Help!

[virgoansun]

Went blind in one eye. Told had high cholesterol. I asked GP to thyroid test as my mother is hypo. My TOSH came back in normal range and GP dismissed symptoms as 'my age'. Given statins. Was too angry to get a good point across. Told that as TSH normal that no further tests necessary. Is it worth getting proper tests done?

[shaws Administrator]

First of all, before beginning statins (I am not medically qualified and have hypothyroidism) because a higher cholesterol is one of the clinical symptoms of hypthyroidism. So, it is best to make sure positively that you do not have hypothyroidism before taking them.

Many doctors make the mistake of saying we are 'normal' just on one blood test result, i.e. the TSH.

It would be worthwhile, I believe, to have a full thyroid function test and we have recommended labs which will do all of the necessary ones.

Those members who have done so, will recommend which ones is best. These blood tests have to be at the very earliest possible, fasting (you can drnk water) as the TSH is highest then and it drops throughout the day. If you were on thyroid hormone replacement you'd allow 24 hours between your last dose and the test and take afterwards.

So as most doctors diagnose upon the TSH alone, getting it done later in the day may mean the difference between being diagnosed or not.

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

What is required is a TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.

If your GP did these (not usual to do so) B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate, ask if these can be tested.

Always get a print-out of your results with the ranges and post on a new question for comments.

[virgoansun in reply to shaws]

Thank you. My mum has offered to pay for medichecks tests as she got exactly same response years ago. Sad that GPS not caught up with the research!

[shaws Administrator]

Has thes doctor referred you to someone regarding going blind in one. When did you lose site in this eye.

[virgoansun in reply to shaws]

Just a few weeks ago. Clot in arteries behind the eye. I have many hypo symptoms so was a little taken aback by HP attitude.

[virgoansun in reply to shaws]

Nothing being done about my eye. Apparently nothing to be done. Tch.

[shaws Administrator in reply to virgoansun]

I am not saying something can be done but you must ask to be referred to an Opthalamologist. If GP knows nothing about hypothyroid what makes him an expert on eyes.

Please ask, you also have to know the reson why a you've had a blood clot.

[virgoansun in reply to shaws]

I saw opthalmology. They did the bloods and told me I had high cholesterol. They pushed for the GP to do thyroid test. Unfortunately the GP was very defensive and probably knows very little about thyroid. I was brushed off like a flea! To prescribe statins without proper thyroid tests is irresponsible and lazy!

[shaws Administrator in reply to virgoansun]

Do any of your hospitals have a Moorfields' Eye Hospital Dept. Mine has a walk-in centre of Moorfields. I would go along as I feel it's a bit irresponsible to suggest it is high cholesterol and although thyroid hormones will bring it down, it might need a more expert person to deal with you and you certainly don't want your other eye to be affected in some way.

Your GP has done what would have been expected, prescribe statins which can also have side effects..

drmalcolmkendrick.org/books...

[cc120 in reply to virgoansun]

I've heard of (and experienced) useless GP's, but yours surely takes the biscuit. Aren't GP's supposed to defer to specialists?!?!?!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Say "Thanks Mum" and go get a full Thyroid & vitamins check done.

[humanbean]

Don't take statins. There is no evidence that they increase the life span or reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in women. They also increase the risk of dementia, cataracts, type 2 diabetes, muscle pain, memory problems and heart failure.

If you want a doctor's viewpoint you could look through Dr Kendrick's blog. Take a good look at the graphs on this page (and read the text). (And check out his other blogs posts.)

drmalcolmkendrick.org/2012/...

Another useful website - follow the links to info on statin drugs :

spacedoc.com/

I'm shocked that you could go blind in one eye and the only response is to put you on drugs that will wreck your health in other ways. I also find it hard to believe that a clot behind the eye can't be operated on. If they can remove clots from the brain I would have thought getting one out from behind the eye would be somewhat easier - but then I ain't no doctor.

To get a full set of thyroid and nutrient tests you can use these links :

bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/T...

bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/W...

medichecks.com/thyroid-func...

medichecks.com/how-it-works

medichecks.com/dl/Medicheck...

Look out for special offers on the home pages of each site, and also check out this page and the links from it :

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

[Hidden]

Did you go to a good eye hospital? If you have one close by you can go to their A & E and wait for an expert opinion.

[virgoansun in reply to Hidden]

Went specsavers for eye exam and they sent me to opthalmology. But my concern is high cholesterol as mum had that too and got diagnosed hypo.

[Marz in reply to virgoansun]

Please do not be worried about raised cholesterol virgoansun . As others have explained it is just a symptom. Please take time to read the links people have posted for you - and you will never be concerned again. I expect you are on a phone which seems to stop some people clicking onto helpful links.

There is a Search Box for this Forum - type in Cholesterol and be amazed

I had a bleed in the eye very close to the Optic Nerve - and I have since read this can be linked to Low B12 ....

healthunlocked.com/search/c...

[aps_girl]

Regarding the clot in your eye, I experienced the same at the age of 23 completely out of the blue. I went to my opticians at Vision Express who took a retinal photo and diagnosed it as a Central Retinal Vein Occlusion, and sent me straight to the NHS Eye Hospital A&E who referred me to an opthalmic consultant who successfully treated it with an Ozurdex steroid injection.

But it took months for anyone to correctly diagnose the underlying reason as to why I had the clot in my eye in the first place. It wasn't until I had 5 mini strokes the following summer that I was investigated for antiphospholipid syndrome (a condition which causes blood clots), and I paid to visit Professor Hughes privately at London Bridge Hospital who started me on blood thinning medication immediately. I actually tested negative for antiphospholipid syndrome, but Professor Hughes explained the blood test for antiphospholipid syndrome is not always reliable, and judging on my symptoms and family history of autoimmune disease, it was clear I had the blood clotting disorder and so he was willing to treat it. Starting the blood thinning medication was a matter of urgency to prevent and further clots and even a danger of full blown stroke.

It is NOT normal to have a blood clot in your eye, and this cannot be left without further investigation. If you have a family history of autoimmune disease (including thyroid disease) PLEASE pester your GP until they agree to send you to a rheumatologist who can properly investigate the possibility of clotting conditions like antiphospholipid syndrome.

Regarding your vision, please do visit an optician for another opinion. It may be possible to treat it, but the longer it is left the harder it will be for them to successfully save your vision.

Here's a couple of links which might be useful reading.

Good luck!

aps-support.org.uk

allaboutvision.com/conditio...

[virgoansun in reply to aps_girl]

Mine is arterial so not much hope of recovery. I am taking aspirin until I can get proper help. Will consider this blot clotting disease. Thank you.