Is it possible to be hypo and be losing weight?

[Tricot]

My husband has many symptoms, excessive tiredness, which hasn't altered after more than 6 months' iron tablets, always cold, constipated, lots of joint pain, swollen tongue and difficulty swallowing (or is that B12 deficiency?) but certainly isn't overweight and is losing weight because of his appetite being so poor. Asked GP for thyroid test and TSH was 1,963 mUI/l (0,350−4,940). Would you rule out hypothyroidism? At my wits' end as he's just getting worse and GP now saying it can't be physical! He's never been a moaner or a lazy man and he wouldn't be like this without good reason.

[greygoose]

Yes, it's perfectly possible. Not all hypos put on weight, although the majority do.

Fatigue, constipation and being cold are all hypo symptoms. But joint pain could be low vit D. Has he had that tested? Difficulty swallowing could very well be due to an inflammed thyroid. Swollen tongue could be either hypo or low B12.

Just testing the TSH is not a thyroid test. But, it's all you'll get out of the NHS, these days! To really know what's going on, you need the TSH, FT4, FT3, TPO antibodies and Tg antibodies. Would it be possible for you to get private tests? That's the only way you will find out.

GPs know nothing about thyroid!

[blogsy2]

Hi Tricot,

I so connected with your message, because this sounded like my husband six months ago. He was hypo but losing weight. He turned out to be B12 and B2 deficient, and swollen tongue can be B2 deficiency as well as B12. It's so hard to watch someone you love going downhill with the GP apparently clueless.

I agree that private tests would be a good idea. Medichecks do the thyroid check ultravit reduced on Thursdays. You'll need to get blood drawn for this one at a local private hospital, unless your GP is helpful with this. It's £79. If you haven't had the results from your doctor, an essential blood test at £69 might be worth thinking about. This is the equivalent of the basics that your GP would do, plus a couple of extras. If you got those done, you might have more idea about what was going on.

Of course your husband's case may be totally different, but we've ended up arranging our own medication for thyroid meds (NDT), B12 (injections from Germany), various nutritional supplements, and he's finally starting to turn the corner and recover. We did initially try hard to get him sorted out through the system, but it proved to be very difficult. Your mileage may vary.

This forum is very supportive and I highly recommend it.

[blogsy2]

By the way I wouldn't take iron unless you know that his iron levels are actually low. After six months he should certainly be retested - normally after three months I think. You can have too much iron.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation your husband needs TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.

Essential to test thyroid antibodies, FT3 and FT4, plus vitamins

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

Medichecks have offers on Thursdays

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting.

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get tested.

Weight loss can be coeliac disease too. Low vitamins are common as result

A very high percentage of us with Hashimoto's are gluten intolerant not coeliac. Weight loss can be side effect

[Tricot]

Thank you for your responses My husband had blood tests to diagnose anaemia. The last blood test was 2 months ago and his haemoglobin had only gone up to 13.3 (13.5 - 17) and MCHC 31 (32 - 36.5), ferritin 40.5 ng/l (22 - 275) so not great but his GP seemed satisfied . . . We will pay to have private blood tests done inc B12 but he had 5 days of oral multi B vitamins, so can you tell me how long should we leave it before testing?

Thank you very much for your help. It's just taking so long to find out what's up and all the time my husband's getting worse.

[Angel_of_the_North]

I lost weight to start with because of low adrenal function as well (depresses appetite). Get the difficulty with swallowing looked at, as it could be something serious.