[rjconway04]

#1017989

I have been trying to do research on what happens when you have a thyroid storm. I saw symptoms listed on other health sites, but didn’t know if you had to have certain symptoms before they knew that is what was happening. I know several of you have gone through the storm and would like your advice and knowledge of what it is like.
I have both Graves and Hashimotos and really think I am started back on the hyper side of the rollercoaster. I had bloodwork done yesterday and should find out tomorrow the results. I am having symptoms that I never noticed before like the anxiety, rapid heartbeat, shaking, and not being able to sleep. I have had the exhaustion, muscle weakness, hungry all the time and pounding heart before. Last night, my heartbeat was slightly over 120 but did come down after my stepchildren finally got to the house and we got them settled into bed. The shakiness was pretty bad for a while. I ate something and that helped somewhat. At what point do you know you are in trouble and need to get to the er?
This is going to sound funny, but I am hoping the results do come out hyper because then I think my endo will finally let me destroy my thyroid. He mentioned it at least at my last visit. He hasn’t said anything before because the other time I went hyper, my body corrected itself back to hypo and stayed toward that end of the coaster for about a year before going hyper again. He had thought my thyroid had burned itself out until I went hyper again.
Sorry if I am rambling and getting off subject. Just need to vent because I feel so crappy and not sure if it is anything to be immediately worried about.

Thank you for your advice and knowledge.

[snelsen]

#1062060

Hi, I cut my index finger last night cutting rhubarb, so my typing skills are limited. I don’t know, or do not recall, if you are on ADTs and beta blockers now. Perhaps by now you have your labs back. When the doc knows your symptoms, I am guessing you will begin these meds, or up the dose. Usually thyroid storm occurs when a person is untreated with ADT’s and beta blockers (atenolol, propanolol as examples.)
Because it is challenging for me to type, here is the following reference, which pretty much sums it up.
A rapid, sustained heart rate should prompt a visit to the ER to be evaluated. It is a cardiac issue, treated independently, vur in tandem with ATD’s and management and Graves;.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency … 000400.htm
Write with an update ad=fter you know your labs.
Shirley

[rjconway04]

#1062061

Shirley,
I am not on any ATDs or beta blockers. Since I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s first, the only med I am on is levothyroxine. Before, my levels have normalized by just reducing that and once I go hypo again, then the endo slowly adds back the med. I don’t think this time it is going to rebound like it has in the past. If not, I am going to opt for surgery. I don’t want to do the RAI for many reasons, so if he says he wants to kill my thyroid, I am going to push for that. I need to get my life back. At work, we have year end coming at the end of June and expecting my first grandson in September. I have been on this rollercoaster for 2 1/2 years and believe I had it way before then but could not get a diagnosis. I know it isn’t going to be an instant fix, but at least I will know it is gone and not have to worry if the RAI took. I will write more tomorrow if I get my results.

Thank you
Rosemary

[Bobbi]

#1062062

I think the main point about thyroid STORM is that the conditions are extreme. I read the link Shirley provided, and all that is true — but we can feel those same symptoms while hyperthyroid, too, so knowing the difference is not necessarily easy. When I was hyperthyroid, walking slowly to my mailbox on the street would elevate my pulse to 120 or so. But, then, if I sat down, it would go back down to a lower (but still too high) level — generally in the 90s. If you are in storm, medical intervention is needed to get the pulse rate down. That’s one example that may help you to understand whether or not your symptoms are just "garden variety" hyper (and awful) or a more serious symptom.

I hope you are feeling better soon

[erica]

#1062063

My advice is to make sure you have a good form of communication with a doctor. Never think you are “bugging” them. That is what they signed up for. Please don’t make the same mistake I did.

Read all you can about the effects of destroying the thyroid. Talk with people who have done it. I personally don’t think it is a good idea after reading about it. If your doc is not taking you seriously enough or not “hearing you” change doctors. I had to see a few before I found a woman who listened and helped me. It did take trying two medicines and some time before I went into remission, but I did get there and was in remission for years. I do think I have it again, but I know it went into remission before and can again.

I was 26 when I was officially diagnosed with Graves Disease, at which point it was very serious, because I had left it untreated for many years. I just assumed it was stress. When I thought I was having a heart attack in a mall, yes a mall, very embarrassing to say the least, the EMS told me my heart rate was through the roof, but said “I was a young woman, too young to have a heart attack, it was probably just a panic attack”. I think back on how crazy that was for a medical professional to tell me. I should have gone to the hospital that day. Instead another year went by with many more “attacks”. Finally sick of all the effects it was having on my life I finally went to the hospital and the doctor informed me I had Graves disease in a very severe stage, they wanted hospitalize me but I said no. I was not in a position to even be making choices like that, but was not thinking rationaly. I was asked in in a way that made me feel bad, why I went so long with such severe symptoms. Well, I am not one to complain about my health, and I looked good so… The doctor advised immediate radioactive iodine treatment that day. He was pushing for me to even think about surgery. That was way too extreme for me to even consider. I went from just thinking I had stress to listening to some guy tell me I could die. They did all kinds of tests on my heart and blood. They gave me beta blockers, anti-anxiety medicine, and medicine to sleep. The doctor informed me after the tests, that I was VERY lucky to have a strong heart, because of how long I had been pushing it to the extremes he was shocked that I didn’t do damage. At that point having palpitations was accepted as normal for me all the time.

It is good you are questioning the severity of your case, stay on top of it. Keep a journal of your symptoms and their intensity. Stay clear of really spicy foods and caffeine, as they raise metabolism. Also, avoid foods with high iodine, like shellfish. I read you have had a hard time and have been seeing a doctor for over two years. In this time, have you seen other doctors?

For me, when it was in the “storm” range, I felt like I was going crazy in my mind sometimes. My eyes were bloodshot, face would flush easily. Heart rate was high without activity. Commercials could make me cry, actually anything, and nothing could me cry. Under my arms and feet would start sweating out of nowhere. My feet felt really cold all the time and I would sit on the edge of the tub and run hot water over them. I would get really angry with myself for dumb things or no reason at all. I got defensive about everything. Sometimes I felt like i had rocket fuel in my blood, other times I felt exhausted. My hair started falling out, a lot. My hands were very shaky. I didn’t want to be around anyone, but I didn’t want to be alone.

I know it can be different for you, but if you are worried, go to the ER. It is serious. If you tell them you are having palpations they will take you seriously. There might not ever be a single symptom for you that means, “ok, I am in a storm, time to go to the hospital”. The BIG one for me was confusion about things one should not be confused about, however be careful, because when you are confused you many not even realize it. That might sound very strange, but stay close to a friend about it. They might notice before you do. Someone living with you is “too” close, as they become naturally desensitized to your severity of symptoms, and might not even notice.

You can get it under control. Stay positive and think about changing doctors.

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