms do you have?  Next consideration is biochemical test results.  Please post your thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report.   What thyroid medication are you taking and what is your daily dosage?   By "under control', what does that mean for you?

[TiTi_Page]

For me my normal range is like 2-5 where before It was  unmeasurable.  'under control' is where my numbers are in Range.

[TiTi_Page]

Symptoms include dizzyness, blacking out, falling to the ground, confusion.

[gimel]

I'll be happy to try and assess your thyroid status, but to do so I need to know your actual thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report.   You said,  "For me my normal range is like 2-5, where before it was unmeasurable."  What test is that?   Just being within range does not mean optimal for you.   First because the ranges are far too large to be functional for everyone, second because everyone can be different as to what levels work best for them, and third, some tests are more important than others.

So in the future you need to make sure they always test for Free T4 and Fee T3.    
Optimal levels for those are Free T4 at least  mid-range, and Free T3 in the upper half of its range.  Hypothyroid patients are also frequently deficient in Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, so those need to be tested as well, and then supplemented as needed to optimize.  Since cortisol levels can also affect thyroid hormone, you should get that tested at least once to make sure it is okay.

[TiTi_Page]

Thanks. My TSh was 3.47 with a reference range of .4-4.5
My free T3 was 2.4 with range of 2.3-4.2
And my free T4 was 1.5 with range of .8-1.8

[gimel]

Although there could be other issues, the first thing that needs to be addressed is that  your Free T3 is way too low.  Your Free T4 is adequate but  your body is not converting T4 to T3 very well.   Free T3 is the biologically active  thyroid hormone used by cells throughout the body.  Even though your Free T3 is within range, it is only about 5% of the range, which is much too low for most people.   Through much experience we have found that it is best to have Free 4 about mid-range, and Free T3 in the upper half of the range, and adjusted from there as needed to relieve symptoms.  

Hypothyroidism is best defined as "insufficient T3 effect in tissues throughout the body, due to inadequate supply of, or response to, thyroid hormone".  So in addition to needing sufficient T3, you also need to have sufficient Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin.  
You need to test for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin and then supplement as needed to optimize.  D should be at least 50 ng/mL, B12 in the upper end of its range, and ferritin should be at least 100.  Ferritin is also an important variable affecting conversion of T4 to T3.  

So I think the first thing you need to do is to get the following tests done:  cortisol, Vitamin D, B12, ferritin, and Reverse T3 along with Free T3 again from same blood draw.   If you can get those done, that will provide a lot more information about what needs to be done for you.

.

[gimel]

I meant to mention that if you want to confirm what I have said, please read at least the first two pages of the following link.  Then if you read further you will find lots of info on this, including extensive scientific evidence.

http://www.thyroiduk.org/tuk/TUK_PDFs/The%20Diagnosis%20and%20Treatment%20of%20Hypothyroidism%20%20August%202017%20%20Update.pdf

[TiTi_Page]

Thank you! I go at the end of this month for labs, so I will make sure those tests are included. I would really like to get to the bottom of my blackouts (syncope & collapse), as they have been going on since June of 2017 and we're happening on a monthly basis sometimes a few times a month. Recently I started skipping months, going every other month without an episode, and now I haven't had one since February; although I had like 4 episodes that month, some a few times in just one day.

[TiTi_Page]

I'm 31, and have been admitted to the ER twice in 6 months for blackouts/syncope & collapse. I too have hypothyroidism. I was diagnosed at the age of 14. My thyroid was never really "under control" untill recently. But at the same time I've had about 15-20 blackouts since June 2017 and I've seen every doctor possible and no one can figure it out. I've had MRI, MRA, EEG, EKG, EGG, TILT TEST...you name the test, and more than likely I've had it done. Anyways I'm a medical mystery and I would like to get to the bottom of this.

[Shellylynn529]

I know the feeling you are all going through. About a year ago I started having episode with the loud ringing in the ears, loss of hearing and vision, dizzy nauseated, but I always feel like my body is trying to short circuit it's weird and if I don't lay down like I am going to pass out. Then low and behold the other day I stood up and woke back up on the couch. It would be nice to know what is going on. They did up a bunch of labs, if no answer there then it's off for scan. I wish you all luck in finding out your answers.

[cdm93]

I am 19 and when i passed out the first time I was brushed off and told I was yound and just dehydrated. And when I went to the doctor he told me there was nothing he could do about it that he didn't know what test to run to narrow down what was wrong with me. I mad it 3 months before I had another episode. This time was like the first. I felt fine and the next thing I knew I was in the bathroom extremely nauseated and really dizzy. Before I knew it I was in an ambulance. When I got to the hospital the doctor told me that my blood pressure had been up for a while and that it had done mild damage to my heart. And also my thyroid was out of order. I have hypothyroidism. Not sure if that's exactly what made me pass out. But it would help if the doctors didn't brush it off either.

[areenie]

Oh my gosh!! I hope you set up an appointment soon! You really need to see an endocrinologist. Your condition sounds scary. I have the passing out feelings but I never really pass out. I have hypothyroidism too. I wouldn't be too picky about which endocrinologist, I'd just get to the one who can get you in the quickest. I'm sure you'll probably have to call your primary care physician to get a referral. Let me know how you are doing.

[starkey1979]

hello people i know exactly what you are all talking about i have been passing out for about 30 years and been through dozens of tests for every thing under the sun but to no avail.  when i pass out i feel like a cramping in my stomach and my arms and legs go all jellied then a buzzy sound rings in my ears and my vision tunnels out and down i go.  mostly i feel it coming on and have a feeling like i should be laying down ( as close to the floor as possible)  but recently some episodes happen so quickly i just fall down.  theyve done every test under the sun for seizures but the only thing they can find is very low thyriod levels but my doctor still wont even give my hypothyriodism a second thought because they said my levels are now in the "normal range" with the help of mega doses of levothyroxine.  is there any one out there that knows of a GOOD endochronologist that may be able to help.  ive had 2 seperate episodes now where theyve had to give me CPR to revive me and im getting scared please help!!!!

[TiTi_Page]

I'm 30 and have blacked out 20 or more times in less than 6 monthd. Same result in the end...I'm normal. All test come back normal except thyroid. Doctors don't know what it is.

[AJWS6]

Hi,
Hope you feel better soon.  I can relate to what your sharing.  The other night, I lost all contol over my legs, just felt super weak and about to pass out.  

I get the falling feeling alot, it's anxiety in my case, I was told today, I was extremely hyperthyroid.  But I alway's feel as if I am falling out of an airplane, or riding on a roller coaster I don't want to be on, all I can do is lay in bed, clinch my teeth and squeeze a pillow, Lord I hate that feeling, it usually last for about an hour, then slowly subsides.  

I have read alot of people, have these types of feelings, from anxiety attacks.  But as soon as I start treatment for hyper, hopefully those feelings subside.  

Thanks for sharing your experience, and good luck to you !

[hcurrie]

i get so weak that like all of a sudden i lose almost complete control over my leg s or arm it feels like a falling type of feeling or how you feel when someone startals you, and then im like jello it is all i can do to make it somewhere to sit down sometimes i get it when i lay down to, feels like im gonna pass  out to sometimes, and also i get numb in the face eyebrow legs or wherever -

[AJWS6]

Sorry to hear of your accident, good to know that your okay.  I get the pass out feeling a few times a week, rest usually helps my energy levels.  

But sometimes, I'll be doing something, like typing on the computer, I'll be so tired, I'll wake up and won't remember what I was doing.  But the ER doc, said that thyroid condition can make a person feel that exhausted.  

Well I was hoping for more experiences from members, but at the same time, happy that passing out is not shared by many.  

Thanks for replying.  

[Kim1013]

I had a very weird experience while walking to work from my car.  As I stepped off the curb to cross a major road, all I remember is getting up and wiping the dirt off my knee.  I seriously thought I passed out because there wasn't any to trip on or stumble over.  So I understand your concern.

[TiTi_Page]

I've done this over 20 times in a matter of 6 months. Doctors don't know what it is. They've done every test possible. All comes back normal except my blood work for my thyroid.

[AJWS6]

Hi Stella,
The hospital does a complete blood work up & thyroid panel, but the results of the thyroid blood work takes 24 hours.  

I don't have low blood sugar, but do have symptoms occassionally.  I am pre-diabetic, type II, but not on any medication.  My blood sugars are more elevated then low.
Thanks  

[AJWS6]

That's exactly how I felt last night.  I was over exhausted.  Even after sleeping 12 hours.  

Usually when I feel tired, I just lay down for a bit and get back up, but yesturday, I felt worse when I stood back up, I felt like passing out.  

The nurse taking my blood tonight, said I was dehyrdrated, my veins were thin.  

Sometimes after feeling super tired, I'll eat or drink soda and get a burst of energy.  

I hope my thyroid uptake has an answer on Tuesday.  Thanks for all your help and info.        

[stella5349]

I agree with Red - that can happen in thyroid disease - but other things could be causing that too.

I right away thought of low blood sugar too.

What blood work did you have done?

[redheadaussie]

Oooooh yes! I have been like that for over 15 years! Just yesterday I was fine doing some ebay selling then suddenly WHAM! Had to go lie down and glad I did, only just made it to the bed when I fell into it and woke an hour later.
   Your blood pressure probably dropped alot. I got told to up the water intake during the day as hypos tend to have a very slow metabolism and need hydrating often. The way the body slows all the functions down too is a mechanism for coping with the extra demand on it. So by sleeping your heart rate slows down, etc...bit like a bear going into hibernation, which is how the body wants to be...all slowed down.
  The other thing it could have been is a sugar low too. I get them every now and then and have to remember to eat something like a hard boiled lolly.
  Hope you get better soon!