9 months post SCAD and now HYPERTHYROIDISM

• By Threesacharm
• Reply 3241707
• July 26, 2012 at 11:36 am
• Report post

I just came off plavix last week. I was so looking forward to it but I got the flu the first day so haven't really been able to enjoy it yet. I was hyperthyroid 31 years ago. For me it came on pretty quickly, only had the symptoms a couple of months before the diagnosis. I had a thyroidectomy a year later. Hypo since then. I like hypo better. One of the drugs for hyper they prescribe is propylthiouracil. Don't let them give you this drug if you can help it. It has a history (although they tell you it is rare) of causing drug induced liver hepatotoxicity. It is true it is rare, I was number nine to get it, but that drug is not worth the risk. Too hard on the liver. I wish you excellent luck with your treatment, it is great to get a diagnosis that explains your fatigue. Thyroid fatigue is tough, but with treatment it can make things so much better.

• By Dgal
• Reply 3242766
• July 26, 2012 at 6:56 pm
• Report post

Threesacharm--Sorry to hear you aren't well; hope you get over the flu soon!
It's a good feeling to be OFF the Plavix but I'm presently dealing with thyroid issues which is much like
being on Plavix...ha!
The endocrinologist I'm seeing on Monday comes highly recommened so hoping she will be able
to direct me with whatever findings that are causing my TSH level to read. 0.1 ; my T3 & T 4 fall in the NORMAL range.

My symptoms come and go and vary from day to day; mild vertigo, fatigue--from mild to debilitating, mild anxiety, easily irritated, some sweating to feeling HOT (hot flashes?)
i realize treatment can vary and rechecking labs for medcation progress can take awhile before one is ever feeling quite normal.
I shall be patient-- the feeling of being diagnosed is quite different than being someone without a clue.
I am thankful!

• By Threesacharm
• Reply 3242844
• July 26, 2012 at 7:37 pm
• Report post

Yes I remember the hot flashes, shorts in December, in the snow....they are pretty good at this thyroid stuff, so if you are going to have a diseased body part, thyroid is the way to go......I wish you the best with figuring this one out. Flu is improving, thanks for your concern.

• By ShantiHeart
• Reply 3244330
• July 27, 2012 at 11:09 am
• Report post

Dgal, I had my SCADs last August - 3 MIs in 3 days, the third resulting in the need for 6 stents in my RCA due to the extensiveness of the dissection - but grateful it did not require CABG! Would love to get off plavix after I pass my one-year anniversary, but my cardiologist seems nervous about that, because of so many stents I assume. We will see... But my main reason for replying to your post is that in the fall of 2010, out of the blue, I became very ill with what was eventually diagnosed as De Quervain's Thyroiditis - an acute infection/inflammation of the thyroid that they think is caused by a virus, but they don't really know. It brought extremely debilitating symptoms including goiter/swelling of the left then the right side of my thyroid, extreme pain in throat/neck and when eating/swallowing, fatigue and weakness yet also hyperthyroid symptoms of high fevers, night sweats, rapid heart rate, weight loss, lack of appetite and more. Basically from Thanksgiving until after Christmas, all I could do was be in bed. Worst physical suffering I've ever endured. By New Years, the symptoms slowly started abating and I went into a latent phase of pretty much no symptoms although still tired easily. Then by late April, I went into the hypothhryoidism phase. (This having first acute illness and hyper symptoms and blood tests, then latent, then hypo symptoms and blood tests is part of the thyroiditis pattern). Fast forward to now, 20 months later, my thyroid levels are just shy of normal - so slightly hypothyroid still. The data show that 15% of people who have this form of thyroiditis never get back to normal levels. But I've refused to take synthyroid so far. Still believing I can return to normal via natural healing etc.

So ... then in August 2011, the SCAD MIs out of the blue. Until the thyroiditis I was very healthy with very good health practices in terms of diet, weight, cholesterol, staying active, managing stress, no risk factors except being on HRT for 20 years due to early menopause and being at high risk of osteoporosis, which runs in my family. So, like you, I wonder if how rough the thyroiditis was on my body led to the SCAD. During the worst of the hyperthyroid phase, my doctor convinced me (I was very reluctant) to go on a low dose of beta blocker to bring my heart rate down, as it was averaging 100 beats a minute day and night. So maybe I should have agreed to that medication sooner than I did - I did not start it until about 3 weeks after the symptoms began. But can't go back for a do-over can I ...

Anyway, glad you started this thread as I do think the thyroid-SCAD connection needs to be considered and explored by the researchers...

Wishing you the best possible outcome re your thyroid and your health in general... ShantiHeart aka Lynda

• By PVEES
• Reply 3247828
• July 28, 2012 at 8:22 pm
• Report post

Hi Ladies,

My SCAD was nearly two years ago. I'm interested in this thread because I had just come off of thyroid medication a month or so before my SCAD. My particular thyroid was a custom blend of two hormones. Unlike Dgal, I was hypo-thyroid. Wonder if there could still be a connection.

Take care,

Patti

• By Dgal
• Reply 3247945 · In reply to 3244330 by ShantiHeart
• July 28, 2012 at 9:34 pm
• Report post

I am glad to be hearing from you guys.
I am definitely here to investigate and gather information.
My health seems to consume me, with every ache and weakening movement;
how is that not possible?
I'm here for answers!
Thank you for sharing your story.
I will post more of my findings in the days to come.
I believe my thyroid problem began long ago ( I only have myself to blame; after
all...not all doctors know what to look for). My yearly check ups were always negative yet
I never bothered to look more into what was causing my weakening state. I ignored my symptoms
and kept on moving...thinking something is OFF... All this time, I thought maybe chronic fatigue (CFS)?
Recently my new family doctor discovered my thyroid problem; Looking forward to meeting with my endocrinelogist on Monday 7/30/2012! Hoping to regain my strenght and some sense of stability in life.

Thank You --PVEES & Shantiheart
Yes, could there really be a connection!?
wow, thanks for sharing ladies : )

• By KAKLeon
• Reply 3249168 · In reply to 3247945 by Dgal
• July 29, 2012 at 1:06 pm
• Report post

Hi Dgal and all...in addition to your blood work, did they do a scan of your thyroid and mention anything about nodules? I have similar symptoms, and what the tech described as nodules "everywhere" on my thyroid. The radiologist said one showed moderate vascularity and to follow-up. The endocrinologist said based on the blood work, my thyroid is fine and not causing my symptoms. He said everyone has nodules.

Does this sound familiar to you all?
Good luck in your appointment tomorrow, Dgal!
K

• By JillKM
• Reply 3249219
• July 29, 2012 at 1:37 pm
• Report post

During a cat scan after my scad, they found a nodule on my thyroid, but function seems to be ok.

• By KAKLeon
• Reply 3272482 · In reply to 3247945 by Dgal
• August 7, 2012 at 1:55 pm
• Report post

Hi Dgal. Just curious what you found out at your endocrinology appointment.

(JillKM, that's a coincidence about your CT...is how mine were discovered too.)
Ktherine

• By Dgal
• Reply 3273352
• August 7, 2012 at 7:39 pm
• Report post

It has taken awhile to hear back from my recent labs ( 6 business days ) Strangely, my endocrinologist informed me that my results were NORMAL; my previous labs ordered by my family doctor had indicated my TSH to be .1 ( talk about LOW!) 7 days later my TSH shot up to 2.2 ( Bizzare!?)
I am having labs drawn again in a few weeks. My doctors and I have discussed --Thyroid Storms, possibly having an MRI to assure the pituatary gland is not being affected therefore, causing it to malfunction. And of course all together I wonder if there was room for ERROR during the assesment of my labs.

In addition and reflecting back my TSH readings ( along with T3 & T4 )
2004 TSH=2.65
2006 TSH=2.33
I was in the NORMAL (0.5- 4.7) range "at the time of my labs" ( did they fluctuate before?!)

At this time I have NOT been diagnosed with anything particular....only my future labs will indicate which direction to go...and so, I patiently wait; hence, the word patient.

Again, thyroid sonogram is NORMAL no masses or nodules.
1st lab results indicated an issue
2nd lab results indicate there isn't an issue
3rd lab results are pending and will be done in two weeks.

I hope you ladies are doing well.
ALL THE BEST!
D

• By Jo-SouthPacific
• Reply 3443282
• October 9, 2012 at 8:18 am
• Report post

Hi - I wonder about the thyroid connection also.
I was diagnosed with papillary carcinoma of the thyroid in May 2008- I had a total thyroidectomy and 2 bouts of radioactive iodine treatment. My SCAD was in May 2012. I take thyroxine and as I had thyroid cancer my TSH is maintained at a very low level <0.005 .
I now have some strange ventricular rhythms and thickening of the heart muscle which is currently being investigated. Interesting journey!! All the best Jo

• By Dgal
• Reply 3444155
• October 9, 2012 at 12:38 pm
• Report post

I've had several labs since then and they
continue to be in the NORMAL range ( I also feel
good which I think makes sense since my labs
are normal)

As for the relation to SCAD and our thyroid
I still believe there's a possible connection...
them good ole hormones!

Sorry to hear about your condition; you hang in there.
All the best!
D