Newbie

[EmptyZombie]

I've been fighting hashi motos for over a year but the doc said my tests show it started in 2011. I was a super high energy woman running 5 miles a day and always had 4-5 projects going. Now I'm a shell of a woman. I feel terrible for my 13 year old identical twin girls. I have no energy to do anything but the basic functions of life. It's so depressing. My head is all foggy all the time and my work suffers a great deal. I'm so mad.

[Saggyuk]

Hi there

Yes, many of us have been in the same position and left at the mercy of crappy GPs lol.

Do you have your blood test results? If so post them along with dose and meds you're on. If not, you can request print outs from your GP receptionist.

Getting your T3 levels checked as well is useful as you might not be converting T4 that well.

Also many of us are deficient in VIT B12, Vit D, Folate and Iron (ferritin) so get these tested along with full blood count. If you have these, post as well.

Do you have any digestive issues or absorption issues, getting to the bottom of these will help a lot. Many of us have had significant improvements on a GF diet and can help lower thyroid antibodies.

[EmptyZombie in reply to Saggyuk]

I have terrible digestive issues. I can eat a small piece of anything and bloat up - like I'm 8 months pregnant. Very uncomfortable plus I'm in constant state of constipation and have to take a laxative every other day. My used to be crazy thick and now it's terribly thin.

[Saggyuk in reply to EmptyZombie]

If you have stomach issues, then these need to be resolved. If doc has said you have IBS, there is no such thing in my opinion and this will help your health enormously.

The most likeliest culprit is coeliacs or NCGS and your symptoms are typical of this - bloating, thyroid probs, immune issues, constipation, exhaustion and can wreck havoc on your entire body and many of us hypos are gluten intolerant anyway. It caused all my problems and hashis. You can get tested for this but blood test is unreliable as stated on the NHS website but most docs are unaware of this and wont refer for endoscopy which also is not 100% reliable as damage can be patchy and wont rule out NCGS anyway. You can try a gluten free diet for three months but has to be 100% gluten free including cross contamination to know for sure. If this doesn't work, you can try a six week elimination diet to check for intolerance to other foods like dairy. If still no luck and food ruled out, then you need referral to gastroenterologist for further investigation.

[EmptyZombie in reply to Saggyuk]

I'm taking 25mcg levo and the upped it to 50mcg but I was shaking so bad they lowered it back down.

[Saggyuk in reply to EmptyZombie]

well, get your nutrition levels as suggested as taking thyroid meds could make the symptoms of these worse in my experience and with stomach issues, all the more reason! get Vit D, Folate, B12 and iron (ferrritin) along with full blood count as many hypos are deficient in these things and docs are crap at treating these or even being able to read the test results

You need to get your thyroid results and post too for better advice as there isn't much we can without them

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum and your story is familiar. You now have to take your own health into your own hands and become well.

You don't say whether or not you are on thyroid hormone replacements but you state you have Hashimoto's. The commonest form of hypothyroidism. Many doctors only look at the TSH and if it hasn't risen sufficiently will not provide levothyroxine. In the UK the guidelines state that we have not to be treated till TSH is 10 and in other countries it is around 3 that you will be prescribed.

You have to have a FullTthyroid Function Test. If GP wont do all of them you can get a private test. Your GP should check Vitamin b12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

Blood tests have to be at the very earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and if you are on thyroid hormone replacements allow a 24 hour gap between last dose and test and take afterwards.

If you are on not on any thyroid hormone replacements at all but have thyroid antibodies, despite TSH, you should be prescribed levothyroxine.

FTFT - TSH, T4, T3, Free T3, Free T4 and antibodies.

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

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

Always get a print-out of your results and the ranges must be stated as labs differ and ranges make it easier to coment. Post your results on a new question.

[pepsicanic]

Hashimoto's is a symptom. Dig deeper.

Find a new doctor ASAP.