Last post Thu, May 29 2008 12:17 by craftymama310. 88 replies.
Perhaps no one is making the connection. What I was trying to convey in my eariler post was that there is a connection between the thyroid and fibromyalgia. Dr John C. Lowe has documentated a clear connection between thyroid function and fibromyalgia. Does anyone care? The fact is fibromyalgia patients do benefit from thyroid treatment that includes T3. T3 is a normal hormone that is present in your body. You won't wind up in a stupor from taking it. It may mean that you can throw your vicadin in the trash and get off the pain drugs. Sometimes the symptom is not where the root of the problem lies.
Mike72
It seems this subject is really important to you. There are so many posts.
I had all of the common side effects listed for Lyrica. I kept breaking out in blisters. I dug deeper into Lyica only to find out this was listed as a side effect. I was takn off Lyrica and blisters cleared up and no more breakouts.
Cymbalta has not been an ememy.
fmsheart
Mike72, Thanks for the info. Iwill bring this up to my doctors its very intresting information. I also believe lyme disease played apart in my fibromyalgia,so you never know whats at the root of this awful illness.Any information is helpful thanks again.
Well my run with cymbalta was the enemy.I was under the impression this site is for our personal problems with fibromyalgia. I Mean what works for you may not work for me. This is all about helping each other even if you dissagree .
To Mike Is the T3 available without a prescription?
Also has anyone heard of Chiari Malformation?
My son has it he is Albino I thought it was caused due to his Albinism. I complained to my pain dr last month due to increased neck and left shoulder/arm pain. He wants me to have a cat scan or MRI A few days after my appointment I watched Extreme makeover home addition it was about a family with Chiari Malformation. Seems it can be heriditary. I had headaches for years. I haven't told my dr about my sons condition but will at my next visit. I have yet to have my test done due to insurance issues. Next month our insurence changes so will wait and see if there will be no cost.
I will let everyone know what happens.
Hope today is a better less painful one
Happy mothers day
Not exactly specific to your question, however here goes, the use of ssri's for fibro while popular has not shown itself to be effective usually because it does not help the chronic stuff that occurs with the condition and in fact often makes it worse. Lyrica, I have heard some benefit from taking this, however I could suggest a natural supplement called samento which is a version of cats claw the herb. If you were looking for a alternative therapy I would suggest intravenous Vitamin C infusions which depending on the MD you choose can be effective. The problem is finding a alternative MD that can do this and also finding one who knows about oxidative IV and anti-oxidative IV's and the appropriate botanicals to add. If you are with a traditional MD, this approach will be dismissed just about as fast as you can get it out of your mouth, so realize you have to be your own best advocate. I can point you to the ACAM.org website, however MD's found here can be like any other doctor. You have to know which path's you wish to go down and seek the advice to help you best. It goes without saying alternative treatments are not covered by insurance, so be advised to do your homework before you consider this.
Just a note, it is often found that fibro patients can have a underlying thyroid problem, in the more severe cases I have not found that correcting the thyroid is a magic wand to the problem. I would just like to add this, pushing the thyroid with hormones can still leave you iodine deficient. And breast cancer has been shown to rise in women who have had hormone treatment for the thyroid. Read some of Dr. Brownstein's articles and you will find some amazing contradictions with regard to this.
Sorry I took so long to get back. No T3 is not something you want to use without a doctors supervision. Nor is it available without a perscription. I read a lot of these posts, and almost everybody seems preoccupied with medications to reduce pain, and nobody is really looking at the root cause. If your doctor is clueless, get rid of him/her.
What I have been saying is that there is evidence that suggests fibromylgia is caused by an imbalance with the endocrine system. Be it the thyroid, or even the adrenal glands. Low Cortisol has been linked to fibromyalgia. Start researching. You can be fixed, don't accept no for an answer.
You need to find the root cause of your disorder, not cover over the symptoms with pain masking drugs. The drugs are ok for the short term, but they are not the solution. Digestive problems can also be a symptom of low cortisol as well as fatigue.
You people need to have your endrocrine system completely checked out for hormone imbalances. Conventional medicine frequently fails to dig deep enough. Contact the Broda O. Barnes foundation and pay the $18.00 and request a list of doctors in your area that can help you. Salavia testing is something you may want to do to check the adrenals. Do it through a doctor. Not all doctors are created equal, nor do they look at things the same way. Get better doctors. Look to the endocrine system.
Here are a couple of links: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45203.asp
http://www.brodabarnes.org/
Wendydemora:
Yes what you have said makes sense. Having a cronic infection such as Lyme, can serve as a trigger. There can be many triggers, but in the case of a cronic infection, your body can use up its reserve of adrenal hormones, such as Cortisol, which acts as an anti inflamatory in response to infection. Once these glands become stressed to the breaking point, they cease to function normally. This can be fixed.
See 3rd paragraph down: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45203.asp
Chazzb: Not all patients with thyroid problems are iodine deficient as in the case of Hashimotos which is autoimmune in nature. In any case, iodine is very important either way. I fail to see any reason why breast cancer rates should increase when restoring the body to the NORMAL thyroid hormone levels. We are talking NORMAL levels, not beyond. Unless you are trying to do it with a synthetic T4 replacement hormone such as Synthroid, which does not supply all the thyroid hormones your thyroid makes. It lacks in T2, T1, and calatonin. Leaving you deficient in those. It only supplys T4 which is then converted by your body to T3. I do not know what a deficiency in T2 or T1 can lead to, but if your thyroid normally makes it, then you can bet you need it. Studies can be misleading, I would like to know, of those that developed cancer, how long did their thyroid problem go undiagnosed? Its not unusual to have hypothyroidism for decades, before getting it diagnosed. Just so we are clear, there is no evidence that I am aware of that suggests that Synthroid increases cancer rates. I am just saying, that to be deficient in some but not all of your thyroid hormones MAY increase your risk of cancer. Armour Thyroid would be a better choice as it supplys all of these. I tell everybody to go to a competent doctor and have the whole endocrine system checked out. You can't treat this sort of thing blindly by yourself. Having an upset with your adrenal hormones can make you feel absolutely terrible. Nobody is suggesting any kind of magic wand, but hormones are a good place to start looking.
That does make sense, Mike, and a good place to start.
Thanks for the info.
Gentle Hugs,Maggie
Hi I'm mikeERoberts. I read on another post of your spider bit. I too have felta little overwhemed some lately. But, out of the blue John 3-16 came to mind, and I realized for the first time that the verse says that GOD senthis son to mocked, tortured,and kiied for my everlasting live not so I could be happy, healthy,wealthy,or wise. Made me think how pressious our soul is to GOD. I can't even begin to imagine anyting worth letting someone kill one of my girls. I know it wouldn't be my life or anything temperary on this earth, Forgive my spelling.
I have tried Lyrica but not for that. I am paralyzed so I took if for the nerve pain and burning. But it made me gain weight. I gained 150 pounds in a year and a half but not just from that medicine I was on a loy of weight gainers and had no clue. I was thinking the doctors knew more than I did because I was 17 at the time. But now since I am paralyzed and I have no control over my stomack muscles so now I cant realy loose the weight. I even tried to get gastric bypass but no doctor will do it because I cant feel my stomach so it is to much of a risk.
Hi Norma.
Knowledgeable? Well I'm learning. As a hypothyroid patient, I realized I have to be my own advocate. In digging up information I realized that many of these disorders are connected. I am still seeing my Yale educated endrocrinologist, and am still on Synthroid, for now. I still have many symptoms of hypothyroidism dispite this, and began further digging. I also began seeing another doctor last week who is on board with the theorys and proven treatments of pioneering giants in the field such as Barnes and Jefferies.
Thats not a very high dose of Synthroid you are taking, but undoubtedly its enough to lower your TSH. THS labs don't provide a complete picture of thyroid health. Looks like you are taking a hefty dose of Cortisol also, as would be expected with Addison's. If this is working for you, then yes go to a conventional endrocrinologist. With all these endrocrine related problems you do need a specialist.
I can say that a good conventional endrocrinologist is not what has worked for me. I found my new doctor through the Broda O Barnes MD Research Foundation. Easy to find on the web, or see my previous posts for a link. Here is a link to a good east coast doctor. He specializes in thyroid and fibro and other endrocrine problems. He has some info on his site worth reading.
Hi ksjs13,
I am new to this site. I was just going through and reading some of the questions and responses. i noticed u talked about pain block. i had epidural steroid blocks in my back many many times and they did nothing but cause me more pain. I will never do it again. There was another procedure called an IDET which is similar and my doc wanted me to do it. Ins. wouldn't cover it but i thought if it works i'll deal with the costs. Good thing I ran into a gentleman in the waiting room and he told me that if the blocks don't work neither will the IDET. He had it done as well as at least 10 people he taked to and no one had any relief. Thank god I didn't waste my money. Unfortunately I have been on every drug and patch and lollipop( I thought they were crazy about a lollipop drug) you can think of and the only thing that is bearable at the moment is Morphine, Oxycodone, Zanaflex, Ativan, Imiprimine, and Effexor. I take these 2-3 times a day. I always hated docs and meds. now I can't get away from them. Good luck!
