Palpitations & Carpal Tunnel

[Peach24]

Hello, I am new to this site. I have been taking steroids for over 4 years for the control of Sarcoidosis. During this time I started to get palpitations which gradually worsened to the point I would almost pass out. I have been on Bisopralol to control the palpitions. I have also developed numbness to my hands, predominantly at night which has been diagnosed as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I am unable to reduce my steroid medication further at the current time because my Adrenal gland is not functioning and this has been the case for 1-2 years with no real signs of improvement. At a recent Sarcoidosis outpatients appointment there was a suggestion that palpitations and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome may be connected. I'm interested to hear if anyone else has experienced these systems at the same time?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

endocrineweb.com/conditions...

Abnormal Growths in the Thyroid

It's possible that abnormal growths can "invade" the thyroid and take the place of healthy tissue. There are a few disorders that cause this, and one example is an autoimmune disorder called sarcoidosis. In sarcoidosis, inflamed tissue forms throughout the body. This inflammation can replace healthy thyroid tissue, which will inhibit thyroid hormone production. This eventually results in hypothyroidism.

Also One autoimmune disease makes others more likely

Most common hypothyroidism is also due autoimmune, called Hashimoto's or autoimmune thyroid disease

Common symptoms are palpitations and carpel tunnel

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

Medichecks currently have an offer on until end of May - 20% off

thyroiduk.org.uk/index.html

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.

Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Adrenal insufficiency must be very carefully managed when starting on Levothyroxine

You will need to be seen by adrenal and thyroid specialist endocrinologist

academic.oup.com/qjmed/arti...

sarcoidosisnews.com/2016/07...

[Heloise]

Hi Peaches, Inflammation is behind all chronic conditions but the bodies' defenses cause problems when the inflammation doesn't stop. The posts by SlowDragon are definitely worth noting as illness often develops from lack of specific nutrients.

Inflammation can become fibrous as in scar tissue as you probably realize with sarcoidosis. I'm a big believer in proteolytic enzymes. These enzymes can dissolve fibrin. Izabella Wentz has recommended Wobenzyme, there is Nattokinase, and serrapeptase. There are formulas that contain many different forms. I've been trying several. Jon Barron has a very good article about them if you want to look into proteolytic enzymes.