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Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics and Thyroid Problems: Is There a Connection?

Published on March 19, 2024

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One Fateful Day – And a Journey into the Enigmatic World of Thyroid Related Problems Begins

I remember the day of March 19, 2010 very well. That was the last day I ever went jogging. That was the last day I could have hopped on my bike and ridden 50 miles if I wanted to. That was the last day I ate my favorite breakfast of a 3-egg omelet topped with cheese and veggies, with 3 pieces of whole wheat toast slathered in butter and jam, 3 pancakes on the side, and at least a quart of milk. That was the last day I worked in my profession, brought home a paycheck, and was self sufficient financially. It was the day before I started taking Ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibiotic, for a simple UTI. And it was the last day I was a normal person with a normal life.

By March 25, 2010 – six days later — I was completely bedridden with severe pain in what felt like every tendon in my body, along with peripheral and central neurological symptoms and other symptoms from the side effects of that drug. These adverse effects are collectively called “Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome” (FQT), or “floxed” for short. And although I didn’t realize it then, my physical, professional, financial, and personal life as I knew it was over. Within a few days and a few pills, I joined the ranks of the chronically disabled, those with “chronic invisible illnesses”, and “Romney’s 47%”. It’s five long years later, and I still struggle with the aftermath of taking those few pills. I regret every single day since then that I ever even considered a fluoroquinolone antibiotic for a simple UTI.

So what does all this have to do with the thyroid gland? Well, like most victims of this toxicity, all my extensive traditional medical testing during the acute phase of the reaction, as well as for the first year and a half after, gave normal or negative results. Astoundingly enough, despite being severely disabled and feeling essentially non-functional, according to the medical profession, I was the picture of health on paper. Until I finally decided to do more than a TSH test to check my thyroid status. That’s when I discovered I had all the anti-thyroid antibodies. And that’s really when my journey into the enigmatic world of “thyroid problems” began in earnest.

Having the antibodies for both Hashimoto’s Thyroid Disease and Grave’s Thyroid Disease makes for an astounding array of symptoms. Many of them appeared to mimic or overlap my symptoms of Fluoroquinolone Toxicity. Naturally, as a result of these observations, and my experiences with these conditions, I started questioning as to how much fluoroquinolone antibiotics caused severe endocrine disruptions, in particular of the thyroid axis.

The Thyroid Fluoroquinolone Epidemic: Where Is the Research?

There is a lot of published research available showing how damaging the FQ’s are too many different body systems and cellular processes, but almost none of it includes the thyroid system or the endocrine system in general. I suspect that someday, studies will be published showing the association between fluoroquinolones and thyroid abnormalities. Until then, it will be up to patients themselves to try and figure out if this association exists for themselves. In my case, my suspicions were further strengthened when I found that thyroid hormone medications, both T4 and T3, dramatically and profoundly affected all my floxing symptoms. Even more interesting to me, iodine alone did the same. I also found it interesting that a significant number of flox victims reported hormonal disruptions of all types post flox, such as with sex hormones, adrenal hormones, thyroid hormones, dysglycemias presumably in association with insulin hormone, and Vitamin D, which is also considered a hormone. This was also true of me after I was floxed. Eventually, I created a website* summarizing my observations, experiences, interpretations, and hypotheses on these possible correlations.

I had several intentions in creating the website, and one of them is to start the conversation about this potential link between fluoroquinolones and thyroid related problems, hopefully leading to unbiased studies and research in this area. I believe it is sorely needed. According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Clinical Guidelines:

“The annual number of dispensed prescriptions of levothyroxine sodium in the United States increased by 42% over a 5-year period, from 50 million in 2006 to 71 million in 2010. In 2013, there were more than 23 million new prescriptions and refills for a single name brand of thyroid hormone in the United States, making it the most commonly prescribed drug in the country.”

This implies there are a lot of “thyroid problems” out there. According to several news investigations airing across the country, the FQ antibiotics are one of the top five drugs prescribed in the US each year. In our current day and age, we are bombarded by many substances which are known or suspected endocrine disrupters, including affecting the thyroid system. Could the epidemic of FQ usage be contributing to the epidemic of thyroid-related problems resulting in patients receiving thyroid medication for life? It would not surprise me if this were the case. I hope association studies, along with causation studies, will be done someday. Until then, those of us with thyroid disorders are on our own in looking at FQ antibiotic usage history and questioning this association for ourselves.

In my case, it was pretty clear cut that the acute symptoms I experienced right after starting the antibiotic were actually caused, or at a minimum, triggered by the antibiotic. My flox symptoms were pretty classic for these reactions all around, and there is plenty of research, as well as anecdotal stories, to substantiate this. But were my symptoms also “thyroid related”? In other words, did the antibiotic affect my thyroid system, either primarily and directly, or secondarily through a “cascade effect”, and at least some of these floxing symptoms I experienced were actually “thyrotoxic” symptoms as well? I think the answer is yes. These are the issues that I explore in my website, and I will briefly present here.

Tendon Pain and Ruptures: A Link between FQ Antibiotics and Endocrine Disorders?

One of the most well known adverse effects of FQ antibiotics are tendon problems. Most flox victims will experience some level of tendon pain at some point in time during their flox reaction. Regardless of what other symptoms occur with FQT, the severe tendon pain that can occur, sometimes with resultant ruptures, is distinctive, idiosyncratic, and unique to FQ antibiotic use alone. It is a hallmark of FQT. So much so, that an FDA “Black Box Warning” about it exists for all fluoroquinolone antibiotics.

It turns out there just aren’t a whole lot of things in life, either natural or synthetic, that can cause sudden spontaneous tendon ruptures or severe tendon pain and tendinopathies –but all of the endocrine disorders can. This includes: hyperadrenocorticism (cortisol), diabetes (insulin), parathyroid disorders (calcium/PTH/Vitamin D), hyper and hypothyroidism (tyrosine/iodine/thyroid hormone), hyper/hypo sex hormones (estrogens/testosterone), and probably other steroid and sex hormones and their metabolites as well (see references). A specific genetic metabolism disorder of tyrosine, which is a major component of thyroid hormones, can also cause spontaneous tendon rupture later in life as a first manifestation of this disorder. Many rheumatic diseases also often have an associated, if not underlying, endocrine component (especially thyroid related). Additionally, conditions that at first glance appear to be unrelated, such as chronic renal failure, often have a high association with endocrinopathies, in particular, parathyroid hormone abnormalities. The parathyroid glands are intimately associated with the thyroid gland via proximity alone; if thyroid gland architecture is destroyed, presumably these glands could be affected too.

I took a fluoroquinolone antibiotic and developed severe, systemic tendon pain, Type 2 Diabetes, and two Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders. A legitimate question could be: Are fluoroquinolone antibiotics severe endocrine disrupters, which, among other symptoms, can result in tendon pain, tendinopathies, and tendon rupture?

I then found that the thyroid hormone medications T4 and T3, as well as iodine alone, profoundly affected my tendon pain and other symptoms, capable of making these symptoms dramatically better — or much worse. This, too, seemed to support the argument that the fluoroquinolones had somehow damaged my thyroid system, as supplying exogenous hormone in the form of medication now could make such dramatic differences in my symptoms.

One of my hypotheses is that people with healthy and normally functioning thyroid glands or other endocrine systems can probably withstand these dramatic changes in the hormonal axes that may be occurring while on the FQ – at least, up to a point. For people who don’t react at all to these drugs, they probably never even feel the fluctuations, as their hormonal axes can automatically adjust rapidly. But I would suspect that anyone with any underlying genetic predisposition, or possibly harboring a subclinical, latent, or silent endocrinopathy might be “pushed over the edge” into full blown clinical pathology. This is actually what I think may have happened with me, even though I had no overt indications of any kind of thyroid or endocrine disorder prior to taking the Cipro.

Additional Links To Consider Relating Fluoroquinolones to Thyroid System Damage

I don’t profess to even begin to know the millions of ways fluoroquinolones could possibly exert their damaging effects on the thyroid or endocrine system in general. However, that didn’t stop me from thinking about this problem. As I said, I hope research studies will be initiated in this area sooner than later. In the meantime, I came up with several mechanisms of FQ-Induced Thyroid Pathology to consider as possibilities, to narrow down the search. Additional unintentional targets of fluoroquinolones that I considered could have thyroid-related repercussions included targets such as mitochondria, acetylcholine, steroid receptors and hormone response elements and their common pathways, selenium dependent enzymes and proteins, halogenated peroxidase enzymes, iodine receptors located on most or all cells as well as on the thyroid gland, and more. I think one of the more interesting observations is the fact that new fluoroquinolone derivatives are now being considered for use as “tyrosine kinase inhibitors” (TKI’s). TKI’s are relatively recent chemotherapy drugs developed to fight cancer – and one of their adverse effects appears to affect the thyroid system with some rather alarmingly high statistics. From my perspective, there appeared to be striking similarities between thyroid abnormalities occurring with TKI’s and the thyroid abnormalities I suspect may occur with the FQ’s.

Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics: Consider the Risks

Thyroid disorders, especially autoimmune based ones, are no joke. Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders are not simply disorders of the thyroid gland; in my opinion, they are systemic disorders, affecting many or all of the cells and tissues in the body, which is why there can be such widespread and potentially devastating symptoms. There are numerous environmental stressors that contribute to thyroid disease and endocrine disease, and the fluoroquinolone antibiotics may be one of them. Fluoroquinolones exert many damaging effects, and if they are damaging the thyroid axis directly or indirectly via a cascade effect, actually causing anti-thyroid antibody production, or even if they are triggering or unmasking a subclinical or silent condition in susceptible patients to an active pathological condition, this is of serious concern – or it should be. A “silent” condition means just that – you don’t know you have that predisposition. I can say from my own experience that taking a fluoroquinolone antibiotic is a hell of a way to find out. It is Pharma’s responsibility to provide adequate warnings and risks of this possibility, and the medical profession’s responsibility to make sure adequate testing rules out these antibodies along with other potential risk factors, before prescribing a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Sadly, neither of these things is happening right now. Until it does, I think anyone considering taking a fluoroquinolone antibiotic for a simple infection, such as uncomplicated UTI or sinusitis, should be aware of the risk factors and possible alternatives.

Based on what I’ve learned in the past several years, I believe anyone with pre-existing endocrinopathies of any type (whether they’re known or not), to be at increased risk for these adverse reactions. I also believe that anyone who has experienced any kind of flox reaction has now gotten a warning sign, and is at increased risk of developing an overt or clinical endocrinopathy as a result of being floxed at any time after. One of the few supportive pieces of evidence for this hypothesis is buried in Table 3, Page 136 of a Mayo clinic paper here. Note the at risk population includes people with autoimmune or endocrine disorders (diabetes, thyroid, parathyroid) and steroid usage (ie, Prednisone, inhalers, anabolic steroids, etc.).

The best approach, of course, is to stay away from these drugs altogether if at all possible. In my opinion based on my own experience, developing a lifelong severe thyroid disorder – or any other disorder — to solve a short term problem such as an uncomplicated infection with a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, isn’t worth the risk.

References and Resources

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If you have been injured by a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, please share your story. Send us a note here, for more information.

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More people than ever are reading Hormones Matter, a testament to the need for independent voices in health and medicine. We are not funded and accept limited advertising. Unlike many health sites, we don’t force you to purchase a subscription. We believe health information should be open to all. If you read Hormones Matter, like it, please help support it. Contribute now.

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Laboratoires Servier, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

*The website is no longer available.

This post was published originally on Hormones Matter on May 7, 2015; links have been updated where appropriate.

Recovering From Medically Induced Chronic Illness

by KJ N

Published on February 6, 2020

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Unexplained or Medically Induced Chronic Illness?

“Unexplained.” That’s what doctors say about chronic illness. Conventional medicine says, ‘learn to live with it.’ Rather than offer a true treatment or cure for these debilitating conditions, they suppress the immune system and offer more drugs for depression and anxiety – none of which are effective. I’m here to tell you that common wisdom is wrong. I know, because my own lucky story proves we can heal from chronic illness. Pharmaceutical insults created my disabling illnesses – Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, estrogen dominance, adrenal fatigue, POTS, Graves’ Disease, Hashimoto’s, Bell’s Palsy, infertility and more. I share my journey to offer hope. The doctors were wrong. I have recovered and am once again, healthy.

Early Clues and Pharmaceutical Insults

My childhood had some clues – things I now know predict chronic illness. My lymph glands swelled when I was otherwise healthy. Mosquito bites turned into angry 3” welts. Childhood bunions and hyper-mobile joints suggested leaky gut. All these issues correlate with chronic illness and, seen in hindsight, hint at the difficulties that awaited me in adulthood.

My immune system may have been awry from the start, but pharmaceuticals tipped the scale toward chronic illness. As a teen, I took birth control pills for heavy periods and cramps. When vague symptoms appeared in my early twenties, I asked about pill side effects. The gynecologist laughed at the idea, but I trusted my gut and finally stopped the pill. I felt better in some ways but developed new symptoms. Sleep became difficult. I was hypersensitive to noise and light and struggled with unquenchable thirst. The doctor suggested my extreme thirst stemmed from hot weather and salty foods. This explanation didn’t add up to me, but I was young and so was the internet. I had no resources to connect the dots. Today, I recognize that 10 years of hormonal birth control created nutrient deficiencies (folic acid, vitamins B2, B6, B12, C, and E, along with magnesium, selenium and zinc) while also raising my risk for future autoimmune disease.

Recurrent UTIs, Fluoroquinolones, and New Onset Graves’ Disease

A few years later, recurrent urinary tract infections led to many doses of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic, Cipro. Cipro now carries a black box warning and is known to induce mitochondrial damage. My mid twenties also brought pre and post-menstrual spotting and bleeding for 10 days each month. Doctors did nothing for my hormonal imbalance but diagnosed Graves’ disease (hyperthyroidism). Everything about me sped up. Food went right through my system. I was moody. My mind was manic at times. I was unable to rest and yet physically exhausted from a constantly racing heart.

The doctor said Graves’ disease was easy – just destroy the thyroid and take hormone replacement pills for the rest of my life. I didn’t have a medical degree, but this treatment (RAI, radiation to kill the thyroid) just didn’t make sense. Graves’ disease is not thyroid disease. It is autoimmune dysfunction, where antibodies overstimulate a helpless thyroid.

As I studied my options, I learned that RAI could exacerbate autoimmune illness and many patients feel worse after treatment. It was surprising to find that the US was the only Western country to recommend RAI for women of childbearing age. Armed with this knowledge, I declined RAI and opted for medication. The endocrinologist mocked my decision. I was in my 20s and standing up to him was hard, but it marked a turning point and spurred me to take responsibility for my own health, rather than blindly trusting doctors. Recent reports suggest RAI treatment increases future cancer risks. My Graves’ disease eventually stabilized on medication, although I never felt really well. I pushed for answers for my continued illness, but doctors refused to test my sex or adrenal hormones.

IVF and More Damage to My Health

Things turned south again when I was unable to conceive. The supposed best fertility clinic in Washington, DC could not find a cause for my infertility. I’ll save that story for another day, but the short version involved a few years of torment and four failed IVF attempts. The fertility drugs and the stress worsened my overall health considerably.

Our last try at pregnancy was with a specialist who practiced functional medicine. Labs and charting uncovered a clear progesterone imbalance, and also explained my spotting. This simple diagnosis was completely missed by the conventional fertility clinic. A brief trial of progesterone cream resulted in two naturally conceived, healthy pregnancies. Isn’t it remarkable that several years and over $100,000 failed to produce a baby with IVF and $20 of progesterone cream on my wrist did the trick? This could be a cautionary tale about profit motive in modern medicine, but that, too, is a topic for another day.

Years of Conventional Medicine: Thyroid Damage, Autonomic Dysfunction, and Profound Fatigue

I weaned off thyroid medications and felt fairly well after my babies, but my system took a big hit when life brought an international relocation. The move was intensely stressful and my health sunk after we landed half a world away. I had no energy, gained weight, and lived in a fog. The tropical heat and humidity of Southeast Asia felt like a personalized form of torture.

Perhaps the stress of our move left me vulnerable to the reappearance of autoimmune and adrenal dysfunction, as my next diagnosis was Hashimoto’s Disease and adrenal fatigue. Doctors ordered functional medicine tests (hair, organic acids, stool, saliva cortisol and hormones) that identified nutrient imbalances, but their treatment ideas fell short. Despite replacement hormones and supplements by the handful, I remained very sick, with profound exhaustion, brain fog, sleep disruption, pain, and terribly imbalanced sex hormones.

Taking Matters Into My Own Hands

If setbacks have a bright side, it is in the drive to get better. I started studying when my doctors ran out of ideas to treat my illness. Fibromyalgia was the best description of my pain, but I knew conventional medicine offered no help for this condition. I dug into the topic and found the work of Dr. John C. Lowe, who used T3 thyroid hormone for fibromyalgia, and Paul Robinson, creator of CT3M, the circadian method for using T3. CT3M and high daily dose of progesterone cream improved my quality of life in the short term. Near daily bleeding eventually regulated back into a normal cycle and my adrenal function improved greatly.

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) was the next bump, bringing a very high heart rate, very low blood pressure, heat intolerance, and extreme sweating on the lightest activity. By this time, I didn’t even ask the doctor for help. My research pointed to salt and potassium, and so I drank the adrenal cocktail and salt water daily. POTS symptoms vanished quickly with this easy strategy, as did the nocturnal polyuria that plagued me for many years.

I steadied after this time. I was not well but functional, despite some major life stressors, including another international move and a child’s health crisis. Even though I managed the daily basics, things like house guests, travel, or anything physically taxing required several days to a week of recuperation.

The Next Step: Addressing Nutrient Deficiencies

The next step in my recovery came thanks to a B12 protocol that includes co-factor nutrients, developed by Dr. Gregory Russell-Jones. Addressing the deficiencies connected to B12 helped and things progressed well until I had a disastrous reaction after eating mussels, which I hoped would raise iron levels. I vomited for hours and stayed in bed for days. I kept up the B12 protocol, but just couldn’t recover. Largely bedridden, and napping 4 hours at a stretch, I got up in the evening only to drive to a restaurant dinner, too exhausted to prepare food or deal with dishes.

Debilitating exhaustion lasted for a month, and then two, with no relief. It was an awful time, but hitting rock bottom proved a blessing in disguise, as desperation turned me back to research. Slowly, I pushed through brain fog and started to review studies on chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. This led me to a promising Italian study using thiamine for these conditions.

Studying thiamine, it seemed plausible that the allergic reaction to mussels drained my B1 reserves, making it impossible to recover. Inspired by the research, I started on plain B1 at very high doses. To my surprise, I felt better right away. The first dose boosted my energy and mental clarity.

I continued to learn about B1’s benefits, thanks to this website and the text by Drs. Marrs and Lonsdale. Two weeks went by and thiamine HCL seemed less effective, so I switched to lipothiamine and allithiamine, the forms recommended in Thiamine Deficiency Disease, Dysautonomia, and High Calorie Malnutrition. WOW. What a difference! Virtually overnight, my gears began to turn, and I felt better with each new day. In a single month, I went from bedridden to functioning well 2 out of every 3 days. I had ideas, I had energy, and I could DO things. The setback days were mild and disappeared entirely after 2 months on thiamine.

At the 2 month mark, I had to travel for a family emergency. My pre-thiamine self would have needed at least a week of rest following this kind of trip, and I expected pain and fatigue as I stepped off the plane. But to my great surprise, I felt well! I remember walking through the airport late that evening and thinking it felt amazing to stretch my legs. Maybe that sounds like an ordinary feeling, but years of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia conditioned my body to stop, to sit, whenever possible. It was entirely novel to FEEL GOOD while moving! The next day came and I did not collapse, I did not require days to recover and was able to carry on like a normal person. It was a remarkable change in an unbelievably short time.

Recovery From Conventional Medicine’s Ills Came Down to Thiamine

Getting better feels miraculous, but it’s not. The real credit for my recovery goes to experts like Dr. Marrs and Dr. Lonsdale who spread the word about thiamine. Despite years of illness and dead ends, I believed I could heal and I kept trying. Tenacity eventually paid off when posts on this site helped connect the dots between my symptoms and thiamine deficiency. More than anything, my recovery is a story of tremendous luck, as I finally landed upon the single nutrient my body needed most.

The difference between my “before thiamine” and “after thiamine” self is beyond what I can describe. Birth control, Cipro, and Lupron created nutrient imbalances and damaged my mitochondria, leading to multiple forms of chronic illness in the years between my 20s and 40s. Replacing thiamine made recovery possible by providing the fuel my damaged cells so badly needed. At this writing, I am 7 months into high dose thiamine and continue to improve. I have not experienced any form of setback, regardless the stressors. My energy feels close to normal, the pain is resolving, and brain fog is a thing of the past. My sense of humor, creativity and mental functioning are all on the upswing. I owe thanks to the real scientists who dare to challenge wrong-headed ideas of conventional medicine, and who provide hope for these so-called hopeless conditions. My wish is that this story will do the same for someone else.

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More people than ever are reading Hormones Matter, a testament to the need for independent voices in health and medicine. We are not funded and accept limited advertising. Unlike many health sites, we don’t force you to purchase a subscription. We believe health information should be open to all. If you read Hormones Matter, like it, please help support it. Contribute now.

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Brain Connections between Thyroid Disease and Migraine

by Chandler Marrs, PhD

Published on July 17, 2018

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As the use of brain imaging increases in routine clinical care, clinicians and researchers are confronted with incidental anomalies appearing on the scans. One such anomaly is the white matter hyperintensity. A white matter hyperintensity indicates increased signal intensity that the MRI has picked up – basically a spot on the MRI image. Remember brain white matter is formed by the myelin protected axons of neurons. This is where electrical messaging takes place across the brain and spinal cord. A white matter hyperintensity means that something is going on with these axons. But what and why?

As more and more of these hyperintensities appeared, researchers began to identify the causes of the increased signal. They were lesions in the axons. The question then became, what would cause such lesions in otherwise healthy individuals. The obvious suspects included stroke, age-related damage, Alzheimer’s disease and even migraine. The not so obvious reasons for the lesions included cardiovascular and thyroid disease.

In a recent study, high levels of homocysteine (a protein associated with cardiovascular disease and stroke), chronic migraine with frequent attacks (~20 years and >5 migraines per month) and subclinical hypo- and hyperthyroidism were significantly associated with white matter lesions in people as young as 40 years old. There was no difference in the incidence of lesions in men versus women or in smokers versus non-smokers. Although, smoking increased the frequency of migraines and so indirectly may lead to these lesions.

The association among elevated homocysteine, chronic migraine and thyroid disease share a potentially similar though untested etiology – one commonly disrupted in other conditions that affect women – mutations in the MTHFR gene. I can’t help but think there are some connections to be made here.

How are Homocysteine, MTHFR and White Matter Lesions Connected?

Homocysteine levels are controlled by the B vitamins, which is in turn controlled by the MTHFR gene. Deficiencies in Vitamins B6, B9 or B12, either by nutritional deficiencies or via a MTHFR mutation that impairs metabolism, elicits high homocysteine levels. (A great video explaining this common mutation can be seen here).

The impaired metabolism of Vitamin B, leads to demyelination of the axons – the white matter lesions observed by the MRI as white matter hyperintensities. It is important to note that low vitamin B levels (high homocysteine) are associated with demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. MTHFR mutations have been identified in migraine sufferers as have the white matter lesions.

As we learned last week, pre-menopausal hysterectomy, leading to brain iron accumulation is also associated with white matter damage. And as luck would have it, iron levels may be regulated in part by homocysteine as well. Hypothyroid patients also exhibit elevated homocysteine levels whereas hyperthyroid patients have low homocysteine. Could the underlying cause of the cause of the thyroid, migraine, brain lesion trifecta be impaired homocysteine metabolism – an MTHFR mutation? Interesting possibility.

We Need Your Help

More people than ever are reading Hormones Matter, a testament to the need for independent voices in health and medicine. We are not funded and accept limited advertising. Unlike many health sites, we don’t force you to purchase a subscription. We believe health information should be open to all. If you read Hormones Matter, like it, please help support it. Contribute now.

Yes, I would like to support Hormones Matter.

This post was published originally on March 21, 2013.

Fatigue, Hair Loss, Diarrhea: Just Hormones or Crohn’s Disease?

by Taylor Provost

Published on January 29, 2016

15893 views

Instead of wondering where I’d be going out for the weekend, much of my twenty-first year was spent wondering “Why is my hair thinning so much?” and “Why am I having diarrhea every day?” The last thought on my mind was a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease – an incurable inflammatory bowel disease. Now unfortunately, even amidst trying to finish college and plan a wedding, the word Crohn’s, as well as its bodily effects, are on my mind every single day.

On a quest to find true health, I became very invested in learning all I could about natural living and healing about two years ago. Ironically, around the time I began to become proactive towards my health, I noticed my health begin to deteriorate in a number of ways.

What I had assumed to be due to the normal stress of college life, a tumultuous relationship and the fast-paced life of a nanny, I began suffering from chronic fatigue, night sweats, consistently cold hands and feet, unexplained weight loss, and now chronic diarrhea to add to my laundry list of health concerns a person my age shouldn’t be having. Could my adrenals be worn down? Am I eating enough? Drinking enough water? Do I have a thyroid issue?

Hypothyroidism?

My family has a history of issues with hypothyroidism – my mother and maternal grandmother both struggle with maintaining correct hormonal balance. When my mother suggested this as a possibility to me, I figured after two years of wondering, it was time to investigate.

At a local health expo I attended last fall, I went to an informational seminar on thyroid health – all of the symptoms of poor thyroid health resonated so deeply to me. I was convinced, at this point, that this was the missing piece to my healthy body puzzle. I went out and bought an iodine supplement, but decided to hold off on taking it until I got official bloodwork done to confirm my self-diagnosis.

I cashed in on a general physical as an excuse to get some bloodwork done with my pediatrician (regrettably, I have not found a general practitioner yet). I requested a variety of tests: a full thyroid panel, a check on my adrenals, selenium, iron, vitamins, DHEA sulfate and more. Fully expecting my test results to come back saying I had poor thyroid function, much to my surprise I received a rather concerned phone call from my doctor.

Vitamin Deficient, Iron Deficient, Protein Deficient

“Your thyroid panel came back normal, but your iron is dangerously low; you are severely anemic and you need to begin on iron supplement immediately,” he said. I had not been anemic since I was four years old, but I recalled craving crushed ice when I was anemic, and I had not craved this in years. This news was shocking to me, but even more shocking was his further explanation. “You are also extremely deficient in vitamins C and D, as well as showing signs of malnutrition, such as not enough protein. Your white blood cell count is also concerning; it is what we call ‘immature,’ which shows that your body is fighting something.”

Dumbfounded, I had little clue as to how to process this information. How could I be showing signs of malnutrition? I eat all the time, and eat meat every day. The diagnosis made no sense to me. My doctor expressed concern of an irritable bowel syndrome, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, as his suspicion was that I was not properly absorbing the nutrients I was consuming.

The Diagnosis: Crohn’s Disease

Following a colonoscopy, an endoscopy and further bloodwork, my diagnosis was confirmed – Crohn’s disease.

My doctor explained Crohn’s to me as my immune system attacking my own digestive tract, supposedly without explanation.

Tacking the word ‘disease’ on the end of any diagnosis is devastating, to say the least, especially at the age of 21. But when a professional can’t seem to articulate a probable cause to your chronic disease, perhaps the most overwhelming sensation is confusion. With all of my efforts to live consciously and support my immune system, the news of having an autoimmune disease has been especially emotional and frustrating. While I am grateful my hormones are in balance, at least for now, my body is experiencing constant inflammation, and all I know for certain is that this is not normal.

After having a pity party for myself on the ride home from the doctor’s office, I resolved that I refuse to believe that nothing can be done for my condition, despite being told that diet will have no bearing on my inflammation. I have spent the last two years taking responsibility for my health, and Crohn’s cannot shake that philosophy.

I am currently taking steps to heal my gut through the Gut and Psychology Syndrome Diet, and while I am on an immunosuppressant steroid drug for eight weeks, I am determined to remain drug-free for this condition after this period. I am determined to achieve remission through a total transformation of my diet, and with the help and guidance of other doctors I am pursuing who have experience treating Crohn’s disease along with other autoimmune issues.

In light of this, I urge any and all who suspect that something is just “off” in their body to look seriously into the problem. And when doctors tell you what the problem is, but offer no solution, dig even deeper. Seek out a Functional Medicine Doctor; get to the root of the issue. Most importantly, take charge of your health, whether it’s your hormones, your gut, your mind, or something else. We cannot function properly as a whole when one part of us is out of balance. Keep searching for answers in your quests for true health, too, and do not let a diagnosis shake you – even if it’s Crohn’s.

Thyroid Dysfunction With Medication or Vaccine Induced Demyelinating Diseases

by Chandler Marrs, PhD

Published on October 26, 2015

10275 views

It is always amazing to me when seemingly disparate research articles come across my desk and within an instant there is a shift in understanding. That is what happened over the last two weeks, community members from different disease groups shared research articles. From the Gardasil community: CNS Demyelination and Quadrivalent HPV Vaccination . From our friends at Thyroid Change: Triiodothyronine Administration Ameliorates the Demyelination/Remyelination Ratio in a Non-Human Primate Model of Multiple Sclerosis by Correcting Tissue Hypothyroidism. And I connected some dots.

Thyroid and Neuromuscular Reactions to Gardasil and Lupron

Among the more common side-effects reported by Gardasil injured and a group we are just beginning to study, Lupron injured women, include decreased thyroid function, sometimes associated with Hashimoto’s, thyrotoxicosis or even thyroid cancer. Simultaneously, but frequently viewed as separate or unrelated disease processes, both groups of women report a constellation of neurological and neuromuscular symptoms, many consistent with demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Indeed, case reports of central nervous system (CNS) demyelination or MS and Gardasil have been reported (cited above). There may be a connection between the demyelination process and the thyroid injury that develops as an adverse immune response to a drug or vaccine. More importantly, there may be a treatment opportunity.

Thyroid Hormones Affect Myelination

Almost a decade of research conducted solely in animals, rodents and monkeys, shows a connection between decreased thyroid function and demyelination disorders. Specifically, researchers found that administration of the thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3) not only improves the clinical course of the MS – like symptoms but effectively switches the disease process from a primarily demyelinating progression to remyelination. That is, the T3 induces cell level responses that regrow the protective myelin sheaths around CNS axons and corrects the medication-induced, tissue level, hypothyroidism. For the young women experiencing the host of neurological and neuromuscular symptoms post HPV vaccine, Gardasil or Cervarix, and/or post Lupron, this research may point to both an etiology and a treatment opportunity – disrupted thyroid metabolism mediated by an inflammatory reaction and T3 supplementation, respectively.

Dysregulated Thyroid in Critical and Chronic Illness

Vast amounts of research show a connection between thyroid function and critical and chronic illness. Hypothyroidism is common in what are otherwise considered ‘euthryoid’ or ‘normal’ thyroid individuals, but whose physiology is so severely stressed by disease or injury, thyroid function is affected. The presentation of diminished thyroid function during severe or chronic illness of unrelated etiology is often difficult to determine and its treatment is controversial. In these cases, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is within the normal range in all but about 10% of patients and thyroxine (T4) may or may not be reduced. If and when further analysis is completed, T3, however, is often shown to be significantly diminished, the T4/T3 ratio is larger, reverse T3 (rT3), the T3 deactivating hormone is increased, while the enzymes responsible for converting T4 to T3 are reduced; clear evidence of disrupted thyroid metabolism that can be missed with traditional testing.

With the mixed laboratory presentation and evidence that supplementing with levothyroxine (synthetic T4) does little to improve patient outcomes, treating illness induced thyroid dysfunction is controversial, many physicians and medical organizations argue against treatment. Indeed, even in primary hypothyroidism, treatment with anything other than levothyroxine – T4 is controversial. Perhaps it shouldn’t be. The evidence reported in these animal studies, clearly indicates, T3 dysfunction and consequent supplementation controls the demyelination and remyelination process at the cell level and may improve clinical outcomes. In this research, T3 supplementation also improved T4 levels without a concomitant onset of hyperthyroidism, the reason often cited for not utilizing T3.

What This Means

If you or your child are suffering with the constellation of symptoms associated with an inflammatory nerve disease such as multiple sclerosis and/or if you have known hypothyroid symptoms in combination with undiagnosed neuromuscular symptoms, it’s time to connect the dots. The two may be related and may require T3 supplementation. Whether these symptoms were initiated with an adverse reaction to a medication such as Lupron, a vaccine such as Gardasil or Cervarix, or by some other process entirely, the research presented here clearly suggests a role for T3 in the array of symptoms associated hypothyroid disease and CNS demyelinating diseases.

Some of the symptoms associated with MS include:

Vision problems (optic neuritis)
Numbness or tingling of the face, arms, legs
Chronic, unexplained pain
Muscle spasms – painful muscle contractions
Uncontrollable, often painful jerking of the arms or legs
Extreme fatigue and weakness
Dizziness
Vertigo (spinning)
Balance or gait (walking) problems
Hearing problems or loss
Seizures
Uncontrollable shaking
Breathing problems
Slurred speech
Trouble swallowing
Dysfunctional bladder urinating frequently, strong urges to urinate, or inability to hold in urine
Bowel problems – constipation, diarrhea, or loss of bowel control
Memory problems
Concentration problems
Language/speaking
Depression
Rapidly switching moods
Uncontrollable moods
Inappropriate moods

These symptoms have been noted in post Gardasil or Cervarix reactions, and as we are learning, in post Lupron reactions as well. Even though these are two entirely different medications with entirely different mechanisms of action, the core reaction illness that ensues is inflammatory and often attacks the thyroid. When the thyroid is compromised, a range of other pathophysiological processes emerge, including demyelination. Certainly, additional research is warranted, but in the absence of time, and in the face of great suffering, T3 testing and supplementation may be indicated.

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More people than ever are reading Hormones Matter, a testament to the need for independent voices in health and medicine. We are not funded and accept limited advertising. Unlike many health sites, we don’t force you to purchase a subscription. We believe health information should be open to all. If you read Hormones Matter, like it, please help support it. Contribute now.

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This article was published previously on Hormones Matter in August 2013.

A Long and Complicated History Topped by Levaquin: Please Help

by Destini Bates

Published on October 21, 2013

6798 views

A long and complicated medical history topped by Levaquin

Here is my story from the beginning. Well, not my beginning, but the beginning of what seems to be a downward spiral health wise. Please help us figure this out.

Two Pregnancies and Cervical Cancer

In 1998 at the age of 22, I became pregnant with my first born son. A normal pregnancy and natural delivery. Upon my six week check up after delivery, they found abnormalities in my pap smear. With further investigation, I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. The doctor said it was as if the wallpaper was cancer but the sheet rock and wood was not affected. I had a LEEP procedure that removed the damaged area with a good portion of my cervix. I was advised that if I wanted more children, I should do so within the next two years, because any further complications would mean a hysterectomy.

In 2000, I became pregnant and delivered my second child, a daughter. The pregnancy was a little more complicated. They feared my cervix would not hold well enough to get her to full term. During the pregnancy, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, likely due to autoimmune dysfunction. As a child, I developed vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder of the skin.

The birth of my daughter was natural, although she came four weeks early. The doctors were still investigating my thyroid condition and eventually determined that I had a big goiter and thyroid nodules. The endocrinologist said that the nodules were too small to biopsy, and though he could not say positively that they were benign, he thought that they were. I was instructed to just continue with my thyroid replacement hormones.

Endometriosis and Partial Oophorectomy

In 2004, I experienced terrible pain in my pelvic area. All testing came back normal and the doctors originally dismissed my pain. It got so bad that I could not even sit down without terrible pain. The doctor took me in on a emergency basis and an internal ultrasound showed a mass in my pelvic region. My local doctors believed it to be cancer, as it showed all of the characteristics of malignancy. I was sent five hours away to a cancer specialist. They performed an open surgery to explore the area and remove the mass. Pathology showed it to be benign, so they removed my left ovary and tube. I was diagnosed with endometriosis.

Autoimmune Disease

In 2005, I became very ill. It started with what they believed to be an infection. Later, I was diagnosed with mononucleosis. I was told that my Epstein Barr numbers were through the roof. I literally could not get out of bed. My body hurt so bad that moving, other than to get to the bathroom, pretty much did me in for the day. I was placed on a medical leave at work. Blood testing revealed high levels of antinuclear antibody (ANA) in my blood. My local doctor thought that I may have Lupus. I was referred to a rheumatologist who diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. After six months, I returned to work.

Hysterectomy and Complications

In 2006, after years of suffering with terrible periods and a few more abnormalities on my pap smear, my OB decided it was time for a complete hysterectomy. My first night in the hospital seemed to be smooth, but in the morning things took a change. I was on a morphine pump for pain, and though I had no pain from my pelvic region, I was having pain in my chest and my left arm. The nurse said my oxygen level was extremely low. The next thing I remember was doctors running in everywhere. I was rushed to CT and then to ICU where I spent the next few days. To this day, I do not know what happened. I got the doctor’s reports. They concluded that it was either a pulmonary embolism or a coronary event. Although, at discharge the doctor told me he thought it was anxiety.

Thyroidectomy, Lung Mass and Fatty Liver

During this time and through following the thyroid diagnosis I always felt awful. No energy, extreme fatigue and weight gain of in total 70 pounds.

In 2007, I developed an illness in my stomach and bowels. The first diagnosis was gallstones. I had surgery to remove the stones. They kept me in the hospital overnight because of the incident the last time I had surgery. I had an endoscopy a few days prior to surgery, and they found I had ulcers and tested positive for H pylori. I got C diff from the hospital and had to deal with that on top of everything else. A colonoscopy revealed that I had ulcerative colitis.

In 2010, my goiter was growing to the point that swallowing and sometimes speaking became an issue. My endocrinologist felt that those symptoms, coupled with the nodules, meant it was time to remove the thyroid. I had a thyroidectomy that year with no complications other than severe fatigue and a struggle to get my levels right.

In 2011, a minor fall left me with a torn meniscus and knee surgery, really not important, I know.

In 2012, I was diagnosed with mono again and the symptoms of pain in my abdomen called for a CT. In receiving the results, I was told I had a 7mm nodule in my right lung and a fatty liver. My liver levels had been high for a few years. I was sent to a pulmonary doctor at the Lahey clinic in Massachusetts. He said that because of my young age and the fact that I had never smoked it was likely not cancer, but that we needed to recheck in six months. My six month checkup revealed another nodule and I returned to Lahey clinic for another consultation. He again said that it did not have some of the characteristics of malignancy and because it was small our best bet was to rescan in another six months.

The Current Nightmare – Enter Levaquin

So this brings me to my current nightmare, one that has continued for seven months. It began on Easter Sunday. I had been sick with what I believed to be pneumonia as my husband had just had it, and I seem to get whatever is going around. We visited the local Emergency rooms and I was diagnosed with pneumonia. They gave me a pill to take while in the ER room. I asked what it was, as my husband was given a Z pack. She told me Levaquin and I took it without question, as it meant nothing to me at the time. We waited for the discharge paperwork and left with a few different pills and and a prescription to continue Levaquin for 10 days.

By the time we reached our house, 20 minutes away, I was itching all over. Hives began to form and my face and ears were starting to swell. I went to a different ER that was 5 minutes away. The rushed me in and administered IV prednisone and Benadryl. I was put on oxygen. After about an hour, symptoms started to slow and I was released. As the reaction was going on, I felt like I was crazy. I think, or at least thought at the time, that it was from the itching. By the time we left the hospital, all I could think about was breathing.

I felt that if I did not concentrate on my breathing I would forget to breathe.

My discharge instructions were to continue with oral prednisone for 3 days and take Benadryl every 4 hours for the next 24 hours. Monday, I slept all day. That evening, I decided I could not take anymore Benadryl. When I came out of what felt like a drug induced coma, I was scared, very frightened actually.

I could barely speak and I did not want my husband to leave me.

I am a very independent person and me feeling like I needed him was not usual. I was very different and it alarmed my husband. He felt it was the prednisone and would not let me take anymore. I finally begged that he let me take another Benadryl to sleep, as I was scared and hating the way I was feeling and functioning. My head hurt so bad that I felt like it may explode.

Tuesday this continued and I could not get off the couch or speak clearly.

Wednesday we returned to the ER. I underwent a CT scan which came out normal and the ER doc felt it was migraines. He dismissed the fact that it could be the Levaquin, as it was only one pill. I was treated with migraine medicine and released.

At first I felt a little better, but some of the symptoms would not go away. I had a limp with pain and weakness on the right side of my body. My neck and shoulders hurt so bad that I could not lay down. The headache seemed unending. I laid around feeling not myself for days.

I recognized my kids but could not come up with their names. I started calling objects by different names, wrappers for socks, and looper for bra, talker for phone.

By Monday my husband brought me to the walk-in clinic, as my doctor was away and the ER had proved to not be of much help. We shared all of the pain and symptoms.

The doctor concluded that it was anxiety and gave me Tramadol for the pain.

The next day my husband brought me to my primary care physician and she was mortified by my condition. She sent us straight to the ER and said she would call them to let them know I was coming and my condition. I was still in terrible pain my head mainly and my right side. I was sent for an MRI that came back normal and underwent a lumbar puncture. It took the radiologist four tries to get the spinal tap and then she forgot to get the pressure.

I was admitted to the hospital for further testing. I had a magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) and numerous blood tests. I had debilitating pain that left me feeling like I literally may die. I could not stand the light, the nurses had to hang blankets from the windows. The littlest noise hurt me horribly. My husband stayed by my side, as I was still nervous to have him leave me.

I was released a few days later with a slew of different migraine medicines and an appointment to see the neurologist.

The neurologist and her staff were not my favorite from the get go. The nurse asked if something was wrong with me, as I could barely speak and continued to grunt in pain. She changed my medicines and sent me for an EEG that same day. She called a few days later.

I was having seizures in my left temporal lobe.

She prescribed Keppra and left it at that with no follow up appointment or anything. She did mail me a paper about epilepsy. The Keppra did not work well for me. I became very nasty and most of my words were very colorful.

After two weeks, we went back to that neurologist and she was gradually going to reduce the Keppra and start me on Lamictal. The next week I went to see another neurologist that was four hours away.

She said that I had status epilepticus and sent me right to the ER for an infusion of Dilantin.

The next day I returned to be almost myself. I was talking better and acting more like myself.

This sickness has also changed my personality. I say silly things and giggle after everything I say, most of which is inappropriate. I act very childlike or like someone who has mental retardation.

After two days, I slipped back into my previous state. This continued for months the medicine was too low, requiring me to take more than twice the recommended amount, then too high. After two more EEGs both showing slowed brain waves on my left temporal lobe, I was sent to a big hospital to have a long term EEG. There they found the same slowing/episodes that happened 8 to 15 times a day.

I was taken off the Dilantin and started to become myself again. I lost over 20 pounds in month without trying. I was getting around and helping around the house. I was regaining interest in some of my previous hobbies and wanting to rejoin society. This continued for a little over a month. Then, I started feeling bad again.

My cognition remained improved, but my body and my head felt as they did in the beginning of this nightmare. One evening, at my nieces birthday party, I started having pains in my head.

My hearing became very acute. Everything was magnified in sound and my vision again became very blurred.

We left immediately, and by the time we were home, I could barely speak.

My jaw hurt and felt like it could hardly move. My head was aching so bad and my fear had returned.

I have regressed into my previous state and that has continued for two weeks now. I was referred to the neuro-ophthalmologist who said I have pappiledema severe in my right eye and mild to moderate in my left. My neuro thought that I may have a tumor somewhere in my body and my immune system, as a result, was attacking my brain. This is because the testing for paraneoplastic syndrome came back showing positive striational antibodies.

This week I had a PET/CT scan and an third spinal tap. The PET scan showed no abnormalities, although I was given the disc and there is a clear hot spot, at least to my untrained eye, but I guess I need to trust the experts. The spinal fluid was being sent to the Mayo Clinic for testing. For the past weeks, I have had terrible pain in the left half of my face, including my ear, my jaw and near my temple. I know it is not a sinus infection, as I get them regularly and can spot them in an instant. I am not sure if its an infection, but I am inclined to think it is another chapter in this book. I will list some of my symptoms, diagnosis and current medications.

Current Symptoms

Headache, daily
Blurred vision
Magnified hearing
Increased anxiety and fear nothing like before
Right sided weakness
Numbness in tingling in my extremities
Memory impairment
Cognitive deficits
Fatigue
Body Pain
Weight Loss 20 pounds (yay)
Eye pain
Poor judgment
Child like behavior
Clumsiness
Lack of coordination
Lack of focus and inattention
Restlessness
Insomnia

Current Diagnoses

Encephalitis
Temporal Lobe seizures
Status epilepticus
Encephalopathy
Papilledema
Paraneoplastic Syndrome
High Blood Pressure
Acid Reflux
Fibromyalgia
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / Mono

Current Medications

Synthroid 200 mg
Lamictal 125 mg 2 times daily
Fluoxetine 40 mg
Prtonix 40 mg
Linsopril 10 mg
Vivelle patch (estrogen 100 change twice weekly)

The blood pressure medications and estrogen are new in the last two months.

Please Help

I apologize for the length of this documentation. I want to sincerely thank you for any time and consideration you put into this. I certainly know that it is not your responsibility or obligation. I have two beautiful children and this has taken a severe toll on them. I have gone from a mom who was involved in every aspect of their lives, to a mom who is constantly afraid of causing them shame. In this, I have lost my job and an income, which means paying an incredible price for cobra insurance. I feel like we are up against a wall and running out of possibilities. This is no way for anyone to have to live. I am willing to entertain or try pretty much anything at this point. Thank you again, this means the world to me, just to gain some insight.

With Gratitude and Appreciation.

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Thyroid Disease Plus Migraines

by Nancy Bonk

Published on January 29, 2013

3141 views

Thyroid and Migraine: Which Comes First?

Many people suffer from migraine and thyroid disease, but don’t realize they can be comorbid. This means the two can occur at the same time but are not necessarily caused by one another. There are over 37 million Americans with migraine disease and close to 27 million Americans who have thyroid disease, half of whom are undiagnosed. Because the thyroid gland plays such an important role in the body, when thyroid disease is present, it is reasonable to suspect that thyroid symptoms might trigger migraines. Interestingly, although the message boards and blogs are filled with discussions of migraineurs who come to find they also have a thyroid disorder, there is very little research connecting the two.

Let’s explore the connection between migraine and thyroid

First let’s talk about Migraines. Migraine is a neurological condition with a complex and not yet fully understood, genetic component. It is thought to be caused by overactive neurons in our brains. Researchers are not exactly sure how or why the brain of a person with migraine is unlike those without migraine but they do know a migraine attack is typically triggered by stimuli. Fluctuating hormones, changes in the barometric pressure, dehydration, certain foods and changes in sleeping patterns are a few stimuli that will trigger a migraine for some people; however the list is quite extensive.

Phases of a Migraine

There are four phases of a migraine attack the first of which is called prodrome. Its symptoms include but are not limited to – frequent yawning and urination, feeling anxious and cranky, being tired and some people have food cravings.

The next phase is called aura – symptoms in this phase include blinking and/or flashing lights, squiggly lines, blurred vision, smelling and/or hearing things that aren’t there, feeling dizzy, confused, neck pain and being oversensitive to touch (called allodynia) – your scalp may hurt when you brush your hair – to name just a few.

The headache phase has been considered the most incapacitating because not only does our head fiercely hurt, but we may feel pain in other parts of our body. Migraine pain is often one sided but can change sides or be on both sides of the head. Our neck, jaw, teeth, eyes and cheeks may be painful in addition to nausea, dizziness, light, smell and sound sensitivity. There can also be gastrointestinal issues and horrible anxiety as well as depression during this phase.

Postdrome, the last phase can take a few hours or even days to recuperate from. Some may feel a sense of wellness during postdrome but many report feeling “wrung out.” In addition to these symptoms others include, but are not limited to feelings of depression, excessive tiredness, reduced emotion and an inability to concentrate.

Risk Factors for Migraine

Those who are obese have a five times greater risk of developing migraine and people with depression are at a three times greater risk. Other risk factors include head injury, too much caffeine consumption and being a woman. Similarly, thyroid disease predominantly affects women, often is associated with weight gain and depression (hypothyroid). Other risk factors for thyroid disease include: being over the age of 50 for men and women, a family history of thyroid disease, smoking, being exposed to certain chemicals and medications, being exposed to iodine, or being iodine deficient, radiation, neck injury, certain medications.

If you have migraine plus thyroid issues, what does this mean for you?

The first thing to consider is getting an accurate diagnosis on both fronts – migraine and thyroid. This is no easy task, especially on the thyroid front, as many women go undiagnosed for years. Visit our friends at ThyroidChange for more information.

You must have a complete exam with your doctor, having him/her go over you and your family’s medical history and discuss your symptoms in detail. While blood work is used as a diagnostic tool for thyroid disease, there are no tests at this point for migraine disease. It is diagnosed by meeting criteria, having a complete neurological exam, reviewing you and your family’s medical history and discussing your symptoms.

Having multiple diseases can be a challenge, especially when first diagnosed. No need to panic, get as much information and education as you can and learn about your diseases. If you do have migraine and thyroid disease, getting your thyroid hormones under control may help reduce the susceptibility to some of migraine triggers, thus reducing attacks.

And who doesn’t want fewer migraine attacks?

About the Author

Nancy Bonk is a patient advocate for living with migraine, a regular contributor to Hormones Matter and other online journals.

____________

Resources:

Blackwell J. “Evaluation and treatment of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.” Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.” 2004;16:422–425.

EMedicine Health. “Thyroid Problems.” WebMD LLC. January 4, 2013.

Shoman, M. “What is the Thyroid?” About.Com. January 3, 20123

Shoman, M. “Risk Factors for Thyroid Disease.” About.Com. January 3, 2013.

Press Release. “News from the 31st Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society: Risk Factor Management Helps Prevent Migraine Attacks.” Honolulu. Hawaii. May 17, 2012. http://www.americanpainsociety.org/about-aps/content/aps-risk-factor-management-helps-prevent-migraine-attacks.html

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Current Symptoms

Current Diagnoses

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Please Help

Participate in Research and Support Hormones Matter

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Thyroid and Migraine: Which Comes First?

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