Hypothyroid AND Pernicious Anaemia. How to unpick the two?

[Benji76]

Hi folks. Seems to me that symptoms for these two conditions are very similar. I am convinced I have PA. Won’t bore you, no diagnosis yet though, despite being put on 3 monthly injections anyway. I now self inject because I find I need it more like every week. This keeps me going, but symptoms come back far too soon.

My thyroid TSH was tested two years ago. I was a 6, flagged by the lab as hypothyroid. My GP dismissed this. I asked for this to be monitored - my sister is hypothyroid- but it wasn’t. I am no longer with that GP.

So, tomorrow I want to see my new GP and ask him to check my thyroid, expecting him to find that I am well and truly hypo.

I am thinking that B12 injections help me feel ok. But B12 May not necessarily be the actual problem sometimes. Therefore, if I get my thyroid on track I should hopefully need to inject B12 less.

But, will everything then be put down to thyroid? Will thyroid treatment interfere with B12?

Anybody else been here?

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Unravelling B12 and thyroid is difficult if you have both. Possible that monitoring temperature could unravel things a little. Some people who start with thyroid problems report that they find they need to reduce thyroid medication when they start B12 - no obvious answer though possible that because both thyroid hormones and B12 are used in the processes that release energy that this, and may be other processes start running more efficiently when enough of both thyroid hormones and B12 are present.

Diagnosis of thyroid problems is, I'm afraid, as with B12 absorption problems - just the start of a journey that often sees people undermedicated for fear of the consequences of overmedication and not understanding the effect that treatment has on normal range for TSH - but that's a bit off topic for this forum - suggest that if you aren't a member already you join the TUK forum

healthunlocked.com/thyroiduk

[Judithdalston]

Hi Benji76...i’m the opposite way round have had hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis ( Hashimoto’s Disease) diagnosed 14 years ago, but had regular feelings of low b12 ( pins and needles in toes, fingers, hands, feet, up not shoulders and thighs, plus temple/ cheeks that also includes numbness; vertigo, dizziness including collapse). Then there are the symptoms that extend across various diagnoses ( I am also insulin- dependent diabetic after sepsis/ pancreatitis, and have fibromyalgia) from extreme tiredness/ weakness, aching all over, clumsiness, various brain fog and forgetting everyday words.... Your old GP was unfortunately one of those who insists your TSH had to be 10 or over, despite the fact that 6 is high and likely to cause symptoms of hypothyroidism, so hope your new one will be more sympathetic...if they look/ sound like they are faltering to treat hypo. suggest you get a ‘trail’ of 50 mcg levothyroxin for 2 months, and then retest bloods , and add another 25 mcg if necessary. Have you ever had your autoimmune antibodies tested ( TPO and TgAb) for Hashimoto’s- it is characterised by poor gut absorption meaning we often have low folate, ferritin, vit D and B12 levels, and we need to supplement them to get to optimal, upper half of ranges? The sister healthunlocked Thyroid U.K. forum is a good place to start for more info. after you have seen your GP... Anyway I am looking at self injecting b12, my active b12 bloods are good (180-200) over the last year, but serum folate was just over 7 ( now 17-14)...doubt if any of this will be of interest to gp, but do wonder whether this combo is causing pain etc above as been thru lots of thyroid meds / doses this last year, and no improvement.

[Benji76 in reply to Judithdalston]

Thank you. This is a very interesting and helpful reply. I wonder if I even have Pernicious Anaemia at all. Maybe it is hashimotos? Anyway, proper reply coming soon...