I'm hypothyroid. rosacea, inflammation questions

March 1, 2005

Some background history:

I'm a 31 year old female and was finally diagnosed as hypothyroid

after years of suffering. Docs would only treat when TSH was out of

range. I am still working with doc to find therapeutic range and she

will only prescribe synthroid as (in her words) if she were to

prescribe armour it would be bordering on mal-practice. She only

performs TSH and doesn't test free T3 or T4 values. I have been to

an armour web listed endo but didn't have any luck with getting

armour. He wanted to get me in therapeutic range with synthroid

first. I've decided to keep searching.

I have been recently diagnosed as having rosacea. I've always

flushed/blushed very easily and in any " nervous " situation I would

get horrible, embarrassing red splotches all over my chest. Now, my

cheeks get bright red and burn, especially at night. My primary

doctor suggested treating with a steroid but I don't want steroids

and I am considering a dermatologist.

I've been experiencing, over the past couple of years, chest/breast

pain (I actually went to the ER because I was scared) and they just

said I must have exercised too hard and I had chest wall

inflammation. My next bout was less than a year later and an echo

on my heart came back normal (I wasn't exercising near to when this

chest pain bout occurred). Primary Doc said it was just an

inflammation but couldn't say why I was getting these flare ups.

They still persist and are soooooo scary. I now have a quarter size

lump near my collar bone/shoulder and it is so painful! My primary

was unconcerned with the lump at my visit a few weeks ago. I feel

like crap. Anyone have a theory as to why I might be getting these

flare ups?

My questions are..... Are all of these things related to being

hypothyroid? The flare ups actually seem to have increased since I

started thyroid treatment and my facial redness has also really

increased. If I eventually become euthyroid, will these symptoms

disappear? Anyone have similar symptoms and feel that Armour helped

as opposed to synthroid? I just feel so bad and currently I'm on 100

mcg of synthroid. Treatment started September of 2004.

Any advice would be appreciated and I'm really sorry this is so long.

Jodi

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