What's wrong with me?

[Fi1964]

Hi everyone, I have read a few posts but wonder if I am even on the right board.

Since mid December last year I have rarely felt well. I had a bad throat infection mid December which knocked me for six. I barely moved off my sofa for a couple of weeks feeling so ill I did start to worry it was something serious. Exhaustion, nausea, no appetite and a feeling of being ill rather like flu, were the main symptoms, also feeling cold.

My GP gave me strong antibiotics for the throat which cleared up but I still felt very unwell. Eventually started to feel better and then got another throat infection after Christmas which again caused the same symptoms lasting a couple of weeks. Went back to work for a couple of weeks and then got another infection which started it all off again. I'm due back at work Monday and am worried that another infection of any kind will start it all off again.....I am now in trouble at work for being off so much.

My GP sent me for TSH blood test which came back as 2.5 which she said is normal so there is nothing wrong with me! I have never felt so ill! She wasn't interested. My symptoms to me seem like hypothyroidism so I told my GP that I had contacted Thyroid Uk and they said my symptoms did sound like thyroid problems and that I needed further tests. To get rid of me she agreed to send me to an endocrinologist. I am now waiting the 12 weeks for my initial appointment hoping I can stay well in the meantime.

I have scoured the Internet and keep coming back to hypothyroidism but don't see any link to the infections starting off episodes. Any ideas welcome? Thank you.

[Treepie]

I am certain that a gum infection was the cause of my hypothyroidism. But my TSH was 101. I think you should ask for tests for D3,B12, ferritin and folate.

[shaws]

I had many different symptoms which were all treated as 'other'. No-one did a blood test for thyroid gland dysfunction.

A TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) test alone is not sufficient to diagnose although doctors think otherwise.

What you have to do is ask your doctor for a Full Thyroid Function Test (she may refuse). If you can afford it you can have one from a recommended lab and you get a small discount if you mention the Code No. Thyroiduk also get a small sum.

Your need A TSH, T4, T3, Free T4 and Free T3. You also need a Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. I think antibodies should be checked too as Hashimoto's is the commonest form of hypothyroidism.

The test should be the earliest possible and fast (you can drink water). Take medications after test.

Always get a print-out of your blood tests for your own records and so you can post if you have a query.

We often have posts like yours. Symptoms but TSH doesn't fit 'the bill'. It sometimes never reaches the point for diagnosing. Other countries will if it is around 5 but the BTA says it should be at 10 but people will be quite unwell by then.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Thousands of people are undiagnosed as doctors also do not take into consideration clinical symptoms. Such as a Higher Cholesterol level which will reduce when given thyroid hormones.

If you have an Autimmune Thyroid Disease (Hashimotos) you should be given thyroid hormones.

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

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

[Fi1964 in reply to shaws]

Thank you both for your replies. I am hoping the endocrinologist will do the full panel of thyroid tests. It was when I asked for those that my GP almost seemed to think it was too much for her and decided to refer me. Just hope I get a good endocrinologist.

[shaws in reply to Fi1964]

If you find out his name or hospital you can put up a new post asking if anyone can send you some information by Private Message to you about the hospital or Endo.

[Fi1964 in reply to shaws]

Not sure I will get to know his name until nearer the appointment, which will be in around 12 weeks. When I do I will post it on here. Thanks.

[MariLiz]

Definitely ask for your B12 to be tested too. When mine was very low, I got one infection after another, and felt as though I had permanent flu with all the aches and pains. I told my doctor that if I'd been a car, my battery was almost drained.

[Ruthi]

The fact that your symptoms started so suddenly rather suggests that your thryoid is not the main culprit here. It sounds very much like Post Viral syndrome, also known as ME (although you need to be ill for six months for that to be diagnosed officially). I used to know all the latest research because my husband had it, but I may be out of date now. Basically the usual cause was/is considered to be a secondary viral infection which has no obvious symptoms, but just makes you feel generally grotty. It has a habit of coming and going, and tends to be worsened by exertion.

The good news is that almost everyone recovers within six months. You just have to be patient, and kind to yourself. Ignore your employer, you are ill, and presumably being signed off by the doctor.

Now, your thyroid. The odd thing is that a high proportion of the very small number of people who do not get better within six months do indeed have thyroid problems. The late great Dr Skinner started off as a virologist interested in ME, and he realised that many of his patients also had thyroid problems and responded well to thyroid treatment. Who knows if this is chicken or egg? Maybe they were already vulnerable, or in the early stages of thyroid disease, or maybe the virus triggered a decline.

So I would say yes, you do need to get your thyroid sorted out. Its luck of the draw whether the endo you see is sympathetic or if they are one of the school that stick rigidly to the numbers. If no treatment is forthcoming then there is always the option of self-medication, but even though I do it myself its not something to jump into lightly. So the first steps would be to a) go easy on yourself. No amount of driving yourself hard will make you better, and could make you worse b)get your nutritional tests done and deal with whatever it shows up and c) almost everyone is magnesium deficient so a good magnesium supplement would do no harm and may help.

Once you have seen the endo you'll be able to decide where to go next. In the mean time its worth always asking for all your test results from the doctor and posting them here for the knowledgeable to comment.

[Fi1964 in reply to Ruthi]

Thank you so much for your detailed reply. I will post again when I know more but at the moment have a long wait before any more tests are done.

[Ruthi]

Go in and ask the receptionist for the test results (that is if you can't see them on your patient access system). They probably did more than just TSH. Also, if you have had tests in the last few years for anything at all, its always good to have a historical picture.

When I was not being diagnosed I bugged the GP so much she looked back over my record and told me triumphantly that it had been normal for the last ten years. But, as I pointed out when I read them, TSH had been steadily rising test on test. So there was only one direction we were heading.

[Fi1964 in reply to Ruthi]

Ok will do. Thanks again.