Aa
Feel like I'm not getting anywhere!
Hi
Would be really grateful for some advice please.
Bit of background; October 2004 was diagnosed with post-natal HYPERthyroidism. Was started on carbimazole and all sorted after 12 months.
June 2013 started feeling really sluggish, dry skin, freezing, slow pulse, forgetful etc, odd panic attack. Went to GP who ran thyroid tests and came back as TSH 4.5, thyroid autoantibodies present. Started on low dose of thyroxine (25 mcg).
Been on for over 2 years now. Still feel awful, have put on 2 stone despite really watching what I eat, so tired but can't sleep once in bed, can't concentrate, brain fog....I've managed to cope with this but my GP just WILL NOT test my T3, T4, says the lab won't do them if TSH in range (TSH currently running around 2.8).
New symptoms in past few months....Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency, really nasty eczema on scalp, ectopic heart beats that really make me catch my breath, large red blood cells on retics?? Feel and look awful. Tired, bags under eyes, puffy face, wake up with painful joints in hands but rheumatology screening all fine, heartburn when lying down.
Are these all symptoms of Hashimotos/underactive thyroid too? The heart beat thing is really bothering me, as are the pain in small joints.
I have an appt with GP next Monday and really want to go armed with information, I think I need to push for referral to endocrinologist again to get T3 and T4 checked. I'm in UK.
Many thanks in advance.
Would be really grateful for some advice please.
Bit of background; October 2004 was diagnosed with post-natal HYPERthyroidism. Was started on carbimazole and all sorted after 12 months.
June 2013 started feeling really sluggish, dry skin, freezing, slow pulse, forgetful etc, odd panic attack. Went to GP who ran thyroid tests and came back as TSH 4.5, thyroid autoantibodies present. Started on low dose of thyroxine (25 mcg).
Been on for over 2 years now. Still feel awful, have put on 2 stone despite really watching what I eat, so tired but can't sleep once in bed, can't concentrate, brain fog....I've managed to cope with this but my GP just WILL NOT test my T3, T4, says the lab won't do them if TSH in range (TSH currently running around 2.8).
New symptoms in past few months....Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency, really nasty eczema on scalp, ectopic heart beats that really make me catch my breath, large red blood cells on retics?? Feel and look awful. Tired, bags under eyes, puffy face, wake up with painful joints in hands but rheumatology screening all fine, heartburn when lying down.
Are these all symptoms of Hashimotos/underactive thyroid too? The heart beat thing is really bothering me, as are the pain in small joints.
I have an appt with GP next Monday and really want to go armed with information, I think I need to push for referral to endocrinologist again to get T3 and T4 checked. I'm in UK.
Many thanks in advance.
Yes, agree with barb. Folic acid is the wrong form. You need L-methyl folate.
Keep pushing for proper testing. TSH is not a good test and fails many people. FT3 and Ft4 are the correct tests, AND should be at least mid-range or a bit above (bottom of range is not acceptable).
Further please get tested for vitamin D. Low D can also cause joint pains and other symptoms, and is critical for healthy immune function. If you cannot get your doctor to test D. You can go online and check out D*Action Project. They will send you a test kit and then you send back 2 blood spots, which they test for D and send you the results for.
Keep pushing for proper testing. TSH is not a good test and fails many people. FT3 and Ft4 are the correct tests, AND should be at least mid-range or a bit above (bottom of range is not acceptable).
Further please get tested for vitamin D. Low D can also cause joint pains and other symptoms, and is critical for healthy immune function. If you cannot get your doctor to test D. You can go online and check out D*Action Project. They will send you a test kit and then you send back 2 blood spots, which they test for D and send you the results for.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Good that you are changing doctors and hope you get better treatment, but you still may not, even at the hospital, because of NHS guidelines...
The B-12 spray is good, because it's absorbed via the capillaries under your tongue.
If you can find it, the best form of folate is L-Methylfolate (or 5-MTHF), which is body ready, since many of us can't utilize the folic acid.
The one thing your doctor "did" get right is that you would continue to get worse without the thyroxine, but you also need the Free T3 and Free T4 testing to make sure your body is utilizing the medication properly, since many of us don't. Doctors (and specifically, the NHS) automatically, assume we will, which consequently leaves many of us ill.
The B-12 spray is good, because it's absorbed via the capillaries under your tongue.
If you can find it, the best form of folate is L-Methylfolate (or 5-MTHF), which is body ready, since many of us can't utilize the folic acid.
The one thing your doctor "did" get right is that you would continue to get worse without the thyroxine, but you also need the Free T3 and Free T4 testing to make sure your body is utilizing the medication properly, since many of us don't. Doctors (and specifically, the NHS) automatically, assume we will, which consequently leaves many of us ill.
Thank you for your reply. I have actually changed GP surgeries to try and get treated properly, still nothing. I am going to ask for a referral to the hospital on Monday. If not, then I will go private.
B12 is a spray under the tongue, folate supplement is 5 mg folic acid tablets.
I have no idea which antibodies were present and they've only been tested once. My GP just said that if I didn't start thyroxine it would slowly get worse.
B12 is a spray under the tongue, folate supplement is 5 mg folic acid tablets.
I have no idea which antibodies were present and they've only been tested once. My GP just said that if I didn't start thyroxine it would slowly get worse.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Your symptoms, definitely, point to hypothyroidism and if your doctor won't test Free T3 and Free T4 (not the same as T3 and T4) you need to find a different doctor, who will...
What thyroid antibodies were present? It sounds like your initial hyperthyroidism could have been a hyper phase of Hashimoto's, which is actually associated with hypothyroidism, but often begins with periods of hyperthyroidism and can also alternate, hyper to hypo and even periods of normal.
Your larger than normal red blood cells bear out the vitamin B-12 deficiency... are you supplementing that? With what form of B-12? Vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause horrible fatigue, brain fog, inability to concentrate and if left untreated, it can cause permanent nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) in the hands, feet, legs, and even other organs of the body. Folate deficiency can also cause fatigue and other symptoms.
Hashimoto's, itself, doesn't really cause the symptoms, it's the resulting hypothyroidism, but your symptoms appear to be a combination of hypothyroidism plus B-12 and folate deficiency.
We do find that many in U.K, have a hard time getting adequate testing/treatment due to strict guidelines of the NHS... many have had to go private in order to get the testing/treatment they need in order to get well.
What thyroid antibodies were present? It sounds like your initial hyperthyroidism could have been a hyper phase of Hashimoto's, which is actually associated with hypothyroidism, but often begins with periods of hyperthyroidism and can also alternate, hyper to hypo and even periods of normal.
Your larger than normal red blood cells bear out the vitamin B-12 deficiency... are you supplementing that? With what form of B-12? Vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause horrible fatigue, brain fog, inability to concentrate and if left untreated, it can cause permanent nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) in the hands, feet, legs, and even other organs of the body. Folate deficiency can also cause fatigue and other symptoms.
Hashimoto's, itself, doesn't really cause the symptoms, it's the resulting hypothyroidism, but your symptoms appear to be a combination of hypothyroidism plus B-12 and folate deficiency.
We do find that many in U.K, have a hard time getting adequate testing/treatment due to strict guidelines of the NHS... many have had to go private in order to get the testing/treatment they need in order to get well.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
