Looking for a diagnosis!

[dana_8142]

I know it's crazy, but I am looking for a diagnosis.  I have felt like #$%! for a long time, and I am tired of being told I am crazy!  Here are my symptoms:

Scratchy throat (especially when I sing - it makes me cough)  I have been to an ENT for this who stuck a camera down my throat and said everything looks terrific and there is no sign of reflux.

Strange feeling in my throat, almost like someone has there hands around my throat and is squeezing slightly.  I don't feel like I am choking, just kind of "sqeezed"

I get a "knot" in my throat very easily, as a matter of fact it is very painful to cry at times. - and when I cry my voice gets very "raspy"

Fatigue - I never feel like I have "restorative" sleep.

Dark circles under my eyes

Pale skin, easy bruising

Joint pain (especially in my knees, some in my big toe which could be gout)

Numbness in my hands

Terrible mood swings

Memory loss

Thinning hair

Dry skin

Dark smelly urine

Low potassium levels

Oh, and here is the best one - I felt FANTASTIC when I was pregnant!  I wish I could be pregnant all the time!

Now, on top of all this I think you should know I do have a Chiari malformation with a syrinx, however I have seen numerous docs including a chiari specialist and they all believe my chiari is asymptomatic.  So please help - is this my thyroid?

P.S. I was just at the doc on wednesday - I had her check my thyroid, she says it is fine.

[patti103]

I read your message that you were looking for a diagnosis. The similarities I saw between your symptoms and mine are significant. I have CM1, but also Celiac's. I don't know if you've ever been tested for it. I was reading a blog by Dr. Bologanese - not sure if that's spelled right, but he said there is an interesting amount of people with CM that also have celiac's disease. (link: http://www.chiariconnectioninternational.com/question2.php) I also read that the pressure from the cerebral fluid can affect the hypothalamus.  I too have all the signs of hormone problems, but all my tests come back normal. (Except one) - Doc gave me a 24 hr. urine test- dopamine came back high. That is released by the hypothalamus. I hope this helps. Maybe we can help one another.

[Smilerdeb]

Ask your Doctor for your blood results and post them here.
What may be NORMAL for her, may not be normal for you.
Also ask her to test you for Graves Disease and Hasimoto antibodies.
Sounds like thyroid to me.
Hope that helps.

[Avallon]

I can vouch for having throat/vocal cord issues. I will get raspy or hoarse easily by merely talking. And I often get a tickle in my throat that makes me cough. Sometimes at night while trying to sleep I will suddenly cough due to a sudden tickle. Also, as far as TRYING hold a tune, I will often loose what ability I have due to getting vocally tired or something happens (perhaps swelling of vocal cords). I guess I simply was not born with vocal cords that can handle it.

[AJWS6]

Hi,
Sorry to read, your not feeling well.  But I sure can understand what your feeling.  I had multitude of symptoms & many tests, for the past 2.5 years, before hyperthyrodism was confirmed.

The medical profession can be very slow at times, trying to figure out, what's making a patient not feel well.

Keep your chin up, relax, try to be patient, and soon your answers will come.  

Good luck to you !!!