Does anyone have Balance problems ?

[iloveowls]

Has anyone had balance problems associated with their hypothyroidsim? My mom has severe balance problems. Feels like she is being pulled to the floor on her right side. She needs to use a walker it has gotten so bad.
5 Weeks ago her TSH was 54,   Free T4 <5.0 (10.5-20.0),   Free T3 <1.69 (3.5-6.5),   Thyroperoxidase AB  6
( <35).

Shes been on ERFA since and has improved a lot but not balance. Currently her TSH  is 9.5,   Free T4 11.5 and Free T3 at  3.2.

Any acknowledgement and help would be appreciated. THANKS!

[iloveowls]

Thank you Red Star. It sounds like you went through a lot of suffering.. So very glad to read that has passed now and you are feeling better! You are an encouragement and wonderful testimony.
My mom also had the shortness of breath mainly at night, but not always, It seems to have gotten better, I think, one of a few things that have improved. I hope she improves like you have and doesn't have any complications that could depress any progress. I think we will get her RT3 and cortisol tested just in case next time.

Thanks for sharing. You really opened up the doors to new knowledge when you posted. Thank you again so much!

[Red_Star]

I was losing my balance on and off at random. It wasn't severe like your mother's though.  I did have severe bradypnea with severe shortness of breath though and I had to start thyroxine immediately so I had no time to treat my adrenals first.  I knew I would have to ride out the symptoms of untreated adrenals but I didn't realise how bad it would be. Not only did my existing hypothyroid symptoms worsen but my adrenals were also taxed further. I felt like I had been hit by a truck and was on drugs and I was in bed for most of the 5 weeks that followed. I remember my sister coming in to talk to me and I could barely move or speak and was able to slur out a few words. After 5 weeks I was feeling so much better than I did prior to medication.

I don't recall any obvious balance issues after those 5 weeks however I recall my tandem gait test was still not great but better than it was. I can't recall exactly how long it took to pass that test but it was quite some time - many months I think.

[Red_Star]

Yes I had this symptom. I wrote this answer yesterday actually about balance so I'll repost it...

When I corrected my thyroid levels my cerebellar ataxia eventually went away. The neurological test for cerebellar ataxia is the tandem gait test. I could not pass this test before but now I can.  If you want to see a demo on youtube search: Normal Gait Examination : Tandem Gait.  

"The long-recognized association between cerebellar ataxia and hypothyroidism has been termed "myxedema staggers" and is said to occur in up to 10 percent of cases of hypothyroidism (see Lancet 1960; 2:225)."

[iloveowls]

Hi Red Star. I actually did read your post after I sent my post. I had never heard that term used before and googled it for several hours! That video demo was so similar to how my mom's balance is. She has to use a walker it is so bad and leaves her severely disabled.

[iloveowls]

Hi Red Star. I actually did read your post after I sent my post. I had never heard that term used before and googled it for several hours! That video demo was so similar to how my mom's balance is. She has to use a walker it is so bad and leaves her severely disabled.

[iloveowls]

Oops somehow posted twice and didn't finish! I wanted to ask you how bad yours was ? Also what did you use NDT to correct it ? At what point did it go away? Was it just when you hit the optimal mark and not before ? Thanks!

[iloveowls]

Red Star, did you have to use any adrenal support ?

[gimel]

I have not had any direct experience with that; however, from a very long list of symptoms that can be related to hypothyroidism, this is one listed section.  

Other Related Conditions:

    Adrenal Fatigue
    Anemia
    Hyponatremia (low blood sodium)
    Lack of coordination
    Clumsiness
    Tendency to fall
    Dizziness
    Fainting episodes
    Vertigo
    Tremor
    Growth disturbances in children
    Chronic allergies
    Chemical sensitivities
    Restless Leg Syndrome
    Rhabdomyolysis (destruction of skeletal muscle)
    Scoliosis
    Osteoporosis
    Hernia

Just looking at her test results, her Free T4 and Free T3 are way too low in the range.  Free T4 should be at the middle of the range, at minimum, and Free T3 in the upper part of its range, as needed to relieve  hypo symptoms.  In addition, hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin.  If not tested for those she should do so and supplement as needed to optimize.  D should be about 55-60, B12 in the upper part of its range so, and ferritin should be about 70 minimum.  

[iloveowls]

Thanks Gimel very much. I am hoping that once she reaches those optimum levels we will see some significant improvements regarding her balance problems. I need to still get her Vitamin D tested. Thank you for those numbers!!