Lots of symptoms, no diagnosis.

Hello, I've been having trouble for around 10 weeks now and I've yet to find a solution. Sorry for the long post ahead, but I really need to write everything down in one place and get it off my chest. I'd like to mention that I am currently moving doctors, it should be sorted in a week or two. Hopefully I can get a better viewpoint from someone else. My current doctor is a lovely man ,but he is just shortsighted regarding my health.

My symptoms began in the first week of August, with no trigger that I'm aware of, it just quickly developed over a few weeks, and has gradually gotten worse over the past months. Sometimes I fluctuate and have good days/bad days. A lot of the time, I feel worse in the evening/night. They are as follows, ranked downward in order of how annoying they are:

Bowel Issues - I was constipated for about a month, but not anymore (about 4 weeks free). I still get bloated, gassy, have acute pains, hear a lot of noises going on down there. Going to the toilet just hasn't been the same, I can sometimes have diarrhoea, a yellow/green mucus, and recently quite a lot of blood came out (literally soaked the toilet paper, bright red), the blood has not recurred so I'm not worried about it but I thought I'd mention it anyway.

Heart Palpitations - My doctor put this to me stressing out, noticing my heartbeat more easily. It is 100% not this! It affects me no matter what mood I'm in, at any time. My pulse is really easily noticed as well, even when lightly resting the tips of my fingers on each other. I can actually phase it out now, because I'm not just as worried about it (originally I was quite concerned, as anyone would be after getting fast/heavy palpitations for no seemingly no reason)

Brain Fog - This is something that really puts me down. I'm attending an engineering course in university and it requires me to be on top form. I often lose focus in class, blur my eyes and cannot concentrate. It will affect my motivation to do anything and it is hard to work. Don't get me wrong, this is something I am fighting against quite hard, I've not slacked in my studies too much, but its annoying having to deal with this when I am usually quite good academically.

Pressure/strange feeling at back of neck/head - I can feel this quite easily when tilting my head back a little. It feels like something is there in the back of my neck.

General fatigue - Waking up in time for uni is more difficult, feeling tired throughout the day. My muscles are also much weaker. I used to be moderately fit and healthy, going to the gym 3 times a week, making gains etc. Now a very light gym session will ruin me for 4-5 days.

Ear ringing - I've had my ears waxed, and it did improve my right ear, but my left ear still buzzes. This is not too bad, I can phase it out quite easily. I'm writing about it because it was one of the first symptoms I noticed when this whole madness started.

Facial changes - This is something I've only recently noticed. It just feels like my face is different. Droopy, kind of fat, just not myself. I suppose it could be the stress from this whole situation, but something tells me its not that.

Throat problems - I feel like there is a lump in my throat, or that my throat passage has tightened. I also have pain/discomfort when swallowing. As well, I've noticed my voice has changed, its more hoarse than it was.

Tremors - I feel the need to constantly shake a body part if sitting still. This is most obvious in class, when my legs are doing all sorts of movements. This sounds like I'm complaining over nothing but its definitely noticeable and 100% different to how I was in early/mid summer.

Acid taste in mouth/dry mouth -

Chest pressure - Most noticeable if I bend over, my chest region feels tight.

Sensitivity to bright sunlight -

Joint pain - a regular throb in my wrists for example.

Weight - 10 stone 3 pounds beforehand (~July), 9 stone 9 pounds (now). I can explain my weight changes. Because of the lack of a gym routine, I've lost muscle mass, which explains the weight loss. I just thought I'd write it up.

Before even knowing I could have a thyroid problem, I was very confused. Its quite a range of signs, and its not debilitating enough that I cannot continue with my day to day activities. Explaining it to my friends has been hard, and honestly no one really understands how bad I'm feeling. I've written a lot of symptoms that most people would just say wise up, don't worry about it. A few months ago I would have been the same, but I just know in my heart that everything I'm feeling is all connected to whatever illness it may be.

I had a TFT done (had to pressure the doc) and was told I was normal, my doctor showed me the levels, I'm not sure if I've mixed up the TSH and T4 results, but the numbers are definitely correct.

TSH - 18.8

T4 - 2.03

So I was prescribed as being normal, that my symptoms were all in my head, told I was a hypochondriac. This really annoys me because its the complete opposite, I feel changes in my body that are definitely not due to stress, or depression or anything stemming from the mind. I'm usually an upbeat, optimistic person that is not susceptible to worry. Recently I've been more down because I'm starting to feel worse and there is no diagnosis in sight.

There has been no other tests done, no scans of my neck or anything. I'm going to ask my new doctors to give me all of the tests on the STTM webpage. Also I would like checked out for GERD, and other bowel issues.

Honestly I'm not really sure what advice people on this site can give me, other than commenting on my symptoms. Does this look like a thyroid issue? Thanks!

EDIT: Forgot to mention, I'm a 20 year old man. Moved out recently so diet has not been amazing, but I'm not eating terribly different so diet is most certainly not a cause.

[jellynpain]

Hi Michael,

It sounds as if your gp should consider more testing. The key is a gp that listens to you (just my opinion).

Also try not to feel stressed, but I know easier said than done.

I don't have blood test knowledge (working on it

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Michael.

Can you check your TFT results. High TSH and low FT4 would be overtly hypothyroid and would need immediate thyroid replacement. If you have transposed them then you fall within 'normal' guidelines. Unfortunately, clinical symptoms of hypothyroidism can precede abnormal blood results by months/years but UK guidelines don't recommend thyroid replacement until TSH is above the lab ref range usually >5.0.

I hope your new GP is more sympathetic. Stress the hoarseness of voice and difficulty swallowing and ask for your throat and neck to be examined for swelling. You should also mention the change in bowel habits although it is likely that one off bleeding may have been due to hemhorroids caused by diarrhoea following constipation.

Ask for TSH, FT4, FT3, thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies to be tested to rule out or confirm autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) and ask your GP to test ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate as hypothyroid patients are often deficient/low and these deficiencies can cause musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and low mood similar to hypothyroid symptoms. Post your results with the lab ref ranges (the figures in brackets after your results) in a new question and members will advise whether supplementation is required.

You may find adopting a gluten-free diet will help with bloating, gas, constipation and diarrhoea. It can be helpful in reducing Hashimoto antibodies if you test positive.

The informaton in these links may be helpful:-

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/diagno...

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

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

[Hidden]

Thanks for the replies. I will definitely be asking the doctor for a range of tests. Sadly diet changes are not going to happen because I have limited finances and am in a student accommodation.

I kind of want some assurances that I'll be better soon. Honestly I just want to get diagnosed, get on NDT or whatever, and forget all about this. Is this usually what transpires, or am I in for a drawn out process and never really getting back to normal? If its the latter that makes me super depressed

[Clutter in reply to Hidden]

Michael, you really need to rule out other illnesses or a virus like glandular fever which is common in students. I can't see you getting a hypothyroid diagnosis any time soon and when you do treatment will be Levothyroxine, unless you self medicate NDT which isn't licensed for use in the UK and is, therefore, rarely prescribed.

If your accommodation includes meals ask the caterer about g-f. Dietary requirements should be taken into account.

[Marz]

There is no quick fix and going gluten free as Clutter suggests would be a good step forward. Not difficult - eggs for breakfast - home made soup for lunch - something with veg for supper. Just a bit of effort that's all. Chickpea pancakes - cheap as chips - just the chickpea flour and water - add your favourite spices and they go with everything. A stick food processor is just a few pounds in the supermarket and will save you squillions on bought soups. Cabbage soup is fab with lots of onions and flavourings of your choice Not expensive....

I was a student once so know how tough it can be....

Do check out your B12 - Ferritin - Folate - Iron - VitD. Am sure these will be LOW and they need to be OPTIMAL and not just in range.....It can make all the difference to your wellbeing....

[Treepie]

Hi Michael,

I recognise the voice change to croaky and slurred words,the fatigue and a face like a hamsters full pouches! If the GP said your results are normal you probably have mixed them up ,but check that you have them correct as they are not normal as you have put them down. Some of the symptoms that indicate thyroid problems can be caused by other illness and vitamin deficiencies so you do need to persist perhaps with a new GP and get more tests.

At your age I was a student with awful pain in my back and down my legs which was not properly diagnosed as ankylosing spondylitis until I was 29, so I sympathise with your problems and the frustration of not having an answer.

[Hidden]

The voice change, lump in the throat, tighter airway passage points to reflux or GERD.

It simply means that the food that you eat usually does straight down. Yours comes

back up or reverses once in the stomach. When it comes up the esophagus, it burns, it might even make you throw up tiny amounts of acid in your mouth.. it does not taste pleasant. Some people don't even notice it but those that do will tell you that it needs to stop. Simple antacids can fix it but you do really need to get into the doctor to find out if some damage did start or if it already is damaged, meaning the esophagus. Sometimes more heavy duty medicines like prilosec can do the job.. you need to take the medicine on an empty stomach...2 hours before eating. Wait 2 to eat and take it with a glass of water only. It's a small sacrifice for a big cure. It takes 2 weeks to really feel better.

Sounds like you need Doctor House.. there are many doctors needed for

your conditions. Sorry that I can't help with the rest. Good Luck.