What has happened to me?

[Davixen]

Hi.been diagnosed under active thyroid 9 months now.on 150mg per day.had depression,still have it a bit,nearly gone.no antidepressants,my choice.had to get vitamin b12 injections for 3 weeks.due blood test in 2 weeks after 3 months.my doctor said depression and vitamin b12 deficiency are not related to thyroid.don't believe this TBH.I also asked about t3 being prescribed and was told it's only for pregnant women.I started to feel great few months after starting eltroxin but now I feel like crap most of the time.can't remember last time I felt truly happy and content.my questions are.is depression and vitamin b12 deficiency linked to hypothyroidism,how can I relieve knee joint pain and stiffness in legs,how can I get relief from fluid retention,can I get mirina coil in because I suffer with periods now.I had abnormal smear and colposcopy Jan 2016 and slight changes ,due another smear in Feb2017.emotionally and mentally drained here.I need to get control of my life again.sorry for the essay here but haven't got any answers so far.X X

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Davixen

"I also asked about t3 being prescribed and was told it's only for pregnant women."

Well, that's a new one! More rubbish being spouted by stupid doctors who know very little about Hypothyroidism and how to treat it!

As for your question about depression and B12 deficiency being linked to Hypothyroidism, then yes - certainly depression as it can be one of the symptoms. Also, us Hypos are frequently deficient in nutrients and when tested very often our B12 is low, or under range, along with Vit D, Ferritin and Folate. Knee joint pain and stiffness in legs could be low Vit D level. It would be an idea to ask your GP to test all these, or do them privately. All these vitamins and minerals need to be at optimal levels (not just in range) for thyroid hormone to work properly. Come back with your results (plus reference ranges) for members to comment.

Do you have your latest thyroid test results? If so post them (with reference ranges) for comments. If FT3 has been done as well as FT4 then we can see if you are converting well enough or whether you might benefit from T3. If you don't have them, ask your surgery for a print out, you are legally entitled to have them under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Have you ever had antibodies tested to rule out (or in) autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's?

If you Google Mirena Coil and Hypothyroidism it might help you decide if you want to consider going down that route.

[Davixen in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for your reply.am due for bloods in 2 weeks so will request all as you said and when I get info back I will post it up.thanks again,much appreciated.

[Davixen in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi just to add to previous reply.I had antibodies test in beginning and they were 270ish.!! Last bloods the lab apologised saying they didn't do them even though it was requested.I will request full printout of my bloods,antibodies etc and will post results.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Davixen]

Ahhh, so you do have Hashimoto's! Once you've tested positive there's really no point in re-testing. You know you've got them, they will fluctuate, so sometimes they will test lower, sometimes higher.

So, in case you don't know, Hashimoto's is where the antibodies attack and eventually destroy the thyroid. Hashi's isn't treated, it's the resulting hypothyroidism that is treated.

You can help reduce the antibody attacks by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members enormously. Gluten contains gliadin which is a protein thought to trigger antibody attacks.

Gluten/Thyroid connection:

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

And some reading about Hashi's:

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

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

As well as going gluten free, other ways of reducing antibodies are

1) Supplementing with Selenium L-selenomethionine 200mcg daily - helps reduce antibodies, also helps with conversion of T4 to T3.

2) Keeping TSH very low or suppressed.

[Davixen in reply to SeasideSusie]

Really!!! I had googled a lot and asked doc had I hashimotos and was told no and practically given out to for googling it.had test done for coeliac disease and came back clear because my legs etc would swell and i could put on half a stone in 2 days and lose it just as quick.thanks so much for replying to me.have some answers now so tine to get my life back.x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Davixen]

I'm glad that something has fallen into place for you

You don't need to have a positive coeliac test, it's the fact that the gluten (or more specifically the gliadin) can trigger the antibody attacks that's key.

Some people find that being gluten free helps quite quickly, others find it takes months, but definitely worth persevering. Also, it's well worth using Selenium. Some people need to be dairy free also, but one step at a time!

[Davixen in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ye have read gluten free can help so will try that route.not sure if I can give up the dairy.like my cadburys chocolate now and then lol.sound thanks for the help.

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Davixen.

Untreated and under treated hypothyroid patients may experience depression and optimising thyroid levels may improve depression. If you post your recent thyroid results and ref ranges (the figures in brackets after results) members will advise whether you are optimally medicated.

There isn't a connection as such between B12 deficiency and hypothyroidism but hypothyroid patients commonly have low stomach acid which can result in low/deficient B12, folate, ferritin and vitamin D. Low ferritin and low vitamin D commonly cause joint and bone pain. Ask your GP to test and post the results and ranges in a new question.

Having one autoimmune condition, say Hashimoto's which causes 90% of hypothyroidism, increases the likelihood of having or developing other autoimmune conditions such as pernicious anaemia which is one cause of B12 deficiency. Other causes are vegetarian diet or malabsorption of nutrients.

Liothyronine (T3) is usually prescribed to thyroid cancer patients awaiting radioactive iodine ablatement but is also prescribed to hypothyroid patients who have low FT3, but usually only after recommendation by a NHS endocrinologist. Pregnant women are usually taken OFF T3 for the duration of their pregnancy.

[Davixen in reply to Clutter]

Thanks for reply.I had blood test done for pernicious anemia cos my b12 levels were very low.results I don't have it apparently.get bloods done in 2 weeks time so will test b12 levels again and lab never did my antibodies last time so will make sure they will this time.thanks again.

[Clutter in reply to Davixen]

Davixen,

I believe intrinsic factor antibodies have a false negative result in around 50% of cases. You will get better advice about PA, B12 and folate deficiency from healthunlocked.com/pasoc

[Davixen in reply to Clutter]

Will check it out.many thanks.

[shaws Administrator]

Some hints to get the best out of your blood tests:-

1. Always get the very earliest appointment and fasting (you can drink water).

2. Allow 24 hours between your last dose of levothyroxine and the test and take afterwards.

3. Levothyroxine should be taken first thing on an empty stomach with one glass of water and wait for about an our bfore eating. Some prefer bedtime dosing, so you have to have an empty stomach so allow 2 to 3 hours after eating as food interferes with the uptake of hormones.

4. Ask doctor to test TSH, T3, T4, Free T4, Free T3, and antibodies. Also Vitamin B11, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate and get a print-out of your results with the ranges every time you get a test, for your own records, and so you can post if you have a query. If GP wont do all of these (some labs don't if TSH is in range) you can have them through a Private blood test and we have recommended labs.

Always get a print-out of your results, with the ranges, for your own records and so you can post if you have a query,

[Davixen in reply to shaws]

Thanks for the info.will write it down,head like a sieve lol and bring it to docs when getting g bloods done.thanks again.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Davixen]

GPs are instructed that TSH and T4 only are sufficient tests so I hope GPe is willing.

[Davixen in reply to shaws]

See how I get on.fingers crossed.😕

[shaws Administrator in reply to Davixen]