Thyroid Storms - from the Hyperthyroid Mailing ListWhen people are referring to "thyroid storms" on this list, they're referring to particularly hyperthyroid periods: either because they feel the symptoms quite acutely or their thyroid levels have changed for the worse.
If you're referring to currently accepted medical language, it's incorrect to refer to a thyroid storm as a period of intense hyperthyroid symptoms. While hyperthyroid, I too experienced peak times when I was a bit manic which for me meant alternately irritable and euphoric, wildly productive, sleeplessness, heat intolerance, heart palps, etc. All these symptoms were present to some degree but they would occassionally peak and become much more troublesome; then they would eventually return to their "normal" state of imbalance.
Here's a thyroid storm. From a medical textbook, The 4th edition of Emergency Medicine (eds. Tinhiralli, J., Buiz, E. and Krome, R.L. Some parts are quotes, some speedy summations.
"Thyroid storm is a RARE complication of hyperthyroidism in which manifestations of thyrotoxicosis are exaggerated to life-threatening proportions. Thyroid storm is most often seen in a patient with moderate to severe antecedent Grave's' disease and is usually precipitated by a stressful event. "
Precipitating Factors listed as primarily as infection, especially pulmonary infection, ketoacidosis in diabetics, hyperosmolar coma . . . Events possibly to initiate storm in vulnerable person: RAI, premature withdrawal of ATDs, use of an iodinated constrast medium during x-ray, thyroid hormone overdose, vigorous palpation of the thyroid gland . . . can also be vascular accidents, pulmonary emboli, toxemia of pregnancy and emotional stress.
Signs and Symptoms:
"The earliest signs are fever, tachycardia, diaphoresis, increased CNS activity, and emotional lability If condition is untreated, a hyperkinetic toxic state ensures in which symptoms are intensified. Progression to congestive heart failure, refractory pulmonary edema, circulatory collapse, coma and death may occur within 72 hours.
Fever ranges from 100.4-105.5. The pulse rate may range between 120 and 200 beats per minute but has been reported as high as 300 . . . sweating so profuse as to lead to dehydration from insensible fluid loss . . .
Central nervous systems . . . vary from restlessness, anxiety, emotional lability, manic behavior, agitations and psychosis, to mental confusion, obtundation and coma . . . cardiovascular abnormalities . . . increased stroke volume, cardiac output, etc . . .
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Not meant to scare anyone, but to clarify: clinically speaking, thyroid storms are rare, life threatening events that don't just go away. That's the medical model, anyway.
Mary
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