Virus & Thyroid Issues?

Hello

Has anyone heard of a severe virus causing thyroid problems? I had Labyrinthitis in January that kept me off my feet for 3 months.

I have a history of occular migraines (visual aura) but at the tail end of Labyrinthitis I had an unusual migraine that affected my speech. At first we thought I'd had a minor stroke as I couldn't speak, and then when I finally could, all that came out was babble. The ER ran tests and CT and diagnosed as migraine.

Since this was a very rough virus, could it have affected my immune system to the point it turned my hypo into hyperthyroid? Tests show low TSH and some antibodies in my blood of both hashi and graves.

I guess my question is, since I've been under extreme stress since my husband's illness and death (2014 - 2015) and then my illness, could this trigger endocrine problems?

I don't feel sick. I don't feel hyper. I'm working through grief which can mimic illness and I am very tired at times and achy. My quandary is do I wait a few months before treating hyperthyroidism to see if I recover?

My PCP admits we have no idea how long I've had antibodies in my blood. My TSH has been low/normal for a few years so I went off armour thyroid. This sudden drop to 0.004 TSH seems odd to me and I'm wondering if it's associated with the virus and trauma and anxiety of grief, virus, migraines, PVD in both eyes with retinal bleeds. This all started a week after my husband died.

Trying to connect the dots and do the right thing. Don't want to mess with endocrine system if there's a chance this is just a blip. Has anyone experienced TSH drop after stress or illness? Considering the issues above, would it be advisable not to do anything to drastic at this time and perhaps wait it out?

Thanks
Jeannie

Hi cyclinglady

I'm happy to hear you're doing well and your thyroid settled down. Are you still on armor?

I have come to think I should not have been put on armor in 2005. An ENT thyroid specialist diagnosed me with large nodules but my blood levels were pretty normal, maybe slightly sluggish if I recall correctly but I didn't feel sick. I just had the nodules. While on armor I felt somewhat edgy and didn't sleep well. But my weight always remained the same. No loss.

So my TSH dumped fast and my PCP disagreed with the ENT and wanted me off meds and I should have listened. But I trusted the "specialist" who wanted me in suppression so the nodules wouldn't grow. He left the group and I went off the armor. My TSH bounced around low normal till my husband's illness and passing. I think this trauma threw me into hyper - but - I don't have any hyper symptoms at all. I feel pretty good now. I'm calm and I sleep like a log. But I can't lose weight. Still, my PCP has ordered a battery of tests to find out why my TSH is so low and other readings are within limits though the T4 is high normal. I'll have the iodine thyroid scan next week. That should tell more.

I've been reading a lot about the different conditions causing low TSH, the meds and also L-Carnitine and bugleweed to treat hyper.

Keep doing well That's great news and inspiring.