Hi I am new to this site. I have been struggling with a number of health issues such as extreme fatigue / hair loss / hearing issues on a couple of occasions (swooshing from left to right) / intermittent blurred vision in my left eye / nails breaking midway down nail where the flesh is / extremely puffy eyes / weight gain - the list could go on. To cut a long story short I am 44 and feel like death! I sometimes don't have the energy to breathe literally! Every test I have at the doctors seems to come back in the normal range but I feel very ill. I have a full range of blood test so if any other results would help to make sense of what is going on for me I would be immensely grateful!
I was diagnosed with Primary Lymphedema earlier this year which affects both ankles & legs - lymphatic genetic defect!
ELEVATED RESULTS: -
B12 is elevated = 799
Serum HDL = 1.1
Serum Creatinine 78 (44-80)
LOWER END RESULTS-
Vitamin D - 58.4 (50-100)
Folate - 4 (3.9-26.8)
ESR - 4 (1-12)
Serum Urea - 2.3. (2.1-7.1)
Serum protein -70 (68-87)
Hba1c - 28 (20-41)
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I feel totally drained & extremely miserable as I don't know what is causing my symptoms!!
Many thanks in advance!
Wendy
Written by
Sparkle44
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You could do with an increase in thyroid hormones to bring your TSH down to 1 or lower. You don't give the ranges for TSH and T4 (labs differ).
You need a Free T4 and Free T3 blood test to see what is actually in your blood.
Lymphoedema can also be caused through hypothyroidism. Hypo means slow and everything in our body slows down. I shall give you a link and this is an excerpt from it:
"Myxedema is the term given to edema that occurs when there is an abnormal deposition of mucinous substances in the extremity as a result of thyroid disease. Pretibial edema occurs in thyrotoxicosis, but generalized myxedema occurs in hypothyroidism. Patients with myxedema present with rough skin of the palms, soles, elbows and knees, and yellow-orange discoloration of the skin, along with other signs of hypothyroidism. Lipedema usually occurs in women and is characterized by fatty accumulation subcutaneously between the pelvis and the ankle, sparing the feet. The patient may complain of painful swelling and may first have noted the problem shortly following onset of puberty—normally one to two years afterward. Stemmer's sign will be absent."
So I think you need to be referred to a Specialist to deal with this build-up of fluid. Has your GP given you diuretics to see if it will help in the meantime?
Thank you so much for your response Shaws. The problem I am having is getting my GP to not think I am mad! I am made to feel like a hypochondriac. If my scores are in the normal range do you have any tips for how I can convince the GP to listen and agree to run the tests?? He said the next step is to refer me to the Chronic Fatigue clinic! Interestingly when I had a scintography for the diagnosis of Lymphedema the Multidisciplinary panel said they haven't seen my gentic mutation? So I am sure they are wrong! They have asked me to be part of a geno study!
Why don't GP's recognise that a TSH above 2 is a concern. Previous blood tests were as high as 3.5 and they never notified me. I only know now because I have patient access and can see my results online.
It is because in the UK it is deemed that a TSH has to reach 10 before diagnosing whilst ignoring all clinical symptoms which they do not recognise or are aware of. In other countries we're diagnosed at 3+. Doctors have gradually developed a system since the 60's that only a blood test reveals hypo, whereas we were diagnosed upon symptoms alone before that and given a trial of NDT until we improved. No blood tests to dictate when dose should be stopped or reduce, it was all done according to patient's symptoms.
I would get a Free T3 and you have to quote the ranges after the results as it makes it easier to comment (there's no range on your FT4 so guess 14 may be a little low). I know NHS doesn't approve of these but they are the most informative. This is from TUK with an explanation of both and why theyr'e important.
I have read that it was about ten years after the blood tests were introduced that 3 new diseases were named, i.e. CFS, Fibro and ME.
One doctor now deceased who wasn't an Endocrinologist tried to tell the Endocrinology that they were wrong and were putting patients into a Parlous Situation due to the deference to blood tests alone. He also arranged a conference to discuss the situation of undiagnosed/undermedicated patients and one by one the Endos refused, the last one the day before the Conference.
However if you read the first question/answer on the following as well as the rest you will be better informed but wont be able to persuade your GP.
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