Section one
Goiter and Hyperthyroid - my personal experience story
Ultrasound
Comparison - results
before and after thyroid treatment
Misc. bits of thyroid information
Frequently Asked Thyroid Questions
Section two
Miscellaneous information about this website
Section three
Email
Copyright ©1998 -
2006
molly b. All Rights Reserved
Molly b.'s Thyroid FAQ Page 5
20. Q. I had RAI several weeks ago but I feel worse than ever. Everything aches - is this normal?
A. My specialist said muscle aches and pains are common, as muscles begin to build up again after wasting due to the hyperthyroidism. This isn't in the textbooks, but is from her patients reports. Chances are this may occur in some hyperthyroid patients, no matter which treatment is used, as the muscles start to repair themselves.
21. Q. Why do doctors rely so much on the TSH blood test to diagnose thyroid disorders? My friend found a doctor who told her to track her temperature every morning.
A. The TSH ( thyroid stimulating hormone ) was developed a long time after the old basal metabolic rate - BMR and the basal body temperature tests. Like synthetic thyroid hormone replacement, it is an advancement in science.
TSH is especially important when diagnosing primary hypothyroidism ( the most common type ). During the earliest stages, the TSH will always be higher than it should be, while the Total T4 and FreeT4 may be normal. If the T4 is low and the TSH is normal, this is an indication of a problem in the pituitary gland, rather than the thyroid gland. It would be difficult to use the basal metabolic rate or the basal body temperature tests to diagnose these problems early, as is possible with the TSH test. Use of the BMR and the other obsolete tests is a bit like feeling a child's forehead to check for the presence of a fever, instead of using a thermometer. I would be wary of a licensed doctor who relies on any outdated testing for diagnosis and treatment.
In the hands of a competent doctor, the TSH is a reliable indicator of thyroid levels and thyroid function. Just be sure the doctor knows about all the medications you are taking, including any supplements. Sometimes other medications can interfere with test results.
22. Q. I'm looking for some information about hypoparathyroid and hyperparathyroid. My daughter-in-law had a thyroidectomy recently ( I think they also removed her parathyroids ) which upset her calcium balance. She is now on calcium as well as thyroid medication. She has severe heartburn--even worse than heartburn during pregnancy.
A. Although the four parathyroid glands are close to the thyroid gland, neither hypoparathyroid nor hyperparathyroid are thyroid disorders. The parathyroid glands regulate the amount of calcium in the body by producing parathyroid hormone (PTH).
Hypoparathyroidism - low calcium levels, also known as hypocalcemia and high phosphorus levels - or a lessened amount or activity of PTH - is not very common. It may occur after parathyroid surgical removal or when damaged or as a birth defect. The treatment for underproduction of PTH is supplements of both calcium and vitamin D probably for life. ( One other type may apparently require magnesium supplements instead. ) If the parathyroids are bruised or injured during thyroidectomy, calcium and vitamin D may only be needed temporarily.
Pseudo-hypoparathyroidism is a very rare disorder, in which the parathyroids produce PTH but the bones and kidneys do not recognize the hormone.
See The InteliHealth website, for info on hypoparathyroidism here, and EndocrineWeb here.
Hyperparathyroidism is more frequent in women than in men and its incidence increases with age. Many patients are diagnosed while having regular blood tests and have no noticeable symptoms. Symptoms can include loss of appetite, thirst, frequent urination, lethargy, fatigue, muscle weakness, joint pains, constipation, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, memory loss, and depression. Hyperparathyroidism can result in osteoporosis, kidney stones or impaired kidney function.
Often the result of a benign tumor ( adenoma ) or enlarged parathyroids, surgery is the only safe and effective treatment. There is a 95% cure rate. New advances in surgical techniques have reduced the risks of surgery.There is some parathyroid information at The Thyroid Center, a Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center website and also on the Hyperparathyroidism page at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health.
I think calcium is derived from two different sources and one may have side effects such as heartburn or constipation in itself. I read this somewhere while searching for osteoporosis prevention info. If the heartburn is a continuing problem, she may want to talk to her doctor. While it may seem minor after having gone through a thyroidectomy, the doctor may need this information for appropriate treatment or adjustment of medication.
