Suggest Treatment For Severe Stress, Swollen Joints And Thyroid Symptoms

Posted on Fri, 29 May 2015

Question: I am 47 and have been in menopause for about 4 years..my hormones are very very bad... I actually really almost don't have any...so I know my ovaries are done...I don't have health insurance and I am have a terrible time with my thyroid and my adrenal glands...I have let all this go for over a year now..i am very active ...when I have energy...I try to eat well when I can eat...I should weigh 90 pounds considering that I can't even eat anymore...I can hardly swallow...I cough and my voice is very hoarse...my breathing is shallow...I know my thyroid is enlarged..i have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism or even thyroid cancer..how do I handle this at home..i feel so awful and my stress levels are out the roof...my mom is going through chemotherapy for lymphomia and our family life is not that great...I do it all and I think I am just plain out dying..there is an alien in my body..i look so different since my face..body..eyes...and joints are so swollen...I cant take much more...I was such a different person 2 years ago..what do I do..remember..no insurance..not much money to spend on me...I have to make sure everyone else is ok and they have all they need...I am getting a goiter in my neck...I am an exercise physiologist and I know all about exercise..nutrition and health..i am the poster child for disaster..can you give advice...thanks XXXX

Answered by Dr. Sameer Kumar (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
hypothyroidism.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for the query to HCM,
As i understand that you are menopausal since last 4 years and have had no evidence of any post menopausal issues in terms of hot flushes and vaginal dryness or atrophic vaginitis or any post menopausal bleeding. So in a way its good and post menopausal symptoms hence can be controlled by a healthy lifestyle which i believe you are trying to do anyways.
Your concern here is hypothyroidism for which you need to get SERUM TSH levels done for sure. If TSH is high then you have to be started on thyroxine tabs daily and they are not costly at all. Once the thyroxine levels are maintained again the secondary symptoms and signs of swelling bloating, decreased appetite shall subside in 2-3 weeks. Please get your thyroid profile done.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sameer Kumar (13 minutes later)

oh yes...I have nights sweats..sleeplessness...hot flashes..moody...the whole nine yards..know about the blood test..is there anything I can do at home while I have to wait for an appointment..this is a nightmare...will you please tell me that my mind and body will be back to normal...should I go to a hormone therapy dr. or a family dr...I don't want to do the blood test more than once...I have already done this in the past...that is how I know have no hormones.does stress make this worse..

Answered by Dr. Sameer Kumar (20 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
answered

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Of course stress can make everything worse. Menopausal symptoms can get more aggravated then. I would advise first thing first, thyroid levels should be controlled first. Then your post menopausal symptoms can be taken control of by oestrogen supplementation daily if required post response to thyroid medication and comparative symptoms relief ( simply because the symptoms of both can overlap.) so thyroid takes precedence.
regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar