Wellness

[tends2dogs]

Anyone here with Hashimotos?  Have you ever gone through a thyroid storm?  If so, how long did it last and what was your experience?

I have had it 2 times.  Not fun and scary until you know what is happening.

I am just leveling out from one and would like to hear other's experiences.

TIA

[RespectLife]

@tends2dogs 

I have Hashimotos and actually never heard of a thyroid storm.

I had to look it up!

Says it is rare but it happened to you twice!

It must have been very scary.  I'm sorry that happens to you!

You did call your doctor, right?

[tends2dogs]

The first time, around 10 years ago, I called my doctor.  He told me to immediately go off my Armour.  Within 24 hours, my symptoms were 80% better.  I was off my meds for 8 months.  I could tell when I needed to go back on.

This time, I honestly thought I might be having a heart attack.  I went to a walk in.  They did an EKG, heart enzymes, and X rays. All normal, but my pulse was over 100.  I felt like I had swallowed a huge wad of bread and it was stuck.  I had  pain radiating up the front of my neck around to the back.

The doctor asked me if I wanted to consult with a cardiac doc and I said yes.  Fast forward, 3 days later I was having a C scan and a stress test.  In the days waiting for the testing, I remembered that this was similar to the thyroid storm I had before.  I called the cardiac doc and told him my thoughts and that I was going to go off my meds.  He said that was fine, but still felt I should have the tests.  I agreed and everything was normal, whatever was wrong, it wasn't my heart.  He told me to follow up with my PCP because he didn't treat for thyroid.

I had a thyroid panel done and my TSH levels are high, but T3 and T4 are normal.....subclinical hypothyroidism.  I am seeing my PCP next month, someone new.  I feel the best I have felt in months.  

Sorry about the long health saga.  I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but thought if someone else experienced it, they would share.

Thanks for responding, @RespectLife .

[ahoymate]

A thyroid storm is usually associated with hyperthroidism, not hypo or Hashimoto.

FYI.............

What is thyroid storm?

Thyroid storm (also called thyroid crisis and thyrotoxic crisis) happens when your thyroid gland releases a large amount of thyroid hormone in a short amount of time. It’s a rare complication of hyperthyroidism. Thyroid storm is a medical emergency and is life-threatening.

[Kachina624]

@tends2dogs.  There is a specialist physician in the Albuquerque area who just treats thyroid disease and Hashimoto in particular.   Do you not have such a doctor in your area?

[tends2dogs]

@Kachina624 No, not a specialist in Hashimotos.  I have seen a few doctors for this and the common thing they say is that they treat Hashimoto the same as they treat hypothyroidism.  There isn't a different treatment for each disease.

@ahoymate What I was told about Hashimotos is that you can "swing" from hypo into hyper.  I take meds for hypo.  When I swung into hyper, I went off my meds and my thyroid leveled out.  It does take awhile.  Sometimes a beta blocker is used to bring down your pulse.  

I suppose if you let it go long enough, it could be life threatening.  It puts all of your body systems into overdrive and that certainly can't be healthy.

[ahoymate]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

@tends2dogs.  There is a specialist physician in the Albuquerque area who just treats thyroid disease and Hashimoto in particular.   Do you not have such a doctor in your area?

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Endocrinologist.