LymeNet Flash: Thyroid and Lyme symptoms.

This is topic Thyroid and Lyme symptoms. in forum General Support at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by ELymeNancy (Member # 4930) on :

I am due to have surgery on November 10 to remove my thyroid. I am also being treated for Lyme Disease (for over a year). I am wondering if anyone knows if symptoms of Lyme with all the aches and pains can also be symptoms of Thyroid problems.
Thanks,
Nancy

Posted by minoucat (Member # 5175) on :

There seems to be a correlation for some people -- not sure what it is, but LD does seem to have a strong negative effect on the thyroid, and on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal function in general.

Riversinger knows a great deal about this topic -- suggest you post with her name in your subject line, same questions.

Thyroid problems are horrid -- so sorry you have to go through this. The sx of thyroid problems can be very similar to LD.

See http://www.thyroid.ca/Articles/EngE10F.html

CFIDS (and LD) and Thyroid
http://cassia.org/essay.htm
From this site: "Increasingly, I am encountering thyroid disease in LD. A local endocrinologist has remarked to me privately that the incidence of thyroid involvement in LD may be greater than expected from the normal population. A final judgement awaits formal statistical analysis. In many of these patients, the thyroid dysfunction was seen to originate in the pituitary or hypothalmus. Remaining alert to the possibility of thyroid disease is essential because there can be considerable clinical overlap with LD. Subacute thyroiditis is the most prevalent thyroid phenomenon I see in LD. Hypoadrenalism can uncommonly develop. Uncorrected hormonal aberrations can vitiate otherwise effective LD therapy. Like any infection, LD can provoke the onset of hyperglycemia and alter the facility with which diabetes is managed."

Posted by riversinger (Member # 4851) on :

Just getting to this. Minoucat tipped me off, but then I couldn't get on Lymenet at all.

Yes, Nancy, many of the symptoms of Lyme disease are also symptoms of thyroid disease. You can have one, or both at the same time. If you have both, you have to treat both to get better.

Why are they removing your thyroid? Are they removing the entire thing?

On the thyroid boards, the most knowledgeable people say that it can take time to get full recovery. You can get improvements for as long as two years AFTER you get onto the proper dose of thyroid replacement, which in itself can take time.

I highly recommend you check out the website and forums of http://thyroid.about.com . I've learned a tremendous amount there, and read some inspiring stories of improvements possible. I haven't had thyroid surgery myself, so only know a little about it, but you'll find many there with good info.

Just be sure to also treat the Lyme. There is some suspician that thyroid issues can be due to infection. I don't know if that is what has caused mine, as Hashimoto's runs in my family, but it is clear to me I have to take care of both.

The good news is that as I get enough thyroid hormone, I think my body has more strength to fight the bacteria.

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Sonoma County Lyme Support
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