Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Eye Rolling And Loss Of Consciousness While Having Thyroid Infection?
Question: Night before last I started sweating profusely. I don't normally sweat much at all. Then I lied down about an hour later and my husband said my eyes rolled back in my head and I was unconscious for about 2 min. When he aroused me yelling in my ear, I got up and had vomiting and diaherra. We found out I had some flu and thyroid infection...also possible pituitary infection. Can those thing cause the eyes rolling back and unconsciousness? Yesterday I had no dizziness, but I had headache and congestion and had to take oscillococcinum and Echinacea often throughout the day.
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I must say I am a little perplexed by the diagnosis of thyroid infection and pituitary infection, those are not common diagnoses. It is unclear how were they diagnosed, not commonly associated with flu.
What about hormone levels, thyroid gland produces thyroid hormone while pituitary gland is the main endocrine gland which regulates other hormonal pathways. So if there is alteration in their function it can lead to all sorts of metabolic alterations, even life threatening ones, depending on the hormones which level is affected. Lab tests are needed for that purpose.
As for the episode of eye rolling and loss of consciousness you describe, it looks to have been a seizure. Now seizures can have many causes stroke, brain tumors, infection or inflammation of the brain or its layers, trauma, metabolic abnormalities etc. Now simple flu itself doesn't cause seizures. But if on the other hand there are endocrine abnormalities due to damage to pituitary or thyroid gland that can lead to metabolic abnormalities like glucose level or electrolyte abnormalities, which in turn can cause seizures.
So to conclude, yes thyroid or pituitary infection can lead to seizures. But simply saying that is not enough, pituitary deficiencies are serious issues so if suspected must be accompanied by lab and imaging test to confirm and properly treat, simply oscillococcinum and echinacea are not enough.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I must say I am a little perplexed by the diagnosis of thyroid infection and pituitary infection, those are not common diagnoses. It is unclear how were they diagnosed, not commonly associated with flu.
What about hormone levels, thyroid gland produces thyroid hormone while pituitary gland is the main endocrine gland which regulates other hormonal pathways. So if there is alteration in their function it can lead to all sorts of metabolic alterations, even life threatening ones, depending on the hormones which level is affected. Lab tests are needed for that purpose.
As for the episode of eye rolling and loss of consciousness you describe, it looks to have been a seizure. Now seizures can have many causes stroke, brain tumors, infection or inflammation of the brain or its layers, trauma, metabolic abnormalities etc. Now simple flu itself doesn't cause seizures. But if on the other hand there are endocrine abnormalities due to damage to pituitary or thyroid gland that can lead to metabolic abnormalities like glucose level or electrolyte abnormalities, which in turn can cause seizures.
So to conclude, yes thyroid or pituitary infection can lead to seizures. But simply saying that is not enough, pituitary deficiencies are serious issues so if suspected must be accompanied by lab and imaging test to confirm and properly treat, simply oscillococcinum and echinacea are not enough.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I really appreciate your thorough answer. I am planning to go to urgent care today as I don't have a family physician. I have only gone to alternative med. doctors for the past 20 yrs, because I had too many adverse reactions to chemical medicines.
Thanks Again,
XXXX
Thanks Again,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the feedback. I can understand ones fear of chemical medicines but still somewhat unclear how you reached to the conclusion of having thyroid and pituitary infection.
Anyway the important thing is you're going to urgent care today. Some tests are needed, if some medicine is prescribed you can decide to do when that happens, based on the findings of the tests and the doctor's arguments.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the feedback. I can understand ones fear of chemical medicines but still somewhat unclear how you reached to the conclusion of having thyroid and pituitary infection.
Anyway the important thing is you're going to urgent care today. Some tests are needed, if some medicine is prescribed you can decide to do when that happens, based on the findings of the tests and the doctor's arguments.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Dr. Taka,
As you might know, they could not do any tests at Urgent
Care, so they sent me to emergency at the hospital. I was there overnight as they were doing various tests on my heart and doing constant monitoring. They found I have a left bundle branch blockage (electrical) but said that could even be from an old heart attack or sudden drop in blood pressure as I have not had an EKG done before. I was low in potassium (I have already known I have to take that everyday) and had thyroid infection and some flu. They said any problems with the pituitary were extremely unlikely. We moved a week ago, and I worked 12 to 13 hours most days for 3 weeks trying to get everything out of the house. I knew, as I am 72, that was too much for me. Then, the morning before I passed out, I was in a dentist's office chair for 4 hours, as they were trying to do a root canal, but they could not get to the canal. It seems all of these stressful situations were too much for my heart to handle, and they termed the condition VagalVasa-Syncope. I was thankful other tests were normal and I was able to come home Saturday night.
However, I have another important question to ask you. I have to have an Endodonist do the root canal and I cannot get in for treatment until April 14th (primarily because I am going to the Dental Institute and can't afford to go to a regular endodonist. They took the top part of the swelling and infection off the tooth on the 29th which helped alleviate extreme pain I had been having at night, but the extreme pain already came back last night. I cannot take ibuprofen more than 3 days (even just at night), because it causes my intestines to become permeated......I turn red all over and have terrible itching and stinging all over my body (have been told that's because toxins have gotten into my blood). I also have a weak liver due to some bad infection or some kind of hepatitis (not Hepatitis B) when I was 12 yrs old. From 1985 to about 1998 I took Tylenol everyday for headaches I was having. I haven't taken any since then, but have heard I should NEVER take even one due to my weak liver. It seems any other pain medicine has some acetyminophen (sp?)in it. I have to have something for pain to sleep, because I substitute teach 2 or 3 days a week. Codine makes me nauseated and dizzy. Do you think Vicodin or something similar would be dangerous to my liver if I take it at night for 10 days?
I wrote to you 13 min. ago and feel I should also let you know that I am taking liver supplements 4 to 7 times a day(depending on what is going on with my body at the time), even now, just to be able to function and work some.
Thank You so much for your help,
XXXX
As you might know, they could not do any tests at Urgent
Care, so they sent me to emergency at the hospital. I was there overnight as they were doing various tests on my heart and doing constant monitoring. They found I have a left bundle branch blockage (electrical) but said that could even be from an old heart attack or sudden drop in blood pressure as I have not had an EKG done before. I was low in potassium (I have already known I have to take that everyday) and had thyroid infection and some flu. They said any problems with the pituitary were extremely unlikely. We moved a week ago, and I worked 12 to 13 hours most days for 3 weeks trying to get everything out of the house. I knew, as I am 72, that was too much for me. Then, the morning before I passed out, I was in a dentist's office chair for 4 hours, as they were trying to do a root canal, but they could not get to the canal. It seems all of these stressful situations were too much for my heart to handle, and they termed the condition VagalVasa-Syncope. I was thankful other tests were normal and I was able to come home Saturday night.
However, I have another important question to ask you. I have to have an Endodonist do the root canal and I cannot get in for treatment until April 14th (primarily because I am going to the Dental Institute and can't afford to go to a regular endodonist. They took the top part of the swelling and infection off the tooth on the 29th which helped alleviate extreme pain I had been having at night, but the extreme pain already came back last night. I cannot take ibuprofen more than 3 days (even just at night), because it causes my intestines to become permeated......I turn red all over and have terrible itching and stinging all over my body (have been told that's because toxins have gotten into my blood). I also have a weak liver due to some bad infection or some kind of hepatitis (not Hepatitis B) when I was 12 yrs old. From 1985 to about 1998 I took Tylenol everyday for headaches I was having. I haven't taken any since then, but have heard I should NEVER take even one due to my weak liver. It seems any other pain medicine has some acetyminophen (sp?)in it. I have to have something for pain to sleep, because I substitute teach 2 or 3 days a week. Codine makes me nauseated and dizzy. Do you think Vicodin or something similar would be dangerous to my liver if I take it at night for 10 days?
I wrote to you 13 min. ago and feel I should also let you know that I am taking liver supplements 4 to 7 times a day(depending on what is going on with my body at the time), even now, just to be able to function and work some.
Thank You so much for your help,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I am glad you were evaluated for that loss of consciousness episode and haven't had any recurrences.
As for the question on pain treatment, you ask me about Vicodin, but the Vicodin I am familiar with contain acetaminophen as well (along with hydrocodone). So the hepatic issue remains.
The issues you experience with Ibuprofen sounds like an allergic reaction to me. I am not sure there is any scientific basis for that theory of toxins entering the blood!!
There are other non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs apart from Ibuprofen though, ones which do not necessarily cause allergic reactions like naproxen, etodolac etc. I would try those as a first choice.
If you really want an opioid medication like the Hydrocodone present in Vicodin, a 10 day only period of treatment with Tramadol (less potent and addictive) should be fine, but not the extended release form, only the regular one, 50 mg tablet before sleep.
I hope to have been of help
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I am glad you were evaluated for that loss of consciousness episode and haven't had any recurrences.
As for the question on pain treatment, you ask me about Vicodin, but the Vicodin I am familiar with contain acetaminophen as well (along with hydrocodone). So the hepatic issue remains.
The issues you experience with Ibuprofen sounds like an allergic reaction to me. I am not sure there is any scientific basis for that theory of toxins entering the blood!!
There are other non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs apart from Ibuprofen though, ones which do not necessarily cause allergic reactions like naproxen, etodolac etc. I would try those as a first choice.
If you really want an opioid medication like the Hydrocodone present in Vicodin, a 10 day only period of treatment with Tramadol (less potent and addictive) should be fine, but not the extended release form, only the regular one, 50 mg tablet before sleep.
I hope to have been of help
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Dr. Taka,
I am so glad you were able to tell me about Tramadol. It has really helped alleviate the pain I have had. It makes me sleepy, but that is okay since I only take it at night. The Endodonist had a cancellation and was able to get me in yesterday. He did 3 root canals (all next to each other) in one sitting! They were needed due to one old injury to a tooth and 2 others that a dentist in Mexico did not take care of correctly years ago. I came through it okay!
Thanks again,
XXXX
I am so glad you were able to tell me about Tramadol. It has really helped alleviate the pain I have had. It makes me sleepy, but that is okay since I only take it at night. The Endodonist had a cancellation and was able to get me in yesterday. He did 3 root canals (all next to each other) in one sitting! They were needed due to one old injury to a tooth and 2 others that a dentist in Mexico did not take care of correctly years ago. I came through it okay!
Thanks again,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
You're welcome.
Detailed Answer:
Glad to have been of help. I hope your health troubles have finally settled.
You're welcome.
Detailed Answer:
Glad to have been of help. I hope your health troubles have finally settled.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I have been afraid of getting flu shots since they contain some mercury, especially as I am sensitive to chemicals and metals. Do you think preservative free flu shots are dangerous?
Where are you located?
Where are you located?
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again! I am located in Albania.
While there are some vaccines which contain mercury as a preservative you can request for a mercury free vaccine, you should be safe. I do not think they are dangerous. For a few days they can cause some low grade fever and muscle aches in about 10% of patients, but is transitory.
So I do not think they are dangerous, or at least their benefits by far outweigh those side effects....from a personal standpoint I gave flu shots to both my parents this autumn so you can trust that I believe what I am saying (they did just fine by the way).
Wishing you good health.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again! I am located in Albania.
While there are some vaccines which contain mercury as a preservative you can request for a mercury free vaccine, you should be safe. I do not think they are dangerous. For a few days they can cause some low grade fever and muscle aches in about 10% of patients, but is transitory.
So I do not think they are dangerous, or at least their benefits by far outweigh those side effects....from a personal standpoint I gave flu shots to both my parents this autumn so you can trust that I believe what I am saying (they did just fine by the way).
Wishing you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Dr. Taka,
Thank you for the assurance concerning flu shots.
I do have another question. When I was 12, I was in an army hospital for a week, and my condition was never really diagnosed. After many years, my mother sent me a clipping explaining the symptoms of Hepatitis C. She said I had all of those symptoms, when I was 12, except for jaundice; and she felt the doctors did not know about it at that time. Since then, more than one medical doctor has told me I have a weak liver. I am taking 7 different liver supplements a day to help my liver, because I am so sensitive to chemical odors and I contract flus and viruses so easily. Do you think the Hepatitis C could have been existent in 1955 even though it was not really discovered until the 70s? My symptoms were much more like Hepatitis C than Hepatitis A. Thank you again for your help.
Thank you for the assurance concerning flu shots.
I do have another question. When I was 12, I was in an army hospital for a week, and my condition was never really diagnosed. After many years, my mother sent me a clipping explaining the symptoms of Hepatitis C. She said I had all of those symptoms, when I was 12, except for jaundice; and she felt the doctors did not know about it at that time. Since then, more than one medical doctor has told me I have a weak liver. I am taking 7 different liver supplements a day to help my liver, because I am so sensitive to chemical odors and I contract flus and viruses so easily. Do you think the Hepatitis C could have been existent in 1955 even though it was not really discovered until the 70s? My symptoms were much more like Hepatitis C than Hepatitis A. Thank you again for your help.
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Whether it is possible to have contracted hepatitis C at that time...yes it certainly is possible, the fact the virus was discovered later doesn't mean it didn't exist.
However being possible doesn't make it a fact. Hepatitis C symptoms are not specific at all, the same symptoms could be cause by most infections really, especially if no jaundice in the picture.
Also hepatitis C in most cases (about 80%) remains active as a chronic infection, so chances are you would have it even now. It could easily be tested with a blood test if you want to really make sure of it.
Thanks again for coming to HealthcareMagic.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Whether it is possible to have contracted hepatitis C at that time...yes it certainly is possible, the fact the virus was discovered later doesn't mean it didn't exist.
However being possible doesn't make it a fact. Hepatitis C symptoms are not specific at all, the same symptoms could be cause by most infections really, especially if no jaundice in the picture.
Also hepatitis C in most cases (about 80%) remains active as a chronic infection, so chances are you would have it even now. It could easily be tested with a blood test if you want to really make sure of it.
Thanks again for coming to HealthcareMagic.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
