Possible Hyperthyroid?

[jnh380]

Quote from:

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"Symptoms of Graves disease are those of hyperthyroidism and may include anxiety, restlessness, irritability, emotional instability, inability to concentrate, fatigue, muscle weakness or cramps, heat intolerance, and increased sweating. Periodic paralysis with low potassium may occur in men with hyperthyroidism who are of Asian, Filipino, or Native American ethnic backgrounds. Cardiac symptoms can include palpitations with a fast or forceful heart beat, shortness of breath, atrial fibrillation, or angina. Patients may also have a tremor, eye stare, and changes in hair. Osteoporosis can occur if hyperthyroidism becomes chronic and is left untreated. Women experience menstrual irregularities. Bowel movements may become more frequent."

when I look at this paragraph it virtually describes my current and previous symptoms. I have been gluten free since march and feel extremely better. my constant anxiety and worry have abated to about 25% from a over 150%. I was a nervous wreck.

my symptoms: Anxiety- still present and intrusive; Irritability- frequent; emotional instability- definately, ask my wife!; concentration- i can barely get interested in anything anymore; fatigue & weakness- after minimal exhertion i sweat a lot and feel really weak; heat intolerance- I am always wearing sweaters in the summer and being hot when everyone is cold. my internal thermostat is wacky; Sweating- yes, at odd times; weight loss- about 15 lbs in a month; heart- skips a beat, beats fast, etc;

My question is: all of these symptoms are on the list for celiac. It has been 5 months and I have seen dramatic improvement in my well being. Could I just be still in healing mode from celiac and that is why I still have these symptoms? has anyone else gone through celiac only to find out that hyperthyroidism is a complication?

I have a doctors appointment next month with a ear nose & throat specialist to review my situation. Any advice on how to approach them with this so they don't think i am a hypochondriac? Its kaiser so they don't seem to want to get too deep into a conversation or diagnostic routine. any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[GottaSki]

You will likely have more improvement as your time gluten-free increases - very glad to hear you have had some improvement already!

Have you had your thyroid checked in the past? Since you have symptoms that are possibly related to your thyroid that have not yet improved on the gluten-free diet, I'd get TSH, Free T3, Free T4 along with thyroid antibody tests.

Simply ask for the tests because you'd like to rule out any thyroid issues and ask the doctor if there are any other blood tests he/she would suggest given your symptoms -- you are not being a hypochondriac, just proactive

[shellb65]

It's not unusual to have both; celiac and thyroid disease. Auto immune diseases like each others company unfortunately. I was diagnosed with thyroid disease when I was 32. Now at the age of 47 my doctor thinks im either celiac or gluten sensitive. An informed doctor will know there is a link between the two diseases. Here is a link to an excellent article on the subject : Open Original Shared Link

Hope this helps. Good luck to you!

[flowerqueen]

I agree with shellb65. I too was diagnosed with a thyroid problem in my 30's and have only recently been diagnosed with coeliac disease. The chances of having other auto immune diseases when you already have one are increased. Get your thyroid checked out, any reasonable doctor will do blood tests for thyroid disease. You are not a hypercondriac,you are like the majority of us on here, you just want to get well! Good luck.

[jnh380]

I agree with shellb65. I too was diagnosed with a thyroid problem in my 30's and have only recently been diagnosed with coeliac disease. The chances of having other auto immune diseases when you already have one are increased. Get your thyroid checked out, any reasonable doctor will do blood tests for thyroid disease. You are not a hypercondriac,you are like the majority of us on here, you just want to get well! Good luck.

I have only had the TSH level checked, which came back normal range. But I have read that does not really mean anything and the full tests should be done. Thanks for all the responses. I just get this feeling from kaiser that they know better than me what I should be suspicious about, and that the TSH was normal there is no reason to go any farther.

I really hope that there is something up with the thyroid so that it helps me understand the continuing symptoms. Ever since this whole thing started I have become a different person and I want to get back to the person I was and can be without my health causing me to second guess everything and avoid responsibilities.

Thanks everyone.

[GottaSki]

For at least 25 years I told doctors repeatedly about the same symptoms that got worse and worse...all blood tests were always "normal", was told I was depressed, hormonal, stressed from overwork and motherhood, my weight was solely based on calories in - calories out, etc., etc., etc., -- until finally when I was so very sick and bloated to 9 months pregnant every day a celiac antibody test was finally run -- wow only took 25 years

Doctors are practicing. If you have symptoms and don't think doctors are being proactive or really listening to you - change doctors - fairly sure you can change primary docs within Kaiser too!

Know that your health is in your hands -- ask questions -- if you don't think the answers you are getting are correct keep asking more questions!

Hang in there.

PS...the TSH is actually a test on a pituitary hormone - I just learned that one recently - had I known that I would have pushed for T3, T4 and antibody tests (actual thyroid tests) YEARS AGO.

[flowerqueen]

I agree with previous comment! The first doctor I saw was a locus and hadn't really got a clue (as I found out later). When I saw a doctor who knew what she was doing she tested for antibodies and T3, T4 etc., and low and behold, it turned out I was severely hypo and had antibodies. Please, see a different doctor if you are getting nowhere with your present one, never settle for what they tell you if you are still suffering. Good luck!

[GFinDC]

Hi,

Fast pulse is a symptom of hyperthyroid. It can be dangerous and should not be ignored by your doctor. People with celiac are prone to other autoimmune disease. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid. Hash's can cause hyperthyroid and hypothyroid symptoms at different times. Graves disease can cause hyperthyroid also. There are a number of people on the forum who have Hashi's thyroiditis and some with Grave's too.

Do you have any throat swelling or soreness? That sometimes happens also. It might help to write down your symptoms, including anything that bothers you before going to see the doctor. Something that may not seem to be related could provide a clue.

[jnh380]

I am frustrated. I went to the Ear Nose THroat doc today who basically said I need to see and endocrinologist for this type of stuff. I wrote my primary care doc asking for the t3 and t4 tests and she said that because my TSH was fine 5 months ago that there is no reason to order these new tests.

I wrote her back a long email telling her how things have changed and that 5 months is a long time, especially since I went Gluten free 4 months ago, giving any thyroid problems a window to show up. An auto reply email came back saying that she is on vacation for a week.

Kinda pissed off and frustrated. I was looking into ordering the labs myself through the web, where they go through labcorp. what do you think about that idea?

[justlisa]

Finding a doc to be your advocate is not a

s

easy as people would think...sadly...

Just keep going...YOU are, ultimately, in charge of your well being.

I do want to add that magnesium deficiency can exhibit the same racing pulse or palpitations... I know this from personal experience.

There is one truth that most of us have learned is that we can NOT just accept the shoulder-shrugging-I-don't-knows from our docs. If your heart is racing, there's a REASON. Find someone who will help you figure out what that reason is. So, take what you learn from the rest of us and find a doc who will help.

Feel better...

[Gfreeatx]

Hi there!

Has anyone checked your B12 level yet? Chest pain, palpatations,tachycardia, and peripheral neuropathy can all be symptoms of low B12. I was diagnosed with celiac disease two years ago and could not figure out why I was having all of these strange symptoms still. My endocrinologist was the first Dr to check B12 and sure enough that was the cause. Hope you find your answer soon!

[Gfreeatx]

Also, just saw in your post about your anxiety which can also be a symptom of low B12. I found myself panicking and having insomnia and had no clue of why. I had never been an anxious person before the low B12.