Poll About Thyroid Issues

[tex]

Hi All,

Since thyroid problems can be autoimmune in origin, I wonder how many of us have thyroid problems. Due to the tendency of many doctors to not test for the problem, there are probably more undiagnosed cases of hypothyroidism around, than there are diagnosed cases.

Even if you have not been diagnosed with a thyroid problem, if you feel that you have enough of the symptoms of hypothyroidism, or hyperthyroidism, so that you suspect that you might have a thyroid problem, please answer the poll accordingly. For your reference, I've listed some of the symptoms here for hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism. These are not complete lists, there can be other symptoms, but these are the most common.

Note that some of the symptoms are also common to MC, (such as increased bowel movements, for example), and Prednisone can cause weight gain, (for example), and it and other meds can cause hair loss, so you have to kind of use your judgment, here.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism are usually very subtle and gradual and may be mistaken for symptoms of depression. The following are the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. You only have to have some of these symptoms, it is rare to have all of them:

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

* dull facial expressions
* hoarse voice
* slow speech
* droopy eyelids
* puffy and swollen face
* easy to gain weight, and very difficult to lose it
* constipation
* sparse, coarse and dry hair
* coarse, dry, and thickened skin
* carpal tunnel syndrome (hand tingling or pain)
* slow pulse
* muscle cramps
* orange-colored soles and palms
* approximately the outer third of eyebrows thin or fall out
* confusion
* increased menstrual flow in women
* often short of breath, and prone to shallow breathing
* depression
* irritability
* memory loss
* decreased libido
* fatigue
* weakness


Common symptoms and signs of hyperthyroidism

*palpitations
*heat intolerance
*nervousness
*insomnia
*breathlessness
*increased bowel movements
*light or absent menstrual periods
*fatigue
*fast heart rate
*trembling hands
*weight loss
*muscle weakness
*warm moist skin
*hair loss
*staring gaze

Thanks for your input.

Tex

[Liz]

Hi Wayne,

I don't have any thyroid problems but our youngest daughter has just been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism.

Liz

[barbaranoela]

great job again Galahad but after reading the symptons I have a mixture of both--

And my endo did tell me that it is quite common to Xperience both---like a combo sandwich----a little of this and that!!!!!

good morning to all--
Barbara

[sunny]

Yup...have had "low thyroid" for many years....this year the endocronologist called it Hashimotos Disease...that was new to me. Presently taking Levothyroxin...this is a bit different...(one) .075 tablet one day and the next day (one) 1.0 tablet.....she had it in her notes that I was taking one dose and her Rx was for the lower dose...odd.....

[Kitty]

I have hypothyroid. I was diagnosed about 7 years ago. I had symptoms for many years prior to the diagnosis. Its hard to believe now but I was diagnosed by my current GI doc when I saw him for terrible constipation and my family doc was blowing me off.

[tex]

Mrs. Columbo,

Now that's interesting, (what your endo said about it being common to experience symptoms from both conditions), because I have some symptoms from both issues, also. I just thought that some of it must be my imagination, since I didn't realize that it was "legal" to have symptoms from both conditions. LOL.

Thanks for pointing that out.

Luve,
Galahad

[Lucy]

Hi there,

Also, think it's possible to be negative for thyroid antibodies and still have the autoimmune condition. Don't you just love this stuff that flies under the radar?!!

Yours, Luce

[starfire]

I was diagnosed with Hypo a couple of years ago (give or take several months).

I'm pretty sure the labs were using the outdated parameters for the TSH though, because I swear I've had the symptoms a lot longer than that.

Love, Shirley

[JLH]

I've been hypothyroid since college. They used a geiger counter and radiactive iodine, I believe, to diagnose. The tech thought it was broken. I was only about 5 pounds over weight.

[tex]

As a followup to the poll, note that the prevalence of diagnosed thyroid problems in this country is claimed to be between 7 and 8 %, with about another 4 % "suspected", but undiagnosed. As you can see from the poll results, members of this board who responded to the poll, showed a 57 % rate of diagnosed issues, (at the time of this posting), plus another 18 % with suspected thyroid issues. The diagnosed cases among members, is 8 times as high as the national rate among the general population. That's 800 % of the U. S. rate, which is a pretty profound correlation.

Tex

[JoAnn]

Wow, this is so interesting. A year ago when I was diagnosed borderline hypo, I had very loose stools which did not go along with the constipation part. ( I now know that my mc was progressing at the same time.)
JoAnn

[Peggyanns1955]

I don't have thyroid problems. However, they do run in my mom's mother's family. A number of my grandmother's sisters had thyroid problems. My grandmother had diverticulosis.

peggyanns1955

[harma]

I don't have any thyroid problems, I know for sure, of course I am not aware of any, but also I had myself tested a while ago, to be sure not of the MC problems were caused by for example the thyroid. My thyroid values were perfect.

But I think anyone diagnosed with MC, should also have a dexa scan to see how the conditions of the bones are and I have a test for major other auto immune diseases. Is it not up to 40% of MC people also have another auto immune disease?

[TooManyHats]

My mother's family is lousy with thyroid problems (the Irish side). Got my blood work back and my thyroid is normal.

[Barbara Maresca]

This is so interesting, I also have hypo and have been on synthroid 150mcg since 1995. I know this is an autoimmune disease but never relalized it could have anything to do with LC. I am learning so much from this forum. My GI Doc just acts like I am a "mystery" but aside from medications he does not offer any advice. Thanks for your help..