13th October 2002
Welcome, missplaced. I had to look up "myasthenia," but discovered that it is an autoimmune disorder associated with the thymus (not thyroid) gland that results in muscle weakness. The symptoms you describe are likely associated with the myasthenia, but it is not uncommon for autoimmune disorders to be present and attacking more than one organ.
From my limited understanding, myasthenia involves antibodies that attack the acetylcholine receptors. According to a Cleveland hospital's website:
[quote]Treatments include Corticosteroids and other drugs such as cyclosporine and azathioprine help patients with MG by suppressing the activity of the immune system.
Are you on any medications for this condition? I wonder if perhaps the medications' suppression of your autoimmune system has led to an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto's (or antibody-related) thyroiditis. Your tests were quite far apart, so they aren't sufficient to suggest a fluctuating TSH, but a low or fluctuating TSH and enlarged thyroid gland are sometimes indications of thyroid antibodies. Your head sweats may or may not be related to a thyroid problem, but below-normal temperatures are frequently associated with Hypothyroidism.
When you next have blood tests, ask if they will check your TSH, Free T3, Free T4 and Thyroid Antibody levels. The Free hormone tests give a better indication of what's actually available for use in your body; the other tests can sometimes be affected by outside factors.
If you've not already had a chance, read through our Information Archive thread. It has tons of useful things, including symptoms lists, descriptions of blood tests, links about Thyroid Antibodies and Thyroiditis, notes about supplements that may help, and much more.
Let us know what you find out.
From my limited understanding, myasthenia involves antibodies that attack the acetylcholine receptors. According to a Cleveland hospital's website:
[quote]Treatments include Corticosteroids and other drugs such as cyclosporine and azathioprine help patients with MG by suppressing the activity of the immune system.
Are you on any medications for this condition? I wonder if perhaps the medications' suppression of your autoimmune system has led to an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto's (or antibody-related) thyroiditis. Your tests were quite far apart, so they aren't sufficient to suggest a fluctuating TSH, but a low or fluctuating TSH and enlarged thyroid gland are sometimes indications of thyroid antibodies. Your head sweats may or may not be related to a thyroid problem, but below-normal temperatures are frequently associated with Hypothyroidism.
When you next have blood tests, ask if they will check your TSH, Free T3, Free T4 and Thyroid Antibody levels. The Free hormone tests give a better indication of what's actually available for use in your body; the other tests can sometimes be affected by outside factors.
If you've not already had a chance, read through our Information Archive thread. It has tons of useful things, including symptoms lists, descriptions of blood tests, links about Thyroid Antibodies and Thyroiditis, notes about supplements that may help, and much more.
Let us know what you find out.