What I believe to be thyroid issues go untreated yet again - the blood tests 'prove' I don't have a problem with my thyroid (thanks GP). I'm beginning to feel like a hypochondriac but thankfully I'm not being treated like one (yet). I'm pretty sure that's because I've had cancer twice so they don't want to tip me over the edge! So what's happened now? Hives - and what comes up when you look into the possible causes of hives? Hashimoto's, the very problem I've been trying to get a diagnosis for! The left side of my neck is swollen as is the area above the left clavicle and now I have hives down my left side.
I'm post menopausal, post cancer treatment and have a growing list of 'problems' that are all medicated separately.
Amytriptaline - post treatment nerve problems
Asthma and eczema - various lotions and potions. Also blepharitis and rosacea
Those conditions aren't related to my thyroid I don't think so anyway. In addition I have;
Tinnitus
Omeprazole - GERD
Statins being pushed - cholesterol of 12.4
Medication for constipation
High blood pressure - medicated
And the latest, ranitidine (300mg) and cetirizine for hives. Just looking at the info leaflet for ranitidine and it doesn't fill me with confidence. It's not a PPI but it does affect stomach acid production and if, as I now think, my gut problems are low stomach acid not high then this isn't going to help.
Anyone have any experience of taking PPI's and ranitidine? Any other info/advice would be good. Thanks x
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josiebloggs
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Hi and thanks for your reply. My swollen neck is apparently 'not that bad'. Previous test results are
Test results April 2018 - TSH 1.3(0.2-4.5) FT4 13(9-21) B12 755(180-2000) Folate 16.8(2.8-20) Vit D 92(25-162)
Test results July 2018 - Total T3 1.5(0.9-2.4) FT3 3.4(2.5-4.9) Anti Thyroid Peroxidase 41.8(0-100)
I haven't had the whole range of tests done at once, just bit by bit. I stopped all my supplements in May after getting the cholesterol result and looking further into possible causes (which led me here). I'm going to have the whole range of thyroid and vitamin tests done privately in October - I'm hoping that if my supplements were masking anything this should then become obvious.
I think, as others have found, if it doesn't show in the blood tests then it isn't a problem!
My alternative is to push for a scan on my neck - I could tell my gp I'm worried it's cancer related and then she'll refer me. I shouldn't have to do that though and I'm not sure if a scan would be helpful in identifying a thyroid issue.
A scan may reveal cysts on your thyroid which may confirm thyroid disease. TgAb (Thyroglobulin Antibodies) indicates raised antibodies although this can be present due to other conditions including cancers. Worth discussing with GP.
I've taken both PPIs and ranitidine, but not at the same time. I wish that I'd understood about low/high stomach acid before I ever began the PPIs. I've had gut problems since my teens and that was many decades ago. I no longer take the PPIs, but I do take ranitidine. The reason for taking it now is because I have to take an NSAID for pain, twice a day, every day, and NSAIDs cause erosion of the stomach lining unless you protect it with an acid reducer or blocker.
I have researched on the subject of low stomach acid and how to deal with it. If I could come off the NSAID I would do everything I could to come off the ranitidine, if at all possible.
It is worth reading up on the subject of low/high stomach acid because it makes managing the problem to our best advantage easier if we understand it. I've found the following links to be very helpful.
For an in-depth explanation of how low stomach acid arises in many people (although it doesn't cover thyroid as a cause, the mechanism of how low stomach acid causes indigestion and heartburn still applies to us) :
Thank you. My plan is to come off the PPI but it's very difficult. I'm wondering if I could take the ranitidine but stop the omeprazole. Then it might be easier to stop the ranitidine. I've been taking it for 4 years now and despite trying to stop several times I haven't yet succeeded.
Thank you for taking the time to help. I'm going to get the full range of blood tests privately asap I think. I'm assuming that something must be going on if I now have hives. My body's struggling with something it doesn't like - I look a right mess!
Thank you, I didn't realise that was one of the possible side effects! I'm pretty sure my tinnitus started before I was prescribed these meds but it could still be having an effect I guess. I feel like stopping everything and starting again but even that could cause problems
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