A+E brain calcification

[Dandelade]

Hi all,

So my speech and dizziness got really bad yesterday. Like so scary bad that when I rang doctors to make an appointment to finally see a gp to review my thyroid results, they told me to go to A+E.

They ran a barrage of tests and ruled out all the big nasties. They did find a brain calcification and have referred me to a neurologist. Doctor at A+E said they don’t think it is in the right place to be causing speech difficulties but they’re not a specialist, hence referral, and I’ve possibly developed an overnight stutter from stress (I’m not stressed).

Anybody know anything? Doctor google is a scary place and a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. But this is what I’ve found out that may/ may be not relevant:

The first link from brain calcification brings up basal ganglia calcification with a range of symptoms, including slowed speech and dizziness. One of the many causes? Hypothyroid by some mysterious mechanism that affects the parathyroid glands.

However, the speech isn’t slowed and stuttering all the time, it’s in and out, better today than yesterday which was the worst it’s been. So could it just be I REALLY NEED MEDICATING PLEASE?!!! (Gp appointment weds).

I’d appreciate opinions or any information people may have.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Highly likely all connected to being extremely hypothyroid

GP must start levothyroxine, prescribe vitamin D too (1600iu daily for 6 months) and prescribe folic acid

Plus request coeliac blood test

TSH 14.5 (0.3-4)

Ft4 9.5 (10-22)

Tpox antibodies 225 (0-34)

Vit D 45 (50-175)

B12 616 (191- 663)

Folate 2.5 (3.89-26.8)

Ferritin 44 (15-150)

[Dandelade in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks slow dragon. That was my first thought too. And it’s nice to have it echoed by experienced people here. The brain calcification bit gave me a bit of pause though. Hopefully I’ll finally be seen Wednesday and prescribed Levo and everything will right itself!

[MMaud]

Dandelade, I can't comment on your calcification challenges as it's not anything I have done any reading on, or thankfully knowingly experienced.

My comment would be relating to the stress comment. Personally, if I had unexplained speech and balance issues, I would feel an underlying stress at the very least. I am not for a nanosecond saying the suggestions are correct, or wrong, but just suggesting reserving a corner of your thought process for it.

Personally, if I become very stressed I firstly develop an annoyingly dry throat, but if I become VERY stresses, then I go very deaf. Deaf? Yes, deaf. Why? Nobody knows, but I now know that if my hearing dulls, I should look inwardly.

Stress is a terrible thing, and background or long term stresses can be harmful.

I hope you find a simple reason for your symptoms. I wish you well.

[Dandelade in reply to MMaud]

Thank you MMaud. Goodness deafness from stress sounds awful! The body is a strange thing isn’t it? They’re right, it totally could be I don’t realised I’m very stressed. Fingers crossed that isn’t it as I’ve no idea how to address it if I’m not feeling it! Appreciate your reply and wish you good health too.

[MMaud in reply to Dandelade]

Dandelade, I look on it as my mind's way of shutting out (part of) the world.

Have you ever tried meditation or mindfulness? There are some great relaxation apps out there.

Whatever the cause, I do hope you learn more soon.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to MMaud]

Deafness is common hypothyroid symptom

Should improve/disappear when adequately treated

nhs.uk/conditions/underacti...

[MMaud in reply to SlowDragon]

The deafness goes as soon as the high levels of stress go. It's not an ongoing thing I'm pleased to say.

I do know though, if my hearing becomes blunted, that I should be doing something to dump the stress - whether I feel strung out or not.

[humanbean]

This is just questions and rambling from a non-doctor, so take this with a pinch of salt.

When your doctors mentioned brain calcification were they referring to brain tissue itself or the arteries in the brain?

Have you had your calcium levels measured in blood? And if yes do you know the results? Has anyone suggested that you get your coronary arteries checked for calcium deposition? If calcium has been deposited in your brain it could well have ended up in other places where it is not desirable.

Has your diet throughout life included a lot of calcium?

Have you taken lots of vitamin D supplements throughout life?

High levels of vitamin D in the body will raise the amount of calcium absorbed from the diet. In order for that to be sent to the bones and teeth where it is beneficial you need a diet which has good levels of magnesium and vitamin K2. Another possible requirement is boron but I haven't studied that or taken it myself.

One possible result of being checked in hospital is that someone will have measured your cholesterol. If your cholesterol was high the usual result of that is for doctors to prescribe statins. But statins increase calcification of the arteries.

So be wary of what you are told and what you are prescribed and always do your own research.

It is possible that your symptoms are due to long-term untreated hypothyroidism, but I wouldn't know for sure.

[Dandelade in reply to humanbean]

Thanks for the reply human bean. I was so unnerved by the not a brain tumour comment I didn’t think to ask exactly where the calcification was.

I don’t think I’ve had a diet high in calcium? Bloods a week or so ago were 2.35 calcium (2.2-2.6 range), must have been a historic calcium level?

No vitamin d supplements either. Will ask docs on weds to start them though.

Thank you for the heads up on statins, I do have high cholesterol but know to say no to statins until at least hypothyroid treated under control, probably beyond that too.

Calcification of other areas scary thought. Can definitely mention to gp, along with parathyroid question and brain calcification question.

Lots to consider, thank you!

[humanbean in reply to Dandelade]

Your calcium result is 37.5% of the way through the range. Based on my (very, very) limited understanding that is a good result. High enough to mean you aren't short of calcium but not so high that it is likely to be an obvious cause of your calcium deposits.

Instead it might be one of the other nutrients (vitamin K2, magnesium, possibly boron, and no doubt there are others) associated with calcium that could be a tad low, but I really am only guessing.

If you have questions about calcium I would suggest reading some websites that cover osteoporosis. They probably cover calcium extensively. For example, the first site I looked at had this article (but bear in mind it is a commercial website wanting to sell you things) :

saveourbones.com/can-calciu...

These two sites (both commercial and trying to sell stuff) are worth looking at :

saveourbones.com/

betterbones.com/

[bantam12]

I've just had an intercranial head CT to look for calcification which I have in other places, most likely due to hypercalcemia from hyperparathyroidism. I'm more worried by my calcified aneurysm in splenic artery than my head !

[Dandelade in reply to bantam12]

Gosh bantam12, it sounds painful! Will mention the parathyroid and see if I get anywhere...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Calcification

Before starting on any vitamin D supplements you need Parathyroid, calcium levels and Vitamin D tested together ….all three together to test for hyperparathyroid

It’s a tricky test, blood must be drawn at hospital as it needs processing immediately

If you have high parathyroid/high calcium…..then you should not supplement vitamin D

parathyroid.com/low-vitamin...

[Lizzo30]

Magnisium helps to prevent build up of calcium