Thyrotoxic storm episode.

[Biker08]

After a year of doctor visits and tests, I believe I experienced a thyrotoxic storm in November 2007.  It occurred after my first ever chirporactic adjustment, and was characterized by five continuous days of 1) fever, 2) heart rate often >160 bpm, 3) blood pressure >150/110, and 4) headaches.  After symptoms disappeared, I was (and still am) left with sensitivity to warmth, excess perspiration, and some light sensitivity at night.  Thyroid chemistry was declared normal by an endocrinologist.  Various imaging scans and blood work came up normal.  

I am athletic, and actively mountain bike, so I consider myself in above average health.

I hate to sound paranoid, but I want to know the source of this entire package of symptoms.  No one has an answer yet.

Any suggestions or direction, please?

[Biker08]

Hi Laura-

Actually, I am a man, so I'm not sure why FSH and LH were tested.  I don't even know their meaning...?  If there are other thyroid-pertinent analytes, let me know, and I'll see if the report shows them.    

Here are data from above, along with the "acceptable" ranges (in parentheses):

DHEA sulfate: 150 mcg/dl  (110-370)
FSH: 0.9 mIU/mL (1.6-8.0)
LH: 1.8 mIU/mL (1.5-9.3)
TSH, 3rd generation: 1.27 mIU/L  (0.40-4.50)
Vit B12: 747 pg/mL (200-1100; doc says >1000 preferred)
Folate, serum: 13/2 ng/mL  (normal > 5.4)
T3, free: 325 pg/dL (230-420)
Testosterone, total: 307 ng/dL (245-1836)
Testosterone, free: 9.0 dg/mL (12.4-40.0)
Testosterone, % free: 0.3 (0.20-0.68)
Vitamin D, 25-hydroxy, total: 26 ng/mL (doc prefers 50-70)
Candida albicans:
IGG: 1.0 (antibody detected if > or = 1.0)
IGA: 0.8 (same)
IGM: 1.1 (same)

So, I guess the only normal-looking components above are the T3, TSH, and folate contents, as they're in the middle of the acceptable ranges, respectively.  All other analytes are below acceptable range, or near the low points.  The last three "IGX" terms basically suggest Candida infection, but I believe my current prescription is addressing this issue.

Hair analysis showed the following as elements of highest concern, with "acceptable" minimums in parentheses:

Aluminum = 9.1 ppm (<12 ppm)
Arsenic = 0.11 ppm (<0.12 ppm)
Uranium = 0.067 ppm (<0.060 ppm) -- this one is very strange...never appeared before in annual tests dating back to 2002...I work in a chemical company, but should not have exposure to this element.
Also, I do drink reverse osmosis water every day, so I know I'm avoiding contaminated aquifers, which tend to be sources of arsenic.
In addition, I had my silver/mercury amalgam fillings replaced in 2005, and found my mercury dropping rapidly thereafter.  It's now at 0.21 ppm (<1.1 ppm), which is great, as it was around 1.1 in 2002.  Just an FYI, as this is a troublesome element for health, and I know it's important to mention at some point.

Essential elements that were "low" are listed, with "acceptable" ranges in parentheses:

Phosphorus = 200 ppm (250-400)
Cobalt = 0.010 ppm (0.013-0.050)
Germanium = 0.027 ppm (0.045-0.065)

Thanks for your attention and help!
Biker08

[laura1967]

Yes the herx reaction is a positive sign you are on the rt path.....the problem is if it is chronic lymes the one round and rotation of antibiotics is not enough. It would be worth finding a lymes disease specialist in your area, as they really are the only ones that truly know how to handle and treat lymes. Especially when it has become chronic and neurologic. I even did the uno de gato (peruvian cats claw) for 3 months.....that helped greatly for a while, but since then all the protocol is calling for treatment for up to 1 yr at least....even for the natural approaches. The other thing is the co-infections as well. The testing out there for lymes stinks! They usually do show up false negative, especially if you are chronic.  I am working on the thyroid and hashi's first, and then I am going to hit the lymes again with a Lymes Specialist I found, when the $ allows it. I have horrible insurance.  
Which of your labs are low normal? Always post the lab ranges with your blood results as labs vary. Your tsh isn't bad unless you have hashi's....then you want it to be as close to .50 as your body can handle. Your free t3 is mid range and decent. I take it you are a female since you had an FSH and LH done? B12 level is good. Unfortunately with Lymes and co-infections our blood tests always "look good" !  My hormone levels are all over the place though.....early perimenopause.....I blame it on hashi's and Lymes.
Are you low on vit d, testosterone and folate? Need lab ranges on those and the dhea..lol
Vitamin deficiency along with minerals is a biggy with chronic illness such as lymes.....should have a complete metabolic panel done.......what did your hair analysis show for your mineral levels? Toxicity levels?
Look forward to hearing more! :)

[Biker08]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback.

Sally, I do have annual blood/hair analysis done, and have for the past six years.  Thankfully my doctor is fairly thorough on being a preventative maintenance kind of physician.

Stella, I can honestly say I am not hyper, but that was worth noting in light of the symptoms.

Laura, you raised some very insightful points.  I have never been tested for Graves' or Hashimoto's diseases.  I'll check into that.  Also, I did have suspicions about the biking environment.  It was in the midst of 2007 summer training that I began to feel sluggish.  Then, the chiropractic adjustment in the fall of '07 led to the "storm".  Lyme disease had been tested about four times since 2002, and this last test was no more conclusive that the others.  However, I recently had a slight bout with day chills and numbness.  That was the tipping point. I decided to go on doxycycline/amoxicillin/nystatin, per doctor's consistent advice.  I had a herx reaction the first day, and now my energy is up, and no chills/numbness.  Lyme is suspected based on the herx, but what a weird way to find out (there are so many false positives/negatives out there with these tests, apparently).  The warmth/perspiration is still present.

Here are my most recent summer blood test data (which an endocrinologist said were "fine"):

DHEA sulfate: 150 mcg/dl
FSH: 0.9 mIU/mL
LH: 1.8 mIU/mL
TSH, 3rd generation: 1.27 mIU/L
Vit B12: 747 pg/mL
Folate, serum: 13/2 ng/mL
T3, free: 325 pg/dL
Testosterone, total: 307 ng/dL
Testosterone, free: 9.0 dg/mL
Testosterone, % free: 0.3
Vitamin D, 25-hydroxy, total: 26 ng/mL
Candida albicans:
IGG: 1.0
IGA: 0.8
IGM: 1.1

Strangely, as I see the prescribed reference ranges, I am actually low on some of these items, or below the lower threshold.  Hmm.

[laura1967]

Also I want to add: Did you get tested for graves or hashimotos???  
Another thought...you mountain bike and are probably in the grass/ or wood areas too...could you have gotten bit by a tick and not know it? Sometimes people get extrememely ill for a week after the bite and never see a bulls eye rash or the tick at all. I know.....it happened to me.
You definately need to get copies of your bloodwork and post them here with the lab ranges.

[stella5349]

I experienced thyroid storming in late 2003. My situation was close to yours but I was almost in a seizure state along with a fast heart rate and throwing up. It was like I was losing all control of my bodily functions - ( if you get what I mean)

I needed medication injected by IV to stop. It's pretty hard to talk about it - thinking back.

Now before that episode - I was extremely hyper Graves and had a high heart rate of over 120 - sweated all the time - sick feeling extemely anxious and very trembly. Couldn't sleep at all either.

Could you just be hyper? Only looking at your labs could really tell this for sure.

[Super_sally888]

Do you know what your levels actually were.
If they were really ok, it is hard to blame thyroid for continuing symptoms....
Have you had a general checkup? I pressume you have.

Our bodies are a mystery sometimes and we have to live in them, while continuing to be vigilant and search for answers.

I think I've come to realise that medical science can be good for obvious things, but a lot of things we just have to get used to our own bodies and how they work, take charge and live as healthy as we can - and call the drs. if there really is something obvious....