posted
Boy what a mess!!! I have been so sick the last couple months. Five weeks a go I didn't feel good and was having bad heart palpitations, so I called and asked for a TSH, it came back .5 so they told me to stop taking Synthroid. I have hashimoto's, hypo thyroid, a goiter with nodules.
They rechecked it five weeks later, which was last week, and my TSH is now 115.60, it's suppose to be around 2. Saw the endro doctor today and I have to go back on Synthroid. He said he thinks there is something wrong with my heart. My pulse and blood pressure have gone nuts since I've had thyroid problems.
Well I thought it was from my thyroid going nuts, but he doesn't think so.
Should I call my LLMD about this, am I suppose to?? I don't know if it has anything to do with Lyme. I'm sooooo tired of all this!!!
Kathy
-------------------- You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. Posts: 807 | From South Dakota | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Lyme definitely affects the thyroid.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
| IP: Logged |
Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
I've had Hashimoto's for years, long before Lyme. I was always stable on Synthroid, but for the first time in years, my TSH is abnormal.
My LLMD says that Lyme competes with thyroid for the binding receptor sites. Yes, Lyme can affect the thyroid, pituitary, etc.
Yes, call your LLMD and fax the test results to him. He can look at the situation in relation to Lyme, versus an internist or endocrinologist who may have no knowledge of Lyme and the thyroid.
He wants me to have Free TSH tested in addition to what my regular doctors do which is standard thyroid panel. I am waiting to do that. I think it has something to do with Lyme affecting T3, not just T4, but I need to read up on it.
My internist's nurse also told me that Synthroid dosages can often need to be changed when one is on lots of medications. My TSH went abnormal on Bicillin, so perhaps it is a reaction to being on a stronger antibiotic.
Please post what you find out and good luck. I think many of us are in a similar situation.
Jill
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
| IP: Logged |
Thanks for the info. I'm going to look into the web-site. I'm also going to call my lyme doctor first thing in the morning.
The only test I ever get done here is a TSH. I can't get anyone to run any other. I had tests done several years a go but I guess they think nothing ever changes?!
Thanks, Kathy
-------------------- You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. Posts: 807 | From South Dakota | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
T3 free and T4 free tests should be done concurrently with TSH.
Infections sometimes cause a problem with T3 causing reverse T3 and sometimes only T3 suppimentation is needed. There is a special test for reverse t3.
-------------------- Nori Posts: 109 | From Virginia | Registered: Mar 2006
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Nori: T3 free and T4 free tests should be done concurrently with TSH.
Infections sometimes cause a problem with T3 causing reverse T3 and sometimes only T3 suppimentation is needed. There is a special test for reverse t3.
I'm suppose to get another TSH and T4 test in 2 months. Maybe my lyme doctor will have better advice. I don't think I've ever had a T3.
Kathy
-------------------- You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. Posts: 807 | From South Dakota | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
tabbytamer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3159
posted
Free T3 and Free T4 tests are what my endocrinologist runs as well as my LLMD.
My TSH levels bounce all over the place. I also have Hashimotos, but I think as a result of the Lyme.
My LLMD said that my thyroid is showing signs of dying out probably due to babesia and that mepron (if I ever get it approved by insurance) can help with big improvements with thyroid issues.
posted
My LLMD said that my thyroid is showing signs of dying out probably due to babesia and that mepron (if I ever get it approved by insurance) can help with big improvements with thyroid issues. [/QB][/QUOTE]
Tabby, Thanks, I wish I would have known this several years a go. My Endro said yesterday that he thought my thyroid was dead.
Kathy
-------------------- You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. Posts: 807 | From South Dakota | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
If I got any other info with my thyroid besides now having hashimotos; I typed it up & posted it there. Check it out..might help you.
Bettyg [/QB][/QUOTE]
Thanks Betty, I'll check it out!!
Kathy
-------------------- You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. Posts: 807 | From South Dakota | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
riversinger
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4851
posted
I also have Hashi's along with Lyme and coinfections. I was having trouble with palpiations as well, and at first we thought that my thyroid supplemantation was too much.
However, my T3 levels were extremely low, even though my T4 levels were in the high normal range. We found that I actually needed to increase by hormone supplementation, but with T3 rather than T4. Synthroid only supplies T4. This may not be your problem, but I have heard other people who had similar problems.
I also recommend that if you change doses, that you do it very slowly. I added T3 in 2.5 mcg increments, and gave my body time to adjust between changes. This meant I had to cut the tablets in half, but it was worth it.
As far as TSH, my doctor believes that people with Hashimoto's should have a suppressed TSH, meaning below 1. Mine has been as low as .03. We go by symptoms and free T4 and free T3 levels, rather than the TSH.
I am now taking 3 grains of Armour thyroid, which supplies T3 and T4, and doing quite well. I rarely have palpiations these days, and there is usually a clear cause for them when they do come.
posted
I also was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis but about 15 years ago. The dr. said it did not need to be treated and I went on my merry little way.
Before my western blot confirmed Lyme I was convinced it was my thyroid. all my tests came back in the normal range however.
My PCP was willing to give me a low dose of thyroid hormone. It did help with my mental fog and depression.
But I decided to go off it when I found out about the Lyme. I thought I should just focus on abx. But maybe that is a mistake???
I find it odd that so many of us have thyroid issues and lyme.
Does anyone know of a site or thread that will explain the link betweeen the two in more detail??
Thanks
Posts: 58 | From boston | Registered: Apr 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
Lyme disease can trigger autoimmune thyroid disease. It has something to do with the size of some Borrelia proteins being the same size as thyroid antigens.
As others have said, TSH is not the whole story. I've found a lot of information on Mary Shoman's About.com website.
Your palpitations could have been from the infection and not from the thyroid hormone. I had them when my TSH was totally normal.
In fact, while .5 is low, it's above being hyperthyroid, which I think is below .3. It's weird that you were taken off the hormone--it would seem you just needed to reduce the dose, then check TSH again.
You definitely need some medical help on this, because your TSH is really high now!
You might feel better taking Armour. Not very many doctors prescribe it, but it would be worth looking into.
Posts: 353 | From Florida boonies | Registered: Nov 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Oh yeah--and about the pulse and blood pressure.
Mine was 160/100, pulse 110 in the doctor's office when I was getting a blood pressure check. This was after he had increased my Lisinopril.
While he was a condscending duck who I didn't like, he did hit on the right medicine for the BP and pulse rate--Atenolol. The palpitations stopped shortly after (wow, those were bad)--even on only 25mg, which is a very low dose. It brought my blood pressure a little closer to normal. My heart rate is LOW now.
This was when I started to get serious about figuring out what was wrong with me. I was so stressed about my blood pressure being so high that it sent my pulse way up. It was killer "white-coat" hypertension. Magnified "white-coat."
My blood pressure had always been low/normal.
Turns out it was from undiagnosed chronic Lyme. Not my thyroid or Synthroid dose.
Lyme disease gets into your vagus nerve and other really important places. Makes you freak out physically even when you're not freaking out emotionally.
My LLMD says it should all resolve with treatment.
Posts: 353 | From Florida boonies | Registered: Nov 2005
| IP: Logged |
Having Lyme disease has made me more hypothyroid than I already was, and has also affected my adrenal glands.
My LLMD switched me from synthroid to armour thyroid, starting with a very very low dose of armour and gradually increasing. I think it has helped.
I also went to an endocrinologist, but she is clueless about Lyme disease. I don't know if that affected her treatment strategy, but my LLMD seems to be pretty knowledgeable about the thyroid so I'm sticking with him for now to help me with that issue.
P
Posts: 449 | From Vermont | Registered: Nov 2004
| IP: Logged |
Truthfinder
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8512
posted
Kathy, I had a similar experience.
I've never had an "abnormal" TSH or anything, but my old Fibro doc decided that maybe I had ``thyroid hormone resistance'', so I slowly increased dosages of Armour thyroid until my body temperature was near-normal - 2 grains of A. thyroid.
Also, I had a cold nodule on my thyroid, and taking supplemental thyroid can sometimes make the nodule shrink, as I recall. I still haven't had the nodule re-checked. (Must remember to do that....)
I did well for a couple of years, then suddenly I began to have increased heart palpitations and tachycardia episodes. I went completely off the Armour thyroid, and now if I try to take even 1/2 grain of A. thyroid, I have the cardiac symptoms.
I found out in December that I have Lyme, and it has been around a loooooong time.
So, I suspect it is the darn Lyme that is affecting your thyroid.
I would pay attention to what riversinger said about the T-3, T-4 thing. That could very well be what you need, also. Wish I had known all that a couple of years ago.......
Tracy
-------------------- Tracy .... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�. Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I know a problem with your thyroid can cause various problems however can it cause ones body temperature to be low.
Mine ran 97.7 for a long time lately it has been 95 and the weird thing is I feel like I have a fever and the flu.
Posts: 139 | From nj | Registered: Mar 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I need T3 supplemention too. It seems something about this infection mucks with the body's normal T4 to T3 conversion. Endos were clueless about it.
Armour contains both T4 and T3, but I developed palpitations on it (too much T3?). Since then I've chosen to take both T4 and T3 each from different pills because that allows me to tailor the ratio. I found I feel better on slow release T3 made by a compounding pharmacy rather than standard T3.
My need for T3 developed immediately after my thyroid was removed. Having no thyroid makes me an excellent test subject because there's no need to guess how much hormone a thyroid gland is generating on its own.
I've discovered I need very high doses of T4 to be even semi-functional. My TSH needs to be down near undetectable levels, 0.01 or so, or my migraine symptoms grow markedly worse.
I don't think taking so much T4 is a good idea long term, which is why correcting the cause (the infection) is better. The dose of T4 I need has dropped since starting treatment.
Posts: 727 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2006
| IP: Logged |
Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
3. ``one mechanism of action of TNF-alpha ...on thyroid FRTL-5 cells is to inhibit calcium entry.'' PMID: 10092616
Once in the above website...in the search window, type in ``cholesterol thyroid'' to begin to understand the connections.
Bb causes excess LDL cholesterol production. Bb triggers a LOT of TNF alpha...an inflammatory cytokine for many reasons...many are protective.
Posts: 9481 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic