Thyroid & antibodies

[Nancy0926]

For four years I have had the following symptoms: hair loss, light & irregular menstrual cycles, anxiety, tremor, palpitations/tachy cardia, swelling around the eyes, swelling behind the knees, muscle aches and random muscle twitching, forgetfulness, weight gain (10 lbs.) and fatigue.  Have had lots of tests, seen many doctors and the only thing that is ever found are high counts of thyroid antibodies.  All other thyroid counts are normal.  GYN has ruled out perimenopause as he has tested my hormones every three months.  Saw three neurologists, had brain MRI w/contrast, EMG - no findings.  Have seen three endocrinologists all say I have Hashimotos but anxiety/perimenopause is causing my symptoms not Hashimotos.  Have also seen Rheumatologist and he too does not find anything other than thyroid antibodies.  Have also had abdominal/pelvin ct scan, echocardiogram, stress test.   Latest blood work shows vitamin D deficiency which I have read can be caused by Hashi/Graves disease.   Can Hashimotos be the cause of all of this even though my thyroid tests fall in the normal range?  Thanks for any insight you provide.

[Christy1950]

My you have been through the mill. You would be surprised how many people with thyriod problems also have a vitimin D problem. Vitimin D is also responsible for calcium absorption so these are extremely important to your well being. I would make sure you have a full blood test along these lines and get some good advise how to get your stores of vitimins and minerals back to normal then you will find that a lot of those aches and pains will go away.  bestest

[BethAnn77]

Don't give up.  From Fall 1998 to October 2002 I had the same tests done that you had with the same results.  I was lucky to find a doctor that believed that even though my numbers fell in the recommened area that I still had a thyroid problem.  He also believed that the thyroid problem was causing my perimenopause (even though I had to go through a lot of tests to prove that nothing else was causing the problems).  In early 2002 he sent me to a surgeon who he felt was an expert on thyroid issues as the surgeon had had thyroid cancer and his thyroid removed.  I had to have some test redone as it had been a few years and he wanted to compare them.  I also saw 2 different endocrinologists who told me that the problems were in my head and wanted to put me on anti-depressants, which I refused.  I began to have almost constant problems swallowing and I could not lay done for more than 2 to 3 hours a night as I was having trouble breathing.  I slept sitting up in a chair.  Finally in early October 2002 my doctor contacted an acquaintance to discuss my case.  This doctor wanted to know what my antibody level was.  Funny enough with ALL the blood tests that were done over the years no one had run this test.  The results showed that my level was almost 4 times the normal level.  Needless to say I had surgery one week later and had 2/3 of my throid removed.  My body is slowly killing what is left of my thyroid and I'll be on medicine the rest of my life.  I take all natural Armour Thyroid.  Even though it's been 5 years since my surgery I still have to deal with the antibody issues and problems they cause, i.e. random muscle aches and pains, muscle twitching, if I'm on my feet for long periods of time my legs ache the next day.  I'm told that I will most likely have them to some extent for the rest of my life.  I can deal with that and with having blood tests done every 3 months to test my levels.  My metabolism is shut down and will probably stay that way till the rest of my thyroid dies - but I've weighed the same since surgery and I'm ok with that.  Again, don't give up keep looking for a doctor who will listen to you.  I'm very happy that I was originally put on Armour Thyroid back in 2000 as I immediately started to feel better.  Good luck.  

[stella5349]

Yes very common can you post the blood results you had done?