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can you help shed light on my numbers ... low tsh, swollen thyroid but antibodies not elevated.

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Thyroid Disorders
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knack
Regular Member
Joined : Oct 2013
Posts : 42
Posted 11/29/2013 10:17 AM (GMT -6)
I've only ever posted in the lyme disease section before, because that was the diagnosis I received (based on symptoms and a bulls-eye type mark I had).

At the time things started going haywire for me, my primary care did thyroid blood work -- and said my numbers were fine (but borderline). So she proceeded with other avenues, but still checking the thyroid.

When I developed an issue with her noticing my thyroid was swollen (based on feeling neck) and my having trouble swallowing and having pain in that area, she ordered an ultrasound of the neck. The report (as she read it to me on my office visit), is that the thyroid was 'generously' sized with big (she gave the size but forget) nodule (or two - again, I don't recall, it was a lot of info and I haven't been that clear thinking to begin with), as well as having swollen lymph node.

My primary care doctor feels that since she treated 21+ days for lyme, that this issue is new and not from lyme. My lyme dr. feels it's a result of the lyme.

These are my numbers,

mid August
TSH, 0.81 (normal range .4 –4.0)
Free T4, 1.3 (normal range .8 – 1.8)


first of October
TSH, .69
Free T4, 1.3
THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODIES <20 (normal <20)
THYROID PEROXIDASE
ANTIBODIES 12 (normal <35 IU/mL)

2nd week of October
TSH, .64
Free T4, 1.4
Free T3, 2.9 (range 2.6-4.4)
THYROGLOBULIN AB <20.0
THYROID PEROXIDASE AB <10.0


mid-November
TSH 0.383
Free T4, 1.7

It doesn't appear that there are high thyroid antibodies --- so would that eliminate Grave's disease??? (I hope!)


Would borderline numbers cause big issues???

With the antibodies not being out of the normal range, what could the swollen thyroid be from?

I asked primary care, she said she wasn't sure, to re-test in 6 weeks, and based on that go to endocrinologist.

Aside from the pain in the throat and tightness when swallowing, the biggest concern is the pretty much constant chest pain and weird pulse I've been having, I can be sitting watching tv, and it will be okay (90), and then drop to 67, then shoot to 120. It was for a couple/few weeks being more normal, not going much over 105 if that, but now back to scattered.

It's also hard to determine what's from lyme at this point and what is from the thyroid.

Other symptoms I've had (and again I am not sure which is from lyme, which is thyroid, or something else)..
facial numbness and tingling (usually on left side, but also at times on both, or just on right)
trouble falling (and staying) asleep
shortness of breath (went from jogging or walking 3 miles a day, to being winded walking around apartment)
chest pain
sinus tachycardia (as determined by EKGs and stress echo)
muscle pain
joint pain
cold all the time
shivers (that come randomly)
constant headaches
weird stomach pains (one ER visit resulted in CT w/ contrast of abdomen - which came back fine)
vision issues (floaters, blurred vision --- visit to eye dr. as well as MRI showed no cause physically with the eyes or brain)
migraines
speech issues at times (slurred words or trouble forming the words)
and a few others

Post Edited (knack) : 11/29/2013 9:31:26 AM (GMT-7)

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hypoHashimoto
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2012
Posts : 786
Posted 11/29/2013 10:41 AM (GMT -6)
Hi,
I have no experience with Lyme, however, according to my own personal experience with Thyroid, your TSH is too low in its range that I think that you are HypERthyroid.

Constant chest pain and weird pulse is a symptom of hypER, this holds also for trouble falling (and staying) asleep,
shortness of breath, chest pain, constant headaches, migraines.

There is another antibodies test to rule out Graves, it is TSI.

With hypER, there are several treatments, first is antithyroid medications, next RAI and last is surgery.

Best,
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jujub
Elite Member
Joined : Mar 2003
Posts : 10422
Posted 11/29/2013 1:22 PM (GMT -6)
I agree. With your free T4 creeping up, it might not hurt to do a trial of a thyroid-suppressing medication to see what effect it has. I know people do say there's a link between Lyme and thyroid, but I'm not familiar at all with Lyme so have no idea how that would affect it.

Regardless of what's causing it, if you have elevated free T4 and symptoms, it merits consideration for treatment.
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Healing98
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2013
Posts : 1451
Posted 11/30/2013 10:50 PM (GMT -6)
Knack, check you basal temperature first thing in the morning. This is a great indicator of your thyroid function. I agree with HypoHashimoto that you should also test for Graves.

Lyme and its co-infections impact your Hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, your thyroid, as well as your adrenal glands so it is very possible that the symptoms that you are experiencing with the thyroid could be secondary in nature.

I have Hashimoto's and suffer from many of the symptoms that you described.

As for your pulse jumping up and down. This is something that you need to have looked at by a cardiologist. They will run an EKG to test the functionality of your heart. They can also hook you up to an event monitor that you will wear on your chest for a month. It is a great tool to rule out any heart abnormalities. Lyme can harden the heart muscles and the arteries going to the heart so it is something to concern yourself with. I will also recommend to get an ultrasound of your major arteries. This will check to make sure the pulse is not being impacted by some type of arterial blockage. My local hospital did this for me for $75.00 and it only takes a half hour.

Lyme infected folks can also have protomyxzoa rheumatica. It is a protozoan infection of the blood that thickens the blood with fibrous material. When this happens, the heart has a hard time pumping the blood through veins and the result is headaches, mental fog, and neurological symptoms.

Bartonella and Babesia also live in the blood cells and are co-infections of Lyme. These malaria pathogens can also affect your pulse and blood pressure.

Please search for Dr. Burrascano's Advance topics in Lyme disease. On Page 9 - page 11 it has an extensive list of symptoms that is going to help you tremendously and will answer many of your questions.

Post Edited (Healing98) : 11/30/2013 10:05:08 PM (GMT-7)

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