Newly diagnosed hypothyroidism. After some reassurance.

[Sjg45]

Hello all.

Bit of background.

33 year old female who had prior to 2016 been physically well with no relevant medical history.

Feeling fatigued since Feb 2016, diagnosed with b12 defiency. Started 3 monthly injections. Folate defiency, stated on folic acid. Pre-diabetic and stage 2 renal disease, both remain untreated.

Symptoms since that time. Fatigue, pin and needles, tremor in left hand, itching of skin, episodes of lack of concentration. Body feels like weight attached to limbs. Just generally exhausting to perform daily tasks.

However saying that, I had managed to maintain my career as a midwife. Routinely working 13 hour days.

Symptoms began worsening in December 2016. Fatigue levels increasing, gp performed TFT and stayed borderline hypothyroid and just to observe (sorry don't know value). Had repeat sample in January and was commenced on levothyroxine 50 mcg, as gp state levels had significantly dropped.

I continued to work my long hours, often spending the next day sleeping all day and totally exhausted.

End of Feb I came down with bacterial tonsillitis and treated with 7 days of antibiotics.

Since then, I can not pick my energy levels back up! I'm signed off work as any daily activity at the moment is nearly impossible due to no energy.

Had repeat TFT and gp again states levels have fallen again dislike 50 mcg, so dose now increased to 100 mcg (for one week now)

My questions if any one can help.

1) is it normal for a virus to deplet your energy levels so significantly in early diagnosis?

2) in people experience, how long has it taken people to return to work?

3) should I be asking gp to identify route cause of thyroid disorder and other recent diagnosis? Could they all be connected?

4) how long does levothyroxine take yo have effect once correct dose is established?

[puncturedbicycle]

1) Not normal but certainly it happens.

2) Different for each individual, depends on finding the right dose of the right meds.

3) Antibodies will tell if you have autoimmune disease. Identifying the cause might help esp if you have other autoimmune issues. The most important thing to take away is you need to get copies of your test results.

4) Different for each individual. Levo doesn't suit everyone but if you're on the right dose for you you should begin to see some improvements within a few weeks.

[Jazzw]

Did you have loading doses of B12 before starting 3 monthly injections? You should have done, if you didn't. And many of our friends on the pernicious anaemia forum here find that they need injections much more often than 3 monthly. I'll find the link so you can pop over to their forum and find out more.

It might be continuing B12 deficiency causing the problems - once treated, serum B12 doesn't really tell the real story. You may not feel better until your B12 levels are optimal.

Next, do you know what your thyroid blood tests results were? If you don't, get hold of them and see what they say. Most of us hypothyroid folk need our FT3 and FT4 results to be in the top quartile of their respective ranges to feel well.

[Jazzw in reply to Jazzw]

healthunlocked.com/pasoc

And have a look here: pernicious-anaemia-society....

[Sjg45]

Thank you both for your replies.

After reading through info on thyroid uk, and one of your suggestions, I will ask for antibody test. Thank you!

And jazz w, yes I received 6 injections over first 2 weeks followed on by 3 monthly injections. I did wonder if it was connected to my b12, prob is as we all know. Gp has limited knowledge on this issue. However I have been referred to neurologist (10 month waiting list) so may have more answers.

Unsure as to cause of b12 deficiency either, gp just seems to treat issues rather than look for cause. But at least referral in pipe line.

I will attend my surgery tomorrow and get print out of results, as I to am interested at what values.

[Marz]

When B12 levels are below 500 then it can become a neurological condition. Scroll down in the link below to see all the signs and symptoms ...

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Just an observation - throat infection could have been caused by an inflamed thyroid should you have auto-immune thyroiditis - Hashimotos. I have read that one of the reasons tonsillectomies are no longer routinely done was due to an important blood vessel being connected to the thyroid They are so close together.

VitD is often low with low thyroid and B12 ...

It is possible you have been Hypo for longer than you are aware and this could also be the cause of the pre diabetic state. Both endocrine. I posted yesterday about the Thyroid and diabetes.

Do not let your GP re-test your B12 - declare you normal and then stop the injections. It is criminal and happens far too often.

Hope you soon find wellness.