Horrendous pain in knees/Joints

[maypole66]

Hi. I have been posting for awhile now. Recently updated about B12 on Pernicious Anaemia Forum. I am posting on here because I am in the process of getting Private Blood Tests done for Thyroid. My Dr said NHS will not do all tests required, so I am paying for them all. I have to wait 3 weeks for appointment to get bloods done!!

Why I have posted i am in excruciating pain in muscles of arms, legs, thighs, shoulders, neck, base of head, bloated swollen painful crampy stomach, swollen ankle joints, horrendous weight gain, 3st in last 2yrs....My knees are frightening me at the moment. They were clicking on standing and using stairs etc for the last few years. But in the last 4 months or so, my knees have swelled horrendously and the pain is excruciating. I am awake all night because pain, I cannot walk properly. I feel as though I have house bricks in them. Dr think Arthritis!! Just sent me for Xrays. I am a very young 57yrs, or was!! I am so scared that things will not get better.. . Is this all contributed to Thyroid...

[shaws]

I am assuming you have never been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. If not it could be due to the UK insisting the TSH has to reach 10 before being diagnosed. If we lived in another country we'd be diagnosed if it is above 3.

I am sure the GP can do some of the blood tests and the ones he wont you can have privately. TSH, T4, T3, Free T3, Free T4 and Thyroid antibodies.

Three weeks seems a long time to wait as the labs we do are quick. I shall give you a link and you can see how much it costs from them.

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

You can always phone one of them to find out. They are home pin-prick tests too. Blue Horizon and Medichecks. Medichecks have a Thursday reduction on different ones.

With the modern method of doctors not being trained in clinical symptoms thousands of patients don't get diagnosed early enough and, like you, develop very unpleasant symptoms.

Weight gain is the commonest question and doctors are unaware that if our metabolism is too slow, weight is gained (through being hypo) but blame the patient that it could be hypothyroidism.

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

Those pains you get, I had the same. Every movement is painful.

Remember the blood draw has to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water). If you were taking thyroid hormones you'd allow 24 hours gap between dose and test.

[maypole66 in reply to shaws]

Hi shaws. Not diagnosed. Dr told me last week that I have not been tested since 2011. But bloods done 8 months ago, plus many since for all sorts. This was my Serum TSH ( 0.3 - 5.5 ) and Serum Free T4 ( 10.0 - 22.0 ) these were 8 months ago. I have brought private blood kit for the Thyroid Plus 11.. all Thyroid tests to be done on this. The kit was with me in 48hrs. Amazing. But I have had to get my nurse to draw blood for me, hence 3 week wait

[shaws in reply to maypole66]

That's good. I understand about waiting for blood to be drawn but I am sure you made it for the very earliest, and fasting (you can drink water).

[shaws in reply to maypole66]

The above are the ranges but not the results.

[maypole66 in reply to shaws]

Hi. Sorry. Serum Free T4 Level ( XaERr ) result 17 pmol/L ( 10.0 - 22.0 )

Serum TSH Level ( XaERr ) result 3.4 mu/l ( 0.3 - 5.5 )

[shaws in reply to maypole66]

TSH is too high. The aim is 1 or lower. FT4 is fine but no FT3 has been taken and that's the most important. They don't seem to think FT3 should be taken along with FT4.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Excellent that you are getting ful test done

So presumably you are on B12 injections?

Do you also take vitamin B complex? It's often recommended

Anyway Do NOT take vitamin B complex (or any supplements with biotin in) for 3-5 days prior to any blood tests

Biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

[maypole66 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon... No I not taking any other B supplement. I thought I would not take any other vitamin or supplement until Thyroid Bloods are done, end of this month. I have had 6 loading B12 then 3 monthly, from 22nd December. It was only because I have constantly asked for it, they said I didn't need it. But hence I felt so much better for having it done, so Dr said I can continue!! Just exhausted, like everyone else on here, of having to do there work for them. I am on first name terms with receptionists and nurses at Surgery lol 😊😊