At the end of my tether

[Fifscott]

Hi everyone I am new to this forum and could do with advice as I'm at my wits end I have been on Levithyroxine (various doses) for abut 12 years

I suffer from depression very bad joint pain. I've no balance no energy and feel generally awful all the time

I put it all down to my depression but symptoms such as increasing brain fog very brutal nails and extremely dry skin and increasing weight even though my diet hasn't changed lead me to believe it's my thyroid

Have regular thyroid blood tests all saying my dose of meds is right but have heard about the complexities surrounding theses tests and the controversial in the medical frat re T4and T3 can you enlighten me please I'm seriously at the end of my tether thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Fifscott Do you have copies of your blood test results? In the UK we are legally entitled to them under the Data Protection Act, so if you haven't got them then pop along to your surgery and ask for a print out. Post the results on here, including the reference ranges, and members can explain what they mean and whether you are optimally medicated.

Also useful to have tested are

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

All these need to be optimal (not just in range) for thyroid hormone to work, and low levels bring their own problems. In fact, your joint pain could be down to low Vit D.

[Fifscott in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi thank you very much I will do this and post to the forum my results

I have to say I have not really looked into this because I tend to put a lot down to the depression

I just accepted the hypothyroid diagnosis and never did any further re-search into this I am only now doing so

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Fifscott]

Fifscott, depression can be a symptom of Hypothyroidism and when optimally medicated this can resolve. I have a suspicion that you are undermedicated with low nutrient levels.

[Fifscott in reply to SeasideSusie]

Oh right ! I need to get these blood results to let you see thank you so much it's actually helped me just knowing I might not be going crazy !

[SlowDragon Administrator]

First thing is to post your most recent results here and tell us what dose you are on.

Do you know if you have been tested for thyroid antibodies (Hashimoto's) - very important to know. If you have Hashimoto's then often need to look for hidden food intolerances, usually gluten.

Also have you any recent test results for vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 (including ranges)

Very common to be low in some or all of these. If they are too low we can not use our thyroid hormones

Aches and pains can be due to low vitamin D. Symptoms of low B12 are very similar to thyroid

[Fifscott in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi I always put all symptoms down to depression and never thought much or did any re-search about the hypothyroid problem it's only recently I decided I had to do something

I will get these results and post them on here thank you so much

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Fifscott]

You can ring GP receptionist and ask to pick up print out of blood tests. Allow a day or so between ringing and picking up, they have to get Gp to okay. But they are not allowed to refuse your request

Or you might be able to see test results online if you have signed up for online medical records- but not all practices have test results online yet, though they are supposed to

hypothyroidmom.com/the-trut...

[Fifscott in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi I will find out if my gp surgery has online test results I have a feeling they won't though thank you again

[steviecat in reply to Fifscott]

I should jolly well hope they have the results! And you are entitled to them under the 1998 Data Protection Act. You can say you want them for your records. They are entitled to make a small charge for printing - £2-£5 would be reasonable. And they don't need the doctor's permission - it is a criminal offence to deny you this information.