BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Thyroid Health Hashimotos flair, hypo and cramping

I am having a terrible time right now with muscle spasms and severe cramping. I'm talking about calf muscle charlie horses that wake me in the middle of the night, thumb spasms where my hand just locks up, and wicked cramps in the arches of my feet.

I have been treated, and tried to stay on top of Hashimotos, and its resulting hypothyroid condition for the past 10 years now. I�ve been tested, and ruled out for Lupus and RA.

My new endocrinologist has determined that I am currently in a major Hashi�s flair up, with astronomically high TPO antibodies at the moment. She�s taking a wait and see attitude about it. Basically no treatment changes will occur right now. My thyroid numbers are actually a little high, she says, most likely because pieces of my thyroid are breaking off during this flair and releasing thyroid hormone into the bloodstream.

I am not posting this to ask for medical advice; I can always call her with questions. However, doctors tend to deal only in proven facts (understandably), and I am wondering about some not so proven theories, hunches based on personal experience if you will.

I enjoyed this article at the Thyroid site Thyroid Disease and Peripheral Neuropathy and it left me wondering if perhaps, in fact, it is the Hashi induced antibodies ( TPO in my case) that is causing all of this muscle cramping.

I�m curious about your thoughts on this, especially readers who have experience with Hashimotos and hypothyroid who get regular care and are aware of what their antibody numbers are on a frequent basis. Do you see a similar pattern in your own disease?

Thanks

Lynn, my husband has Hashimotos and it's a very hard disease to get hold of. He read a book called "Stop the Thyroid Madness" which has helped him a lot. It gives natural things you can do, what tests you should ask for, what the results mean and how to talk to your doctor.

My husband is actually changing doctors because his current one told him he is "too inquisitive." He wants him to just take the synthroid and shut up, I guess. Finding a doctor who will work with you isn't easy.

We do lead a very healthy lifestyle and luckily he doesn't have very bad symptoms of Hashimotos but autoimmune disease are difficult to resolve without an overall approach to health which includes diet and exercise.

Hi Lynn, The thing about Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is that there is often inflammation in other tissues, especially the small intestines. This makes it more difficult to absorb nutrients. A very common gut problem for people with Hashi's is a gluten intolerance which can often aggravate and increase TPO antibodies. I've remember two women in particular that were able to lower their thyroid antibodies down to almost normal by avoided gluten. As a test, and for another reason, I had them try gluten for 3 days in a row and then tested their blood again for TPO abs and each of them had elevated abs. I remember another woman who finally felt so much better after being off gluten for 2 months and went through a horrific aggravation just taking a few crumbs of toast (her son had just buttered his wheat toast and had left the crumbs on the stick of butter). There are other things besides nutrition that can help lower thyroid inflammation and TPO abs with thyroid medication being one of the most important (not Armour or Naturthroid). All the best, Dr. Alexander Haskell

I am so glad to see this thread. My niece is being tested for Hashimoto's and Lupas. I sent her the link to these posts in order to help her understand more.

The gluten-free diet is a very good thing to know. Thank you, Dr. Haskell.

I agree with the food intolerance issues. My wonderful thyroid doctor tested me for food intolerance and advised me to stay off gluten/wheat, meat, soy and even apples and pears. I think the wheat is so important - since I personally am not a meat or soy eater anyway.

Dealing with thyroid issues is not a one size fits all type of fix. Therapies need to be tailored to each individual and adjusted when appropriate.

I also take 300mg of magnesium at night which has eliminated all of my previous let cramps.

Good luck!

Hi, Lynn, My major problem is cramping in my feet. My potassium waz kinda low so I started eating things with more potassium. This cramping in my feet is a constant thing I deal with every single day. As long as I keep taking potassium, I seem to be okay but 1 day I forget and wow, they're back again. I'm sorry that your dealing with such bad charlie horses and bad spasms. Good Luck

Colleen, I wish my husband could find a doctor like yours. His primary care doctor and the specialist he went to for the Hashimotos won't test for gluten intolerance or anything like that. They just tell him to take the thyroid pills and go home.

He is going to see a nutritionist in a couple weeks though and I think that will help. I met her in my yoga class and she deals with health issues through the diet. She's very familiar with gluten intolerance and I feel that is really going to help him.

Of course, the downside is that I will probably have to be on a semi-gluten free diet as well since I do all the cooking, shopping for groceries, etc. I will support him though and do whatever it takes to manage his thyroid problem.

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's 3 years ago and the only thing I have found to keep down the goiter and lump in my throat is a gluten free diet. And I too have heard that potassium and magnesium helps with cramps. I have been lucky, I guess, because I have always taken the potassium and magnesium so I have not suffered from cramps. What has been bothering me the worst lately is my hair falling out and my skin being so dry. When I wake up in the morning my mouth and eye balls are so dry. If anyone has tricks to help these things. I have heard about a shampoo that keeps your hair from falling out NISIM. I have not tried it yet but I will. If anyone out there has tried it, please post what you thought of it. And as soon as I can get my hands on it, I will post too.