Suffering - Thyroid

[Rachel715]

Hi there, I don't know if I will be notice on this but if anyone would take the chance to read what I have to say about my thyroid issue I would be so grateful.

I will try and make this short.

Back in 2011 my thyroid was tested and I was told I was borderline hypothyroid but I prescribed anti depressants instead of addressing a possible thyroid issue.

This doctor had a discussion with other doctors but they decided not to treat my thyroid and to give me anti depressants instead.

Different practice 2013-2015

Borderline hypothyroid but prescribed iron tablets, vitamin B12 to see how they go and then treat for thyroid after.

*thyroid antibodies detected

I moved to a different city so my doctors changed so in July 2015 my

*thyroid antibodies detected HIGH*

September 2015- started experiencing hyperthyroid symptoms

*loosing weight but eating more

*severe tiredness

*very thin hair

*extreme anxiety, palpitations

*unclear thoughts

*dry skin

Feb/ March 2016

Hypothyroid symptoms began

*weight gain

*tiredness

*slow thinking etc

*thinning of hair

*bad memory

*dry skin

In June time my liver ALT and AST where raised so much I was tested for various form of hepatitis and other diseases. All came back negative and I have been reffered to a liver specialist . I mentioned the possibility of it being autoimmune hepatitis which can happen when hashimotos is not diagnosed but he shot me down saying my TSH was too normal but to get it tested again in a months time.

Currently my neck is in a lot of pain and it gets very swollen every day especially after I eat. I really don't know what to do because the doctors I am with now think I am deluded and are trying to blame all of my symptoms on my mood. I know my body and I know something isn't right.

If anyone can help me or even just to talk about this I would really love that.

I have included a picture of my

TSH results over the past year.

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Rachel715.

Unfortunately there is much medical ignorance about euthyroid Hashimoto's and many doctors wrongly believe it doesn't impact patients unless they are hypothyroid. My otherwise excellent GP and thyroid surgeon advised me that my symptoms were non-thyroidal because I was euthyroid. I'm convinced they were wrong because symptoms improved almost immediately after I had a thyroidectomy.

medscape.com/viewarticle/76...

You may improve symptoms and antibodies and slow progression to hypothyroidism by adopting 100% gluten-free diet.

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

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

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

[Rachel715 in reply to Clutter]

Hi Clutter! Thank you so much for your response. I have done a lot of research into the thyroid and I have contemplated having a gluten free diet but I want to know what is wrong with my body before changing how I live! It just sucks at the minute

[Clutter in reply to Rachel715]

Rachel715,

Your body is is attacking its own thyroid. Autoimmune disease is thought to start in the gut and gluten may be the villain which is why gluten-free diet may be helpful.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You don't say if you are still on antidepressant.......

as I understand it, they can often as a side affect lower TSH. (Which is all medics look at 😟)

Others with more knowledge may chip in more info

You mention low B12 and ferritin. Do you have recent results for these? Are you still supplementing, if so what & how much

Be a good idea to check folate and vitamin d levels too. These are often also low.

All four are commonly affected by (or affect) Hashimoto's - which comes first chicken or egg??

If you are in uk you can get private blood test via Thyroid Uk to check everything thyroid related

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

Blue Horizon - Thyroid plus eleven tests all these.

This is an easy to do fingerprick test you do at home, post back and they email results to you couple of days later.

Usual advice on ALL thyroid tests, (home one or on NHS) is to do early in morning, ideally before 9am. No food or drink beforehand (other than water)

(If you are taking Levo, then don't take it in 24 hours before , take straight after).

This way your tests are always consistent, and it will show highest TSH, and as this is mainly all the medics decide dose on, best idea is to keep result as high as possible

As you have Hashimoto's then you may find adopting 100% gluten free diet can help reduce symptoms, and lower antibodies too.

Get coeliac test first, before going gluten free. Though coeliac test is very unreliable, misses many. Also even if genuinely not coeliac, with Hashimoto's we are very often affected by gluten, it's recommended everyone try it

Selenium supplements can help too

Lots on Google about gluten connection eg

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

[Rachel715 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi Slow Dragon! Thanks for your reply I appreciate it.

I do not take any medication currently, including antidepressants. I took those for around 6 months back in 2011 and that was all.

I don't have recent results for B12 or Ferritin and I'm not entirely sure why I haven't had blood tests for those considering I was on iron tablets and vitamin B12 tablets for over a year.

The practice I am with currently have yet to diagnose me with any thyroid issue as they are blaming all of my symptoms on my mood. It is a constant battle of explaining to them that it is not all down to my mood. My TSH is still within the normal range but there are clear fluctuations and I have very high thyroid antibodies.

I am considering getting one of those blood test kits but how much are they and are they legit??

[Rachel715]

Hi Eljii,

Yes you would think they would treat subclinical hypothyroidism to avoid the risk of my thyroid being completely destroyed but unfortunately in the UK it is a different story and they really don't care unless you are out of the so called "normal range"