Check your Thyroid

[Readlots]

For about a year I’ve been struggling. Fatigue getting worse, frozen shoulder, dry mouth and eyes, aching, brain fog, palpitations. It really got worse after last years autumn Covid booster when I thought I was having a heart attack. Heart all checked out fine. So I talked to my consultant at my clinic and said I thought I was having an AIH flare up. Took a month of steroids - no change. Hands shaking, tingly fingers and feet, balance was off, really struggling at work and a friend told me to go back to my GP - later told me she thought it was Parkinson’s. Saw a different GP who treated me with disdain- clearly a neurotic menopausal woman- and prescribed painkillers for my shoulder that we both knew I wouldn’t take because of my liver. Went back a few weeks later and asked to see a different doctor. By this time it had been a year since the frozen shoulder started. This doctor checked my thyroid, which is normally underactive and my TSH was off the scale. She told me to halve my thyroxine. Too soon to see any improvement, but I dread to think what would have happened if Id carried on at my normal dose. I’ve since read about the Covid vaccines affecting thyroid. So if you’re not feeling right, don’t assume it’s your liver - get your thyroid checked!

[Millie09]

Thank you for bringing this to attention and I hope your feeling better now .I myself always blame any twinge or foggy brain ,aches , dry mouth , insomnia mixed with fatigue ( which has been ongoing now for many years ) on my liver cirrhosis, I Have never been diagnosed with any issues with the Thyroid but im seeing my hepatologist on Thursday so I shall bring my issues to light.

Best wishes linda

[Readlots in reply to Millie09]

The symptoms are so similar, it’s definitely worth checking

[Millie09 in reply to Readlots]

Absolutely 💯

[FlippinOut]

Yes, hypo or hyperthyroid can cause all kinds of problems. It’s important to have your TSH levels checked. It is also important to know that a diseased liver can cause thyroid problems. The liver produces proteins and one of them is called prealbumin. It is a carrier protein and it carries thyroid hormone. So if your liver is not making enough of this protein, your thyroid may not be getting enough thyroxine. Prealbumin also measures nutritional status and is a way to check if you’re getting enough protein and vitamins in your diet. Most doctors test regular albumin levels but not Prealbumin.

[Readlots in reply to FlippinOut]

That’s really helpful - going to ask my consultant to test preambulin in my next blood test. Thank you!

[Millie09 in reply to FlippinOut]

Thank you for that! I did not know that liver disease can affect the thyroid...Will be asking for tests at my appt on Thursday

[Aztec632]

Very interesting. Thank for the information. Can I ask what your TSH level was please ?

[Readlots in reply to Aztec632]

I don’t think we’re meant to give test results. But the TSH was well below the reference number, which means there was too much thyroxine in my system.

[Aztec632 in reply to Readlots]

Oh yes sorry. I get where you are coming from thanks.

[Wolivere]

We had a similar issue with my wife. So, even though she had normal LFTs and her Ultrasound was normal. Due to elevated GGT, and Billis and having hand shake... the one was always saying CIRHOSIS...

Her hand shake was her thyroid... soon as they fixed that it stopped.

[Readlots in reply to Wolivere]

That’s good to know. How long until her hands stopped shaking? I’ve been on a half dose for a week and there’s no change. They said to repeat the blood test in 6 weeks so I guess they expect to see an improvement by then.

[LorraineLouise]

I too have thyroid disease. It is not uncommon for people with autoimmune disease. To have one too, three or even more auto immune issues. Unfortunately ! I happen to have primary biliary cirrhosis, thyroid disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.

I’m so glad you got your thyroid levels checked. And it will take a while, but the medicine will work well for you.

Wishing you good luck, and good health along the way

Lorraine Louise

[Readlots in reply to LorraineLouise]

Thanks Lorraine, yep - multiple autoimmune conditions here. Underactive thyroid was the first diagnosis, so I kinda just take my thyroxine and assume all is OK. Big wake-up call to fund out it wasn’t. Interesting that it seems to have all changed after the autumn booster last year. The previous vaccinations didn’t seem to affect it. I know HRT did but I’ve been off that for a while.

[Morkmindy]

My throids gone aswell been on tablets four month nobody's cheating my bloods and can't get free prescription till doctor decides I'm on it for life so still feel crap

[Readlots in reply to Morkmindy]

I’m sorry to hear that, they should be monitoring it because it can take a while to get the dose right. Might be worth calling the go and asking if you can have a blood test.

[Stills]

I have a chronic autoimmune disease. The last year has brought new symptoms as you have described. I suspect autoimmune thyroiditis or autoimmune hepatitis. Locum GPs dismissed AI connection and are wasting time doing tests for cancer, celiac, ulcers and prescribing PPI….. I’ve lived 40 plus years with AI condition and am guilty of attributing all ailments to it so thank you for your post and timely reminder to fight my corner. Wishing you good days.

[Readlots in reply to Stills]

I hope you get some answers. At least having the other checks will hopefully rule things out. I have to confess to feeling better when heart problems were ruled out. I think we’re all getting better at advocating for ourselves. Wishing you good days yoo

[Readlots in reply to Readlots]

*too

[Stills in reply to Readlots]

ECG ok and have some anti sickness meds to counteract vertigo episodes. Spent 13 hours in ER last night to achieve this. Laughingly they gave me paracetamol for the crushing headache, May as well given me smarties

[Readlots in reply to Stills]

But did they check your thyroid? I’m glad the ECG was fine, just sorry it took 13 hours. Glad you’re home now and hope you feel better soon

[Stills in reply to Readlots]

Despite my concerns about having hashi’s they did not check my thyroid, they were more interested in Stills disease due to its rarity. Thanks for your message x

[Thebarns]

Would advise that you get your parathyroid checked too. Also, I do think Covid vaccines can have a adverse affect as I never feel right after having it but too scared not to have it!

[Readlots in reply to Thebarns]

I’m exactly the same! I’ll ask about getting my parathyroid checked in my next blood test. Thank you

[LilacPoppy]

I too have suffered Hashimoto's thyroiditis for 10 years. Also have Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, and lots of other issues. Never had any strange blood test anomalies with liver, cholesterol or blood glucose. Since having the jabs and Covid twice, fatty liver diagnosis and my liver and spleen have enlarged and LFT's were off. For a few months I suddenly became type 2 diabetic and and now in remission and don't have it. This has all happened within a year.

Thyroid disease can cause a huge amount of problems, but to go from good bloods to probable liver cirrhosis within a year seems a little odd to me. Only difference is that virus and the jabs. It does worry me. 😞

[Readlots]

It does seem rather a coincidence doesn’t it…