Does this sound like Hashimotos? Advice needed on what to do next

[gemsee]

A year ago I realised I was suffering from a lot of the symptoms of an under-active thyroid. I have pernicious anaemia and read about the link with Hashimotos so I went to the doctor, I had a blood test but the results were normal and I was offered anti-depressants which I declined. I was still convinced I had Hashimotos because I seemed to have all the symptoms. I posted by blood results here and was told to ask for an anti-body test but someone told me that my test results were very average and it was unlikely that I have Hashimotos.

I realised there were a lot of different things with the same symptoms so I told myself I don't have a problem with my thyroid and researched other things whenever I got the chance. Nothing else seemed to fit whereas Hashimotos seems to fit perfectly.

I had a battle getting my pernicious anaemia diagnosis because my tests were also "normal", it took a lot of visits to a lot of different doctors and after each one I felt like a complete hypochondriac just wasting the doctor's precious time. I'm worried that they'll think I'm always complaining about something. I'm not very persuasive and not very good at challenging things. I read that the test results can be normal at the start of Hashimotos and that eventually the antibodies will obliterate the thyroid so I thought I'd just have to wait until things got much worse before I could be diagnosed !(if that is the problem).

I'm still suffering with the symptoms; weight gain, constipation, fatigue, burning feet, constantly feeling cold, etc. But now the last 10 days I've had a sore throat where when I swallow it feels like there is something in the way on the left side. If I turn my head to the right it's almost impossible to swallow. I feel like my neck is really swollen but when I look in the mirror I'm not sure if it is. I suffered with chronic sore throats as a child which resulted in having my tonsils removed at 18 but I've never had a sore throat like this. Does this sound like Hashimotos? If so does anyone have any advice about what I can do next? I really hate going to the doctor. Does anyone know how much a private test would be? Any advice would be very much appreciated, I feel desperate now!

I tried adding a photo of my results from last year but for some reason it wouldn't work.

Serum TSH level 1.20 mu/L

Serum free T4 level 19.4 pmol/L

They also tested serum electrolytes which were normal and a full blood count which was normal.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

You can get a private blood test done by Blue Horizon. They do fingerprick tests so that you don't need a blood draw (but you can if you want).

bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk

Check out the different tests. £69 will get you Thyroid Plus 6 which tests TSH, Total T4, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG antibodies. For £79 you can have the Thyroid Plus 10, you get everything the Plus 6 gives you plus ferritin, folate, B12 and CRP. For £99 you can have the Thyroid Plus 11, you get everything the Plus 10 offers plus Vit D.

The Plus 10 seems to be the most popular here but if you also want to check Vit D then the Plus 11 is better value than having the Plus 10 with BH and then having Vit D checked with City Assays which is £28.

[gemsee in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for your reply, I was hoping they would be a little cheaper than that. Maybe it is worth pestering the doctor for more tests.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to SeasideSusie]

I think, but am not 100% sure, if you go through ThyroidUK (details on their main website under Private Testing) there may be a £10 discount using a code, but not sure if it can be used with the 'sale prices' currently showing on BH's site.

[Jazzw]

Sorry you're still feeling rubbish x

Your thyroid results are still looking pretty normal but they do occasionally lie - would be worth testing for thyroid antibodies.

But I'm wondering about your B12 status being the culprit. How much does your doctor allow you to have? Are you one of the poor souls who's only allowed to have a jab every 3 months? Because if so, that's not enough for most folk with PA. Your blood levels will look good but there's no test that really shows what's going on at a cellular level. There are some who need B12 jabs on a weekly, sometimes even daily basis to feel well.

[gemsee in reply to Jazzw]

Thank you for your reply, I started with the b12 injection every 12 weeks but with some trial and error we've worked out I need it every 8 weeks. I recognise the symptoms when my b12 levels get low but I think this is something else.

[K1k1_belle]

Hi gemsee , you really need to get your antibodies tested again to know for sure but your symptoms definitely sound like Hashimotos (except I've never heard of the burning feet).

An important factor for us to heal and get better is our positive attitude and unfortunately in this field we have to be advocates for ourselves so you HAVE to go to your doctor with a different mind frame. I also found that I get sore throats when I hold things in (our throat is our 5th chakra) so nowadays I speak my mind. This is your health you're talking about and nobody knows better than you that something is off!

Once you get a diagnosis and start feeling better you won't care what your doctor thought, alternatively you should get a new doctor!

Once you get your bloods and if Hashimotos is diagnosed look for a Functional Practitioner from that moment on 👍🏼

[greygoose in reply to K1k1_belle]

Burning feet is usually due to low B12.

[greygoose]

So what were your antibody results? I can't find them anywhere. Did you have both TPO and Tg antibodies done?

Antibodies fluctuate, so you cannot rule it out on one negative test. Also, some people do manage to have Hashi's without elevated antibodies. It can be picked up on an ultra-sound.

[gemsee in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for your reply, I wasn't tested for anti-body. I know I should ask the doctor about that.

My burning feet never seemed to be a problem whilst my b12 levels were low. It's been something that drivese wild almost every night and I found it as a symptom on thyroid uk thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Maybe I am barking up the wrong tree, I don't know. I just know it's not depression.

[greygoose in reply to gemsee]

I'm sure it's not depression - or if you have some depression, it's caused by not feeling well!

Have you had your vit d tested (along with other nutrients)? I was just wondering if you were supplementing vit d, and your magnesium/vit d balance was upset. Low magnesium can also cause burning feet, I believe. Certainly mine have been better since I've been supplementing magnesium, and I feel if it I run out!. Just a thought.