Can You Be Both Hypothyroid and Hyperthyroid?

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Can You Be Both Hypothyroid and Hyperthyroid?

_http://thyroid.about.com/cs/hypothyroidism/a/hypoandhyper.htm_

(http://thyroid.about.com/cs/hypothyroidism/a/hypoandhyper.htm)

When You Seem to Have Symptoms of Both Conditions

By _Mary Shomon_ (http://thyroid.about.com/mbiopage.htm)

 

Frequently, readers write in frustration, stating that they have been

diagnosed as hypothyroid, but have symptoms of both hypothyroidism and

hyperthyroidism.

 

I'm gaining weight, exhausted all the time, and my hair is falling out,

but I'm also having high blood pressure, my heart is racing all the time, and

I get diarrhea. Can I actually be hypo and hyper at the same time?

 

The answer is yes. While you should always see your doctor regarding any

concerns with blood pressure, heart rate, or other symptoms, here are some

important factors to consider.

 

You Have Both Hashimoto's and Graves'

 

Some patients actually have both Hashimoto's and Graves' disease

antibodies, which puts the thyroid into a push-pull situation, where it cycles

up

and down through hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. This is not a very

common situation, but hypothyroidism patients who frequently have

hyperthyroidism symptoms should ask their doctors for full antibody profiles to

detect

the presence of both Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease.

 

Your Symptoms Aren't Textbook

 

Everyone who has hypothyroidism doesn't follow the typical course of

symptoms. Some hypothyroidism patients will, for example, lose substantial

amounts of weight - rather than gain weight. And others will have anxiety or

panic attacks as a symptom of their condition.

 

You Have Dysautonomia

 

Imbalances in the autonomic nervous system - known as dysautonomia - are

more common in autoimmune thyroid disease. In dysautonomia, the sympathetic

system - part of the autonomic nervous system that controls the body's

" fight or flight " reactions - becomes unbalanced. Symptoms of dysautonomia can

include anxiety attacks and rapid heartbeat, among many other symptoms.

 

You're Having a Thyroiditis Flare

 

Some patients who have the autoimmune condition known as Hashimoto's

thyroiditis are diagnosed during a period when they are hypothyroid. But in a

thyroid that is failing due to autoimmune disease, the thyroid can frequently

sputter into overdrive, then back into underactivity, and into overdrive

again, as it " burns itself out " over time. You can, therefore, experience

periods of overactivity - hyperthyroidism - even while your thyroid is

underactive over time and generally on its way to burning itself out. So, you

can

experience hypothyroidism symptoms, but periodically have hyperthyroidism

symptoms that also appear. And remember...hyperthyroidism symptoms don't

" cancel out " your hypothyroidism symptoms...they more often are added to them.

 

At the same time, Hashimoto's can also mean that periodically, the thyroid

experiences a flare-up, or " attack " of thyroiditis, which is frequently

accompanied by symptoms such as palpitations. Noted thyroid expert Stephen

Langer, M.D., who coauthored the popular thyroid book Solved: The Riddle of

Illness with James Scheer, refers to thyroiditis as like an " arthritis of the

thyroid. " He explains that just as arthritis attacks the joints with pain

and inflammation, thyroiditis can mean pain and inflammation in the thyroid

for some sufferers. And in particular, during a thyroiditis attack, common

symptoms you might experience are anxiety, panic attacks, heart

palpitations and problems sleeping. - all common hyperthyroidism symptoms - as

well

as swelling in the thyroid area, and problems swallowing.

 

What Can You Do?

 

Generally, whatever the cause, some patients find relief from palpitations

and rapid heartrate with beta blockers. Antianxiety drugs may also be a

help in panic attacks and anxiety. Some patients find that they require

treatment for particularly troublesome hyperthyroidism symptoms. For example,

during periods when palpitations or high pulse become bothersome, drugs such

as beta blockers - which lower heart rate and blood pressure and can slow or

stop palpitations -- can be prescribed to help control symptoms.

Sometimes, anti-anxiety drugs can be a help, and in some people, temporary use

of

sleeping pills may also be of assistance. On the natural end, some patients

find that yoga, biofeedback, or breathing exercises can help with palpitatio

ns or rapid pulse.

 

One of the best treatments for dysautonomia symptoms is regular physical

exercise, which calms down and regulates the autonomic nervous system.

Palpitations are also responsive to acupuncture treatments. From a more

nutritional medicine perspective, Dr. Langer suggests that patients experiencing

thyroiditis and having trouble sleeping take calcium/magnesium, which are

nutrients that have a sedative effect, along with a pain reliever to relieve

inflammation -- buffered aspirin or ibuprofen -- before you go to bed, this

might help. He's found that this helps about two-thirds of his patients

suffering from nighttime thyroiditis symptoms.

 

Reducing swelling is another key aspect of dealing with thyroiditis

attacks, according to Dr. Langer. Says Langer:

 

Just as with arthritis, an anti-inflammatory pain reliever doesn't cure

the problem, but it temporarily ameliorates the symptoms.

 

When it comes to palpitations, Dr. Langer feels that they can be

misunderstood.

 

What happens with Hashimoto's patients having thyroiditis attacks is that

many wind up in the emergency room seeing cardiologists. It happens a few

times and then they're written off as psychiatric cranks. They end up with

large doses of anti-anxiety medications or antidepressants.

 

Frequently, when not misdiagnosed as a heart problem, anxiety, or

depression palpitations may be misinterpreted as a sign that a patient is

getting

too much thyroid hormone. But when medical evaluation rules out

hyperthyroidism due to too much thyroid medication, mitral valve problems, or

other

cardiac abnormalities, Dr. Langer has found that nutritional deficiencies may

be to blame -- in particular, deficiencies of calcium, magnesium or Vitamin

D. Says Dr. Langer:

 

There's compelling evidence coming to the surface that Vitamin D is not

only a vitamin but a hormone...The recommended daily allowance for Vitamin D

is 400 IU, but scientists doing studies actually believe that people who do

not get regular exposure to sunshine should be getting 2000-4000 Vitamin

D. The Vitamin D also has profound effects on absorption of calcium and

magnesium.

 

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