Re: ELAINE: question about embolisms

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

We have a great blood test used to detect pulmonary embolism. It's called a

quantitative D-Dimer test. It's wonderful because ER docs can tell with this

test, which takes an hour, if the patient has PE and needs to be admitted.

Why don't you ask about this.

Also, hypothyroidism causes weak muscles, especially the diaphragm, which is

why we get sleep apnea. I suspect that you could be right about hypot causing

this. Other effects of hypoT are shortness of breath and shallow breathing.

I don't know as much about imaging tests as I should so I'm not certain if

ultrasound is as effective as the CT scan. But a combination of the D-Dimer

test and arterial blood gases should help with diagnosing this. Take care,

Elaine

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

You say you're just getting over a cold with cough, and that you've had

problems such as this before. As someone who frequently has had similar

problems, I know mine to be related to pulling a muscle in my back or side.

It used to be a very, very common thing for me to have this happen for no

apparent reason. I've long suspected it's related to the tight muscle

structure that seems common to us Gravsians. When we were putting together

the symptom list, that came out as an almost universal symptom--I've never

had any chiropractor or massage person work on me that didn't comment that I

was the tightest person they ever met!

It seems to me that your testing is overkill. Try to isolate the region of

the pain, use a combination of hot soaks (Whole Foods has a very good green

minerally bath salt that seems to help) and topical treatment with one of

the million variations on BenGay (I use a Chinese herbal one, but I think

they're all fine).

That all said, I could be all wet on this one--but the coughing probably did

it. And for me the thing that's cured the tendency to get these pulls

constantly has been working with a physical therapist on an exercise

routine, which I do for an hour at least 4 nights a week, to limber and

strengthen my muscles. Since I'm in a highly physical profession, and have a

bad back, this has been necessary for me.

Best of luck with it,

Terry

> " kgossett01@...>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2002 15:59:28 -0000

> To: graves_support

> Subject: ELAINE: question about embolisms

>

> Hi Elaine & others,

>

> I saw my GP yesterday with complaints about pain between my shoulder

> blades and pain on the front in my chest on right side. I have had

> problems before with this shoulder, and I'm just now finally getting

> over a cold where I had a lot of coughing at the end. She had a

> chest x-ray taken to see if there was any sign of pneumonia or

> pluresy, which there wasn't. She then was concerned that it might be

> a blood clot and wanted to have a CT scan done. They inject an

> iodine contrast dye for that, so I was concerned about having that

> done. I'm taking 50/25/25 mg PTU each day currently and I think my

> latest lab results (done Monday) came back with me slightly hypO, but

> I'm waiting to hear back from my endo on those. She did talk to my

> endo and he said the CT scan would be fine since my thyroid is so

> suppressed right now.

>

> Can an ultrasound be used instead to detect this? Does GD or the use

> of PTU increase the risk of a blood clot? I also take birth control

> pills, which I know can potentially increase the risk of these.

>

> My doctor finally agreed to let me wait a day or two to see if I felt

> better. The pain was worst Monday but was better yesterday and is

> about the same today as it was yesterday. I'm just freaked out now

> about the possibility of it being a clot!

>

> For the most part it doesn't hurt unless I move my arm to lift

> something while being slightly bent over or if I take in a deep

> breath.

>

> Thanks for your insights.

>

>

>

>

> -------------------------------------

> The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

> intended to replace expert medical care.

> Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the endorsement of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> --------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

You say you're just getting over a cold with cough, and that you've had

problems such as this before. As someone who frequently has had similar

problems, I know mine to be related to pulling a muscle in my back or side.

It used to be a very, very common thing for me to have this happen for no

apparent reason. I've long suspected it's related to the tight muscle

structure that seems common to us Gravsians. When we were putting together

the symptom list, that came out as an almost universal symptom--I've never

had any chiropractor or massage person work on me that didn't comment that I

was the tightest person they ever met!

It seems to me that your testing is overkill. Try to isolate the region of

the pain, use a combination of hot soaks (Whole Foods has a very good green

minerally bath salt that seems to help) and topical treatment with one of

the million variations on BenGay (I use a Chinese herbal one, but I think

they're all fine).

That all said, I could be all wet on this one--but the coughing probably did

it. And for me the thing that's cured the tendency to get these pulls

constantly has been working with a physical therapist on an exercise

routine, which I do for an hour at least 4 nights a week, to limber and

strengthen my muscles. Since I'm in a highly physical profession, and have a

bad back, this has been necessary for me.

Best of luck with it,

Terry

> " kgossett01@...>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2002 15:59:28 -0000

> To: graves_support

> Subject: ELAINE: question about embolisms

>

> Hi Elaine & others,

>

> I saw my GP yesterday with complaints about pain between my shoulder

> blades and pain on the front in my chest on right side. I have had

> problems before with this shoulder, and I'm just now finally getting

> over a cold where I had a lot of coughing at the end. She had a

> chest x-ray taken to see if there was any sign of pneumonia or

> pluresy, which there wasn't. She then was concerned that it might be

> a blood clot and wanted to have a CT scan done. They inject an

> iodine contrast dye for that, so I was concerned about having that

> done. I'm taking 50/25/25 mg PTU each day currently and I think my

> latest lab results (done Monday) came back with me slightly hypO, but

> I'm waiting to hear back from my endo on those. She did talk to my

> endo and he said the CT scan would be fine since my thyroid is so

> suppressed right now.

>

> Can an ultrasound be used instead to detect this? Does GD or the use

> of PTU increase the risk of a blood clot? I also take birth control

> pills, which I know can potentially increase the risk of these.

>

> My doctor finally agreed to let me wait a day or two to see if I felt

> better. The pain was worst Monday but was better yesterday and is

> about the same today as it was yesterday. I'm just freaked out now

> about the possibility of it being a clot!

>

> For the most part it doesn't hurt unless I move my arm to lift

> something while being slightly bent over or if I take in a deep

> breath.

>

> Thanks for your insights.

>

>

>

>

> -------------------------------------

> The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

> intended to replace expert medical care.

> Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the endorsement of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> --------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Holly,

This is eerie...I get the same pain in my shoulder blades. I wondered if it

might be hypO because I always get other muscle cramps when hypo. Weird!

Kristi

ELAINE: question about embolisms

Hi Elaine & others,

I saw my GP yesterday with complaints about pain between my shoulder

blades and pain on the front in my chest on right side. I have had

problems before with this shoulder, and I'm just now finally getting

over a cold where I had a lot of coughing at the end. She had a

chest x-ray taken to see if there was any sign of pneumonia or

pluresy, which there wasn't. She then was concerned that it might be

a blood clot and wanted to have a CT scan done. They inject an

iodine contrast dye for that, so I was concerned about having that

done. I'm taking 50/25/25 mg PTU each day currently and I think my

latest lab results (done Monday) came back with me slightly hypO, but

I'm waiting to hear back from my endo on those. She did talk to my

endo and he said the CT scan would be fine since my thyroid is so

suppressed right now.

Can an ultrasound be used instead to detect this? Does GD or the use

of PTU increase the risk of a blood clot? I also take birth control

pills, which I know can potentially increase the risk of these.

My doctor finally agreed to let me wait a day or two to see if I felt

better. The pain was worst Monday but was better yesterday and is

about the same today as it was yesterday. I'm just freaked out now

about the possibility of it being a clot!

For the most part it doesn't hurt unless I move my arm to lift

something while being slightly bent over or if I take in a deep

breath.

Thanks for your insights.

-------------------------------------

The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

intended to replace expert medical care.

Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

----------------------------------------

DISCLAIMER

Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the endorsement

of

the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------

[Guest guest]

Holly,

This is eerie...I get the same pain in my shoulder blades. I wondered if it

might be hypO because I always get other muscle cramps when hypo. Weird!

Kristi

ELAINE: question about embolisms

Hi Elaine & others,

I saw my GP yesterday with complaints about pain between my shoulder

blades and pain on the front in my chest on right side. I have had

problems before with this shoulder, and I'm just now finally getting

over a cold where I had a lot of coughing at the end. She had a

chest x-ray taken to see if there was any sign of pneumonia or

pluresy, which there wasn't. She then was concerned that it might be

a blood clot and wanted to have a CT scan done. They inject an

iodine contrast dye for that, so I was concerned about having that

done. I'm taking 50/25/25 mg PTU each day currently and I think my

latest lab results (done Monday) came back with me slightly hypO, but

I'm waiting to hear back from my endo on those. She did talk to my

endo and he said the CT scan would be fine since my thyroid is so

suppressed right now.

Can an ultrasound be used instead to detect this? Does GD or the use

of PTU increase the risk of a blood clot? I also take birth control

pills, which I know can potentially increase the risk of these.

My doctor finally agreed to let me wait a day or two to see if I felt

better. The pain was worst Monday but was better yesterday and is

about the same today as it was yesterday. I'm just freaked out now

about the possibility of it being a clot!

For the most part it doesn't hurt unless I move my arm to lift

something while being slightly bent over or if I take in a deep

breath.

Thanks for your insights.

-------------------------------------

The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

intended to replace expert medical care.

Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

----------------------------------------

DISCLAIMER

Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the endorsement

of

the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------

[Guest guest]

Hi Elaine,

Thank you! I'll ask if they can do the Quantitative D-Dimer test. I

think it would help to give me some peace of mind since my GP has

planted a worry seed about this in my mind.

> Hi ,

> We have a great blood test used to detect pulmonary embolism. It's

called a

> quantitative D-Dimer test. It's wonderful because ER docs can tell

with this

> test, which takes an hour, if the patient has PE and needs to be

admitted.

> Why don't you ask about this.

>

> Also, hypothyroidism causes weak muscles, especially the diaphragm,

which is

> why we get sleep apnea. I suspect that you could be right about

hypot causing

> this. Other effects of hypoT are shortness of breath and shallow

breathing.

>

> I don't know as much about imaging tests as I should so I'm not

certain if

> ultrasound is as effective as the CT scan. But a combination of the

D-Dimer

> test and arterial blood gases should help with diagnosing this.

Take care,

> Elaine

>

>

>