thyroid function and chiari - is there a connection?

[Guest guest]

One of the problems with thyroid testing is that the normal procedure

for testing thyroid is to test two of the markers--then if they are

normal they do not test the other two. The theory is that if the first

two are normal the other two will be fine since the other two are only a

problem when the first two are out of wack. The problem is that this is

not true of everyone. My sis in law did not discover this until she

battled with problems for some time and finally went to a Dr who tested

the other two. Even though her other ones were normal--her free T-3 and

Anti body were out of wack anyway.

kelly

amandamariebaker wrote:

>

> Hello everyone,

>

> I'm researching possible hypothyroidism and have come across alot of

> interesting info.

>

> As with chiari, the current methods used by doctors to diagnose

> hypothyroidism are outdated. I got bloodwork done and it was

> normal. But when I posted to a support group online, they encouraged

> me...said that a TSH reading of 2.73 is not normal if it is

> accompanied by symptoms (sound familiar?). So I researched

> more...and here are two facts that I found:

>

[Guest guest]

Thyroid problems are probably likely in Chiari patients due to CSF

pressure in the skull putting pressure on the pituitary.Depending on

the amount and length of continual pressure could cause Endocrine

problems. I do not know if there is an actual connection between

Chiari and Thyroid problems.

I do know that I have thyroid problems. (Hashimoto's Disease dx. at

11 now 41) Recently, I had my thyroid remove because I was having

problems swallowing and choking which continued after removal of the

gland. The swallowing/choking was actually from Chiari. I recently had

a real bad headache that lasted >30 days. During this time my TSH

level to 16.(My endocrinoloigist likes it around 1) TSH is produced by

the Pituitary not the Thyroid. I do believe there is a connection at

least with those of us who suffer from both Thyroid problems and

Chiari. It affects my hormone levels when my pressure is high. I am

sure the pressure could effect the TSH of Chiari patients without a

thyroid Dx.

Kristi in SC

CM,Stenosis,Scoliosis and Thyroid problems

> >

> > Hello everyone,

> >

> > I'm researching possible hypothyroidism and have come across alot of

> > interesting info.

> >

> > As with chiari, the current methods used by doctors to diagnose

> > hypothyroidism are outdated. I got bloodwork done and it was

> > normal. But when I posted to a support group online, they encouraged

> > me...said that a TSH reading of 2.73 is not normal if it is

> > accompanied by symptoms (sound familiar?). So I researched

> > more...and here are two facts that I found:

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Wow - this is very interesting to me. Having come from a family with thyroid

issues, in 1999 I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and put on Synthroid by my

physician. I had to keep having my synthroid " upped " about once a year because

the levels were off and the symptoms were not being alleviated.

I had finally gotten the numbers stabilized, although a lot of the symptoms were

still there. Then I had gastric bypass surgery in 2004. 6 months post-op, I

had been complaining about the thyroid symptoms to the Physician's Assistant at

my doctor's office. She told me that she had been researching thyroid function

because she had a lot of patients who were on synthroid, and even though the

blood work came back normal, the patients were still experiencing symptoms.

The PA-C said she thought I'd be a great candidate for an alternative treatment

for " 's Thyroid Syndrome " . (The name has since been changed to " 's

Temperature Syndrome " ). In a nutshell, this Dr. has a theory about body

temperature that just made sense to me. If our body temp goes up just one

degree, we have symptoms from that - it's a fever and everyone knows what that

feels like.

Well, if our body temp goes down just one degree, no one seems to make a fuss,

right? (By the way, my personal body temp had been hanging around 95.8 - 96.5

degrees). But Dr. believes that through things like childbirth, surgery,

and diet changes, the body temp can be altered, thus causing the body's systems

to function more slowly, and it takes a toll on the body. I did the research

and it all just made so much sense to me!!!

I had had 9 surgeries and 3 pregnancies, and a major diet change, all in a

matter of 7 years!!! So I decided to go with the alternative treatment, which

entails taking your temperature several times a day, doing charting of it, and

taking perfect dosages of T3 and T4 hormone at timed intervals in order to reset

the body temperature. It was very tedious, and you have to be very diligent

with it. I went out and bought myself a cheap digital wristwatch, so that I

could set the alarm and take my meds at perfect intervals, and I ended up having

to do the treatment for over a year. BUT, all that to say that 3 years later,

I'm still NOT on synthroid, and my thyroid levels are perfect. The symptoms I

was experiencing started to go away when my temperature came up to about 97.5.

**So my advice to any of you - check your body temperature. And if you want the

link for Dr. 's website, email me and I'll send it back to you. This was

one of those situations where I really had to do my homework, research and be

diligent, but I'M SO GLAD I DID!!!

As far as the link to Chiari? I was diagnosed with Chiari following a fall this

past August, and don't know as much as I'd like to yet, but I'd like to talk to

the docs at TCI (was just there last week) concerning this. I know that Chiari

can cause pressure to the pituitary, so perhaps there's a link. If anyone knows

anything about this, let me know, okay???

~Regards,

Kathy