Exhaustion etc

[Spam1]

I have suffered from tiredness for a long time - at least a couple of years or more. Drs have tested thyroid ( my brother is on Thyroxin and has had dreadful issues with his symptoms), they said I am fine. Putting it down to stress as my job can be stressful but even when I have a full nights sleep I am exhausted! I had my blood done a couple of months ago privately and here are my results - any thoughts, please? I have started taking a 1000 mg Vit d supplement about 2 weeks ago but don't feel any better. I often have cold hands and feet, tingling pins n needles around my mouth, struggle to lose weight too. I am so fed up with feeling rubbish!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low vitamin D - recommended dose is 1600iu daily for 6 months

Local CCG guidelines

clinox.info/clinical-suppor...

Government recommends everyone supplement October to April

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...

GP will only prescribe to bring vitamin D up to 50nmol. Aiming to improve by self supplementing to at least 80nmol and around 100nmol may be better .







Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.




Retesting twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk




Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is good as avoids poor gut function.




It's trial and error what dose each person needs.

If your brother has autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies you are also more likely to have this

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

Medichecks currently have an offer on until end of May - 20% off

thyroiduk.org.uk/index.html

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.

Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

High cholesterol is linked to being hypothyroid

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

Suggest you get private testing 2-3 months after being on vitamin D supplements

Come back with new post once you get full results and ranges

[Spam1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Many Thanks, so no point seeking blood tests privately now then. Could I just take double dose of these VIt D tabs for now as I have bought them ? SO fed up just want it sorted.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Spam1]

Yes you could double dose of vitamin D

Testing just vitamin D in 2-3 months

vitamindtest.org.uk

Meanwhile you could do Medichecks Thyroid plus vitamin test - a bit cheaper than the thyroid plus ultra vitamin which includes vitamin D. No point retesting vitamin D yet

Perhaps see if Thyroud plus vitamin test is on special offer tomorrow.....Thyroid Thursday at Medichecks. Or 20% off anyway until end of May

[MaisieGray]

Unfortunately you seem to have chosen a set of tests that didn't include the important FT3, the active thyroid hormone. Your FT4 is low, only 21% in range, and it's likely that your FT3 is also too low, which could be a factor in your symptoms, as could vit B12; so testing both is really important.

[Spam1 in reply to MaisieGray]

Hi

Thanks for responding.

So is it worth me paying to have the other tests done now, or wait for a couple of months to see if improved vit d? I am sick of feeling soo exhausted!

[MaisieGray in reply to Spam1]

Well it depends what you want to achieve. If you want to see what effect supplementing with Vit D is having, you need to wait before testing again, as has been suggested by SlowDragon. But if you want to use your results as a lever to persuade your GP away from his "everything is fine" mindsight, you could retest now, to include FT3. Also, and importantly, it will indicate if you do or don't have a B12 problem that needs addressing too.

[Spam1 in reply to MaisieGray]

Hi

Yes very true! I am tempted just to order more tests and do it and then go rearmed again once I have already spoken to the GP - You are right we shouldnt have to go through this its just not right. Thanks

[greygoose]

Your ferritin is rather low. That will make you tired.

[Spam1 in reply to greygoose]

OK thanks for that. I am new to all this but wish I had gone into it a long time ago!

[greygoose in reply to Spam1]

Better late than never. We shouldn't have to go into it at all. Doctors should know what they're doing, it's their job, not ours.

[SmallBlueThing]

Have you mentioned the feeling around your mouth to your GP? It could be due to hypocalcaemia, which can cause fatigue along with serious complications.