I'm so glad everyones getting tested for their thyroids - now I need to call my Endo and see if I can get in and get my labs done in depth, see about switching to something or adding Cytomel back in again; I'm done being tired and my hair is falling out yet again.
I love my Endo, he does whatever I ask him to do, and he's terrific as he does internal medicine as well, but its just forever to get into see him. *sighs*
Wanted to add a few things to touch on Chicabee's fibro information (great job Chicabee!!
) I often wonder how many thyroid patients have fibro (but my hubby doesnt have thyroid, just fibro along with me)....
Fibro: I have had fibro for 10 + years now and so does my hubby ( very rare that hubby and wife both have fibro at the same time). While rest does play a HUGE role in fibro, sometimes it not that easy. Studies have found (and lab tests) that Epstien-Barr virus and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (a subsidiary of sort you could say of Epstein-Barr) are partly to blame for Fibro and many people that have Fibro are carriers of EB virus. It pays to be tested for this virus. Also, get your Vitamin D, K, Potassium and Magnesium levels tested - they play VITAL roles in Fibromyalgia (especially Potassium and magnesium). Very very imperative these be tested. Try to eat a banana every day, it does help believe it or not.
Exercise: Exercise in extreme moderation can be beneficial to some fibro sufferers, but it depends on how severe your fibro is. Most dx's of fibro is based on trigger points, you must have 11 out of of 18 points for dx of Fibro; hubby and I currently have more than 18 points and it sucks. We began with all 18 points and it has spread over the years. Yes Fibro does progress in some patients, but not all. Some light stretches is about all we can tolerate at best and some days, nothing. Some days clothing touching my skin feels like fire to me. Some days I cannot get out of bed I'm so exhausted, I hurt like someone beat me with a baseball bat and forget the weather
It wreaks havoc on my body. I'm 39 and I feel like I'm 99 some days.
Fibro research has been soooooo active lately. Neurologist have discovered that there is now correlation between it being a neurological disease base condition as well as a muscular condition and they are leaning more towards a neuropathy of sorts. This is why Lyrica (which I cannot take unfortunately) has been approved (and works) for Fibro. It helps calm the nerve endings down which misfire in fibro patients, causing that intense "fire/burning" feeling in the muscles. Think peripheral neuropathy...
Adding Salt: Be very careful doing this and check with your doctor first before adding any type of salt to your diet, even if you have low blood pressure. Not all low blood pressure is caused by fibromyalgia. I have Orthostatic Hypotension, which is caused by (and confirmed through testing/catheters to my heart/xrays) a defect at birth that makes my blood not pump correctly through certain vessels. Its not the same thing as POTS (also not caused by Fibro, but you can have POTS and have fibro...). You can add salt (I must due to having my condition) in moderation and very very little - to help raise my BP up, however if you have Thyroid conditions - make sure you do not use just any old salt as MOST SALT contains Iodine in it - iodine is taken up by the thyroid. You also dont want to add to your issue by going from low BP to high BP in one fallen swoop.
warm baths help TREMENDOUSLY with fibro - sometimes I take 2 a day just to feel better. Headaches are a very very common thing with fibro patients, so dont be surprised if you have them more often. Also - if you have any dental work done, fibro patients tend to heall very very slowly and are more sensitive with dental procedures (very true - i'm 6 months out from a filling and YEOW! did it hurt and I'm still using special numbing stuff, had it redone 3 times now, its simply fibro and there is evidence to support it, ADA has it and it doesnt look very good for us fibro sufferers, hence that "nerve hypersensitivity" issue.)
Double whammy for thyroid sufferers that have fibro.