Advice please: I have had problems with... - Thyroid UK

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Advice please

MrsRaven profile image
17 Replies

I have had problems with inflammatory polyarthritis, osteo, fibromyalgia etc for over 20 years. I have never formally been diagnosed with hypothyroid because they have always gone by TSH in bloods, but when my old GP began treating me with T4 things improved very quickly. I was on T4 for years and everything was ok. Then a few months back, after I had changed surgeries because my old GP left, things went Pete Tong. I became very ill. After taking advice from the forum things have improved a lot, but one thing is bothering me. Since things went downhill if I cut myself it bleeds profusely and is difficult to stop. I mentioned it to the new GP who didnt seem overly bothered. Could it be related to low thyroid, or a deficiency of some kind please?

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MrsRaven
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17 Replies
MrsRaven profile image
MrsRaven

My GP seemed to think all my levels are normal and couldnt suggest any reason for it. Liver results are apparently normal. But I have little faith in the GPs interpretation or the endos. The endo cant decide whether I'm hypo or not, and just goes on about my TSH, and neither of them was bothered about my serum b12 being at the bottom of the range. I'm not taking aspirin, I can't take any anti inflammatories because of my gut, or any other meds that are different to anything I've taken before. I think it might have slightly improved since I started T3 five or six weeks ago. Thats why I wondered. I am supplementing with 1000mcg sublingual methylcobalamin, B6, folic acid, D3 prescribed by the rheumatologist, multi b vits, magnesium, zinc orotate, selenium with A&C.

MrsRaven profile image
MrsRaven

My liver enzymes were high, and they asked me if I was a boozer! The nerve! After an ultrasound, and tests for all forms of contagious liver disease they decided it was "idiopathic". Interestingly my cholesterol was high then, and as my liver results improved, on higher doses of T4, my cholesterol came down and is now 6.2.

MrsRaven profile image
MrsRaven

Its very insulting isnt it. I let the rheumatologists registrar know, in no uncertain terms, that I was extremely offended when he asked are you a boozer! 😡

in reply toMrsRaven

Hello MrsRavan,

The liver metabolises hormones, filters toxins and cleans the blood.

Thyroid hormones are converted in the liver and influence cholesterol & other lipids.

Hashimotos or hypothyroidism can slow these processes resulting in high cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides and raised liver enzymes.

High cholesterol is also caused by a slowing down of the gall bladder which metabolises liver byproducts. This slows the flow of bile used to breakdown fats and cholesterol ( & can lead to gallstones ). Bile stimulates flow through the stomach helping to absorb and eliminate foods.

If you have gut issues you may benefit from Betaine HCI and biliary support.

Many members including myself have had raised liver enzymes.

Flower

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

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MrsRaven profile image
MrsRaven in reply to

I roughly understand the relationship between the liver, hypothyroid and high cholesterol. What I dont understand is why suddenly I bleed so badly when I cut myself and have difficukty stopping it. Apparently my liver enzymes are ok now. I have had gut problems for years, at least thirty. My original GP had a special interest in allergies and he was sure I had a wheat allergy, he also diagnosed me with ulcerative colitis. There werent any tests for coeliac then, in fact you never heard it mentioned. he prescribed me various B vitamins and minerals, as a matter of course. When he retired all the supplements were stopped and my mebeverine was changed to another medication that didnt help. I was told I had IBS. I had what, looking back, were all the symptoms of hyperthyroid, plus the rheumatic disease, and the gastro has told me that because of my gut problems and gluten intolerance I must see a dietician and have regular blood tests for vitamin and mineral levels. I have yet to see the dietician, i had to break my appointment because I was too ill to get there, and need to chase up another one. what gets me going is that there seems to be no joined up thinking. Everything is put in little boxes and looked at as a separate issue. its almost as though they dont actually want to treat you for anything.

in reply toMrsRaven

MrsRavan,

I can't help with the bleeding as have no idea.

I asked if you have gut issues because they often go together with liver//biliary problems if caused by low thyroid hormones.

If gut issues were due to low stomach acid, low bile flow and low intestinal mucus that acts as a barrier, supplementing my suggestions may have helped.

Of course there are many possible causes of your gut issues and

If you are being treated under the hospital it would be better to follow their advice.

I hope you feel better soon

Flower

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

……………………………………………………………………….................................

MrsRaven profile image
MrsRaven in reply to

I have been as far as ive had any. I will look into what you have said however as the hospital hasnt been particularily helpful. I recall reading somewhere that hypothyroid can cause low platelets which can cause clotting problems but the doctor has t mentioned it. I am waiting to see if it improves now I am on T3 and things seem to be getting better

thyr01d profile image
thyr01d

Low B12 is very serious: here's a link b12deficiency.info/

MrsRaven profile image
MrsRaven in reply tothyr01d

I have been on 5000mcg of sublingual methylcobalamin for two months, and am now switching to a msintenance dose. I do feel a lot better, though my D3 was very low as well. I am back on 800iu of liquid gel caps now and my D3 levels have improved a lot, and though not optimal the endo is happy with them. But she was happy with my serum B12 level before I supplemented, so that doesnt exactly inspire confidence. What I reallh need is the money to see an endo that specialises in thyroid.

thyr01d profile image
thyr01d in reply toMrsRaven

Mmmm, the moneym, it's a circle isn't it, low energy + brain fog = only low paid work + few hours brings us to low funds.

we could start a thyroid lottery - people buy a ticket and win a prize but some profit is retained to fund health care for us.

Do hope something works out for you.

MrsRaven profile image
MrsRaven in reply tothyr01d

I am on pension credit with a bit of state pension, which they count as income so in effect I dont get it, DLA, and my money has gone up by £1 a week in the last year snd have a mortgage to pay. it makes even buying vitamin supplements difficult sometimes. I live in fear that they will take away the winter fuel grant and my DLA. If they did I'd be hard pushed to live.

MrsRaven profile image
MrsRaven in reply toMrsRaven

I like the idea of a thyroid lottery though 😜

Even better would be to give the medical profession a collective kick up the backside and get them to recognise and treat thyroid, especially hypo, the way they should instead of fobbing us off! 😂

thyr01d profile image
thyr01d in reply toMrsRaven

Yes, I dread retiring and wonder how on earth people without private pensions manage.

MrsRaven profile image
MrsRaven in reply tothyr01d

With difficulty, at the mercy of a bunch of wealthy politicians that know the price of everything, the value of nothing and they dont want us to have any of it. What annoys me is pension is not a benefit sny more than claiming off an insurance policy is a benefit.

Sorry, rant over ;)

thyr01d profile image
thyr01d

Low B12 is very serious, here's a link: b12deficiency.info/

humanbean profile image
humanbean

This isn't a subject I know anything about, but I thought these links looked promising :

msdmanuals.com/en-gb/profes...

msdmanuals.com/en-gb/home/b...

msdmanuals.com/en-gb/home/b...

Hope you find the answer you need.

MrsRaven profile image
MrsRaven

Hi humanbean,

I typed you a reply then tapped something I shouldnt have and lost the flaming lot! Grrrr!

After a lifetime of working with animals, mainly dogs but also horses, having done quite a bit of animal nursing and had vets who were happy to teach, I knew about the clotting mechanism, von Willibrands and inherited and immune mediated thrombocytopenia. I had no idea that humans suffered from von Willibrands.

Certainly in dogs there seems to be a link between low thyroid and low platelets. Typically a bitch which is anoestrus will clot normally and not exhibit symptoms of hypothyroid. When a bitch comes into oestrus her thyroid levels drop and she might even have symptoms of PMS. A bitch with constant low thyroid levels will exhibit many if not all the same symptoms as a human. A decent vet would not spay a bitch that was not anoestrus, because platelets drop and there is a very real risk of haemhorrage and even death, unless there was an emergency.

I am typing this as I am thinking back, so it might not make any sense.

All I can say about my own case is that as far as the GP and endo are concerned my bloods came back normal, with no indication that anything is wrong. My endo says that with TSH of 0.66, FT4 at 13.5 and FT3 at around 4 it isnt clear that I am truly hypothyroid.

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