Hi everyone I'm new here so bear with me
I'm 24 F and have been suffering on and off for years with symptoms and have been tested several times for thyroid (runs in fam) and anemia as I have a very pale complexion.
Since my grandad passed coming up to a year ago now my body has just been all over the place and just seems like it can't get back on track. I had blood tests last year (May) came back low b12 (118) and low vit D but everything else came back fine TSH- 2.75 AND T4-15.4. So had b12 injections (which made me feel quite ill, gave me upset stomach too) was told then it was just a temp, natural drop and I wouldn't need more after initial 6. Still felt not right so back and forth I went to just keep being told its my anxiety and IBS. I do have anxiety but after sessions for CBT i felt I was getting a grip on it but now it feels totally out of my control.
Anyway had more bloods taken feb (no thyroid test) that said my levels were fine except I had a marker by mean corpusc haemoglobin conc which was 313 whatever that means. Told IBS again
Went for private tests that came back wednesday said T4,T3 and TSH all fine,
T3 was 4.2 (3.1-6.8)
T4 was 14.29 (12-22)
TSH was 3.74 (0.027-4.200)
Still low D at 37 and low folate at 3.0 also my B12 has gone from 410 to 334 since end of feb to march 4th. Also had Thyroid Peroxidase anitbody test which came back at 81.1 an inconclusive reading as negative is below 60 and positive is over 100
I also dont have a physical lump in my throat but a constant sensation of one is driving me mad!
Any input would be appreciated (sorry its so long)
Going by your results from last year it sounds like you could have early (subclinical) Hashimoto's. It would be good if you could edit your post (the little arrow under the text) and add your private results in a column w the lab ranges (the numbers in brackets).
Anxiety can be a hypo symptom.
Thank you, I have updated the results I didn't put them in as the test said they were ok
They are within range but not fine. Your tsh is rising and now just in range, t4 falling and if you have antibodies you are likely to need meds before long. Are you supplementing b12, d, iron and folate? If they are all low you need to get that in hand and you may feel a bit better.
I'm not supplementing b12 as the tablets aren't worth it they having noting in them and doctor said I don't need them. I have vit D now and then as i take probiotics with it in and ive only just found out wednesday about the Folate so i need to go back to see doctor to show him the results of the private test.
I don't think I understand. What do you mean they have nothing in them? Idk what your doc is talking about, if your b12 is low enough to require *injections* you will need to keep taking it and ideally they will want to know what is causing it.
Have they done tests for pernicious anaemia? I would go to the PA group here and do a post there. At your age being low in b12 can cause serious damage over time.
You will need to take an appropriate dose of d to raise your low levels (800iu a day won't cut it). Info here: imperialendo.com/for-doctor...
I was told the tablet form of b12 you buy over the counter is pointless if you are b12 deficient they are just a waste of money as if you cant absorb it then your body cant take tablet form as the injection is straight into your system. They just said it was a natural decrease probably from the stress of everything and the initial 6 would sort it out and get it back on its natural path. Ive had lots of bloods taken for anemia and all been ok is there a specific test for pernicious anemia?
The doctor gave me the dose of vit D to get and i got them from the chemist but the also made me feel ill making me go loo and headaches and more pain. I'm going to take them from now on though as I know the probiotics aren't affecting it
I have pernicious anaemia and also supplement with B12 tablets but they have to be sublingual methylcobalamin ones because, as you state above, my stomach will not absorb B12 but sublingually it is absorbed through tongue
Ah ok thank you I'll have to see what doc says. I'm just tired of going to be kept being told it's just IBS I understand I probably do have ibs but something else feels up
You can buy B12 but make sure it's methylcobalami sublingual. Amazon have a selection and doctors don't usually prescribe tablets (in UK) and give B12 injections, quarterly, if someone has P.A.
What dose of vitamin D tablets did your doctor give you? Get the jar/bottle/packet out and look on the label it should state amongst the other measures a number that ends in "IU" or "international units". Please post that number.
The reason to do this is unfortunately in some NHS areas they under prescribe the amount of vitamin D3 you need. This is to do with cost and/or the fear that if you take a decent dose you will end up ill.
Clinical research has proven for people who aren't on other specific medication but have low vitamin D levels that a dose equivalent to 10,000IU daily won't harm you. Therefore if you are on any other medication please state it.
I have boots vit d IU 1000 (25ug) but I also take probiotics that have D3 in but probably minute amounts. The doctor said to just go to chemist and get them I was never prescribed anything. I only take the pill, probiotics and anti acids which was ranatidine now been put on lansoprazole instead
When hypothyroid (hypo means slow) everything slows down i.e. pulse, temp, digestion etc.
Lansoprazole reduces high stomach acid but we have the opposite usually. We have low acid so have to add acid so that our food gets digested properly rather than being undigested.
I don't think you can stop Lansoprazole instantly so enquire at the pharmacist. We, on the forum, use apple cider vinegar mixed with water or juice when having a meal. Or we take digestive enzymes with meals.
draxe.com/low-stomach-acid/
chriskresser.com/the-thyroi...
We have to educate ourselves, unfortunately, if we've to get well.
I feel like I have a bit of both like I'm back and forth all the time but I never put weight on but most the time I'm cold but as soon as I'm hot im hot like sweating then it passes comes and goes. I also have Raynaud's which has been worse lately
I haven't put weight on at all either. Sometimes if we have one autoimmune condition we can get more, unfortunately.
verywell.com/cold-hands-col...
Hopefully when you get to an optimum dose of thyroid hormones your symptoms will ease off.
(I am not medically qualified)
Thank you. I need to go back to see the doctor with latest results and I'm going to keep going until I feel better
That's good and I'm sure you will feel much better when you reach an optimum dose.
I forgot to say take vitamin D3 supplementswith with a meal with fat in preferably lunch as it can keep you awake if taken later. Magnesium is best taken at night as it has a calming effect but as long as you take some regularly don't worry about the time of day you can take it.
I should add doctors disagree about the amount of vitamin D you should take but all the medical staff I know, have spoken to have and the two that have treated me have no issues with those who have deficient levels taking large doses for a short period of 3-6 months AS LONG AS they are tested.
1,000IU is a maintenance dose for those with vitamin D levels around 100nmol/L who have been deficient/ insufficient before.
At your level and because you take other medication I would be on 5,000IU per day for 12 weeks then go down to 5,000IU every other day. I would then get tested after the 12 weeks to see where my level was. You will need to pay for a private test and one of cheapest is City Assays, who are an NHS Trust in the West Midlands. You want a level between 75-100nmol/L. Making sure your level doesn't go over 150nmol/L.
When taking vitamin D3 you should take vitamin k2-MK7 and magnesium. Either take magnesium citrate or other bioavailable firms, or use magnesium oil rubbed into the skin or take baths with epsom salts in. The reason for this is to keep your calcium levels stable and to increase absorption into the bones. You DO NOT need extra calcium as taking calcium supplements with vitamin D3 can lead to side effects such as kidney stones.
You won't easily find decent vitamin D3, magnesium and vitamin K2-MK7 on the high street so look on Amazon. In addition health food shops like Holland and Barett, and even pharmacies give the wrong advice. For example many magnesium supplements come with calcium and some pharmacists think that is OK but research in the last 10 years makes it clear you definitely should not supplement with calcium if your vitamin D level is low apart from some extreme cases. Calcium levels are strictly controlled by the body as it is used by every muscle and organ so if you have a low calcium level you need further medical investigation.
Waw thank you. Can I take that even if my magnesium levels were ok?
Magnesium levels are also tightly controlled by the body so a test will rarely show you have an insufficient level even if you need more due to supplementing vitamin D levels. (You are likely to find other enzymes/markers go low instead.)
Also in the case of magnesium if you take too much you will end up with the runs. So yes it's fine to take a supplement.
Thank you for your advise