Hello. I am a 25 year old female who has suffered with various health problems all my life. I have an underactive thyroid which I take 75mg levothyroxine daily, Acid reflux in which I take 15-30mg lansoperzole and peptac, Vitamin D and also net recently started back on the combined microgybon pill.
Back in February of this year I came off the pill due to weight gain along with the thyroid problems and also pains in my legs. I must add, I have also had large calves and persisted with asking my GP if I have lipodema but to no avail.
In March I suddenly started having blood in my saliva. I didn't have a cough or any chest infection etc, it would happen randomly and I would taste blood in my mouth. I had a chest xray which was clear, d dimer bloods to check for clotting, all clear, a ct scan which was all clear, a doppler scan on my leg, all clear, and an endoscopy which was all normal.
Referred to ENT, did a scope of my nose and throat, all clear. My dentist couldn't find any problems with my gums or teeth either.
The blood will disappear for a couple of weeks and return randomly. I have since gone back on the pill to control my periods as I have always suffered heavy and irregular cycles.
Please could anyone shed any light on where the blood could be coming from?
I am constantly tired, waves of nausea, cannot lose weight no matter how hard I try. I have been a vegetarian since the age of 13, always exercise and I don't smoke and rarely drink alcohol.
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Rachel1989
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Without a doubt you will be B12 deficient in my non-medical opinion. Being a vegetarian is one cause - and also the medication you are taking for acid reflux. As you are Hypo the opposite is more likely - LOW acid. We need acid in the stomach to break down proteins - the intrinsic factor then binds to the B12 molecules and safely transports them through the gut to the Terminal Ileum where the B12 is metabolised. Docs really do not know about thyroids and low acid and just happily dole out prescriptions for acid lowering medications which earns the Drug companies huge swathes of dosh. Lowering the acid deprives you of B12 and other important nutrients. Your Acid medication should be a short EIGHT WEEK course and no longer....I wonder how long you have been taking it ?
Have you been tested for H-Pylori bacteria - that causes stomach ulcers ? Just a thought.
Do you have any thyroid blood test results and ranges. Best to post in a new post so people can comment. I am sorry you are being treated so poorly by your Docs - but so good you have found this forum and all the people willing to help.
Being B12 deficient can be a neurological condition - so do take care.
You mentioned Acid Lowering Medicines Marz, my elderly Hypothyroid Mum was prescribed Omeprazazole, (for acid in her throat,) by a Dr. who did not even call to see her, Mum told the Dr. she had a lump in her throat and couldn't swallow. I looked up the medication and told her not to take them, she is also off the dreaded statins too, we often wonder if over the years the statins could of actually brought on her kidney failure.
Check out the vagus nerve information on the net. It comes straight from the brain stem and has many branches into the stomach and beyond. Hence the gut reaction When B12 is deficient then the nerves are affected and swallowing can be impaired. The wobbly bit of skin at the back of the throat - the epiglottis - should wobble - if it doesn't then the vaugus nerve may need stimulating. Regular gargling apparently does the trick !
Nearly all of your symptoms are due to hypothyroidism plus B12 deficiency as Marz has suggested.
At present forget weight gain and all the other symptoms as with the proper medication you should now begin to improve. When we start initially it might be hard to believe but with the help of the forum you will begin to learn through others experiences. We are all different.
You must wean yourself of acid blockers as we, if hypo, usually have low acid which causes stomach problems/pain.The symptoms are so similar.
You will learn that is a whole new 'ball game' if we are hypo as many doctors don't have a clue about clinical symptoms. Female problems being only one of them.
Always keep to the same make of levothyroxine (there are several) so that if you find you're not progressing, a change to another one might do the trick. Sometimes its the fillers/binders which can affect us - not the hormone itself.
When you have a blood test, have the earliest possible and fast. Leave approx 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the blood test. Take levo afterwards. You will have a blood test around every six weeks till you feel better.
Take levo first thing with a full glass of water and wait around 1 hour before eating. Some foods interfere with the uptake.
Always get a print-out of your blood test results with the ranges and post if you have a query.
If you've not had your Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate checked ask GP to do these as we can be deficient.
I have never been tested for B12 deficiency but both my aunts have had have the injections for years now, and my mum suffers with exactly the same health problems as I do.
I am going to book some bloods with my GP next week and request for B12. I had very low vitamin D levels around 4 months ago but my doc put me on 30,000 of vitamin D for 2 weeks and now I take a 1,000 daily.
I've been on levothyroxine for over 12 months now and all the doctors tell me is that it's stable and to continue with the 75mg daily. I feel so sick all the time and always having dizzy spells. I know having a period every 2 weeks doesn't help but hopefully being back on the combined pill will stablise my cycle.
I can have 8 hours sleep and still feel absolutely shattered, I'd love to be able to take naps throughout the day just to gain some energy!
The pains in my legs are always a worry but I get them all down my left arm too.
The only thing that concerns me the most now is the blood in my saliva, as all my tests are coming back clear
Don't forget to mention the family connections with PA. So best to ask for more in depth testing than just the B12. Anti-bodies to Intrinsic Factor and Parietal Cells should also be tested. Also raised Homocysteine can point to B12 Deficiency along with the Urine Test for MMA.
Did you manage to look at the website I posted earlier ? it will help you to be well informed when you see your GP and ask for blood tests. Lots of information there for you....
When you look at the signs for B12 deficiency on the website - you can see why you have some of the symptoms and how they can overlap with being Hypo....
What was the actual result for the B12 ? The range can go from 180 - 800 - it varies from lab to lab - so if were 200 GP would say normal when he needs to be around 800/900. Please always ask for copies of any results so when you post with them people can help more
Did you remember to ask for the additional testing I mentioned in my post above ? Best write down a list.
I expect your Iron - Ferritin and Folate will be LOW. I would go through this thread again and make some notes before you see the Doc....
By the way there is no such thing as normal - normal is an opinion - NOT a result. He means you are in range - but WHERE in the range is important.....
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When B12 is deficient then the nerves are affected and swallowing can be impaired. The wobbly bit of skin at the back of the throat - the epiglottis - should wobble - if it doesn't then the vaugus nerve may need stimulating. Regular gargling apparently does the trick !
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