Fibro/Thyroid/Cortisol.....Not Sure if connected

[Fairycake1973]

Hi All

I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia last year after a long battle to get my "sympotms" taken seriously by the GP etc. I am feeling more positive and better about the whole thing since I started taking Fluoxetine (amatriptalyne was a big no no for me!) but I still can't seem to lose weight (I don't eat a whole lot and what I do eat isn't crappy food) and still get symptoms that I think are linked to thyroid.

Would it be worthwhile trying to get my new GP, who has been great with supporting me with Fibro, to do more tests? When I had them done initially they were "in range" but my cortisol was high on the blood test but then "to the high end of normal" in the 24h urine test.

As all of you know, it's hard enough to get them to listen when you are first experiencing symptoms but now I'm worried I'll be seen as a pest as I've had a diagnosis!

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[shaws Administrator]

Here are a couple of links. Links within questions/answers may not work.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

web.archive.org/web/2010081...

[Fairycake1973]

Thanks Shaws. Sorry for late reply to this - I've been doing really well since October least year but I've been in bed this week - sleeping for 16-18 hours at a time but still feeling exhausted, dreadful pain all over and the burning sensation in my lower throat (where I've felt like there's a lump for the past couple of years) is on fire! Hey ho, onward and upward and I'm sure by next week I'll be feeling better again

[Marz in reply to Fairycake1973]

Hi Fairycake. Sorry to hear you are having a difficult time. It is certainly worth ruling out the thyroid being the cause of your symptoms with the FULL thyroid profile being tested. TSH FT4 FT3 and the Anti-bodies - anti-TPO and anti-Tg. Thyroid testing is notoriously poor as GP''s have forgotten to see clinical signs and symptoms and go by the TSH - which is NOT a thyroid hormone anyway. LOW T3 is often the cause of Fibromyalgia - as it was in my case - and of thousands of others.

Have you had a good look around the main Thyroid website where you can click onto Hypothyroidism on the Menu and then Signs and Symptoms. There is so much information there for you to learn so much - this will enable you to ask the relevant questions of your GP. Knowledge is power......as is information.

Yes you have a diagnosis - of sorts - and many on this forum would say it is similar to the diagnosis of IBS - which is a syndrome.....just that a syndrome of nothing specific. It just gives the GP permission to file your case and not have to do further investigations. There are Functional Medical Practitioners - mostly in the States - who treat the causes rather than the symptoms. Fibro is a symptom of a deeper underlying cause.....it could be Thyroid. It is heart breaking to read of the endless drugs some fibro sufferers are taking which only adds to the toxic overload in the liver and subsequently in the body tissues - including the muscles. Think hangover - if you have ever experienced one !

Also B12 Iron Ferritin Folate and VitD will all need to be tested and their results towards the TOP of their individual ranges. Sadly Doctors have very little training on these issues and once again go by the blood results and their oh so low ranges and say you are NORMAL....

shaws has given you good links to the website of Dr John Lowe - who wrote a great book before he died - The Metabolic Treatment of Fibromyalgia. JaneB - on this forum also has mentioned an excellent book - Healing is Possible. New Hope for Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Persistent Pain and other Chronic Illness. By Dr Neil Nathan. JaneB has personal experience of this guy - and her posts are always valuable.

Do so hope you soon feel stronger and ready to make that list of ...things to do

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

The above link may just help you with the fatigue too - and as you can see there is loads going on with LOW B12....