an interesting epiphany

[Trent]

so today i'm studying for med school; currently we are doing some stuff on hormones, for example, hormones that the thyroid produces. As i am strolling through the disease section of the notes, i stumble upon some of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. It was so weird it was like i was reading a story about myself, i figure, ehhh, typical hyperchondriac med student just reading everything and thinking he/she has got it. but i don't know guys, this is just all too coincidental. and i have noticed and always hated some of these symptoms long before i knew anything about hyper thyroidism. for example:
first described as nervousness (definitely feeling that, i get very nervous about little sh*t)

heat intolerance and increased sweating (my palms are drenched as i'm typing this, for the last few years i've always had to wipe my hands off before i would shake someone's hand because it was so soaked, and my pits get drenched even when i'm sitting in a comfortable room).

weight loss despite increased appetite (i eat fast food for about 7 out of every 8 meals in my life, i'm not exaggerating at all, and i never gain a pound)

hair has a very fine texture, and although its more common with HYPOthyroidism, hyper can have hairloss as a side effect as well. (my hair is very fine, and well, you know i wouldn't be here if i didn't have fall out)

on outstretched hands, a fine tremor can be seen (check. i have always had this happened and always thought i couldn't go into surgery because of it, I was just gonna do the "diagnostic" aspect of medicine instead).

what do you think guys? am i just being a paranoid med student? there is a really simple TSH test they can do if you are hyperthyroid, should i try it just for the hell of it? or am i just being dumb. i know you guys will give me an honest answer. and like i said, ALL of the symptoms i mentioned i've noticed way before i ever learned about thyroidism.

oh, i also wanted to add that i have basically zero hairloss in my family, and while my hairloss does seem to be a little more in the temples than anywhere else, i have basically a norwood 1.5, nothing that any normal non-male pattern baldness 24 year old wouldn't have--> i am a diffuse thinner.

 

[hairschmair]

Honest answer.

You are probably not losing hair because of hyperthyroidism but as long as you go into any tests with your expectations in the right place... GO FOR IT! Ye got nothin' to lose.

Jay

PS: None of the symptoms seem very specific unfortunately (for instance I match 3 out of the 4 symptoms you stateD).

 

[Guest]

Honest answer.

You are probably not losing hair because of hyperthyroidism but as long as you go into any tests with your expectations in the right place... GO FOR IT! Ye got nothin' to lose.

Jay

PS: None of the symptoms seem very specific unfortunately (for instance I match 3 out of the 4 symptoms you stateD).

I also match 3 out 4 of your symptoms and another one is extreme tiredness and difficulty swallowing which I have a lot too.

I got my blood checked and it was OK.

You may want to get it checked twice though as levels can vary during the day.

 

[traveller]

Hand tremor and propecia

Hi Trent,

This is my first post on this site. I hadn't needed to post anything before as I've always managed to find answers to my questions just by looking through the old posts. However, I've just seen that you mention that you have a hand tremor and that you're studying medicine.

I've also got a slight hand tremor and until just a month ago I was studying dentistry. Unfortunately due to this irritating tremor I realised that I had to drop out of my dental course (which I've been studying for a couple of years now).

Before I dropped out I did have it checked out by two neurologists, who both said it was likely to be a genetic nerve condition called 'Essential Tremor' but they couldn't confirm it 100% as there is no direct test. Based on their opinions, and seeing for myself that my hand shook when I drilled into some plastic dental moulds, I realised that it was too risky to continue with dentistry.

However, since making my decision to drop out, the fact that the Essential Tremor couldn't be confirmed, has left a few nagging questions on my mind.

Is there a chance that the hand tremor is a side effect of Propecia? I've been on Propecia for 5 years now and I've definitely had the tremor all of that time, but I can't remember if I had it before I was taking Propecia.

I was just wondering if you or anyone else have noticed any hand tremor which has appeared while you've been on Propecia? If so, I'll definitely have to give up the tablets.

Thanks a lot,

(Now that I've written this I realise I may have gone off on a bit of tangent from the original thread! So in case there's no answer here I'll probably stick this in new thread).

 

[Thinning]

I also match 3 out 4 of your symptoms and another one is extreme tiredness and difficulty swallowing which I have a lot too.

My girlfriend has that difficulty swallowing symptom, maybe I should get her checked out

 

[j25]

Me too, i also have the palm sweating thing. Very annoying; you get nervous by the thought that other people will think you're nervous when shaking your sweaty hand. :lol: I still have it, although a lot less than a couple of years ago (at the time i wasn't thinning yet).

 

[dustman2]

I got tested for sweaty palms and shakiness.
Came back that my testosterone levels were almost double what they whould do. No action has been taken yet about this, however.

 

[hairschmair]

dustman2... double? Are you on finasteride then? How many mg/day?

 

[dustman2]

I take 1mg every other day.

 

[dustman2]

Read my post called Hormone Problem.

 

[Greg1]

Trent, THANKS FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO POST ABOUT THIS!!! WOW! I have similar stuff like you mention and have already had a Doctor check it out and, after numerous tests said that I'm ok. Hmmm...but since the symptoms continue I'm thinking about having a second opinion on this. THANKS MAN FOR SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!

By the way, COURAGE for your studies in medicine! You'll make a great Doctor/specialist

 

[Cornholio]

first described as nervousness (definitely feeling that, i get very nervous about little sh*t)...heat intolerance and increased sweating ....weight loss despite increased appetite ...hair has a very fine texture, .. on outstretched hands, a fine tremor can be seen

First you might look at how much coke/coffee/tea youre drinking, as a lot of that (not hair loss) could have to do with caffeine. If not much then think about general level of stress (sleep, tension) as that may relate to some of those symptoms and hair loss (teleogen effluvium). If uncomfortable and persistant genaralized anxiety disorder could be considered. Benign familial tremor is not unlikely (but wouldnt help you in surgery : ). Most likely it is a combination of benign causes that dont need to be diagnosed, but there is no reason not to check thyroid function. And take a multivitamin and eat better. It probably isnt helpful to mention pheochromocytoma (sweating, tremor, tachycardia, headache) but you would have read about it anyway : )