Air hunger-thryoid problems?

[finallyadx]

Hello fellow sjoggies family - I am at a loss...I am suffering from what I call sudden air hunger - at the most inopportune times and places and then it goes away as oddly as it came on.  I am also experiencing an increase in hair loss/dryness, dryness of the skin, dizziness, muscle weakness, pain in the front part of my neck, an increase in heart fluttering and palpitations...I am wondering those of you with thyroid problems, if this is common or not.  I have not been diagnosed with thyroid problems, and I certainly am not looking for more issues or a new diagnosis, but thyroid problems run in my family too and I know that once you have one autimmune disorder they like to bring their friends.

Any thoughts or information from those of you who have thyroid problems would be great appreciated.  I see my dr today and am going to ask for some thyroid tests just to rule it out. 

Thanks to all.

[long time dry]

I have Graves's Disease and when I was diagnosed I had atrial fib (from the Graves's and it went away after treatment), hair loss, trembling, weakness, and shortness of breath at times.  There were other symptoms, too, but this list gives the main ones.  I ended up in the emergency room, was diagnosed, and became an "emergency patient" at the endocrinologist's office where I was sent.  I never had the well-known goiter and no neck pain.  Your symptoms sound enough like thyroid problems that I suggest you see your doctor. 

[cccourt1942]

hi,
   I know I am out of my element here.  I have to ask you...remember I am less than three months into all this...so am quite a novice.  You are "primary" but take Plaquenil.  I thought that was for the arthritis element. You don't note salogen or pilocarpine.  Are you experiencing the dry mouth symptoms?  I am asking this as what you are describing is what I was suffering before my dx and subsequent use of pilocarpine.  In fact, in one more day it will be a full week since I increased my use of the drug by 5 mg. each day.  I didn't realize until the last week that I was still having that gasping for a breath , trying to swallow (a fruitless effort) about the last hour or two before my second of two daily doses.  It wasn't nearly as bad as it had been for the 9 months before dx and Rx so I guess I just drank water. 

Now then..I do have low thyroid..but cannot tolerate the medication.  In fact the thyroid meds made me feel exactly like you are describing.  Isn't that odd?  Good luck at the doctor today for an explanation/dx. 

[irish]

You could very well be suffering from thyroid issues and this is extremely common in people with Sjogrens. I would advise you to get in and get some thyroid blood work as zoo as possible. Be aware that with thyroid issues the thyroid can swell off and on or have nodules that come and go. These nodules can cause pressure on the trachea and interfere with respiration thus the importance of seeing a doc. My son has extremely bad thyroid disease and his nodules will swell to the point that it bothers him when he swallows food.

As far as the Plaquenil, it is given for Sjogrens, lupus and other autoimmune issues. It is a anti parasitic drug that was originally used(and still is) for malaria and was found to help autoimmune symptoms in people on the antimalarial therapy. It works as a strong anti-inflammatory and can help the aches and pains and many other issues. I have found that it helped to decrease the swelling in my throat and nasal passages in addition to other aches and pains. I would think it wasn't doing anything and when I would be off of it for a few weeks the symptoms started coming back.

cccourt, I have to add that it may be that you can take the thyroid meds, but that you are very drug sensitive to them and a lower dose would be better. Some people do better on lower dosages of certain drugs. You sound like you are getting too much thyroid drug and having hyperthyroid symptoms. Good luck to all. Irish

[MirkeshCat]

Hi cccourt,

I?ve had the same symptom of air hunger that you described. For years doctors would not believe me and more than one of them gods in white told me it was all psychosomatic. In 2012 I finally got my Sjogrens diagnosis. The air hunger persisted and got even worse with flare ups. Just two weeks ago I saw a pneumologist for the first time and he ran some tests. The shocking outcome: He suspects that I have early stages of lung fibrosis. More tests have to be done, like a micro CT scan or even a lung biopsy but lung fibrosis would well explain the air hunger. What I wanna say - please, don?t hesitate to get your lungs checked!

Good luck and greetings from Germany!

[cccourt1942]

Irish-I know you are exactly right.  I don't like taking medicine.  The thyroid Rx was given to my by my PCP over TWO years ago...along with Vitamin D.  Ring any bells?  Yes!  The D was so expensive...didn't notice any diff...so stopped it when I abandoned the thyroid Rx (took it for less than 3 months).  Yes ma'am.  I will go back for additional testing and follow the dr's orders.
MIrkesh=I read your other post..on your thread regarding your situation.  My heart goes out to you.  Just as I stopped taking the medicines referenced above, I stopped my asthma inhaler (daily) as soon as I was dx with SjS.  I figured I didn't have enough mucosa anywhere in my body.  btw: I DID tell my rheumy I abandoned the inhaler.  I do, however, carry my rescue inhaler.  As I obey Irish (see above) I shall resurrect my inhaler and take it.  Really..tho I am in SE Texas, we have had a harsh winter.  I really haven't had the stuff in the air that irritated me since my dx in Dec.  As soon as I read "lung" in your post on other thread, it clicked.  Sometimes the drs aren't the only hard headed ones in MY picture!!  I hope you will get a good report, good medication, and be able to resume your life.  Ahhh...and I rememeber Munich fondly.  One quick visit...two or three days decades ago.  Quite lovely ..the entire region.