Back in May this year I had had a few weeks feeling a bit rough, not really myself. I pretty much ignored it and carried on, occassionally taking pain killers if needed. This didn't seem to be anything more than a passing virus at the time.
Eventually, towards the end of May, I began to struggle more and I felt something was wrong. I went to my surgery and requested a thyroid test. They were fine with it and took the test. Three days later the results were in and I rang up to find out what they were.
The receptionist said they were odd as one result was high and one was low, that didn't make sense (please bear in mind I knew nothing about tests at this point). I was suprised since I thought they were only doing one test, not two. She duly gave me numbers, which were TSH 4.9 (0.35 - 4.5) and FT4 10.4 (11 - 24). I thought about this and wondered why they had come back that way so started a little investigating on the internet to get some ideas. I was, needless to say, shocked to see I was Hypo. I knew nothing of hypothyroidism so spoke to the nurse on the phone. She stated catagorically to me that I wouldn't be getting any symptoms with such a borderline result. Well, that tore it. I was upset since I felt rough and seemed to be getting worse, so made an appointment with a gp at the practice.
I had my mother accompany me, along with a written list of my problems. I saw a locum doctor and he was quite helpful. He suggested further blood tests and a chest x-ray for my cough, which were duly taken.
The results of these came back but the locum had left so I had to see another doctor. This time the gp was not so helpful. She mentioned a raised rheumatoid result but said as I was showing no other signs it just meant I was more likely to develop it when older. This seemed fair since both my mothers sisters have it. She then told me everything else was normal and my symptoms were, therefore, of no consequence, reiterating that I would not be symptomatic with thyroid with my borderline result. She ignored my cough entirely. There was plenty more to that visit too, including a suggestion that I didn't do enough exercise and needed to go on a diet! I might add that at that time I was eating 1200 - 1400 calories a day on the exercise levels I mention below.
I left there upset with her attitude but had agreed to try a pain killer that would help me sleep and deaden the pain. I took one that night. I didn't take any more. The effects were disasterous. Not only did I still feel every bit of pain, I was unable to function at all, was in dire pain, worse than normal and just wanted to sleep. Impossible as a single mother with a special needs son (he is 18 but I am his only support) and a 15 year old daughter.
I was then put on paracetamol and codiene combo which I took every 4 hours. It did dull the pain but I was still getting worse. I was doing far less than normal (Prior to the downhill slip, I was doing in excess of 20 miles walking a week and hard cardio-vascular exercise once a week for 2 hours.) Now, walks were reduced to less than half my normal but I was stubbornly continuing the cardio-vascular work.
I went back to the doctors and saw yet another gp, who immediately picked on my acid reflux and the cough. He prescribed for the acid and took a sample of my phlegm. A few days later he rang up to tell me I had a bacterial infection and I needed anti-biotics.
The following Tuesday the previous, female doctor rang up about the result. I informed her I had been prescribed anti-biotics already and went on to tell her I had had to stop the pain killers due to severe constipation and headaches. She was totally unintrested and blamed my returning pain on the infection. Naturally my feelings towards her were not improved by this attitude.
I made yet another appointment, hoping to get the doctor who seemed on the ball but was informed he was off on compassionate leave (I'll leave it at that) and wouldn't be back for at least a fortnight. I made an appointment with a different doctor in the hopes they would be better than the female gp.
So last Friday I met this gp. I told him a number of things that had been happening and explained that I was doing even less, finding small walks hard and getting recurring symptoms of cystitis every time I did too much. Too much now meant a tiny walk or a small swim (I say swim, more of a float in the water for 10 minutes) and the pain was almost unbearable. The cardio vascular exercise was no longer possible and everything was taking considerable effort.
He spent a great deal of time looking at my last blood results and said many of them had come back high or borderline and obviously my thyroid tests were an issue. He suggested that they were repeated, along with all the results that were not ideal along with extras. He asked me to start taking paracetamol again and use ibuprofen gel to help with the pain, as I cannot risk too much in tablet form due to my asthma.
Those tests are being taken tomorrow morning. Once I have the results I will post them up. This continuing saga of just the last few months has been horrendous for me and my family. I have always been a fit outdoors type of person, and although I am by no means slender I am also not huge. I felt excellent before this kicked in and liked to do walks that were sometimes 12 miles long at a good pace without any difficulty. I could do that the day before my hard workout and swim miles in the sea the day after. Now any strain causes my body to cringe in pain and exhaustion.
I can only hope some idea of my problems are discovered in the next tests as I feel my life has halted over the last few months. I am devasted and really want my life back.
I will continue this blog once there are further developments.
Sorry for the length of this.
Additional. 10/07/2013
So I had the blood taken Monday, three vials worth. I will be intrested in the results, which I will get next Monday.
Sadly have not had the best of weeks so far. Despite being careful about how much I was doing, my body decided it was still too much and reacted badly. I spent yesterday/last night in considerable discomfort and didn't get to sleep until 3am. Less than 4 hours later I was up again. I took myself down the doctors as soon as they opened and came away with antibiotics in an attempt to calm the symptoms. Having slept for a few hours this afternoon I feel a little more human but still so very tired and uncomfortable. This heat really isn't helping as it's so hot even in the night. I'd do anything for some rain or a cool breeze. I'd swim normally but my body simply cannot take it at the mo. Even the cats are finding it too much.
Still, will be having a day indoors tomorrow, doing very little. Hopefully it will make me feel a little better.
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