8 replies to this topic

[didi1]

Just wanting to know if anyone has experience with hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) and acne.

I have had thyroiditis which was supposed to resolve itself but hasn't, and have been battling with several symptoms of hyperthyroidism for a long time now (hair loss, lethargy, insomnia etc). I am 32 and at my age don't expect to still have acne. I have extremely oily skin (causal in my acne) which through research is thought to be linked with hyperthyroidism.

Can anyone offer any advice or similar experiences?

[Lorrie]

Hi. I just posted a thread in the Acne Research forum about this. From what I read acne could be a symptom of thyroid disease but doesnt necessarily mean that your Hyperthyroidism is the only cause of your acne. Acne is a symptom of alot of different things. If you are being treated for the Hyperthyroidism and your acne is continuing to be a problem then its most likely that something else is contributing to it. I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis. From what I have read its a pretty horrible disease. I hope you start responding to treatment soon. If you dont mind, I would like to ask a question. How did you get diagnosed? Bloodwork? and did you have dramatic weightloss with it also? If you dont want to share, I understand. Thank you. Lorrie

[didi1]

Hi Lorrie,

Thank you so much for your reply.

I haven't actually been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, just thyroiditis. I was diagnosed with this as my TSH went down to 0.02, but my T3 and T4 were relatively normal. I had quite a few of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism (and yes my weight did go down but not dramatically), and still continue to have them despite being advised that they and the thyroiditis would resolve on their own. I was never given any treatment as Doctor's seem to be more preoccupied with numbers than symptoms. I also had several thyroid ultrasounds which showed the presence of several cysts/nodules (but apparently a large number of the population have this and don't even know it and it doesn't cause them any problems).

Through my research I have seen that there are links between very oily skin (acne) and hyperthyroidism. My skin has always been more on the oily side, but over the last few years the oil has become excessive and my acne a lot worse. As this coincides with my thyroid problems I cannnot help thinking that there may be a link.

I am going to see a new Endocrinologist tomorrow, so am hoping she will be more helpful than my previous specialist. I am so desperate that I am not leaving her office without some promise of treatment. Wish me luck!

If you have any further questions, feel free to ask.

Hi. I just posted a thread in the Acne Research forum about this. From what I read acne could be a symptom of thyroid disease but doesnt necessarily mean that your Hyperthyroidism is the only cause of your acne. Acne is a symptom of alot of different things. If you are being treated for the Hyperthyroidism and your acne is continuing to be a problem then its most likely that something else is contributing to it. I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis. From what I have read its a pretty horrible disease. I hope you start responding to treatment soon. If you dont mind, I would like to ask a question. How did you get diagnosed? Bloodwork? and did you have dramatic weightloss with it also? If you dont want to share, I understand. Thank you. Lorrie

[Lorrie]

Hi Lorrie,

Thank you so much for your reply.

I haven't actually been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, just thyroiditis. I was diagnosed with this as my TSH went down to 0.02, but my T3 and T4 were relatively normal. I had quite a few of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism (and yes my weight did go down but not dramatically), and still continue to have them despite being advised that they and the thyroiditis would resolve on their own. I was never given any treatment as Doctor's seem to be more preoccupied with numbers than symptoms. I also had several thyroid ultrasounds which showed the presence of several cysts/nodules (but apparently a large number of the population have this and don't even know it and it doesn't cause them any problems).

Through my research I have seen that there are links between very oily skin (acne) and hyperthyroidism. My skin has always been more on the oily side, but over the last few years the oil has become excessive and my acne a lot worse. As this coincides with my thyroid problems I cannnot help thinking that there may be a link.

I am going to see a new Endocrinologist tomorrow, so am hoping she will be more helpful than my previous specialist. I am so desperate that I am not leaving her office without some promise of treatment. Wish me luck!

If you have any further questions, feel free to ask.

Hi. I just posted a thread in the Acne Research forum about this. From what I read acne could be a symptom of thyroid disease but doesnt necessarily mean that your Hyperthyroidism is the only cause of your acne. Acne is a symptom of alot of different things. If you are being treated for the Hyperthyroidism and your acne is continuing to be a problem then its most likely that something else is contributing to it. I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis. From what I have read its a pretty horrible disease. I hope you start responding to treatment soon. If you dont mind, I would like to ask a question. How did you get diagnosed? Bloodwork? and did you have dramatic weightloss with it also? If you dont want to share, I understand. Thank you. Lorrie

Yes! I would definitely get a second opinion. I am glad you are seeing a Endocrinologist. The reason I asked if you had bloodwork done to check the T3 and T4 levels was because every time my bloodwork came back normal. It took me over a year to convince my dr to give me a different test until he finally agreed to do an ultrasound. It wasnt until then that he was finally convinced of what I had been telling him. I would suggest doing as much research as you can to educate yourself before your appt. The more educated you are, the better argument you can give the dr. Please keep us posted as to what happened if you dont mind. Good luck! Lorrie

[didi1]

I just got back from my appointment with the Endocrinologist, and have been told that my thyroiditis has resolved and that my thyroid results are completely normal! I know it sounds strange to say, but I am completely disappointed, as this means I have no valid explanation for all my symptoms.

I actually broke down at the begining of the appointment as she appeared so cold and unhelpful. I had made notes about my history and she got mad at me for not giving them to her receptionist on my arrival. After waiting for 4 months to see her (and pinning all my hopes on her diagnosis), I was just so upset as all I wanted was a little kindness and understanding. However, she did improve after this. I tried to query her by saying that just because my results fall within the normal range (which they don't anyway as my last TSH result was 0.3 (range 0.4-4.00) that thyroid problems can still be existent, but she dismissed this.

She has sent me for a whole range of hormone tests (testostreone, estrogen etc) so am hoping this shows something. Otherwise I am back to square one.

I would love to know your whole story (if you don't mind of course) - what did the thyroid US show that FINALLY convinced your Dr of your thyroid problems?

Hi Lorrie,

Thank you so much for your reply.

I haven't actually been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, just thyroiditis. I was diagnosed with this as my TSH went down to 0.02, but my T3 and T4 were relatively normal. I had quite a few of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism (and yes my weight did go down but not dramatically), and still continue to have them despite being advised that they and the thyroiditis would resolve on their own. I was never given any treatment as Doctor's seem to be more preoccupied with numbers than symptoms. I also had several thyroid ultrasounds which showed the presence of several cysts/nodules (but apparently a large number of the population have this and don't even know it and it doesn't cause them any problems).

Through my research I have seen that there are links between very oily skin (acne) and hyperthyroidism. My skin has always been more on the oily side, but over the last few years the oil has become excessive and my acne a lot worse. As this coincides with my thyroid problems I cannnot help thinking that there may be a link.

I am going to see a new Endocrinologist tomorrow, so am hoping she will be more helpful than my previous specialist. I am so desperate that I am not leaving her office without some promise of treatment. Wish me luck!

If you have any further questions, feel free to ask.

Hi. I just posted a thread in the Acne Research forum about this. From what I read acne could be a symptom of thyroid disease but doesnt necessarily mean that your Hyperthyroidism is the only cause of your acne. Acne is a symptom of alot of different things. If you are being treated for the Hyperthyroidism and your acne is continuing to be a problem then its most likely that something else is contributing to it. I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis. From what I have read its a pretty horrible disease. I hope you start responding to treatment soon. If you dont mind, I would like to ask a question. How did you get diagnosed? Bloodwork? and did you have dramatic weightloss with it also? If you dont want to share, I understand. Thank you. Lorrie

Yes! I would definitely get a second opinion. I am glad you are seeing a Endocrinologist. The reason I asked if you had bloodwork done to check the T3 and T4 levels was because every time my bloodwork came back normal. It took me over a year to convince my dr to give me a different test until he finally agreed to do an ultrasound. It wasnt until then that he was finally convinced of what I had been telling him. I would suggest doing as much research as you can to educate yourself before your appt. The more educated you are, the better argument you can give the dr. Please keep us posted as to what happened if you dont mind. Good luck! Lorrie

[Lorrie]

Hi Hun! I am so sorry about your experience at the dr's office today. My FORMER dr was one of those kind of insensitive jerks. I would spend over an hour in the waiting room and another 30-45 minutes waiting in the exam room just for him to come in and spend 5 minutes with me. Grrrrr. Anyways, the US showed that my thyroid gland was enlarged which I guess means that it is not functioning properly. I didnt get much of an explanation from the dr when he only spent 5 minutes in the room. The Synthroid did help. Many of the symptoms I was complaining of eased up considerably. If you have an overactive thyroid there's another med that they prescribe but the name escapes me right now. You know you have the right to insist on other forms of testing even if your dr doesnt think it is necessary. It's best to have some evidence of why you think you need the testing though especially if you arent as loud and outspoken as I can be. Here is a couple ways you can do that:

Here is a check list of symptoms that you need to go over and check all that apply to you. Copy and paste it to Wordpad or Notepad and print it out and take it to the dr with you.

Hyperthyroidism
OVERACTIVE THYROID / HYPERTHYROIDISM

_____ My heart feels like it's skipping a beat, racing and I feel like I'm having heart palpitations
_____ My pulse is unusually fast
_____ My pulse, even when resting or in bed, is high
_____ My hands are shaking, I'm having hand tremors
_____ I feel hot when others feel cold, I am feeling inappropriately hot or overheated
_____ I'm having increased perspiration
_____ I am losing weight inappropriately
_____ I am losing weight but my appetite has increased
_____ I feel like I have a lot of nervous energy that I need to burn off
_____ I am having diarrhea or loose or more frequent bowel movements
_____ I feel nervous or irritable
_____ My skin looks or feels thinner
_____ My muscles feel weak, particularly the upper arms and thighs
_____ I am having difficulty getting to sleep, staying asleep, or going back to sleep after awakening in the middle of the night
_____ My hair is coarse and dry, breaking, brittle, falling out
_____ My skin is coarse, dry, scaly, thin
_____ I have a hoarse or gravely voice
_____ I have pains, aches in joints, hands and feet
_____ I am having irregular menstrual cycles (shorter, longer, or heavier, or more frequent, or not at all)
_____ I am having trouble conceiving a baby
_____ I have had one or more miscarriages
_____ I feel depressed
_____ I feel fatigued, exhausted
_____ I feel restless, or anxious
_____ I have had panic attacks
_____ I've recently been diagnosed as having panic disorder, anxiety disorder, or panic attacks
_____ I have puffiness and swelling around the eyes and face
_____ My eyes seem to be enlarging, or getting more "bug-eyed" looking
_____ My moods change easily
_____ I have feelings of worthlessness
_____ I have difficulty concentrating or focusing
_____ I have more feelings of sadness
_____ I seem to be losing interest in normal daily activities
_____ I'm more forgetful lately
_____ My hair is falling out
_____ I can't seem to remember things
_____ I have no sex drive, or am having sexual performance problems
_____ I am getting more frequent infections, that last longer
_____ I feel shortness of breath and tightness in the chest
_____ My eyes feel gritty and dry
_____ My eyes feel sensitive to light
_____ My eyes get jumpy/tics in eyes
_____ I have strange feelings in neck or throat
_____ I have tinnitus (ringing in ears)
_____ I get recurrent sinus infections
_____ I have vertigo
_____ I feel some lightheadedness
_____ I have severe menstrual cramps

TOTAL BOXES CHECKED: _______

Also there is basal temperature test that you can do at home.

You need to buy an old-fashioned glass thermometer (not digital) which you shake down the night before you go to bed and place on your bedside table. First thing in the morning, before moving a muscle, place the thermometer under your armpit for ten minutes and take your temperature. Do this for five or six days in a row. If you are a menstruating woman, the optimal time to achieve accuracy in doing this is the second and third and fourth days of menstruation as ovulation can change the body temperature by 1.5 degrees. A prime basal temperature is 97.5. Anything between 97.2 and 98.2 should be okay. If you are above that you are probably hyperthyroid and and/or have pituitary or adrenal problems or have a cold coming on. You can have your adrenal glands (besides the thyroid, another endocrine gland) tested if the doctor suspects other endocrine things may be going on in your system.(http://www.aboutchro...s.com/basal.htm)

Try taking your list and your basal temp findings to the dr with you next time. I gave you the list for hyperthyroidism because you said you had hair loss and that typically isnt a symptom of hypothyroidism. It's always a possibility that the thyroiditis did resolve itself but it may take awhile before your body recovers from it. You may not feel or see a difference for months. By the way, I cant tell by your posts or your login name (and I feel stupid for asking this) but are you male or female? If you are female, have you recently had a baby? The reason I ask is because there is something called postpartum thyroiditis which usually resolves itself over a period of 3-4 months after giving birth. Also there is a viral infection that attacks the thyroid gland which would also resolve itself after a period. In both these cases, the diagnosis would be thyroiditis and not necessarily Hypo or Hyperthyroidism. Anyways, I hope this info helps. If there's anything else you need help with just let me know and I'll try to help you out. How soon before you know the results of the other blood tests the dr is running on you? Keep me posted. Lorrie

[Lorrie]

I found some more info for you while I was looking around the internet on thyroiditis. You need to show this to your dr.

January 2003 Press Release from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists

"Until November 2002, doctors had relied on a normal TSH level ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 to diagnose and treat patients with a thyroid disorder who tested outside the boundaries of that range5 . Now AACE encourages doctors to consider treatment for patients who test outside the boundaries of a narrower margin based on a target TSH level of 0.3 to 3.04. AACE believes the new range will result in proper diagnosis for millions of Americans who suffer from a mild thyroid disorder, but have gone untreated until now."

Also read [post="http://thyroid.about.com/cs/hypothyroidism/a/normaltsh.htm"]Here[/post]. Pay particular attention to this paragraph if you are female: "The problem I have found is that too often women are told their thyroid is normal without having the complete thyroid tests done. Of course, what most people, and many physicians, don't realize is that...a 'normal range' on a laboratory report is just that: a range. A given person may require higher or lower levels to feel well and to function optimally. I think we must look at the lab results along with the clinical picture described by the patient...I have a series of more than a hundred patients, all but twoare women, who had a normalTSH and turned out to have significantly elevated thyroid antibodiesthat meant they needed thyroid medication in order to feel normal. This type of oversight is particularly common with a type of thyroid disease called thyroiditis, which is about 25 times more common in females than males...a woman may experience the symptoms of disease months to years before TSH goes up..."

Also here's how to read your thyroid test results:

1.Find out your thyroid test results from your doctor's office.
2.If you can, get a hard copy printout for your own review and home medical files.
3.If "normal" or "reference" ranges are not indicated on the lab results, ask your doctor's office to tell you what these ranges are.
4.Note the level of your Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). At most labs in the U.S., up until late 2002, the normal range is from around 0.5 to 5.5. That range changed to .3 to 3 as of early 2003.
5.If the TSH level is below normal, your doctor may determine that you are hyperthyroid (overactive thyroid.)
6.If the TSH level is above normal, your doctor may determine that you are hypothyroid (underactive thyroid.)
7.If your doctor ran a test called Total T4 or Total Thyroxine, normal range is approximately 4.5 to 12.5. If you had a low reading, and a high TSH, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
8.If your doctor ran a test called Total T4 or Total Thyroxine, normal range is approximately 4.5 to 12.5. If you had a low reading, and a low TSH, your doctor might look into a pituitary problem.
9.If your doctor ran a test called Free T4, or Free Thyroxine, normal range is approximately 0.7 to 2.0. If your result was less than 0.7, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
10.If your doctor ran a test called Total T3, normal range is approximately 80 to 220. If your result was less than 80, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
11.If your doctor ran a test called Free T3, normal range is approximately 2.3 to 4.2. If your result was less than 2.3, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
12.If your test results come back "normal" but you have many of the symptoms or risk factors for thyroid disease, make sure you ask for an antibodies test. Some doctors believe in treating thyroid symptoms in the presence of elevated antibodies and normal TSH levels.
13.If your test results come back "normal" but you have many of the symptoms or risk factors for thyroid disease, consider going to a reputable holistic M.D. or alternative physician for further interpretation and diagnosis.

I think you definitely need to be persistent and LOUD if necessary with your doctor based upon this info alone and I dont even know all your symptoms.

[didi1]

Thanks so much for all your info Lorrie - very helpful!

I am female, and haven't had any babies (yet). My thyroiditis was first diagnosed in November 2005, so I would have expected that almost 1 and a half years later it should have resolved. However, I continue to have as many symptoms as ever (if not more than when I was diagnosed with the thyroiditis). I did have my thyroid antibodies tested at one stage and they were normal. Are there any other tests that I can have done?

I have SO MANY of the symptoms on the list that you posted, but feel I would have to go to another Dr with this. This specialist I saw today would not be interested in entertaining any further talk of thyroid problems. The only issue with this is that a new Dr is probably only going to do the same - gee I am full of confidence aren't I ( So more time and $'s wasted. I think the most difficult part is finding the right Dr! I have actually read something similiar to the info. you gave me saying that some people actually need thyroid hormone levels higher or lower than the reference range to feel at their optimal best - but as both you and I know the Dr's are more interested in the ranges than how you are feeling! Are you in the US?

I will be interested to know the results of my hormone tests, but am sure a hormonal imbalance cannot totally explain all my symptoms. I will keep you posted!

I found some more info for you while I was looking around the internet on thyroiditis. You need to show this to your dr.

January 2003 Press Release from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists

"Until November 2002, doctors had relied on a normal TSH level ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 to diagnose and treat patients with a thyroid disorder who tested outside the boundaries of that range5 . Now AACE encourages doctors to consider treatment for patients who test outside the boundaries of a narrower margin based on a target TSH level of 0.3 to 3.04. AACE believes the new range will result in proper diagnosis for millions of Americans who suffer from a mild thyroid disorder, but have gone untreated until now."

Also read [post="http://thyroid.about.com/cs/hypothyroidism/a/normaltsh.htm"]Here[/post]. Pay particular attention to this paragraph if you are female: "The problem I have found is that too often women are told their thyroid is normal without having the complete thyroid tests done. Of course, what most people, and many physicians, don't realize is that...a 'normal range' on a laboratory report is just that: a range. A given person may require higher or lower levels to feel well and to function optimally. I think we must look at the lab results along with the clinical picture described by the patient...I have a series of more than a hundred patients, all but twoare women, who had a normalTSH and turned out to have significantly elevated thyroid antibodiesthat meant they needed thyroid medication in order to feel normal. This type of oversight is particularly common with a type of thyroid disease called thyroiditis, which is about 25 times more common in females than males...a woman may experience the symptoms of disease months to years before TSH goes up..."

Also here's how to read your thyroid test results:

1.Find out your thyroid test results from your doctor's office.
2.If you can, get a hard copy printout for your own review and home medical files.
3.If "normal" or "reference" ranges are not indicated on the lab results, ask your doctor's office to tell you what these ranges are.
4.Note the level of your Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). At most labs in the U.S., up until late 2002, the normal range is from around 0.5 to 5.5. That range changed to .3 to 3 as of early 2003.
5.If the TSH level is below normal, your doctor may determine that you are hyperthyroid (overactive thyroid.)
6.If the TSH level is above normal, your doctor may determine that you are hypothyroid (underactive thyroid.)
7.If your doctor ran a test called Total T4 or Total Thyroxine, normal range is approximately 4.5 to 12.5. If you had a low reading, and a high TSH, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
8.If your doctor ran a test called Total T4 or Total Thyroxine, normal range is approximately 4.5 to 12.5. If you had a low reading, and a low TSH, your doctor might look into a pituitary problem.
9.If your doctor ran a test called Free T4, or Free Thyroxine, normal range is approximately 0.7 to 2.0. If your result was less than 0.7, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
10.If your doctor ran a test called Total T3, normal range is approximately 80 to 220. If your result was less than 80, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
11.If your doctor ran a test called Free T3, normal range is approximately 2.3 to 4.2. If your result was less than 2.3, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
12.If your test results come back "normal" but you have many of the symptoms or risk factors for thyroid disease, make sure you ask for an antibodies test. Some doctors believe in treating thyroid symptoms in the presence of elevated antibodies and normal TSH levels.
13.If your test results come back "normal" but you have many of the symptoms or risk factors for thyroid disease, consider going to a reputable holistic M.D. or alternative physician for further interpretation and diagnosis.

I think you definitely need to be persistent and LOUD if necessary with your doctor based upon this info alone and I dont even know all your symptoms.

[Lorrie]

Be persistent dear! Like I said it took me over a year to finally convince my old dr that I had a problem. Educate yourself and put up a good argument. Here's the tests they can do:

blood tests - to measure the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood which helps determine thyroid function. High levels of the hormone indicate an underactive thyroid. In addition, a blood test can measure levels of hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), and to measure a protein called thyroxine-binding globulin.

ultrasound exam of the thyroid gland - to detect signs of growth and other irregularities. (An ultrasound scan is a diagnostic technique which uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of the internal organs.)

thyroid scans using radioactive iodine or technetium (a radioactive metallic element) - to reveal any physical abnormalities of the thyroid.

functional stimulation tests - tests that help differentiate whether the problem lies with the pituitary gland or the thyroid gland. One such test includes injecting thyrotropin-releasing hormone and measuring the pituitary's response.

Lorrie